Forbidden

Chapter Four

“Why can’t you stay this weekend?” Olivia asked Kenley on the way to her house.

“I’ve gotta help my momma out at the house. She wants to go through a bunch of stuff and whatever so I told her I’d help. Plus she’s been complainin’ about not wanting to be at home by herself all the time so I’m gonna see about taking her out to dinner or somethin’.”

“A ‘right then. You need to borrow any money or anything? You good?” Olivia offered.

“I’m good, yeah, my sperm donor sent a couple hundred bucks so we’re alright for right now.”

“Good. Do you care if I come in and pee? I’m dyin’ right now,” Olivia asked.

“No, not at all. Just ignore my momma, in case she says anything.”

                Olivia knew what this meant. Her momma had been drinking again.

The girls pulled into the driveway of Kenley’s house and walked inside. The carpet was a brown and drab sight, the white paint had obviously been done sloppily without precision and it had maroon bleeding through, none of the furniture matched and it smelled of cigarettes and cat litter. In the rocker next to the tiny nicotine stained window sat Amy, Kenley’s mom. She looked miserable. She had a bottle of Jack Daniels sitting on the end table next to her, where a cigarette lay burning in the ashtray filling the air with abstract smoke.

“Hey girls. What are you up to?” Amy slurred.

“Olivia just wanted to use the restroom real fast,” Kenley answered.

“Hey, Amy, how are you?” Olivia said in an effort to make conversation.

“What’s it look like to you?” Amy answered and rolled her eyes in an exasperated way.

                Olivia smiled guardedly.

“You remember where the restroom is, right? Down that hall to the right?” Kenley asked.

“Right.”

                Olivia headed down the hall noticing there were only two doors on the right hand side and she found the restroom quickly. She washed her hands and dried them off on her jeans before finger combing her hair in the mirror. Her phone started vibrating.

“Hey, Daddy, what’s up?”

“Hey darlin’, I was wonderin’ if you could do a small favor for your momma and I before you get home,” Marshall said.

“Of course, what do you need?”

“Well, we’re packin’ right now and we just need our prescriptions picked up from the pharmacy before they close.”

“Yup, I’ll do it. I’m gettin’ ready to leave Kenley’s right now and then I’ll be home.”

“Kenley’s huh? How’s Amy doin’?”

“Um, I’ll talk to you when I get home,” she said quietly.

“Oh I see. Gotcha. A ‘right darlin’, be careful.”

“Always. Love you Daddy.”

                Olivia walked out of the bathroom and entered the living room. She saw Kenley blotting up something that had spilled on the carpet. The unmistakable fumes of liquor soon filled the air and Olivia quickly knew what had spilled. Kenley looked up at Olivia with a look of embarrassment on her face.

“I’ve gotta run to the pharmacy. Call me later, okay?” Olivia said to Kenley.

“A ‘right. See you later.”