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Abigail pulled the left earbud out. “That’s nice of you, but he has to have an entry form for the piece. Do you think I should call-”
"I don't know, Mom. I'm just being nice and taking it for him. It’s not like they’re going to throw it away. They’ll still show it in the exhibition. They’re displaying all student art regardless of being judged or not.” Birdie shoved in the earbud, sealing Abigail out.
"Guess we can do that," Abigail said, pulling away from the curb, heading for the subdivision exit. Birdie's mood had once again changed. Weather conditions ten minutes ago- balmy. Present conditions- freezing drizzle.
After several minutes, Abigail tapped Birdie's shoulder. "I'd love to see how your drawings turned out."
"Why? I won't win. Nicholas Severson's stuff's much better and he's in my division."
"Don't think that way."
Birdie started tapping on the new iPhone her father had bought her last week,ignoring Abigail.
"Birdie."
"How many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to be called Birdie anymore. Besides none of the other parents get to see their child’s work. Just wait until tonight. Be fair.”
Abigail didn’t know whether to smack her daughter or apologize. She wasn’t asking to be treated special. Just decent. “Fine. I’ll see it tonight.”
Her daughter grunted, still staring at the damn phone.
“You know, it’s hard being a mom.”
Birdie didn't move. "So you remind me all the time. If I'm so hard to deal with, maybe I should go live with Dad."
Abigail's heart dropped into her stomach and bounced several times. "Do you want to live with him?"
"Maybe. I'm tired of living in a hotel."
Abigail wanted to punch the steering wheel. "I thought you loved Laurel Woods."
"I do, but I want a house like a normal kid, and it's obvious I'm in your way. You don't want Dad, but you want some man in your life."
"That's not true".
Birdie looked up. "You were hooking up with Leif."
"Leif and I were friends." Not a total lie. Just a half truth.
"Just friends?" Birdie asked, her voice dropping in temperature.
Abigail didn't want to lie to her daughter, but she wasn't going to admit to sleeping with her art teacher. The way Birdie saidhooking upmade what Abigail had shared with Leif sound sleazy when it had been anything but. But maybe Birdie, like so many others, would see only black or white. They would never see the healing the relationship had given Abigail, and they would never see the tenderness, the laughter, and the sheer goodness of being with Leif. "I told you that my love life-or lack of one- is off the books. Now, we need to get to the festival grounds and then to Fancy and Pops's house."
"Nice avoidance tactic," Birdie muttered, again tapping on her phone, "but as you remember, I'm not a little kid anymore, and I know what people do even when they say they’re not.”
Abigail curled her hands around the steering wheel and started driving, deciding that this conversation was going nowhere. Leif and Abigail’s refusal to open the door to Cal was a sticking point for Birdie. She’d get over it soon. But right now, Abigail didn’t have time for drama. She'd been reading books for the past year on dealing with rebellious teens and last week she'd spent time visiting with another mother who had a daughter Birdie's age. She'd assured Abigail the surging hormones were normal for a nearly teenaged daughter. Pairing that with Cal coming home and the fact Birdie seemed to have withdrawn from her friends meant a rockier than-normal ride for a while.
God help her, but Abigail felt plum tired when it came to being a parent these days.
So she remained silent while she drove the last few miles into town. Pulling up at the gate to the fairgrounds, she shut off the car. “Do you need help entering these pieces?”
Birdie gave her a flat look. “I can do it myself. You can wait here.”
“Fine. Here's the check for the entrance fee. It's only enough for the two entries. You may want to ask if Hayden paid his fee for his painting.”
Birdie stared at her for several seconds looking indecisive. Then she lifted her chin, climbed out, and retrieved the three works from the backseat.
Abigail sat there for a full fifteen minutes waiting before texting Birdie.
