One and the Same

48

Gaga watched her daughter wave bye at her at the airport. Her eyes watered as she waved back at her. It always reminded her of when she had to leave Maria when she was very little because she had to be on tour. She wondered if that's why Maria was such an untameable spirit, -'Maybe I shouldve been there to straighten her up'. She knew her parents were busy with the restaurant at those times so they couldn't take care of her properly. It wasn't their fault. It was hers.

Bobby frowned at his boss, -'You okay?' He laid a hand on her thigh, Gaga nodded, -'Yeah I just miss everyone already' she chuckled, caressing Koji's ears, -'You miss Maria?', Gaga shrugged and smiled sadly, -'Yeah. I just wish I could ve there for her always, especially now...can't help but feel that I'm failing her as a mother', -'Oh come on Stef-', -'No, no. It's fine...I've learned to deal with it. It's still hard for me'.

-'Grandma can we stop by to get something to eat?', Maria asked while twirling a strand of hair between her fingers, -'No theres food at home', Maria frowned, -'Grandma you know I dont eat leftovers!', Cynthia looked back at her grand daughter, -'You seem to have the notion that I will let you do everything you want huh? We eat at home and you stay home tonight too', -'But it's saturday night, I-', -'AND your mother still has you grounded. No buts', Maria rolled her eyes and sat back, -'Don't you and grandpa have to go to New York or something?', -'No, Natali's there supervising. He and I are staying to watch you until your mom comes back', -'And when the fuck is that?', -'Two weeks and she has a show here in Cali', Maria nodded, -'Isn't her wedding dressed supposed to be arriving around that time?', Cynthia nodded again, -'And your bridesmaid dress too', this time Maria smiled wide. The dress she had planned was absolutely wonderful and she coudlnt wait to wear it to her mother's wedding.

Night time fell like a blanket of stars on Malibu.
-i'll be skyping with robin now bb have a goodnight i love u x💕🙆🏻😍 she texted Michael, who responded with a similar message.
Maria smiled to herself and grabbed her iPad. She opened FaceTime waiting for her older brother to pick up the call.

-'Hi loser' she mumbled into the camera at her brother
-'Hi ugly. What's up? How's life in paradise?'
-'Fine, boring I guess. Mom just left on her tour', Robin raised his eyebrows, -'Oh. Exciting', -'For her...I'm grounded', -'You're still grounded?', -'Yeah...I fucked up', Maria sat up on the bed and started braiding her hair, -'So how's things over there? How are the kiddies?', -'Annoying like always. They miss you though', Maria chuckled, -'I miss them too. Every day. Tell them I have that picture of us at the lake as a screensaver on my phone and laptop...I also put it in a digital portrait, so I can see y'all every day', Robin nodded -'Will do', -'And Celia? How's the baby growing to be?', -'AH yes! I was gonna tell you- it's a boy', Maria blushed and clapped her hands, -'Amazing!!! That's sooo exciting. I definitely wanna go there, I told my dad I didn't wanna miss the birth or anything, I want at least one of my siblings to know me since they're little', -'I'm sure he'll let you come...', Maria batted her pretty eyelashes and looked down, -'I-I'm not sure about that, you know? Like I wish I could go but I'm not welcome there', Robin looked guilty, -'I know. Maybe we can Skype the day he's born and you can be there...digitally of course', Maria chuckled sadly and nodded regretfully, -'Thanks Robin. So how's you and Karol doing?' The two siblings talked about their own relationships, school and other subjects for hours until Maria Grazia let out a huge yawn, -'I'm dying' she rubbed her eyes, -'I'll talk to you in the coming days ok?', Robin nodded -'I'll tell everyone you said hi' and closed the call.
Maria hated how her father had distanced her from her siblings. He was vile.