Same Old Truths (10 page)

“Don’t worry, Honey. You’re not going to get in trouble. I promise,” Kay said trying to soothe her daughter, not exactly sure if she could keep the promise.

Mariah stood on the stair step, not moving. She searched her mother’s eyes for a moment before dropping her gaze to the floor. Kay knew there was something else, but she stopped herself from asking.

Finally, Mariah spoke in a small voice Kay could barely hear. “Mommy…when Sandy got mad at me I messed my pants.”

The room undulated like a reflection in a fun house mirror, making Kay dizzy.

“Did you tell Dad?” Kay asked, regaining her equilibrium.

“Mom! I can’t tell him. It’s too embarrassing. Anyway, he’d tell Sandy and I’d just get yelled at again.”

“Ok…ok. But I’m still going to have to talk to him. This business of not allowing you to call me is unacceptable. Like Aunt Les always says, “silence equals permission.” Anyway, Kiddo, if we don’t stick up for ourselves, who will?” Kay gave Mariah a reassuring smile. “Finish what I told you to do and then come down to eat.”

Mariah gave her mother a look mixed with relief and gratitude, turned around and started back up the stairs.

Kay headed into the kitchen and yanked open the refrigerator door so hard the salad dressing bottles loudly clinked as they bounced off each other. She stood there staring at the contents of her fridge, not really seeing anything. White hot rage was building inside her. She didn’t know if she was angrier at Sandy for bullying Mariah, or Dave, for granting Sandy permission with his silence. Her heart broke imagining the helplessness Mariah must feel when the man who is supposed to protect her hands her over to her tormentor.

“Mom, can I have a grilled cheese sandwich?” Mariah yelled from upstairs, bringing Kay back to the task at hand. She opened the cheese drawer and pulled out the pack of American cheese slices. Her hands were trembling.

“How ‘bout some soup to go with it?” Kay called back. She hoped Mariah couldn’t tell how upset she was.

“Do we have tomato?”

Kay opened her pantry door, did a quick check and found what she needed.

“There’s one can left and it’s all yours,” Kay loudly reported.

“What about Cory? Won’t she want some?”

“I don’t expect her until after 7:00. Like I said, it’s all yours.”

“Super!” Mariah said.

Kay was grateful she could do something to make her child happy…and it was such a little thing. She could already picture the appreciative look on Mariah’s face when she placed the simple meal in front of her at the table. Just the thought of that beautiful little smile gave Kay such a feeling of warm satisfaction; she could feel her wrath subside.

What kind of sick satisfaction do you get from terrorizing a child
?

Kay took turns between tending the sandwich in the skillet and the small saucepan heating the soup, making sure neither one burned. In between stirs and spatula flips, Kay stole glances at the clock. She wanted to make sure Dave had plenty of time to get home before she called. Calling now and airing her grievances to Sandy would only elevate the importance of Sandy’s role in the situation. As far as Kay was concerned, Sandy had no role…other than Dave’s wife. Dave was the parent and he needed to start acting like it. If he and Kay couldn’t be on the same page when it came to the kids, then maybe the visitation agreement would have to be revised.

There was another reason Kay didn’t want to talk to Sandy - one she didn’t want to admit. She was afraid of the woman, too. Sandy seemed to possess some strange confidence Kay didn’t understand. What else could explain Sandy so brazenly helping her herself to a married man? The woman’s shameless proprietary attitude toward someone who, clearly, didn’t belong to her, was so steadfast and sure she didn’t even care it had cost them both their jobs. It was as if Sandy knew something she didn’t.

Mariah’s meal was ready. Kay placed it on the table, added a glass of milk and called her down to eat. The hungry little girl wasted no time getting her butt in the dining room chair. She took one look at the plain lunch and grinned as if she was looking at a gourmet feast.

“Thanks, Mom,” Mariah said, smiling up at her mother. “Is there enough cheese if I want another sandwich?”

