Chapter 7
"How dare you, Angie Morelli." Helen Plum hisses and narrows her pale blue eyes. "How dare you."
If
you look close enough, you will find the striking resemblance between
Helen and her two daughters. And, believe it or not, this always mild
and polite woman does have a temper—not the violent, eruptive and
sometimes destructive temper many of the Plums have, but the cold, quiet
yet furious temper that runs in the Mazurs' blood. The church falls
silent. People around Helen Plum and Angie Morelli hastily take a step
back. No, you don't have to be Albert Einstein to detect the rising
tension or the raging anger. And thank God Caroline Hasting, crazy
Emily's poor sweet mother, has been dead for over eighteen years. The
nice and kind people of Trenton worriedly look on and dazedly think to
themselves. Yes, they have all been waiting for this moment to arrive.
The inevitable show down between the two good Catholic mothers has been
the topic of the town for months. But somehow they didn't feel the usual
excitement and anticipation. They don't really want to witness two of
their good friends and neighbors exchanging accusations and screaming at
each other. They do have their limit.
"Stephanie owes Joseph that
much." Angie Morelli takes a deep breath and stubbornly insists. "None
of this would have happened had she not cheated on him with that
Ranger."
Helen Plum pales. The on-lookers gasp. Bella Morelli
keeps on murmuring to herself and remains oblivious to the rest of the
world. Both Joe Morelli's sister and sister-in-law wince and once again
try to pull Angie away before it's too late. All the people inside the
church are grateful Edna Mazur and Frank Plum haven't yet arrived. They
sensed trouble coming when Angie, with iron determination in her dense
brown eyes, went to request for Stephanie's help. And now they all have a
bad feeling about where this conversation is heading.
"None of
this would have happened had your precious son not molested my daughter
in your husband's garage." Helen's soft composed voice shatters the
awkward, uncomfortable silence and sends cold shiver down everyone's
spine.
"None of this would have happened had your precious son not
taken my child's virginity and written about it on bathroom walls."
Helen leans slightly forward into Angie Morelli's suddenly bloodless
face and clenches her fists.
"None of this would have happened had
your precious son not tried to kill Stephanie in front of Carlos."
Helen holds Angie prisoner with her steely gaze.
"None of this
would have happened had you been a more competent mother and done a much
better job raising your darling Joseph." Helen slowly spits out the
hurtful words and tries hard not to feel ashamed as burning tears fall
down Angie Morelli's thin hollow cheeks. She may have been a simple
housewife for almost forty years, but she's never stupid or ignorant.
She knows she's not the world's best mother. She knows Stephanie is far
from perfect. She knows Stephanie has made a lot of bad choices and
shameful, embarrassing mistakes. She knows she will be lying if she
declares what Angie said is untrue.
But she is Stephanie's mother.
And Stephanie was almost shot to death right in front of Frank's eyes.
The terrified look on Frank's face broke her heart.
Stephanie's timid, shaky, brave little smile shattered and mended her soul.
So she, too, has every right to play the blaming game.
She
won't allow Stephanie to visit Joseph. She doesn't want Joseph to
remember what he has forgotten. She wants him to let go of the past and
embrace his new future. A future without ugly memories. A future without
bad habits. A future without her daughter. For the very first time in
her life, Stephanie has found a man who truly loves and cares for her,
and Helen will do everything and anything to make sure of Stephanie's
happiness.
What has to be done must be done.
Even if that means she has to be harsh and selfish.
Even if that means she has to hurt other people.
That, is Helen Plum's duty as a mother.
No comments:
Post a Comment