Lucky Firecracker

Veronica Today has already started out badly. First thing this morning, I walked into the kitchen to see that my daughter Jenny was already awake, and on her iPad again. My only thought was: Oh, great. I’m sure her Aunt Vicky has already noticed. Jenny and I had been staying at the family ranch in Plattsville for a few weeks now, ever since I left Billy. Although she had adjusted better than I feared, most of her time was spent with her head buried in that damn iPad. Since she was age seven going on seventeen, there didn’t seem to me to be much I could do about her love of technology. To be honest, mostly I was just glad she wasn’t crying in her room all the time, missing her dad and her normal life back in the city. But my sister, of course, couldn’t stand to see Jenny on that thing, which is why I was not looking forward to an upcoming confrontation. I’m pretty sure it would be about the hundredth one we’d had about this topic. Vicky had always been matronly and matriarchal, but she took that trait to new heights when I had to move back home. Will I ever hear the end from her of how wrong I was to leave in the first place? I asked myself for the millionth time. Doubtful. “Roni,” she called out to me sure enough, as soon as I entered the room. “Don’t you think Jenny is spending too much time on that thing? I’ve already told her, but she doesn’t listen, so perhaps a word from her mother is in order.” I gave her a non-response. It wasn’t only because this was the umpteenth time she’d mentioned it, but it was also because I didn’t like to respond to “Roni.” The name is Veronica. “Roni” is the name of some burned out waitress at a truck stop. Plus, I was too focused on my upcoming job interview today to pay her any attention. The last thing I needed was to completely ruin my already breaking-down nerve by fighting with my sister yet again. “Here you go,” said Vicky, sliding a plate full of an enormous breakfast in front of me. “Eggs over easy, French Toast, sausage, biscuits, bacon and home fries! Ooo, and don’t forget the orange juice.” “You know I can’t eat all of this, right?” I said. “This is enough food for four people, Vic.” “It’s Vicky,” she corrected. “Share it with Jenny if it’s too much.” “Jenny, do you want—” “No, thanks,” said Jenny, bailing out of the conversation early. My daughter. She had a sixth sense about these things. Although it didn’t take a genius to see that Vicky was that kind of an overbearing, superior person. For Jenny, Aunt Vicky had her uses. When she wanted something laundered or something to eat, Jenny was all about her. But when it came time for Vicky to dispense her advice, my daughter would evaporate like morning fog. She was so wise for her years. “Did you forget you had an interview with Cole today?” asked Vicky. “Um, I’m dressed up,” I noted. “Kinda thought it would be obvious that I remembered.” “But that top is so…low cut, don’t you think?” she suggested. “You don’t want to give him the wrong impression at the interview. He might think you want to sleep your way to the top.” “Vicky!” “Well, I’m not saying you would do that,” she acknowledged. “It’s just that—Well, it is a low cut top.” “It is totally appropriate for a job interview,” I insisted. “I know you’re trying to help, Vicky, but—” “You know, I might have a top. In fact, I think I know I do!” said Vicky, putting down her spatula and taking off her apron. “Let me go into the closet and find something better for you to wear. I’ll be right back!” There was no way I was wearing one of Vicky’s frumpy mom tops to a job interview—or anywhere outside, or inside, for that matter. The moment she reached the back bedroom, I abandoned breakfast and prepared to jump ship. “C’mon, Jenny,” I whispered. “But you didn’t finish breakfast,” she whined. “A lumberjack couldn’t finish that breakfast,” I quipped. “Let’s get lost.” “But Aunt Vicky—” “Has nothing that fits me,” I told her, coming up with the best excuse I could think of on the spot that didn’t involve me insulting her aunt’s wardrobe. It was true, too. I was a big girl—with curvy hips and large bust. My sister was of the petite and thin variety. “Ever,” I added, suddenly fearing that I might somehow manage to lose weight or my sister would miraculously gain weight and then my daughter would think it appropriate for us to share clothes. Either