Flowers & Bruises

Chapter Four

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Picture to the side is of Adelaide Kane (Charlotte/Charlie)!
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Chapter Four

 

“Charlotte! Come down here, please!” My mom yells from downstairs.

“Be right there, Mom!” I yell back.

I set my geometry book down on the bed, unclick my pen, and close my math notebook. I’m eager to go downstairs and talk to my mom, which you probably don’t hear too many teenagers say nowadays. My mom, Farrah, is a nurse and I rarely ever see her because she works double shifts whenever they’re offered to her. And when she isn’t working, she’s sleeping, eating, or showering. I appreciate any chance I get to spend time with her.

I run down the stairs and into the kitchen where my mom is seated at the table, drinking coffee. I notive she’s still wearing her work scrubs, meaning she just got home. She looks dog tired, and I can’t help but feel bad about how hard she works to keep a roof over our heads, and clothes on our backs. I sit down in the chair next to her after pouring myself my own cup of coffee.

“Hey sweetie,” she says.

“Hi, you look tired.” I watch as she tiredly runs a hand through her light brown curly hair.

“I just got home from a twelve hour shift.”

“Mom,” I condemn. “You’re gonna work yourself to death.” I look at the clock on the microwave and see that it’s 6:30 in the morning. She went to work at 6 last night, and is just now getting home. She ignores my comment and instead changes the subject.

“How are your grades?”

“Good.” She doesn’t ask to see my report card because she knows I keep my grades up.

“That’s good,” She smiles, sipping her coffee. A comfortable silence fills the room while we both drink our coffee.

“Met any cute boys lately?” My mom jokes suddenly. Liam flashes through my mind, causing me to hesitate and smile at her. She stares at me and her joking smile turns into a serious one.

“Uh oh,” she starts. “There is, isn’t there?” I laugh.

“His name is Liam.”

“And?” She raises her eyebrows, waiting for more details.

“He’s cute, and funny. Oh, and his dad knows you,” I state, remembering when Mr. Carlton asked me if I was my mom’s daughter.

“Oh yeah? What’s his name?”

“David Carlton.” My mom suddenly starts choking on her coffee, and sets the cup in her hands on the table to prevent from spilling it.