AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 1 Elle
“I’m going to kill him!”
I fumble for my keys. They always seem to be at the bottom of my bag when I need the damn things. I finally grab them, but my hand snags the handle of my bag as I drag them out, so the keys just drop onto the floor. I groan.
“For fuck’s sake!”
“You okay?”
“I just dropped my keys.” I bend over and pick up the offending objects, almost dropping both my bag and my cell phone at the same time. “I just want to kill Dad. I mean, who doesn’t stay for their spouse’s funeral.”
“Oh, honey. He really didn’t stay beyond the viewing?”
“No, he didn’t. He hightailed out of there as soon as the viewing was over.”
I couldn’t believe that my own father would be so callous. I knew he and Mom had not been on good terms lately, but neither of them would tell me anything about it. I just heard the shouting when I was home for the holidays. Well, Dad would shout. Mom would just cry. She had been very miserable towards the end of her life.
This just feels like the ultimate disrespect towards someone Dad claims to love by turning up to see her in her coffin before leaving. I have never felt so embarrassed before.
I unlock my car and get in, tossing my bag onto the passenger seat. Then I slump back against my seat and close my eyes. My headache is getting worse.
“God, I hate funerals. I want Mom back.”
“I know.” Carly sighs. “I wish there was something I could do to help. I feel awful that I can’t help from where I am. Ben and I could have come with you.”
I swallow. A hard lump in my throat is refusing to move. It’s been there ever since I got the call that Mom had passed away. The cancer had taken hold far quicker than anyone anticipated. I didn’t have any time to get home. Having my friends with me would have helped.
Too late now.
“I could have gotten time off to help. If only she’d told me…”
“What could you have done? Forced him to support her? You did tell her that your grandmother tried to get him to be there for your mom, and he just blew her off. Do you think you could have done any better?”
She has a point. I could not have gotten Dad to be there for Mom if Grandma couldn’t. But it still hurts knowing Dad didn’t give a shit about the woman he was married to.
“Look,” Carly goes on, “when you get back, why don’t we have a night in? We can get drunk and eat lots of junk food while watching soppy movies.”
“We’re not old enough to drink, Carly.”
“Who cares? We’ll be in our house, and given what you’ve been through it would be understandable.” Carly pauses. “We’ll do something for you, whatever you want.”
What I want is for Mom to be alive and home with Dad. But I know I won’t get my wish. However, Carly’s offer sounds very tempting.
“Okay. I don’t know when I’m getting back. I’ve got to sort through Mom’s stuff with Dad.”
“Take your time. Whenever you get back. Ben and I will be ready for you.”
“Thanks, Carly.”
“I’d better go. I’ve got to get back to class.” Carly’s voice softens. “Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will.”
Carly hangs up. I lower my phone to my lap and close my eyes. The headache is getting worse, and I really want it to stop. This is too much for me. I have cried so much during the funeral service, watching my mother’s coffin go through the curtain, and I don’t think I have anything more to let out.
Except anger. Towards Dad. I am angry with him for deserting Mom at this time. Everyone noticed, and I am embarrassed that people came up to me asking where Dad was.
When I find him, he is going to explain himself. I will not take flimsy excuses.
