Page 34 of Loyal
“Your mother isn’t bad, and you know it,” I tell her.
“Farrah, what has gotten into you? It’s like I don’t even know you anymore,” Sami whispers.
“Fuck you too, Mom. The only one who’s changed here is you,” Farrah tosses back.
“Go to your room,” Sami says, finally losing her cool.
“With fucking pleasure.” Farrah looks over at me. “When you wake up and admit that you want me, you know where to find me, but heads-up, it might be too late.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” I tell her.
Farrah turns and stomps down the hall, slamming her door when she reaches her room.
“I’m sorry…” Sami murmurs.
I pull her into my arms and hold her tight, kissing the top of her head. “You have nothing to be sorry for,Mami. Nothing.”
“I don’t know what to do anymore. I was so hopeful earlier tonight, and then…”
Then her daughter had to go and ruin it.
“I’m sorry.”
She takes a stuttering breath. “Were you serious? Do you think someone put her up to this? Has she ever hinted at wanting you before or anything?”
Before she can finish questioning me, I’m already shaking my head. “No, never. Before now she’s never looked my way once. Do I think there’s a possibility that someone planted this seed in her head? Yeah, but I don’t have any proof.”
Sami groans and drops her head back to my chest. “I’ve thought some things she has said sounded like Billy too. Before now. Why can’t I just be happy and have something good in my life? Just this once…”
“You can and will, baby. I’ll make sure of it. We just have to survive the storm first, but believe me when I say it will pass.”
“I hope you’re right,” she mutters.
You and me both, I think to myself.
I don’t know what Farrah or Billy have planned for us next, but I’ll be waiting. Because one thing is for sure, they aren’t stopping. Not yet, at least.
“Have you talked to Farrah since she went to Billy’s?” Gina asks as we take a walk.
We try to get one in at least once a week when things are quiet on the floor. This time we are walking around the outside of the hospital.
“I have texted with her a couple of times, but she is still claiming that Loyal wants her and she feels unsafe in my home now. I want to hold onto her with both hands at the same time as I want to give her what she wants and let her live with her father.”
“Do you believe him? That he didn’t come onto her?”
I nod. “We have cameras in the front room. I didn’t want Loyal to think I didn’t believe him, but I watched them after he went home. She came onto him and he firmly turned her down. I felt guilty doing it, but I never want to be that mother that didn’t believe her daughter when it really happened. I shouldn’t be thankful my daughter is a liar, but I am.”
“That’s a tough spot to be put in. I remember when my parents divorced. I was nine. I was angry for a while, but whenmy parents started dating other people, I never acted this way. Do you think it’s because of her age?” Gina asks.
“That has something to do with it. I also think Billy is in her ear. He never wanted the divorce. He tried to stop it and even convinced the court to mandate we stay separated for a year before the divorce was final. He fought tooth and nail to keep me under his thumb.”
“How did you get them to grant the divorce?”
I smile. “I was honest. I told the judge that we married when I was sixteen and pregnant and had no idea what I was doing. That I didn’t know what I wanted out of life, but that my parents forced me to marry him because having a child out of wedlock was a sin in their eyes. I even told the judge he could call my parents into the court and they would tell him that they do not agree with the decision to divorce. Then I told him that I now know what I want, and a loveless marriage isn’t it. I tried to make it work, but you can’t make puzzle pieces fit if they aren’t cut the same. The judge agreed and granted the divorce. I had no ill will. I was even willing to give him everything, but the judge refused and split things down the middle. I got the house and my car. He got the beach house he had already been staying in and the penthouse apartment downtown along with his car. Our bank account was separated, with the money being split evenly. Then they gave me alimony and child support because my income would change dramatically. I was shocked. So was Billy. He effectively tried to bankrupt me, but the courts wouldn’t allow it.”
“He is such a dick.”
“That he is, and he continues to be. You know he hasn’t paid child support or alimony in two months. I could take him to court, but I want to be done with him. I don’t even care if he doesn’t pay me another cent if he would disappear,” I sigh.