“Eat that first and then we’ll see,” Kay said, even though she knew it was likely she’d have to make another. But it would have to wait until she made her important phone call.

“Slow down, Mariah. That sandwich isn’t going anywhere. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Mariah was so focused on enjoying her grilled cheese, she voiced no objection to what Kay was obviously on her way to do. Kay knew, deep down, Mariah was grateful her mother was coming to her rescue - even if it was a day late.

Kay closed the door to her bedroom just in case she might have to raise her voice.

Maybe I should take the phone in the closet.

Kay wanted to be sure Mariah wouldn’t be subjected to any further stress. But she nixed the idea realizing it would be setting the stage for a heated confrontation. And while telling Dave and Sandy off would have given her a boat-load of satisfaction, she reminded herself this wasn’t about her but about Mariah. The best way to handle the situation was to stay firm, cool and detached.

With each ring of the line, Kay’s heart pounded in a rhythmic response. The hand holding the phone was cold and clammy with sweat. She was just about to lose her nerve and hang up when she heard Sandy’s slow, thick-throated “hullo.” In an instant Kay could feel her fear evaporate as the reason for Sandy’s menacing behavior suddenly became crystal clear.

“Hello, Sandy. This is Kay. May I please speak to Dave, if he’s available?” Kay said, trying to be as polite as possible.

“Jusssst a minute,” Sandy hissed through clenched teeth.

Even though Sandy had covered up the receiver with her hand, she couldn’t cover up the loathing in her muffled voice as she grudgingly summoned her husband to the phone.

“Hello?” Dave said. He tried to sound as if he had no clue who was on the other end of the line.“Dave, this is Kay.”

“Oh, hi,” he responded in fake surprise.

“I wanted to talk to you earlier but you drove away so fast I didn’t get the chance,” she began. “Anyway, I wish you would at least wait until you know Mariah is safely in the door.”

Kay could hear the wheels in Dave’s head whirling as he tried to come up with a plausible excuse for his quick get-away.

“Oh. Uh, well, I knew you were home so I didn’t think there’d be a problem. But I’ll be sure to wait next time. What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Nothing specific. I just wanted to know how the weekend went and if there was anything I needed to be aware of, or if you had any questions for me. Now that you’re back I think it’s important for the two of us to communicate regularly about the kids.”

Kay knew he hated being reminded there was still “the two of us,” even if it was only as parents of Cory and Mariah.

“The weekend was fine and there’s nothing I can think of that you need to be aware of,” Dave said. His voice was bone-chillingly cold.

“That’s good,” Kay said, trying not to let his frosty attitude throw her off her intended path. “Well, there’s something
I
need to ask
you
.”

“What is it?” Dave snapped.

“Was there any particular reason why Mariah wasn’t allowed to call me last night? The kids are supposed to be allowed to call either parent, anytime, for any reason.”

Kay made sure her tone was non-threatening and business-like. Her straightforward manner threw Dave off more than if she had screamed at him in anger.

“I didn’t say she couldn’t call you,” he said. His cold tone had become defensive. “I just told her I thought it wasn’t a good idea. I didn’t want her to upset you.”

“Oh? And why would I have been upset?” Kay asked innocently, luring her prey into her trap.

I’m going to make you tell me, yourself, asshole
.

After a brief, uncomfortable pause Dave said, “Well, I think she may have misunderstood Sandy’s offer to help her with her homework.”

Kay was insulted by this weaselly explanation but instead of challenging him, continued to tightened the noose. “I don’t understand. What was the offer?”

Dave cleared his throat.

“Sandy just asked Mariah to show her where she was with her work so she could see if she could help.”

Just then Sandy, who had been secretly listening on the extension, broke into the conversation. “That’s ok Dave. I don’t need you to defend me. Kay, I asked Mariah to show me her homework because I think she needs to learn to be more accountable. Lord knows if you were stricter with her she wouldn’t be having these problems in school.”

Kay smiled to herself.
There it is.
Her suspicions had been validated.

