Chapter 6

We are all standing in the lobby in awkward silence, each not knowing what to say. Whoever this man is, he looks really pissed off at my mother. The way she looking at him is a mixture of shock, slight longing, and worry. I am standing here on my Graduation day trying to comprehend my surroundings when the man in question glares viciously at my mother as he speaks.

My mother has dear caught in the headlights look "What did we do wrong, Luci?" My mother's mouth gapes like a fish out of water. "What did we do wrong? where did we go wrong? We have not heard from you in Twenty Years!" my mother is pale as a ghost. He continues reprimanding her "Now, I find out that I have a brilliant Granddaughter who is graduating top of her class and you had no thought to even tell us! Let alone that you are in a serious relationship with an important person! who happens to own one of the companies I WORK FOR!!!!" I stare in shock, I am meeting my Grandfather. She quietly asks "How did you find out?" He roars "THAT IS WHAT YOU ASK OR HAVE TO SAY!!!" She looks down ashamed. "I found out through one of the teachers! We have been friends for years!" he is so angry he is shaking "I was invited here because his son is Graduating. Then, I saw you and Hunter in the audience embracing a young woman." I am shaking my head.

I am incredulous listening to him, he did not deserve to learn the truth this was. I listen to him becoming disgusted with my mother "I enquired and they informed me it was the Valedictorian your daughter. Daughter! How could you! You deliberately isolated us from her life! I have not seen or heard from you since College!" My mother hangs her head and says in a low voice "I just wanted a break from your world, and the place where you live" he scoffs "Does that make it right? I would have thought that after you started a family, you would have at least informed us but, apparently, you do not love your own parents!" he shouts at her as she covers her face as if she is trying not to cry. Hunter stands on the sidelines not saying anything.

My mother never talks about family. I have always wondered why, I tried asking once but, again, she walked away. Did something happen? Did they have a fight? She has always taught me to love and respect family, did something go wrong with them in the past? Why would she totally isolate herself this way from her parents, was she really this cruel?

I speak to her with contempt "When you walked away in the past, I thought something happened! I used to ask you questions when I was little about if I have any other family, you only just walked away without saying anything." her father just stares at her with a look of horror and she glares at me, silently trying to tell me to shut my mouth, but I continue "No matter how much I asked, you ignored me, and avoided the entire conversation! I thought perhaps they all died, and it was too painful for you!" I snarled at her and she gives me a hard stare. I ask her "Why am I just meeting my Grandfather! for the first time at MY GRADUATION?! How cold-hearted are you that He found out without even being INVITED! YOU!" I ask her in anger, I know I am being disrespectful but, I am done caring right now.

She stares straight at me in shock then, anger glints in her eyes "Molly Ophelia Fawns! I will NOT be spoken to that way damn it! I am your mother! I raised you! You will show me respect!" I scoff "What about your father's respect?! Where is his, how could you do this to him?" "She screeches 'THIS DOES NOT CONCERN YOU!!! Stand Down Now Young Lady! MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!" I scream at her "That is all you EVER TELL ME!" I am so furious, this day has just been ruined for me!

She stares at me in fury, then before I know what happens, my cheek is throbbing in pain. Mom is shaking, and flexing her hand. She slapped my face. My Grandfather steps in "Lucinda, What the Hell is wrong with you? is this how you treat your own daughter?! I raised you better!" My mother looks lost, she is trying to think of a way out of this mess.  "Leave her out of it! There is nothing that she needs to know! I raised so she can have her own life." Her father stares at her incredulous "What is your problem! What did she ever do for you to lock her in the dark like this?" He asks her, and she is trying to ignore him. "You don't ever tell her anything, do you? She probably has no idea about us at all! Are you ashamed to have me as your father? I should disown you for this! You are not the daughter I raised, I do not know who you are! I am so glad your mother is not here to see what you have become!" 

My mother is crying, Hunter steps forward "Why don't we go to my house and away from listening ears so this does not cause a scene, which I am sure it already has started to? After all, this is Molly's Graduation day, let us not tarnish it any further." My Grandfather looks at him, as if analyzing him in a way that I do not comprehend, and finally agrees. 

My mind is plagued with questions that I need answers to.  It appears from what my Grandfather has said and expressed, there was no fallout between them that he is aware of. If that is the case, how could she abandon her family to the extent that they had no knowledge of my existence? Why is she hiding me from the world? It makes no sense! What could it mean?! 

We arrive at Hunter's house, I have been over here enough throughout the years that I already have my own room. I decide to give them some space to talk, it concerns me, however, I know this is something that should be private between them. I do not want to be caught anymore in the crossfire that I already am. I will wait until someone calls me down to be a part of the conversation. Right now, I am so done! With this day, with her Bullshit! I cannot wait for college! I can get away from her! I feel my body starting to shake in anger, the voice is back in my head telling me to ditch her with the "leech" and go live with my newly found Grandfather. I have no idea what the term "leech" means so, I ignore the voice again or try to. I just need to destress myself. This was supposed to be a happy day, and my mother turned it to shit. 

I lay on my bed and put my Beatles record on. At this moment, I feel a presence outside my window. I look around but, I do not see anyone. My inner voice is doing her happy dance again. I smell that amazing smell that calls deep inside my soul, it is so sweet and somehow addicting. Just like when I went to the Cambridge tour and met that sexy as fuck student. Right now, everything in me wants to crawl to it and bathe in the most intoxicating scent I have ever known. I roll over in my bed and hide under the covers, what the Fuck is wrong with me?