CHAPTERNINETEEN
Poppy
I don't even know how a night that started out so perfect could have ended up like this.
I never thought in a million years that Tristan would think by me telling his family how he was that it would be some sort of betrayal. I guess I should have handled it differently but at the same time I don't think I would have. I know what it's like to want to know if someone you care about is okay. I know how distraught everyone was when they thought Tristan was dead. They mourned , and then when he came home they were still in mourning because it felt like they lost him all over again. Tristan is a major part of all of their lives and I felt like it was my duty as a good friend and as someone who cared about Tristan himself to let the ones that cared for him know that he was okay.
I just need to get him to see it that way.
I get into my house and kick off my shoes and get ready to change out of this dress. I'm going over to see Tristan to night and were' going to get to the bottom of this. We've come so far together to let something like this stand in our way. .
I just need him to hear me out, which is something he refused to do back at the party.
Just as I'm about to change out of my clothes there 's a loud banging on my door. I rush over to the door thinking it's Tristan but I should have known it wasn't him. He would have just opened the door with the key.
The minute I see who is at my front door I curse myself for moving so quickly. My mother is standing there huffing and puffing glaring at me like she has the right to be mad at me about anything.
"What are you doing here? And how did you even get my address?" I ask turning on my heel and walking into my house knowing that my mother is going to follow me in.
"Oh don't be so ridiculous, Poppy. you know exactly why I'm here. I've been trying to get in contact with for days and you never answer the phone for me. I thought that you'd be happy that I've found a man to love me? Don't you even care about my engagement?" " She plops her hand on her hips like it's supposed to get me to feel guilty for not caring more about her new relationship.
"No, mom, honestly I don;'t. I have too much going on in my own life to pay attention to the man you're going to marry. I don't even know why you'd think I would care after your track record." I scoff.
I go to my back room and pull out some lounge pants and a plain t shirt just so I can get out of this dress. i don't need to be in a gown to argue with my mother.
Once I slip the comfortable close on I walk back to the front of the house all the while my mother badgering me about how I could be such a better daughter. I'm trying to let everything roll off my back but the longer she verbal beats me down the more the evil deeds of my past keep pushing forward in my mind..
As we get outside on the porch, my mother grabs my arm and turns me to face her, "Look Poppy, it's obvious that nothing I say is going to get you to change your mind. But I'm asking you as a favor if you could at least show up to the Engagement party. One of the main reason this guys wants to be with me is because I told him how much of a family woman I am. If my daughter doesn't show up it's going to look bad. " She crosses her arms over her chest and I can do nothing but glare at her for a second until the anger turned into laughter. She can't be serious.
"You mean to tell me that this man thinks your some great mom? That you boasted about the love you have for me in order to manipulate him to get him to marry you? Is that what your saying?" I snarl at her and all the laughter is gone from my tone.
"I didn't manipulate him. i was a good mother. don't you remember everything I sacrificed for you. All the long nights getting you ready for the parents and the perfect dresses I picked out for you."
An ocean of rage floods through me as she mentions my childhood as evidence she loved me.
"Sacrifices? No, you didn't make any sacrifices. You used me and everyone else you can for your own gain. It didn't matter if it cost the last of our money or if it meant letting some forty year old man rape your little girl. as long as you got your way it was fine. "
"Don't you dare put that on me, you wanted that. You wanted to win and you did it anyway you could." My mother snarls and I tremble with anger.
"Me? You think at six I knew what sex even was? It was you setting up all those meetings, you telling me not to cry when they touched me, you telling me if I wanted them to think I was pretty I had to..." My voice cracks and a slight movement catches the corner of my eye.
I look over to Tristan house and see he's standing there in the darkness of his porch listening to us.
He heard. That deep pit of disgust and depression threatens to swallow me whole again. I start to move away when he walks over to my porch and stands between me and my mother. Instead of letting me leave he grabs hold of my arm and keeps me behind him.
"Ma'am, I think it's time you leave."
My mother jerks back like he slapped her, "Excuse me?Who do you think you are. That's my daughter." She bristles.
"Yeah, and she's my woman. Right now you're bothering her and I'm not going to allow it. The only reason I don't throw you on your ass is because you are her mother but I'm not going to ask you any nicer than this. Get. Out. Of. Here."
I look over Tristan's shoulder to see my mother's mouth open ing and closing like a fish. She's not used to people talking about her that way.
"I can't leave, I need to know that she's coming to the party." She spits out.
"Well you're just going to have to wait until one of us contacts you. You're not getting that answer tonight. " He's strong and confident and everything I'm not right now. I feel weak, disgusting and nothing more than a body for people to use.
"Ugh, the nerve!" My mother turns quickly and walks away from my door.