scenario was unlikely, but I guess they could happen. Vicky had always been slim no matter what she ate, although it didn’t hurt that she tended to eat like a bird, whereas my eating habits were more like those of a caveman after a hibernation period and while threatened with extinction. “Remember that, okay?” I continued. “If I die, just promise not to bury me in something belonging to your aunt.” “Okay,” vowed Jenny. “But that’s a tad dramatic and over the top, Mom.” I felt a little guilty skipping out on Vicky. I mean, she did take me in after things with Billy fell apart. Not that she would ever let me forget that fact. Yes, she had warned me about Billy—lots of people did. But you know how it is when you’re in love. You blind yourself to the red flags. You’re young and swept up and—Well, not much could have changed my mind at the time; especially not my overbearing sister. Billy was a good guy before he lost his job. I wanted him to cope, but he just drank. I told myself to stop thinking about him as Jenny and I rushed out the front door. We ran a good distance from the house and started walking toward town. My sister would probably be in the bedroom for several minutes before she realized we were gone. By that time, it would be too late to chase us down in the car. She was nice, but I wouldn’t put it past her. “Mom, why do we have to walk?” whined Jenny. “Aunt Vicky has a car.” “I already owe Aunt Vicky too many favors,” I said, trying to explain. “We’ll be fine. You could use the exercise.” “Speak for yourself,” she complained. “I’m going to leave you with Aunt Violet at the diner,” I reminded her. “Then you can play on your iPad and talk back to her.” “I’m sorry, Mommy. I didn’t mean to be a b-word.” “Just chill out, okay? We’re all adjusting to this new situation.” “Will I ever see Dad again?” she asked, out of the blue. Boy, how I hated this question. And my own inability to answer it in a way that she’d like. “Not for a while, at least,” I said. “Daddy has some…issues to deal with. Until then, he’s off limits.” She signed, signaling that she’d heard this before but still liked to ask anyway, just in case my answer might change. By then, we’d arrived at the diner. Violet had just finished taking a trucker’s order. “Hey guys,” she greeted us with a smile. Then, she turned to Jenny. “You coming to visit me, little one?” Jenny nodded, suddenly shy. “Thanks for watching her,” I said. “I didn’t want to leave her with Vicky.” “She makes me dry dishes,” Jenny complained. “Yeah, she makes everyone do stuff like that,” agreed Violet. “She can be a tough cookie, that’s for sure.” Then, looking in my direction again, she added, “It’s not a problem. Good luck on the interview.” “Thanks.” “Jenny? You want some pancakes? Can she have pancakes?” asked Violet. “Sure,” I said. “Just don’t let her overdo it on the syrup. She’ll waste it all.” “No, I won’t,” Jenny insisted. I headed out for my interview. I probably could’ve swallowed my pride and asked Vicky for a ride, and then I wouldn’t be getting sweaty in the hot sun. People who worked in law offices like the one my interview was at were expected to have cars. It would look pretty bad if I showed up at an interview like someone who couldn’t even afford a car—even though that’s exactly the kind of someone I was at this point in my life. Vicky would probably let me borrow hers to go to work, in exchange for whatever mental anguish and constant reminders it would cost me. But I tried to limit the favors I asked her for, considering that she’d already done so much for us, since the ranch was technically in her name and she had lived in it all that time that I was away, and also considering how much she loved to rub the fact that she’d done so much for us in my face every chance she received. I had been through a lot in my lifetime. And I couldn’t help but think that some of it was self-induced. I couldn’t even think about the bruises and scars I’d endured from Billy without wanting to kick myself for not leaving him sooner. But the last thing I needed was my sister reminding me of that all the time. I was hard enough on myself, without her butting in and berating me. All I wanted was to get a job and a life of my own—to start fresh again, with Jenny. Hopefully this interview would go well, and I would be able to afford my own car to drive myself to work. Chapter 2