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It was ironic. All these people, her friends’ parents, people she’d only met a handful of times, were making arrangements to come to her wedding. But not her parents. Vada thought she’d moved past it. And she’d tried. She’d made a point of not bringing it up to anyone since the incident with Allie. It was over.
But was it?
It could’ve been had she truly believed that her parents’ only objection was her marrying Hades. No. This was bigger than her wedding. Long before she’d ever met Hades, she’d been subjected to a lifetime of being shoved into the background, being discarded, and never being considered a priority. Treatment like that took its toll on people, especially when she had no idea why. Sure, she was different, a little quirky, nothing like her siblings or who her parents wanted her to be. But there had to be something else, right? Before coming to Ghosttown, she’d done everything that was expected of her. Her parents, mainly her father, had full control over her. And still, it wasn’t enough. Why? Vada had questioned it in the past and let it go. She’d never gotten an answer. Then again, she’d never actually asked.
Had Vada been in a different state of mind, of rational thinking, she might’ve reconsidered her next decision. But… Now is as good a time as any to make that call.
Vada grabbed her glass, chugged the last remnants of the pussy drink, and slammed the glass on the table. She grasped the table and pushed out her chair with such force it garnered everyone’s attention. It hadn’t been her intention, but the fire in her belly was leading her actions. All conversation at the table ceased as she reached into her bag and grabbed her phone. Vada didn’t bother addressing the women and excusing herself. She was a woman on a mission.
“Where are you going?” Trista asked.
“I have to do something.”
“What’s the matter?” Trista grabbed her hand, and Vada pulled away, stood, and wobbled to her side.
“Nothing.” She kept walking through the crowded room.
Nothing? How about everything? This was the wake-up call she may have needed, but she certainly didn’t want it. This would force her to take a good, hard look at her life and who she was. Vada was in a dangerous place. Overly emotional and intoxicated was the worst combination. Loss of inhabitations made people do things they’d never do in a clearheaded, sober state. She was sober enough to know it but too drunk to rationalize logic.
As she pushed open the front door of the clubhouse, she pulled up her contact list. She tapped the screen and brought the phone to her ear. It rang three times, and Vada was sure it would go straight to voicemail.
“Vada?” Her mother had obviously been sleeping. Her voice was groggy and low. The fact that she answered at this hour was a miracle. Vada pressed the phone against her ear and heard shuffling in the background. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
Vada drew to a stop, caught off guard. Am I okay? The obvious concern in her mother’s tone was throwing her off. Was her mother worried?
No. Vada refused to get sidetracked and needed to stick to her agenda.
“Why won’t you come to my wedding?”
The line was silent as Vada paced around the gravel lot, kicking up stones and causing a dust storm. Vada didn’t care. I don’t care about anything right now. Except for the truth. “Why? And don’t use Hades’ past as an excuse. He’s not your scapegoat, and I won’t allow him to be used that way. Now tell me the real reason.”
“Do you know what time it is?” Her mother’s scolding tone almost had her backing down. Almost.
“No,” Vada snorted. “No, Mom, I don’t know the time. It doesn’t matter. Just answer the question. Why won’t you come?”
“Where are you?”
Vada blinked and glanced around the lot. “The clubhouse for my bachelorette party.”
“I’m hanging up now. I’ll speak to you at a decent hour.”
“Just say it,” Vada blurted.
“I’ll speak to you in the morning.”
“No,” Vada snapped. “Just tell me now.”
“What would you like me to say?”
“The truth!” Vada shouted, gripping tightly to the phone. “Just tell me that you’re not coming because I’m a failure in your eyes. Because everything I’ve done, all the things I did to make you and Dad proud, weren’t enough. I’m not enough! I want to hear you say it.”
“Vada, have you been drinking?”
“Yes! And lots. So much so that I’ll probably puke and pass out in the next ten minutes, which gives you plenty of time to answer the damn question.”
Liquid courage was real and sometimes necessary.
“C’mon, Mom. You’ve got nothing to lose.” Her breath caught in her throat, making it almost impossible to swallow. “Just tell me what I could have done to make you see me? Just tell me. I did everything I was told to do; even when I didn’t want to, I did it. But it didn’t matter, right? Because everything I did was never going to be good enough for you or Dad.”
