The Apple Tree by Kara Jimenez

Author:Kara Jimenez
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-11-05T18:30:00+00:00

The morning after the incident with Slime-ball, Bianca set a glass of water on her mother’s night stand and then yanked open the purple curtains. “You can’t stay cooped up in here all day. What about work?”

“I called the store and told them I’m sick. And I can stay here all day. It doesn’t matter anyway. You’re used to having a horrible mother, right?” She flopped over and faced the wall.

Yeah, she was used to it. She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Mom, you’re not horrible. You just—”

“Yes, I am! It’s all my fault. I thought Travis was a nice guy and then he tried to rob us! This never would’ve happened if I hadn’t been drinking.” She pulled the blanket over her face.

Bianca sighed. “I know you love Owen, and I know you love me. But it’s true, you need to stop drinking.”

A muffled sob came from underneath the sheet. “I know, I know.” She sniffed and pulled the blanket down to look at Bianca. “But, I’m scared. Before I started drinking and going out, I was a frump, remember?”

“You weren’t a frump, you were a good mother. Before…” She looked at her hands as they twisted on her lap. “Before dad left, you used to make dinner and help me with my homework. Remember that cleaning schedule you kept tacked to the fridge? And you sold candles at those house parties and made enough money to buy my prom dress. You were amazing, Mom.”

“Yeah, so amazing that my husband left me for Barbie.” She sat up and reached for the water. “At least when I go out to the bar and meet a man, it feels like someone wants me. They tell me I’m sexy, and at my age, that’s something I really need to hear.” She took a sip from the glass.

“I know. I like to hear that at my age too.” The corner of Bianca’s mouth turned up. “But you can be sexy and responsible, at least when it comes to Owen.”

“I know,” her mother whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“Come here.” Bianca pulled her in to a hug. “You deserve more than slime-balls like Travis.”

Her mother huffed, but a small smile appeared on her face.

Bianca stood and grabbed an armful of laundry, tossing it into the basket. “I’m going to go check on Owen. Stay up here and rest if you need to.”

Downstairs, she made a snack for Owen and then opened her laptop on the kitchen table. Her blog popped on screen and she groaned. The photos were horrendous. Really, why would anyone want to try her recipes when she didn’t even have an accurate example of how they would turn out? She sighed. Maybe she should take Peter up on his offer. If only she could trust him to keep his hands off her, or trust herself to want him to.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Did she will Peter to her house just by thinking of him? Surely not. She opened the door.

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