Unsurprisingly, this was followed by a dramatic gasp from her mother. “This is just fine! My own child turning on me. Maria ruined my childhood and now she’s ruining my Christmas plans to be with my daughter too.”
“Really? Yourplans?This sounds pretty last minute to me. You sure you really wanted to be with me?”Carol thought her mother was more likely trying to punish her husband by running away and Carol provided a handy escape.
“Oh, Carol. You know that we never get to spend quality time together. You’re always working, and I’m getting old. Who knows how many more holidays I have left?” Now her voice turned to honey. “And, for the record, I happen to enjoy my daughter’s company. After all, you’re a beautiful, intelligent woman. I’m always bragging about my girl to my friends—how you put yourself through college and your impressive career in the design business. You’re so independent, living on your own in the big city.”
Carol was used to the guilt trips, but this sugary flattery was a new twist. Was it sincere or manipulative? Was she being toohard on her mother? Maybe she really did miss her. “If you really do want to be with me, I’m sure Maria would welcome you here. Her house is lovely. There’s plenty of room, and I’d love to—”
“I would rather be starved than spend my Christmas withthatwoman, thank you very much! And if that’s what you plan to do, I’m cutting you off as my daughter!” Then the line went silent.
Carol set her phone down and sighed. It was always difficult to sort out her feelings after a conversation with her mother, but this one took the cake. And now, instead of feeling hopeful and happy about her holiday plans, she felt guilty and confused, followed by hurt and angry. And she knew getting back to sleep would be a challenge.
****
After a restless night’s sleep, Carol was still simmering over the late-night conversation as she looked out her window into the gray dawn light. The snow outside was even deeper now. Perhaps three feet, though she wasn’t sure. Knowing she’d need to dig firewood out of the snow, she decided to dress warmly. As she tugged on layers of her aunt’s loaner clothing, she wondered if there was any truth to her mom’s claims last night. The accusations against Poppy, the blame she laid on her sister, not to mention this sudden unexpected longing to spend time together. Was any of it real? Would Carol ever know? Did she really care that her mother was disowning her? It’s not like they’d ever been close.
Despite her attempts to block out these questions, they were still tumbling through her head as she went downstairs. The house was quiet. She peeked in Maria’s bedroom and was glad to see her aunt sleeping peacefully. As she tiptoed to the kitchen to make coffee, she wondered if she should tell Maria about her mom’s accusations. If they were true,it would be very awkward, to say the least. And if they were manufactured, it would only hurt her aunt’s feelings. Maybe it was better to let sleeping dogs lie. Or narcissistic mothers lie. Anyway, if she did decide to bring it up to her aunt, she saw no need to hurry.
****
Shortly after Carol got her morning chores completed, and she and Maria finished breakfast, Victor showed up to take them to town, first letting Carol into the cab, then gently helping Maria. Although she said nothing, Carol could see her aunt’s face twisting in pain as he buckled her seat belt.
“Sorry to be slow in getting here,” he told them as he got in. “I had to catch up with plowing some of the farmers’ roads. It really piled up last night.”
Carol turned to her aunt. “Do you think this weather will affect your Christmas Cotillion?”
“Oh, this is Michigan farm country, honey.” Maria laughed. “It’d take more than a little snow to keep folks away.”
“At least the major roads have been plowed,” Victor said as he turned onto the main highway. “And the forecast for the next few days is sunny.”
“Perfect.” Maria winced slightly as they went over a big lump of snow.
“Still having a lot of pain there?” Victor asked.
“Oh, I don’t know...” Maria looked down at her arm, bundled against her beneath her oversized parka. “I guess it takes time.”
“She’s still experiencing a lot of pain,” Carol told him. “I made sure she took something for it with her breakfast to help her on the ride.”
“Well, my mom and I both think she needs to pay a visit to urgent care,” Victor said.
“Maybe in time,” Maria told him. “After a few more days.”
“Nope,” he retorted. “It could be healing badly by then. Mom said to take you to urgent care this morning.”
“This morning?” Maria was clearly alarmed. “But I have to help Carol—”
“You can explain where you store the cotillion decorations as we drive,” Victor told her.
“But I need to show her where to—”
“I can show her,” Victor interrupted again. “I know the Grange as well as anyone. Good grief, I grew up there. As kids we used to play hide-and-seek in that old building. I know it inside and out.”
Maria’s eyes looked glassy. “But I should—”
“You should get your arm looked at.” Carol interrupted this time. “I’m sure Victor and I will do fine on our own.”
“Besides, Mom told me I couldn’t take you to the Grange until you got your arm looked at,” Victor said. “So there’s no point arguing, unless you don’t care if the decorations get put up this year.”
Maria slumped against her seat. “So I’m being kidnapped.”
