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Chapter Thirteen

Darcy

I got up before mommy to make our breakfast, wanting to do something nice for her after how naughty I was last night. Mommy had done all these nice things for me, and I got bratty. Mommy deserved better than that. Tired or not, that’s not how I should treat my Mommy.

“Good morning, what’s all this?” She gestured to the waffle maker.

“My way of saying I’m sorry for last night.” Stupid tears, I was such a crybaby. “I’m sorry, Mommy. I was a brat and that’s not who I want to be. I’m a good girl, I swear.”

“Sweetheart,” Mommy wrapped her arms around me. “I know that. You’d had a busy, over stimulating day and were so tired your brain got overwhelmed.”

“Still wasn’t right and I’m sorry.” I may not be able to cook a five-course meal but waffles I could do. It wasn’t hard if you followed the directions on the box. “What time do you have to be at work?”

“Whenever really, but I know there’s a lot to do. I’d like to introduce you to Kylee who runs the little’s room. That lifestyle is growing and with as busy as we’ve become she’d been asking for help. Would you like to be her assistant?”

My head bobbed up and down. I’d do anything for Mommy, plus it was important to me to feel like I helped in some way. “Yes, Mommy. I’d like that.”

“That’s my good girl. Let’s finish up breakfast and get dressed. She’ll be in after lunchtime. Make sure to pack some toys in your backpack so you won’t be bored in Mommy’s office. Not that you can’t come back up here but I like the idea of having you nearby.”

“Me too, Mommy.” I’d show her I was the bestest girl ever.

“Remind me to give Rhett a raise.”

At first I didn’t know what mommy was talking about then I spotted it. “Is that for me?”

“It is, Princess,” Rhett’s voice came from the doorway to Mommy’s office. “But I can’t take credit for it.”

“Who then?” Mommy was just as confused as I was.

“That would be me.” The cutest little face peered around Rhett.

“Tyson, I could kiss you.” Rhett smiled at the boy beside him, just as proud as Mommy was right now. “This is absolutely brilliant. Please, come in and meet my sweet girl, Darcy.”

“You did all this for me?” How was it so many nice people were suddenly in my life.

“I-I did. Do you like it?” From the princess sleeping bag to the cute flower pillow. Toys in a little basket with a rainbow on it, and a chalk board hung on the wall that he wrote Welcome Princess Darcy , on it.

“It’s perfect. I love it, thank you so much. Now I can work too.” Tyson giggled. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Tyson said, and I quote, every little who goes to work with their mommy or daddy needs to have their own special place,” Rhett kissed Tyson’s head just like mommy does mine. “My boy has a heart the size of the moon.”

“Indeed, he does. I can’t thank you enough, Tyson. Will you be here all day? I’d love to buy you lunch.”

“I wish I could, Mistress, but I have to go to work. Daddy let me in so we could be sneaky. It was nice meeting you, Darcy. Hopefully we can play together soon,” Tyson smiled at me. I liked him so much already.

“Yes, please, I’d love that and thank you again.” I ran over and hugged him. “You have to come see my playroom sometime.”

“He um,” Rhett smiled wide. “Had a hand in that too.”

“Oh my gosh, you’re so wonderful. Is that what you do for a living, decorate pretty things?” I wanted to know everything about my new friend with the amazing smile.

“No,” he sighed. “I’m just a lowly barista in one of Seattle’s numerous coffee shops. I just helped pick out some of your toys.”

“Coffee is the nectar of life,” Mommy winked at him. “Don’t sell yourself short, sweet boy. Rhett, bring him by anytime. He can play with Darcy here, in the littles room, or up in her playroom.”

“Thanks, Vivienne. We’ll take you up on that for sure. Say bye to your new friend, Tyson, so Daddy can take you to work.”

Tyson and I hugged again and waved until he disappeared around the corner.

“I really like him, Mommy. I can’t believe he made this magical nook for me.”

“Me either, Princess. What a sweet boy. Why don’t you get situated while Mommy dives into her overflowing inbox.”

“’Kay, Mommy.” I even remembered to pack my iPad so I could read too.

“Princess?” I’d been coloring and barely heard mommy’s voice.

“Yes, Mommy?” When I looked up another lady was there, smiling at me.

