New Beginnings

Repairing the Cracks

Alice had barely slept a wink last night. The bags under her eyes were more visible than ever and her face physically looked like thunder. She hadn't felt this low since her teen years, and all because of one woman who couldn't keep her mouth shut and her cheating asshole of a husband

The whole reason she had moved to Riverdale was for a fresh start but the saying of your past catching up to you proved to be very accurate.

Riverdale was a small town, pretty much everybody knew each other, and with most of the town in attendance at the Taste of Riverdale the prior night, she knew she had to be the talk of the town.

Sat at her kitchen island, stirring a cup of plain black coffee Betty had made for her, she began to stare into space, thinking of the days when her life was relatively simple.

"Have you seen the school website?" Polly bellowed as she stormed down the stairs with a tablet in her hand.

"Right, because the first thing I'm thinking about on a Saturday morning is school." Betty snaps sarcastically

Alice ran her hands down her face before reluctantly turning around to her eldest. "No, I haven't Polly. Let me guess, your classmates are talking shit about me?"

"That's putting it nicely." She mumbled as she slides the tablet over to the her mother

Alice scrolls down the screen, staring and scan reading some of the comments in slight disgust. They all ranged from insulting her personally to dragging the girls into it to questioning her skills as a mother.

She slammed the tablet and frowned angrily before running her hands down her face once more but is then interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

"Whoever that is, tell them to get lost." Alice mumbles angrily. She wasn't in the mood for visitors right now.

Polly walked towards the door and looked through the peephole. "It's only Hermione." She responds

Alice perked her head back up and looked in her daughters direction

"Oh. Well, let her in then." She answered calmly

Polly opened the door slowly, allowing Hermione to walk in. She had a soft but sympathetic smile upon her face as she approached the kitchen island.

"Uhm, Hermione, I don't really think this is a good time." Polly explained to her

"No, Polly, it's fine." Alice says to her daughter

"I just wanted to check how you were. Last night was quite chaotic." Hermione states

"I'm surprised you still want anything to do with me." Alice chuckles sadly before looking down.

She looks back towards Polly and Betty, knowing she's going to need some time alone with Hermione to talk.

"Uhm, girls, why don't you take Tyler to the park or something. You don't have to be cooped up in here for me, I'll be fine. Go and enjoy the day." She encouraged

Betty approached her mother with a concerned look and rested her hand upon her shoulder.

"Are you sure Mom?"

Alice rested her hand on top of hers and smiles softly. "Yes baby, I'm sure. Take a twenty out of my purse, go and have some fun." She encourages. She watches as Betty gleefully goes upstairs to collect her things and the money she promised her and eventually leave the house with Polly.

"I'm gonna keep them home from school next week to avoid further embarrassment." Alice tells Hermione as she pours out a mug of coffee.

"If those girls are anything like you they needn't worry about what a few gossiping pigeons say." Hermione tells her with a smile before taking her mug to her lips.