“Excuse me, Sandy, this is a conversation between me and Mariah’s dad. Please have the courtesy to give us privacy.” Kay knew her request would be ignored.

“No, I won’t excuse you. Dave is my husband and his business is my business.”

“I’m afraid in this case you’re wrong, Sandy. It’s not your place to get involved in matters concerning the girls. I will not discuss Mariah with you except to say if you continue to harass her I’ll have to go to back to court to have the original order reinstated. That includes child support.”

“Aw, c’mon, Kay,” Dave cut in. “I don’t think that’s necessary. It wasn’t as bad as I’m sure Mariah made it out to be. You have to admit she’s pretty sensitive when it comes to talking about her school work.”

Putting the blame on Mariah was a cheap shot and Kay wasn’t about to let Dave get away with it.

“Yes, Dave, I agree. But you and I both know this went far beyond just school work. She was belittled and made to feel guilty about worrying you. Have you actually told her you’re worried?”

“Well, no…not exactly,” Dave said.

Sandy butted in again. “He won’t admit it, but I know my husband. It bothers him that Mariah might be failing, and he doesn’t need the aggravation.”

I’m sorry.
I had no idea he was so delicate.

As tempting as it was, Kay resisted the urge to mock Dave out loud.

Dave stayed quiet, perfectly comfortable having his wife speak for him. But Kay refused to make Sandy a bona fide participant in the conversation.

“Dave, Mariah is the one who doesn’t need the aggravation. Your wife made her feel so bad she messed her pants. Did you bother to worry about that?”

Kay heard Sandy suppress a scornful snort.

“I - I didn’t know. Mariah didn’t say anything.” Dave was clearly taken aback.

“Would you really expect her to? It’s humiliating.”

“If you ask me, she does it to get attention,” Sandy said.

“Nobody asked you,” Kay replied, no longer able to ignore the meddling third party. “Dave, would you please tell your wife she can relax. She’s got the job. It isn’t necessary for her to keep pointing out our short-comings just so you can feel better about leaving us.”

With that, Sandy slammed down the extension. But Kay wasn’t finished with Dave.

“Look, Dave. I can’t allow the girls to be bullied just because Sandy is insecure and you’re too passive to do anything about it. I’ve tried to stick up for you when the girls have complained. Not for your sake, but because they need to believe their father loves them and hasn’t pushed them aside for his new family. But there isn’t much I can do when your actions prove otherwise, except ask the court to intervene.”

“Kay, you have to know I really feel bad about Mariah’s accident. Has the doctor said anything else about her problem?” True to form, he was trying to deflect the conversation so he wouldn’t have to deal with Kay’s justified threat. Kay refused to take the bait.

“I mean what I say, Dave. Mariah isn’t in a position to stand up for herself like Cory did. Besides, she really loves you and still wants to see you. Please don’t let Sandy make it difficult for her.”

She stayed quiet, waiting to see what Dave was going to do now that the ball was in his court.

After a few tense seconds he finally spoke.“Why don’t I come by sometime this week and take her out for an ice cream?”

Kay knew this was as close to an apology as Mariah was going to get.

“I’m sure she’d really like that. I’ll tell her to expect your call. Oh, and just so you know, Mariah is doing just fine in school this semester. So you can call off your dog.” Kay couldn’t resist getting in a least one below-the-belt dig.

“That was uncalled for,” Dave said.

“I’m glad you get it. I was beginning to wonder,” Kay said. “G’bye, Dave,” She hung up before he had a chance to respond.

Kay walked slowly downstairs, proud she had stood up to both Dave and Sandy. Now only time would tell if her words had gotten through to them. But if history was any indication, she wasn’t holding out a lot of hope. She’d have to put her lawyer’s number on speed dial.

“How’d, it go, Mom? Is Dad mad at me for telling you what happened?” Mariah asked.

“Not at all. In fact, he’s going to come by this week to take you for ice cream. I think he wants to make things up to you.”