“They weren’t expecting you to arrive until the day before the wedding. I wasn’t even sure if you’d turn up.” Her sister Tara let out a sarcastic grunt.
“No. Yes... I mean, of course, I would’ve come.” The same old uncomfortable feeling of inadequacy reared its ugly head again.
“I’m sure Mom and Dad will be relieved that they’ve been able to pry Her Highness away from her castle in Montcove,” Tara chuckled. Rory stayed silent. She knew it was her sister’s way to provoke her.
“You could’ve at least put on some decent clothes for the party.” Tara eyed her from head to toe. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks, Tara. Thank you very much,” Rory said sarcastically. Such a punchable face she has, Rory thought. She heard footsteps coming in their direction.
“Tara, darling, I can’t open this bottle of wine, will you help…” Her mother became still as a statue upon seeing Rory there. Rory smiled, genuinely, as the shock on her mother’s face amused her.
“Hello, Rory. We weren’t expecting you so soon.” Mary Loughlin’s voice was cold and her demeanor firm.
“Yes, yes. Look, I’m not here to invade your party. I’ll be upstairs.”
“There’s a party going on in your parents’ house and you can’t be bothered to attend it? What will our guests think?” Her mother did a great job of getting offended, as always.
“Mother. I don’t think any of them know who I am.”
“They would, if you’d bother to visit us and check up on your poor parents once in a while.” Two minutes in this house and I am already on the dart board.
“Yes, Rory. Why don’t you visit them more often? What is so precious up there on that little island of yours that you can’t leave it for a few days?”
Rory knew that Tara was playing games, so she left the question unanswered.
“Go upstairs and get changed. You look ridiculous. And come straight down for dinner. I won’t have you in the house and not socialize with our guests,” Mary Loughlin said firmly. What does she think I am, twelve years old?
“Mom. I took a flight and I’ve had a hectic day. I don’t have the energy for this. I am going to go get some rest.” Rory started up the stairs to her old bedroom.
“Rory, don’t you dare walk out on… Rory!” Her mother’s voice disappeared as Rory shut the bedroom door behind her. She knew that she’d have hell to pay in the morning, but for now she just wanted to be alone.
Her old bedroom was full of stuff. Stuff her parents had acquired over the years and some of the supplies for the wedding. It took her ten minutes of cleaning up before she could make up space to lie on the bed. What a day this has been… and this shit still isn’t over.
Rory closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Lizzy was somewhere out in the city, getting manipulated by Mickey. Her mother was angry at her. There were debts to be paid and she had no idea where her life was going.
The first thought that came into Rory’s mind upon waking the next morning was of Lizzy. She’d worried herself to sleep and had woken up with even more anxiety. She checked Mickey’s Instagram, but there were no updates there either. Even if I buy the star map and show up at his house, it’s unlikely he’ll see me.
The only option was to call the band’s office again and ask for Don. He was pretty much her only hope. But before that, Rory decided to send Lizzy a message telling her that she had come to LA to get her.
Rory mentioned how worried both Lizzy’s mom and she herself were. She typed out her parents’ home address and pleaded with Lizzy to come meet her there. Lizzy knew that Rory rarely let her feelings show, and after reading this heartfelt message, Lizzy perhaps would come to her senses. At least, that’s what Rory was hoping.
Rory was thankful that she woke up really early, before anyone else did, because it allowed her to make a quick breakfast for herself. She was famished since she didn’t eat dinner the previous night. She planned to eat a quick meal, then figure out how she could spend most of the day out of the house, away from her folks. Maybe I can call some old friends. But they have their own lives and probably won’t have time to hang out with me.
Just as Rory finished breakfast and was about to clean the table, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
“You’re up early,” her mother said as if she didn’t think Rory was capable of such a thing. She was followed by her father, who as always looked deathly serious.
Rory often wondered whatever happened to the dad who was so much fun to hang out with when she was a little girl. Over the years her mother had changed Bill Loughlin drastically and made him just like herself. At least he doesn’t make stinging remarks.
“Hello, Rory.”
“Hey, Dad.”
“Had a good flight?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Good. Let’s have some breakfast.”