Little Miss Nosy

Chapter Twenty-Seven: One Thing at a Time, Please

- Edited -

"Paige."

Mom's voice stops me on the first step. I barely glance over my shoulder at her small figure in the living room. "I have homework."

"You've been locked in your bedroom doing homework for days. Can you take a break to chat?"

"No. End of the semester and all. Busy times."

"Paige." There's a sharp edge to her voice this time. One I'm not used to but if I dig deep, I can recall the times she used that tone when I was bratty. When she didn't hesitate to discipline me when I acted out. "You're going to have a seat, and we're going to talk. Now."

I cock my head. Curious as to where this could lead, I move to the living room and drop my backpack next to the couch.

"The school called. Said you were skipping fifth period. Why?" She doesn't mirror my actions by taking a seat and instead continues to stand. Arms crossed, right above her bump. Now that her secret is out she's been wearing the usual form-fitting clothing I'm used to. She adjusts her tank top while waiting for a response.

"I wasn't trying to skip. I was caught up with my friends, didn't hear the bell, was on my way to class before being stopped. That's it." I keep the first time I intentionally skipped with Ashton to myself. The simpler her lecture, the better.

Mom's nose scrunches. "Oh. Well...pay more attention next time and try not to do it again."

I throw myself back on the couch. Cross my arms to match her demeanor and breathe through a laugh that begs to come out at the change in her behavior. "Is everything okay?" I can't take her stern exterior seriously. Not when she's standing at 5 foot 2, has a pink CareBear printed on her top, and hasn't sat me down for a serious don't-do-that-again talk in years.

Barely saying more than five words to each other since I yelled at her doesn't help much, either.

"You're not a kid that acts out. A thought came to me when I got that call. I've been through a lot and I don't want my trauma...impacting you any more than it already has. Some serious change needs to happen and it starts right here, right now."

I laugh. Softly. Not wanting to hurt her feelings as I can tell how much she's trying to be the concerned mother I lost way back when. "Where'd you get that from?"

Her exterior melts as she releases a breath, doubling over with her hands on her knees. "The internet. I'm in this support group for single moms. How'd I do?"

"Makes sense considering it sounded like you were reading from a teleprompter. But," I add, noticing the frown settling on her face, "I like where you're coming from."

She smiles, eyes glistening. She finally takes a seat and exposes the woman I grew up with. The woman who never had to try too hard. Who was a natural born nurturer before a few disasters shook her confidence. "I'm sorry, Paige. For everything. Everything you said to me that night was true."

"It was too harsh," I wince, remembering the mortified look on her face when I basically said she failed at parenting.

"Sometimes the truth is just that. Harsh." She pulls her legs up to her chest, creating a tiny cocoon of comfort for what is no doubt going to be a conversation featuring a whirlwind of emotions. "I told everyone about the baby but you. Not because I had no faith in you, like you claimed that night, but because I feared your disappointment. My bosses, friends, coworkers...their opinions of me be damned." Mom's eyes glisten like emeralds. She swipes at a tear before it strays too far. "I don't care if I lose them, but to lose you? That would destroy what your father and brother never could."