Though she stared at the newscaster on the television screen, Abby’s mind was elsewhere. It was after midnight, but she couldn’t sleep. Audrey and Sara had both been scared at bedtime, worried that someone would come back into the house while they slept.
Chris had told her to take them to his apartment when he went to work, where they might feel safer. But she had declined, knowing that she needed to stay home. The conversation she was waiting on had been a long time coming.
Eager for a distraction, she grabbed her phone, typing out a message to Chris.
I miss you and wish you were here. Thanks for being here earlier. – xo
He didn’t write back immediately, so she knew he must be busy. She wished she could doze off, but her mind was racing too quickly. It wasn’t just anger she was feeling, but bitterness. Betrayal. And fear. The fear of her mother that had been with her since childhood. Kathy had never been violent because she didn’t have to be. She’d always cut Abby so deeply with her remarks that Abby ended up cowering as though she had been struck.
Sometimes she’d wished her mother would have hit her instead. The sting of a bruise would heal eventually, but the biting words Kathy spewed ran through Abby’s mind long after they’d been spoken.
As she heard keys rattling near the front door, she sat up quickly, suddenly feeling like a young child again. She steeled herself for what was to come.
“Mom,” she said flatly as Kathy pushed the door closed behind her.
“Hi,” Kathy muttered. She walked across the living room toward the bedroom, and Abby jumped up from the chair.
“Don’t you have anything to say?” she demanded.
“About what?”
“You know what. You took the girls’ Playstation. Where is it?”
“I did not,” Kathy said dismissively, turning to leave the room.
“I know you did! And I know you stole money from me, too.”
“I’m going to bed.”
“I’m calling movers tomorrow to come get your things in a week. You need to make other living arrangements before then.”
Abby’s midsection trembled as her mother turned to glare at her.
“You ungrateful bitch!” she said, seething. “I have no other place to go, and I’m sick. You want to throw your own mother on the street?”’
Abby jumped from her chair, fury driving away all her anxiety.
“What have you ever given me to be grateful for?” she yelled. “You’re a terrible mother!”
“You’re just a spoiled brat. Always have been.”
“A spoiled brat?” Abby stared at her mother, incredulous. “You can’t be serious! You’re a cold, mean, deadbeat drug addict, and still all I’ve ever wanted was your love. I’ve done everything I can think of to get it. I’m supporting this entire household. You’ve brought smoking, drugs and even a child molester into my home against my wishes. But this time …” Abby’s voice quavered with emotion as she pointed at her mother. “This time, you’ve gone too far. Stealing from Audrey and Sara? They’re terrified that some intruder is going to come here tonight! I didn’t have the heart to tell them not to worry about it because you were the one who stole the Playstation.”
“Fine, yes, it was me! I needed some money, and you weren’t here,” Kathy said. “I’ll buy them another one.”
“No,” Abby shook her head sadly. “This is it. You have a week.”
“Fine, I’ll go! You’re such a selfish bitch that it won’t bother you to have all the money you could ever want while your own mother scrapes by on government assistance.”
“It won’t bother me,” Abby said dispassionately. “I didn’t bust my ass for that money so you could spend it on drugs. You need help.”
“Tell the movers they’ll be taking Audrey and Sara’s things, too,” Kathy said, watching for Abby’s reaction.
“I already thought of that, Mom,” she said. “I’m calling an attorney tomorrow to have custody paperwork drawn up. I want you to give me custody of the girls.”
Kathy’s face curled into a sneer and Abby held up a hand to keep her from responding.
“I’ll give you $1,000 to leave them when you go and another $5,000 after the paperwork is signed.”
“You think I’ll just give them to you for a little money?” Kathy scoffed. “It’ll cost you a lot more than that, Abby.”
“That’s my only offer. Take the girls to spite me if you want, but you won’t get any money. I survived you; they will, too.”
“You think you’re so high and mighty with your rich doctor boyfriend?” Kathy spat bitterly. “You’re still trash, Abby.”