I walked in through the front door of the house, slipping out of my black flats and shaking out of my sopping wet coat. I hung it up on the coat rack in the hallway.
I mumbled a quick hello to our house-cleaner Maria. She was the closest thing to a mother figure in this giant home. I used the term home lightly, it reminds me more of a museum.
As for Maria, being more like a mom to me, well my mother is never around and when she is around, she pretends I'm not. I like it better that way to be honest. Whenever she does pay me any attention, it isn't good. Its not like she's a bad person or anything. She just wasn't meant to be a mother. She doesn't have a nurturing bone in her body. She is ambitious and her career is her real "baby" and the true love of her life. I used to try all sorts of antics to get my parents attention but I know better now. Nothing I do matters to them; plus when I don't rock the boat, all I have to do is send a text or an email, maybe leave a message on her voice mail and I get anything I want. I want for nothing. I want for nothing in the physical sense to be more specific. I do, however, miss having some type of relationship with my parents.
My father is no better. He is a surgeon and is obsessed with his job as well. It is a very demanding job and I totally understand his need to work as much as he does. It is hard to tell someone that you're more important than someone else while their life is hanging in the balance. I can't count the number of times I was told how selfish I was being by wishing he could teach me to ride a bike or come to my piano recital (I hated piano by the way). I was as important to my parents as a white crayon.
I wandered into the kitchen to see a plate of cookies. I picked up one and nibbled on it on the way up the large staircase to my room. Well really my floor. My parents are on the third floor and have made it clear that I have been blessed with my own space. What teenager wouldn't want that? It also comes with the understanding that I therefore have no reason to venture to their floor. Yes, I feel the love - not.
I walked into my room drawing the silk violet curtains to reveal the snow falling in heaps. It was truly beautiful outside. I turned my back on the window and assessed my room, I figured that Maria cleaned it considering it was a neater state than this morning.
My room was a purple theme, chosen by my parents. I would've much have it a edgy red but they felt that red was too violent and the mauve would be better for my mental state, I knew better than to argue, I would have lost it anyway so I may as well as get the brownie points for being "so very mature" and maybe get a new phone for my birthday.
Beside my bed was a white nightstand with a matching purple lamp. To the right of the bed was a ladder ascending to a loft which was covered with lilac pillows and blankets which was my cozy spot to read and think. Below this was a hallway of sorts leading to a room in which held my study, and across from that was a bathroom. I was thankful for the size of the room, I liked my privacy and being an only child sharing wasn't my style.
I walked to the other side of the room dumping my bag on a chair near my desk and rummaged through it pulling out most of the contents. I sat down at my desk laying out my homework and making a priority plan in my mind. I had just started working on my math when I heard the doorbell ring.
I groaned irritated and pushed my chair back rushing out of the room and racing down the steps. I opened the door to reveal a woman in mid thirties with brown hair tied into a bun and bright blue eyes. She was wearing a black pencil skirt with a white blouse and a matching black coat. Her lips were a bright red and she smiled revealing perfect white teeth. She would've been a beautiful woman if her smile didn't always look so pinched. This woman was my mother, Desiree Hennessey.
"Andrea!" Desiree wrapped her arms around me in what I assumed was a hug but was too forced to ever be considered as one.
"Mom? I thought you were on business trip for three more days..? And why did you use the doorbell instead of your key?" I asked quietly enough so she wouldn't hear the accusations in my voice.
"I got away early, and I thought I'd surprise you dearest. If I used my key, you would know it was me silly. I thought it would make you happy" Desiree's tone was full of reproach. She slowly let go of her hold on me. I hated when she did this. I didn't need the pretence. We both know I was more of a burden than a blessing in her mind. The whole "I did this for you" routine didn't sit well with me. I knew there had to be something else behind it. But hey, if she wanted to play games, who was I to disappoint?
"I am happy." I grumbled sounding less than happy. "I just wanted to have everything perfect for your arrival. Some fresh flowers, have the cook make your favourite meal, you know things like that." I put on the mask that I always wore in her presence.
"Well both of our intentions were good then!" She chirped smiling again deciding she'd done her job at meeting my emotional needs and walked past me pulling along her gucci suitcase. I closed the door behind her sighing and followed her into the kitchen with a sneaking suspicion of what was yet to come.
