Goodbye, Good Girl
Page 30
But she had to ask herself if she should tell her sisters. They were old enough to notice the new car, her clothes, her hair, her tan. She had to admit to herself that she had changed too much to hide her new income. Could she tell them she was waiting tables? Maybe at a really nice restaurant? Would they believe that?
The harder question still lingering was if she could live with lying to her sisters, knowing that either could eventually discover the truth somehow––then it would be hard to rebuild trust.
Kandace met her sisters at Vivian’s house just after eight, arriving to a multitude of questions about her trip. No one asked about their dad, so she presumed everyone knew about the fallout and were told not to talk about it. Or rightfully didn’t want to. And who could blame them? With him, there was little to discuss. He had essentially scratched himself off the family roster.
All the same, Kandace hugged her sisters like she hadn’t seen them in years. And it felt tremendous to reconnect. Amelia seemed more assertive, surer of herself. Coral was all about her soccer team and her circle of friends. Much like dance had been Kandace’s circle for years during high school, Coral had that same supportive group.
Later that night, she saw her friends, who had all but insisted they get together, now that Kandace was back to town. Adriana, Rachelle, Mckenzie and Kandace went out for a girl’s night—Adriana arranged the whole thing on the context of mystery and intrigue. Her friends asked about the trip and wanted to see photos and they couldn’t stop talking about how amazing Kandace looked. Her tan. And her hair. Who did it? And her clothes. What fashion boutique did she knock over? She kept her answers vague and her friends didn’t press.
They loved the new car, upon which Adriana helped bestow the name of Rockville, which no one really liked but Kandace thought it was better than calling the car by its color. She stayed out with her girlfriends until two am and slept at Vivian’s, on the bed opposite Amelia’s.
The following morning, Amelia and Coral rode with Kandace to pick up Ginger from the rehabilitation center. They enjoyed their time together and talked about school, gossip and upcoming events. Games. Concerts. How the local scene was changing.
Ginger beamed and Kandace wondered if getting out of rehab meant as much to her as seeing her daughters. Light conversation took them home, and Kandace realized that though her sisters knew their father had all but forgotten them, they were both living as though unaffected by any of it.
For dinner, Kandace prepared chicken saltimbocca like her father used to make. When the dishes were done, games were finished, the movie had ended, Coral and Amelia were off to bed.
“Look, Mom. I know you want to know about school…”
Ginger turned her attention toward her daughter. “I’m in no hurry. Tell me when you’re ready.” She paused a moment, changing positions on the sofa. “How soon will you leave, do you think?”
“Semester starts January 12th. We’ve got a while together… before I need to leave.”
“How long will you stay here?”
Kandace raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“I know that you need to work and save your money for school. Heaven knows I’m tapped out. The insurance won’t pay diddly-squat and somehow everything got covered.” She huffed. “Your father insists he didn’t send more money so that must have been you, I’m guessing, so thank you, but you don’t have to pay for my expenses.”
“Quit worrying about money, Mom. The insurance will pay for everything in the end. You’ll see.”
“At least it’s taken care of for now. So, have you picked out a college? Are you off to Philadelphia?”
“St. Louis.”
Her mother was quiet several moments. “That makes sense for you, I suppose.”
“Why do you say that? Washington University is a great school.”
“I’m sure the school is a good choice. It’s the environment that worries me. And what if your income goes down, then what?”
“I can transfer if I have problems. I’ve thought it through. Besides, if I went to UPenn I’d still dance. I can’t afford school otherwise. I’m saving up so I won’t have to work much during the semester.”
“Your dad is determined to pay for your school costs.”
“All because I’m dancing. He wasn’t so ambitious before three weeks ago.”
She smiled. “That’s the way your father is. He has to have a fire to fight.” She paused before saying, “So, Washington University. A private school. How nice.”
Kandace couldn’t help feeling happy at her decision. “I’m registering for classes in a couple days. Can’t wait.”
“I’d offer to take you shopping for clothes, but you seem to have that well covered these days.”
Kandace shrugged. “Yeah. It’s a weakness. But I wanted to ask you when Amelia and Coral weren’t around about what happened, about what you can remember.”
“About what?”
“The day the man came to the house. Looking for Dad.”
Her mother’s brow creased. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“The day you went to the hospital, the ER. The ambulance.”
“Oh. Yes. Well. I’d been sitting up on the bed, I think. Or I was trying to sit up. And I’d gotten my cord tangled, or stuck. And I couldn’t get Amelia or anyone to help, so I had to take off my monitors, like I do when I go to the bathroom, and I’d knocked over my pills and spilled them… maybe I got the order wrong. Why? Someone came to the house for your father?”
“Yeah. I… thought you knew.”
“I don’t remember anyone. I think I’d taken my pills because it hurt too much to get up and move around and then I think I tried to leave the bed and just couldn’t get up. And I must have passed out there.”
“You don’t remember anyone at the house? Ringing the doorbell?”
She paused a moment, watching Kandace as though trying to remember and figure out what her daughter wanted at the same time. “Not that I can recall, no. Now that you mention it, someone was at the house? On the same day I went to the hospital?”
“Yeah. Crazy thing is, he helped me find Dad, in the end. I never would have left for California if it hadn’t been for him.”
Ginger watched her daughter a beat. “Oh. Well, good. I’m glad everything turned out okay for that much. And hon, there’s no changing your dad. He is who he is.”
Kandace sighed. “I know, Mom. I’ve accepted that he’s got his own priorities and I’ve moved on. We’ll take care of ourselves. You’re on the mend, now that you’ve finished rehab. You’re off the hard pain pills because of rehab.”
“I’m not totally out of the woods, but I'm much better off than I had been, for sure. I’m able. I can get around on my own, take care of the house, you girls.”
Kandace and her mother talked at length about the future, about their schedule, about her recovery. About her sisters and their school schedule and when they might all get away together—Kandace could see to that herself. She didn’t have to wait on anyone else’s permission anymore.
They talked about home. And about pleasant things and memories. And how Ginger, who had grown dependent on her eldest daughter for support during the last year, would finally be able to sustain on her own.
Then, at last, Kandace could collect herself and leave, knowing that her goodbye wasn’t final, and at last, her family was taken care of.
Author's Note
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading and I hope you've enjoyed my work. I have a favor to ask of you: if you would share about your experience. Leaving reviews greatly helps indie writers such as myself find a voice for our craft, and your opinion counts. I've posted the links below. Again, thank you for reading my work.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Ch
apter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Author's Note