I Met a Vampire Down in Santa Carla

Chapter Seventeen

I wasn't looking forward to another long day with the family. The funeral starts at ten and then we have to go to the lawyer's office for the reading of the will. I'm just glad that after today I don't have to see or hear from any of these people again and a long horrible chapter of both mom and I's life can be over. I decide to dress more modestly. I may not be religious but that also didn't mean I wouldn't respect the sacred holy place of others. I do light makeup with a winged eyeliner and brown eyeshadow that barely shows. I just did lipgloss and mascara not worrying to do a full face like the day before. I put on a black dress that goes to my knees with a cinched waist. It was a high cut with sheer sleeves. I wear the same heels as the day prior and try to cover any tattoos with tights. I go down for something quick to eat to see Mom doing the opposite of me. Her dress while beautiful wouldn't be anyone's first pick. It didn't have sleeves the top tiying around the neck. It goes to her mid-thigh with a sheer longer skirt that was cut in the front and dropped in the back which was to the ankle. Her hair was in a neat ponytail and her makeup was a deep red lip and smokey eye. It was as if she was going to a goth summer festival. 

"You know it's a church right?" I ask hating how I sounded. 

"Yep," She speaks flatly before taking a sip of her morning coffee. "Are you ready?" I nod and she grabs her bag before we head out. It is silent and a tenseness is in the air. I wasn't expecting to pull into a McDonald's drive-thru. She gets me the two breakfast burritos. She gets herself a chicken biscuit. I am not sure where the tenseness was from considering yesterday she was partying. 

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask she nods. "Are you sure? I would understand if you aren't it's a lot to lose someone even if they were an ass."

"I'm fine Rory. I just want this to be over with." She hisses before sighing. "I, I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap. When you left Jack came over cussing about your car. Then Janet just had to go on about how much of a trouble you are and they just pushed and pushed until I lost it." 

"What did you say?" 

"I told them that if they were going to disrespect you then they could leave. I told them after today that we would be cut from them. She said how it isn't fair and I told her to fuck off and leave. I'm not looking forward to having to say nice things about that bastard at the podium today. I was up for hours the other day trying so hard to find a single nice thing to say and I just couldn't find it." 

"Speak from the heart. I will support anything you say or do today. As you said after today we won't have shit to do with these people." Mom smiles and holds the back of my head then caresses my cheek. 

"What would I do if it weren't for you?" I smile ready to face today with her. We make it to the church. We were not the first to arrive his mom and brothers were all there. I look at them as they glare in my direction. I felt a chill go down my spine as last night ran in my mind. Janet comes over and looks down then at my mom.

"Look. I know things got heated yesterday. Things were emotional and things were said that weren't meant. We are family and we need each other. I know how losing a husband is and I have taken it upon myself to stay with you in this gurling time." Janet smile

"What was said that wasn't meant?" Mom tilts her head squinting. 

"About us losing all contact. That isn't what's best and,"

Mom cuts her off. "No, I meant that. Just like you meant to talk shit about my child. Steve is dead and we are no longer related. I didn't have children with him so there is no reason for us to talk. On the other hand, where did you think you'd stay cause it sure wasn't going to be in my home." Janet looks mortified. 

"Linda," She gasps. "I don't get why you are being this way. It isn't right and you know it." 

"No, what isn't right is all the shit I had to take and then be expected to come here and play nice." I grab Mom and pull her away. I look to Janet.