“Men’s shoes? Were those from all the husbands from the past, or was she catching strays when they came to the door and sucking the souls right out of them, leaving only their clothes?”
Reese paused, then replied deadpan, “Definitely the second one. I bet that’s how her liver held out for so long.”
Only her best friend could understand how she could talk like that about her mother. Haley had seen firsthand how evil Joyce was, and that inappropriate humor softened the trauma of the past.
“That and spite.”
They broke out laughing, the act making her shoulders feel a little lighter.
“How is the sports thing going?”
“It’s actually going great. Addison is doing fantastic. If only I could keep her dad from losing his mind anytime the ref makes a call. I swear he and some other parents forget that these are kids and it’s not the Olympics.”
“It’s all or nothing in the South, you know that. People have to live vicariously and sometimes viciously through their children.”
“True. I guess I should just be happy that no one’s hit each other.”
“Yet.”
“Yet. So, speaking of the sports. Since Addison is doing so well and we haven’t spent a lot of family time outside of sports, we’ve decided to stay a couple more days. There’s a great kids’ museum with interactive exhibits and a zoo we’re going to explore.”
Reese’s heart dropped. She stared down at herself. Cobwebs, dirt, and sweat covered her. “Oh.”
Haley’s voice was laced with guilt. “I’m so sorry, Reese. I know you were relying on us to get back in time to shower. I feel awful about it.”
“No worries. Don’t you dare feel bad. I’ll be just fine.”
“I just feel so bad. I could ask my mother-in-law if you can use hers. You’ve met her before at our wedding, remember?”
Well, this really was a new low. At what point in her life did she start having to rely on the kindness of strangers to take care of her basic hygiene? First Matty and now a woman she’d met once. It was pathetic.
She mustered up as confident and convincing a voice as she could. “Hal’s, don’t sweat it. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” She could hear the plea for confirmation in her best friend’s voice.
“Of course I’m sure. I was thinking about signing up for the gym by Kroger anyway. It’s got a shower.” The lie came out far smoother than she should have been comfortable with, but when raised by a narcissist, one tended to learn from the best.
“Awesome, I feel better then.”
“Good. I should probably get back to work. Let me know if any parents get into a brawl. No, wait, take a video and send it to me.”
Haley laughed. “Deal.”
They said their goodbyes and hung up.
Her head dropped. This was a nightmare she couldn’t seem to wake up from.
A few hours later, she was about to call it a day. She had been working all day, the spring evening sun was starting to set, and her stomach was growling something awful. The turkey and cheese sandwich she had for lunch was long gone. She thought of Matty and her goulash. That sounded delicious. Far tastier than whatever she ordered from DoorDash.
As she was sitting down at the newly discovered couch to browse her dinner options, she heard a crunch of paper. For a brief moment, she thought about not reaching between the cushions to see what it was. She was sure she knew already. She had found so many so far.
“Goddamn it, Joyce.”
With a slight tremor to her hand, she tugged the already familiar piece of lined notebook paper out, then unfolded it.
Her mother’s familiar looping scroll greeted her. Or rather, spat at her.
April 14th or something like that. Does it matter anymore?
