CHAPTER THREE: ABSENTEE MOTHER
1110 Words
It was about 3 o’clock in the afternoon when I turned, finding myself on the bed. I had slept till noon the next day after being two days starved of sleep.
The calm music coming from down the hall made me wake up. I almost thought I was hearing the music in my dreams. I came down from the bed, not realizing for how long I had slept.
The sounds kept coming and coming. I fastened my clothes, my head pounding.
The shock that I felt seeing people trooping in and out of my house, all in white.
I stepped down the stairs slowly. I still couldn’t place my head on what was going on...at least not yet.
"I'm so sorry, Craig, for the loss of your brother’s child, Olivia. This is such a hard pill to swallow. Take heart, son," a man said as he shook his hands and patted him on the shoulder.
He sniffed. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate you coming. She was like my child… in fact, she is my child. This is so hard."
"And please, where is her mom? Vanessa… I couldn't seem to find her around," the wife of the man asked.
Craig finally took off his glasses and widened his eyes like someone trying to cage invisible tears.
"Doesn't that tell you how good of a mother she is?" he answered sarcastically.
Putting back his glasses, he continued.
"A mother who loved the runways more than her daughter. She’s always neglected her when she was alive and ever ready to speak… how much more now when she can't speak."
The couple glanced at each other, then back toward where I stood.
They had wanted to wait behind to see me and tender their condolence, but it was obvious they had an immediate disdain for me because of what Craig said.
They turned to leave.
I was standing some distance behind them.
They greeted me casually and left.
I was still in oblivion.
I know Craig can be insane, but holding my own child's wake without my consent is the height of it.
Thankfully my assistant, Cathy, came toward my direction.
"What's going on here? I hope it isn't what I think it is."
"Ma'am… it is exactly what you think it is. Mr. Craig came in this morning with some event people and had all this set up for Olivia's wake while you were still fast asleep."
"Why didn't you try waking me when he was setting up this nonsense?" I asked in anger.
"Ma'am, I tried multiple times to wake you, but you just wouldn't wake up. I had to stop trying when I realized you hadn't slept for two days now. And I tried talking to him… but you know how he can be."
I looked around the whole place...people trooping in and out.
I tried to keep the fury I was feeling, probably till the guests were gone.
I still hadn't met Craig's gaze again.
I tried looking out for him, but he was nowhere in sight.
I went around greeting guests I did not invite and taking condolences I didn't require.
Most of the guests were Craig's, and it made me even more exhausted.
I didn't want my daughter's wake now...and especially not like this.
Shortly after, I heard voices outside the house, more like someone talking to a group of people.
I came to see what was going on.
And behold...Craig was telling the media how much of an absentee mother I was.
The media? What are they even doing here?... I thought
He kept shading me in every line of his conversation and would dramatically dab a tissue under his glasses at random.
I was still trying to understand the amount of hatred Craig and his family had towards me.
I couldn't find his mom at the event.
Neither could I find his wife.
And immediately the media people sighted me.
Their full attention turned to me before I could say a word.
They started throwing poking questions.
"Mrs. Vanessa, did you intentionally get your daughter out of the way for Richard's full inheritance?"
"Vanny, are you a deadbeat mother? Explain to us why you forgot your daughter's wake!"
The questions kept coming and coming, each more ridiculous than the last.
And there, on the other end, was Craig, standing and dabbing unproductive tears.
I was so stunned.
My mouth opened, but words couldn't come out.
I didn't like the media on my personal matters I've never called them or grant interviews that'll include my family. Craig knew this, why did he choose to put me in the spot?... especially at this crucial time of my life.
I was not done with the anger of him holding my daughter's wake without my consent, now this?
I tried to control what I felt...anger, pain, or both of them.
My anger became unbearable.
I knew what my anger was like and I'm trying everything possible to control it but when I looked toward Craig's direction again.
He let out a mischievous smirk.
I got mad, knowing he initiated the questions the media were poking at me with their cameras and microphones.
And I started crashing things, ordering them to leave.
I pulled and smashed every camera and microphone I could lay my hands on.
I was outrageous, and it showed in every form.
The people inside the house had to come out because of the noise, and some left in fear.
I was mad and unable to be tamed.
Just in the midst of the fury, my mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law drove in.
"What madness is this, Vanessa?" my mother-in-law asked.
Lady Evelyn.
At that point, I couldn't care less.
I didn't even notice them.
"Get out! Get out of my husband's house, all of you! I didn't invite any of you, did I? She's my daughter! I don't need anybody here!"
I yelled, wailed, and roared.
Lady Evelyn looked at me with eyes that seemed to pierce deep into my soul.
She said nothing.
She fastened her hand fan and walked away with her daughter-in-law, Stacey.
I watched them leave.
The media.
Family.
Friends that were not mine.
Everyone.
I didn't want my daughter's wake or laying down until her killer was found.
And Craig came and made me stand like a fool in the midst of people...making everyone think I fixed a date and forgot it while he did everything himself.
But immediately after my display, I regretted everything.
I know the media.
I know someone might have captured my outburst.
And being famous, I just knew they were about to make the worst of it.
- Writer
