“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Joey huffed. She dug a phone out of her purse and handed it to her.
“Thank you.” She took the phone and walked to the opposite side of the room. Her heart raced as she waited for an answer. Evonne knew her father had spies everywhere. Was his reach this far?
“H-hello?” her mother’s voice whispered.
“Mom, it’s me. My phone got broken, so I’ve been out of the loop. Are you okay?”
“We’re going to bury your brother Friday. His command is sending some folks out.” Her voice shook.
Okay, so in two days. “Can you tell me the time and place?” Evonne asked, careful to keep her voice gentle. Her mother sounded as if a strong breeze would topple her. She listened carefully as her mother gave her the information in a monotone voice that reminded her of the annoying robots who replaced people for most customer service calls. “Is there anything I can do? Do you want me to come over?”
“No! Your father isn’t taking the news well. I think that would make things worse.”
“Are we just going to ignore the things he said in the hospital? Because I can tell you, that won’t work forever.”
“Right now.”
“You realize I just learned my entire life is a lie, right? It didn’t stop weighing heavily on me because the rest of our home life is in the crapper.”
Her mother huffed. “So vulgar. A few months with that group and I barely recognize you.”
“You never knew me, Mother; you know the role I learned to play to please you. Parents who’ve lied to me from the day I was born, and you…you’re worse than him. This whole thing started with you. What I want to know is why you sat on it so long? Taken every bit of verbal abuse he’s laid on you and watched as he tore me down time and time again. What kind of mother can do that?”
“One with no other options. You might not have had the love you deserved in this household. But you were always fed, clothed and given every opportunity possible to succeed.”
“Oh, bullshit! Success is more than numbers and college certificates! You let him push me to the breaking point while I killed myself to gain approval I would never receive.”
“I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
“Well, tough shit. You come at me with a counterargument like that, and I’m going to come back at you swinging.”
“I don’t have any easy answers. I was young, scared and he promised to take care of you. He wasn’t always like that. The first few years were wonderful, and then—he changed. By then I was pregnant with your brother with no means to take care of us. I had no degree and my family would never back me if I chose to get a divorce. Back then, it wasn’t commonplace—”
“I don’t care,” Evonne cut in. “You were the parent. It’s your job to protect your child by any means necessary. If that meant getting out there and working two menial jobs to support us in a happy environment, that’s what you should have done.”
“So easy to throw stones. It’s like I don’t even know you anymore, Evonne.”
“No, Mother. I’m the one who never knew you. I’ll be at the funeral to pay my respects, greet his friends and the rest of the family. After that, I’ll give you some time to grieve and then I’m coming back for the whole story…uncensored, so get your mind right. You owe me that much at the very least.” Evonne disconnected before her mother could say anything else. Disgusted and furious, she took a moment to calm herself before she walked out into the lion’s den. She handed the phone back to Joey and sighed. “Paul’s funeral is Friday.”
“Oh, honey, we are so, so sorry,” Juliette said, pulling her into a hug.
“If you were having problems dealing, you could’ve come to any of us,” Joey added, joining the hug.
“You know we always have your back, Evonne.” Hilary wrapped her arms around Joey, completing the group.
Evonne closed her eyes and allowed herself to bask in the positive energy and pure love they exuded. “There’s so much you guys don’t know.”
“How about we start with why you went deep throat, infiltrated the enemy camp and obliterated Levi like you were a member of the mob,” Hilary whispered.
“Damn it, Hilary, way to be sensitive,” Joey reprimanded.
“Oh, ’cause you were waiting to give her candy and flowers?” Hilary snapped, stepping back.
They all separated and Evonne sighed, shoving her hands into her pockets. The realization that she’d killed a man made her still.
“Evonne.”
She glanced up at Juliette. “Yeah, I’m here. I just—really need to get out of these clothes. Can you show me where my clothes are?”