My Emerald

The Ties that Bind us

When Charlotte made it back home she found her mom passed out on the couch. She knew the hours she had been keeping just trying to keep everything going. Her dad stopped paying child support the day she turned 16 and had left her mother with all the debt from their marriage. She sighed wishing there was a way to unburden her from this. It was a constant reminder of the love she thought she had and she could see the toll it took on her mom. Not wanting to wake her, she pulled a blanket over her mom and set off to sort through the mail. “How can there be so many bills,” Charlotte thought to herself, looking back into the sitting room she had made her decision. She was going to change her career path and move forward with publishing. Her father should pick her tuition back up, taking the load back off of her mother, and she should be able to get some paid internships to help more with the bills. She stepped out into the back garden, finding her resolve, and called her father. She wasn’t surprised it went to voicemail, she left him a message asking him to call her back. She hung up and tried his office. His secretary had answered and immediately told her he was out for the week. Again Charlotte left a message asking her dad to give her a call, stating she agrees about her school and her career. Heading back inside to start making dinner as she was sure her mom would be picking up another shift tonight.

Heather woke up to the smell of chicken cooking and smiled inwardly. She didn’t know what she had done to get a husband like Gerald, but she would do it a thousand times over if it gave her Charlotte. She shrugs the blanket off, folding it back onto the settee before adding another log to the fire. Heading into the kitchen, she stepped right in to help Charlotte finish off dinner. Charlotte smiled, handing her mom a glass of wine. At this point, she was more like a sister than a mother and Charlotte couldn’t feel happier with their relationship. They talked over dinner about the girls' night out and Charlotte told her mom about Williams' smug behavior. Heather couldn’t help the coy smile that formed on her face, “sounds like you, my darling were the only one who couldn’t see how beautiful you are.” “OK on that note new topic” Charlotte never took compliments well, especially about her appearance. She was never a big girly girl who put a lot of effort into her look. “Have you spoken to your Dad lately?” Heather asked. Anxiety creeped in that maybe her mom wasn’t asleep and heard her calling him earlier. Sighing, Heather said, “Darling, I know you stress about me and money, but please, I don’t want our divorce to affect your relationship with him or your views of love. All I am saying is you two were inseparable before, don’t throw that away, ok” Dodged that one, she thought to herself. Charlotte had never told Heather about the encounters with her dad's new girlfriend, she knew she would take it as his way of attacking her. “I’m not mom, I called him earlier, he’s out of town.” She left out the part of his secretary having to tell her or the lack of any communication in weeks from him. “Oh good for him, vacations are important,” Heather said trying not to look flustered, “I picked up another shift tonight so I need to get going, if you need me call me darling.” She leaned down kissing Charlottes forehead before heading upstairs to get ready. Charlotte set off cleaning up dinner and boxing some food up for her mom to take in. “Love you,” she called out the door as Heather headed into work.

Charlotte grabbed another glass of wine and settled in on the settee with her laptop. She planned to use the night to finish her assignment since she was scheduled at the café in the morning. As she predicted, the assignment would be a breeze, she could feel every ounce of emotion Romeo and Juliet felt as they longed for the one they loved, the approval of their families and an end to the war amongst themselves. Just as she finished her outline, her phone lit up, DAD flashed across the screen.

“Hey Dad thanks for calling me back,” She tried to say hiding the surprise in her voice.

“What are you calling me for? Did you change your mind about school. What your mother can’t afford your tuition, can she?” He asked smugly.

Charlotte took a breath not taking the bate, Gerald was always fishing for information about how Heather was handling everything she wasn’t going to give him.

“Actually, I have not decided to change my major but rather a compromise and change my career choice, “she waited expecting the line to go dead, momentary relief when it didn’t, but still no response came. “I want to go into publishing Dad. It still requires an English major but is the business aspect which I feel satisfies your requirements?” She tried pleading her case with a confident voice. “What does your mother think?” was Gerald's only reply.

Charlotte rolled her eyes, “She doesn’t know this is only between you and me. Remember the agreement was if I went into business, something that made money, you would cover my tuition right?” She heard Gerald chuckle on the phone,

“That was the agreement, but I need reassurance you won’t waste my time not changing your major.” Chareltte laughed at the irony, he was the one not to be trusted, not her. Still she knew her mother needed the extra money right now. “what do you want dad?”. “My engagement announcement is happening next weekend at Daphne’s family estate, Her cousin is in publishing. You will come with us and accept an internship with him for a minimum of 12 months after you graduate.” Silence, he was engaged, he hadn’t thought of including her and this invitation seemed like an after thought as well. Hurt, she replied, “does it have to be next weekend?” it seemd her Dad had forgotten it would also be her 18th birthday. “Yes, take it or leave it. I have things to do.” He replied dryly. Charlotte tried to choke back the tears,

“Charlotte yes or no?” came his impatient request.

“Sure Gerald I’ll be there, just text me the information.”

She hung up the call before she could hear anymore. She was doing this for her mom. She kept telling herself, after she graduates, a 12 month paid internship would also be guaranteed, then they could both be free from him. He was no father to her and she would treat him with the same respect he had shown towards her since meeting Daphne. *Ding* her phone chimed as a message came through. Expecting to see something about her use of his name, Charlotte looked down to see the address, date and time, followed by one sentence – Try to be presentable and don’t embarrass me like your mother. She picked up the phone to call Nancy, all thoughts of finishing her paper gone.