AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No.” She shook her head. “You want to be her friend. That’s why you’re pacing on my front porch overthinking everything right now.”
“What if she doesn’t want to be my friend?”
“For a man who’s good at reading people, you sure missed this mark, huh?” Maple laughed. “Don’t be so naïve, Damian. Stella has been trying to be your friend from day one.”
I grimaced and thanked her for the advice even though it didn’t seem helpful at all. AsI began to leave, I hesitated and looked back at Maple, who wasback at her tarot cards. “Have you done readings on me?” I asked.
“Yes, I have.”
“And what have they told you?”
“What does it matter?” She smiled wide, the kind of smile a grandmother shared with her too young to understand grandchildren. “You don’t believe in this stuff anyway. Have a good day, Damian.”
For weeks,I’d been putting off meeting with any of the wicked stepmothers for as long as I could, but I finally had to face the fact that I had to meet each of them one-on-one. The first one up was Rosalina. She invited me to a musical, and I was somewhat grateful for that because it meant we didn’t have to talk to one another for a good two hours.
I couldn’t focus on the show, though. I found myself studying everything about her instead. Was that my nose? Did she have my side profile? I tapped my fingers when nervous, the same way she had during the performance? Was she nervous? If so, why? Because of the money? Because of the show? Because she was my mother?
Are you my mother, Rosalina?
After the show, we headed out for dinner. She ate a salad, and I had a ribeye steak. She went on and on about the acting in the show, judging the performers as if she could do better. I doubt she could. Then again, she could’ve been acting right now in front of me, pretending not to be my mother.
Are you my mother, Rosalina?
“So, what do you think?” she asked me, making me realize I’d been zoning out and overthinking everything without listening to the actual words coming out of her mouth.
“Hmm?”
“About Denise and Catherine. Who do you think is your mother?”
My stomach knotted up. “I’m not interested in speaking on the others.”
“Of course. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just mean, you deserve to know something like that. I couldn’t imagine how hard things were for you in your life.”
“Rather not talk about that either,” I grumbled.
She frowned, and I almost believed it. Then I reminded myself that she was an actress. The whole world was probably her stage.
“Are you interested in dessert?” the server asked.
“Oh, no. I don’t do sugar,” Rosalina said, waving him off. She turned to me. “That was the hardest part about living with Kevin and Stella. Stella was obsessed with sugar. It’s no surprise that she’s so big to this date.”
Piss off, Rosalina.
“I swear, every night, she was eating a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Shoving it into her mouth because it was her favorite. With a million rainbow sprinkles. I swear, she had enough for a whole company, and it shows on her body.”
“There’s nothing wrong with her body,” I coldly snapped.
She laughed and leaned in toward me. “Please, Damian, you don’t have to play nice. It’s no secret she’s massive. I bet she’s one scoop of ice cream away from diabetes.”
Please don’t be my mother, Rosalina.
I stood and left the table without giving her another word. Even if it turned out that woman was my mother, she’d never get a cent from Stella or me.
15
Stella
Eight Years Old
