The Sweetest Devotion (The Affair Series Book 2)

14 Mile Road-Warren,MI

STEF POV

Age 8

It was just like my mother to be in a mood. One way or another, she always was. But I didn't care much today because my Aunt Fran was coming over and that was the best present ever.

It always was because she always took me to Hardy's or A&W for burgers. Sometimes, when she had a little extra money, she got me a new pair of sneakers from Value Saver, but I didn't care much because I just wanted to be with her. Always.

"Stefanie Marie, I want those dishes done. Enough of you lazying around." I hear my mother yell from the bedroom as I was scrubbing the mashed potato pot along with the other dishes that were piled up from nights before.

"I am Mama. I'm cleaning them." I yell. back, standing on the stool so that I could better reach the sink, but as usual, the hot water wasn't working, and I had to let it run.

"Don't sass me, girl. You just make sure to get them nice and clean."

Scolding me as usual, she took a seat on the old ripped kitchen chair that she found on the curb and put her feet up in front of her. Our place wasn't really nice but nowhere we lived was and this place was no different.

It was pretty rundown, and most of the time, I saw mice running around and big bugs, which I had a hard time killing.

We always had used or broken furniture, nothing was ever clean, and I never had a room of my own. Mama usually took our only bedroom, and I slept on the couch so she could have her men friends stay over in the room with her.

Thankfully, they never stayed long, and when they did leave, she would scream and yell at me, saying it was my fault once again. Saying I was in the way, saying they hated having me around and that she couldn't keep one on account of me.

Then we would move again to some other town as she packed up our beat-up station wagon carrying all my stuff in a big black trash bag. Sometimes, when I came home from school, I'd see her packing up the car telling me we had to leave right then and there.

Usually, it was right after I started to make friends at school and would have to start the process all over again. I hated it, and when I'd complain, she'd smack me in the mouth, saying I didn't know a thing about life or how much I ruined hers.

That seemed to be why I was here, according to her, to ruin her life, but I didn't even know how I was doing that. Maybe because I wanted to hug her or for her to like me?

Or sometimes I asked for something, knowing she would say no and get angry. There was no winning with her, and most of the time, I spent alone while she left me at night to go do whatever she did.

Sometimes, I didn't mind it because I'd watch TV all night and heat up a salty TV dinner from Tyson. But having no one to talk to could get lonely, and I just wanted her to spend time with me. Maybe once in a while, she would, but it wasn't long.

Sometimes, she cried over a boyfriend, and I held her hand, telling her not to cry. Sometimes, when she was drunk, she would pass out next to me, and I would snuggle against her arm even when she smelled so bad of cigarettes and her drinks.

But I didn't care because I just liked to be close to her even if it was only for a second.

Continuing to scrub out the pots, I instantly hear the click of her cigarette lighter and smell the smoke soon after. I knew it was bad, but sometimes, when she left it in the ashtray, I smoked it a few times.

"MM, I'm so tired. Need me a man to help clean this place up and work. I'm tired of working." She mumbles, and I never knew if I should respond back or not.

"Course having you here doesn't make it any easier. Always need something and bugging me one way or another."

"Sorry, Mama."

"Ha!" She laughs. "What is sorry gonna do beside nothing. Sorry ain't nothing but some words that don't mean or do shit. Think you would know that by now."

Trying my hardest not to listen to her crap sometimes on my boldest days, I'd talk back to her, but today, I had to be on my best behavior if I wanted to go out with Aunt Fran.

"You know you won't amount to much, right?"

"Huh?" I ask, turning around to face her as she puffs on her cigarette and smirks at me.

"You deaf? I said you won't amount too much in this world. You better hope you grow up pretty because that's all you got going for you. Maybe. But you aren't much of a pretty girl anyway. You should have come out looking like me instead of your sorry ass daddy. Dead beat that he is."

"I can work at the casino like you? Can't I?"

"Ha, you dumb girl. Nobody will ever hire you. You better off just staying here with me your entire life. After you finish those dishes, I want the floor mopped and the bathroom."

"But Aunt Fran said she would take me out. Can I do it after?"

"What?" she said, now putting her cigarette down and staring me dead in the eyes. "That wasn't a suggestion that was a damn order! And you do what I say! Me! I'm your Mama, not Aunt Fran, you hear me!" She says, getting up now and pulling my ear so hard I thought it would come off.

"Yes, yes, Mama, I'm sorry! I am!"

"You lucky I let you go out with her at all. What she wants with you I have no damn idea! Crazy or bored to have you tagging along!"

Pushing me off the stool, I fall on my back as she takes a seat back at the table as if nothing happened. She was like that sometimes. Mean, and I didn't shed a tear.

"Get up and finish this stuff before I get angry."

Hearing the phone ring, I was grateful because it would take her attention off of me as I soon hear the doorbell ring.

Running to get it and pushing the ripped and tattered curtain to see who it was, my aunt stood at the door, and all I could do was run to open it.

"There she is! My sweet girl!" Holding out her arms, Aunt Fran picks me up as I wrap my arms tightly around her neck.

"Aunt Frannie! Aunt Frannie!"

"Hi babydoll! Got a fun day planned for us!"

"Really?!"

"Oh yes! Are you ready to go?" She asks, putting me down as I start to scratch my head again.

"What's wrong, you itchy, sweetie?"

"Mm, just my head a bit. Can I bring my Barbie?" I ask, grabbing her hand as she starts to inspect my head.

"Um yeah, but I think we need to wash you up a bit? How about we go to my place first and then go out? Sound ok? I got your favorite bubble bath." She says, looking worried.

"Mama doesn't like that."

"Well, don't worry about that baby. Just get your things, and I will handle her." Softy kissing my forehead. I run to the closet to get my trash bag, knowing my day would get a lot better.