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“Lovely greeting.” She smiled wanly, tiny wrinkles cracking the skin around her dark green eyes.
“Well, you’ll have to excuse me for that. It’s been a very long time since we’ve seen you. I must be out of practice.”
She half-laughed, half-sighed, which came out as a strangled snicker. We were off to a great start.
“How long are you staying?” I asked, moving to the fridge to get a glass of water, as much to relieve my thirst as to avoid eye contact.
“So welcoming, too. Thanks, Lana,” she said, full-on sarcasm dripping from her melodious voice. “I’m not sure. A week, maybe? The main building at the collective is undergoing some much-needed maintenance, so I seized the opportunity to come out and visit my girls.”
Lucky us, I thought, although I somehow managed to hold the words inside. Bethany shot me a pleading look behind our mother’s shoulder, but I had no idea what to do.
“Not great timing, unfortunately,” I said, leaning against the counter. I had no desire to sit and have a long chitty-chat with the woman who’d abandoned us the first chance she got. “I’m off today, but have to work tomorrow morning.”
“You’re not still teaching school?” our mother asked, narrowing her eyes as if to catch me in some egregious lie.
“I am. But during the summer I teach swim lessons. To help pay the rent, you know. Since we don’t all live in collectives.”
She bristled, shifting in her chair. “What about you, Beth?”
Bethany swallowed, clasping and unclasping her hands on the table. She’d always been tongue-tied around our mother, which was so unlike the quick-witted, take-no-bullshit Bethany I knew.
“Um, I work full-time, too. From home. I’m a web developer.”
“I see. Well, I’m sure the two of you can squeeze me into your busy lives for a week.”
I held my eye roll in check, my stomach knotting.Like she’d fit us into her busy life?
“And we have today. What should we do?” She glanced first at Beth, then at me.
“Let’s go to the beach,” I said, mostly because I couldn’t think of anything else.
“Sounds good. I’ll go put on my swim suit.” Bethany popped up from the table, scurrying back towards her bedroom as fast as she could.
“Lana, I put my suitcase in your room; I hope that’s alright.”
I swallowed hard, working to tamp down the rising irritation bubbling up in my chest.
“Sure. You go ahead and get ready. I’ll wait here.”
“Thank you.” She rose, following in Beth’s footsteps, leaving me alone in the kitchen.
My phone buzzed. I glanced down and saw a text from Grant.
Everything ok?
L: Eh. Sort of. My mom popped in for a surprise visit
G: Not a good surprise, I’m guessing?
L: Bingo
G: When can I see you again?
L: IDK. She’s going to be here a week, apparently
G: I can’t wait that long
L: Me neither. Plus she’s sleeping in my bedroom. So I guess I’ll be on the couch
