Mother, What Have You Done?

Chapter 4: Questions

I stare at the photo for a good twenty minutes trying to figure out who the man is that is standing there. I have never seen him in my life and this just adds to more questions and secrets that I need answered. Who is he? Where did this photo come from? And how did someone even get a baby photo of me? I wish I could ask Mother, but I don’t want her to know that I am aware of her secret identity. Who knows what would happen to me.

As I pick up the other photos and put them back in the box, I hear Mother downstairs drunk and arguing with someone on the phone. I also hear her curse and hang up. She then proceeds to yell at no one and I hear her say Donald’s name. I guess she has not forgotten what today was.

It is now 11pm and I need to call Meredith. On the third ring she finally answers.

“Hey gorgeous, I have been waiting for you to call! How was the weekly dinner? I am sorry about today..” Meredith greets me and her voice gets low as she says the last part.

“Today has been really weird and I am not sure you are ready for what has happened.” I sound exhausted.

“Oooh you better start talking. I will stay up all night if I have to.” Meredith says.

I start from the beginning of how I found out my mother works for the cartel and how there were photos in a box in the garage that were not there before. I mention meeting Gregory and how annoying dinner was. I also let her know about the photo I just found of me and the strange man.

“Woah, wait! You mean you are sure that you haven’t ever seen him before? Do you think he is the one who left it? What if he is a killer? You should start locking your window. How did he even get to the second story?” Meredith is just as shook up as I am.

“I don’t know. There are so many unanswered questions and it is not like I can just ask Mother.” I have been trying to figure out how to get information, but I know one thing. Mother would never tell me anything truthful. I debated on showing her the photo, yet with the way she acts like I don’t exist unless we are in public and she is forced to acknowledge me, I know it would be pointless.

“I can stay the night after we go to the mall on Saturday and help you solve this mystery. You know I always loved Nancy Drew!” Meredith squeals. I honestly don’t think she has actually read a book in her life so I am surprised that she knows who Nancy Drew is. “Now tell me more about Gregory.. is he at least hot?”

Of course she would want to know that. Meredith is the typical sixteen year old girl. She loves rom-coms, boys, and shopping. She usually drags me along to parties and I end up having to pretend I am interested in some airhead boy so she can make out with his friend.

“He would be cute if he didn’t speak. And it was totally creepy the way he just stared at me the entire night.” I replied back.

“Well I would stare at that beautiful face all night too if I was him.” She always knows what to say to make me feel better.

We talk for another hour before I get off the phone. I get ready for bed and head downstairs to the kitchen for something to drink. As I grab a bottle of water, I see Mother sitting at the dining room table and she looks like she has been crying. Mother never shows emotions except anger. She notices me and gets up to walk away. Before she heads upstairs to her room, she turns and just shakes her head at me.

Today has been one of the most confusing days in the past two years. Tomorrow starts my journey for answers.