“I’d like you to meet Kylee. Can you say hi?”

I waved as I stood. “Hi, Miss Kylee. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too, Darcy, and congratulations to both of you on your marriage.”

“Thank you, Miss Kylee.” When they started talking again I laid back down to finish my picture. Mommy’s office needed more Princess art pieces in it.

“What are you huffing about over there, my little drama llama?” Mommy’s question surprised me.

“Sorry Mommy, I hadn’t realized I was.” I stared at the pages I’d colored, torn out, and set aside. “I made a bunch of pictures for your office, but I don’t know which one will go best in here.”

“Here’s an idea.” She came around the desk with a tape dispenser. “Why don’t you hang them all up.”

“Really?” That was a lot of pictures.

“Really, sweet girl. They’re all so pretty I can’t pick either.” She bopped my nose and went back to work, and I got busy hanging them up. “That’s a lovely little song you’re humming, sweet girl. What is it called?”

“I-I, I don’t know.” Did I? Was I even of sound mind today? Saved by my phone. I pulled the vibrating thing from my pocket, walked over to mommy’s desk and sat it down in front of her and walked away. She could deal with it.

Once glance at the screen and I swore I saw smoke come from her ears. “Darcy’s phone.” She answered it on a speakerphone. “How can I help you.”

“Who is this? Where’s my daughter?” Mom sounded angry. Nothing new, really.

“This is Vivienne, Darcy’s wife. How may I help you?” That shut her up. I had to cover my mouth to hide the giggles.

“Her what? My daughter’s not gay. Who the hell are you.”

“I am your daughter’s wife. What is it you need, Karen?” Ooohhh it was sexy when mommy got all dommie. Unless I was getting spanked, like last night. No special tickles really sucked.

“I want to talk to my daughter.”

“I’m right here, Mom. What do you want?”

“Who is this woman saying she’s your wife.”

“She’s my wife. We’re married. What do you want?” This woman really had a way of ruining a good mood. How had I not realized how toxic she really was before?

“You need to come home right now, Darcy Marie. Or-or I’ll call the cops.”

“One, I’m twenty-two years old. Two, I’m married and no longer live with you.

We haven’t seen each other in almost two years and the only time we talk is when you want money.

Now, I’ll ask you again, what do you want?

” I really shouldn’t have said anything.

I should’ve let Mommy handle it just like we’d decided. Stupid, stupid, mouth.

“Wait, when did. What did?” she stuttered. Something was off but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

“Do I have anything at your place that I need to pick up?” Shift gears and end this nightmare.

“No. I um, I moved.”

“Wait, so if for some reason I was coming home you’re telling me I’d have no home to come home to without knowing it? Who does that?” I was so pissed I was shaking.

“Karen, what is it you’re calling for.” Thankfully Mommy took over. I was on the verge of not happy tears.

“I-I, I need money. I can come to your place just give me the address.”

Mommy shook her head no.

“This is the last time. Text us an address to meet you at.” She started thanking us, but I hung up. I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Baby,” Mommy pulled me onto her lap. “I’ve never met nor talked to your mother before and yet that entire conversation sounded off to me.”

“Agreed.”

“I don’t want to pull rank because this isn’t a matter of cleaning up your toys, but this will be the last time you or I give her any money.”

“Agreed.”

I was out of words…

“Come on, let’s go for a walk and get some lunch.” Mommy took my hand and told her assistant Abby we’d be out for a while as we passed her desk.

“Probably not many more rain free days left this year.” The end of summer meant Seattle’s wet season was about to hit. “The sun feels good.”

“It does, my love. I know that phone call shook you, tell me what you’re thinking.” Mommy brought our joined hands to her mouth and pressed her lips to the back of mine.

I shrugged. “I don’t really want to say. Not sure if I’m more afraid of being wrong or being right. I hate to think the wrong thing about her.” What exactly had I been supporting by sending her money each month. How long had we been without a home? “Reality sucks. Can we go back on vacation.”

“I wish, my love, but unfortunately life doesn’t work that way.” She held the door open, and I stepped inside. No clue where we were, I’d not paid attention to anything along the way. Just trusted in my Mommy to keep me safe. Too bad my little was hiding away somewhere deep inside me.

“Table for two, ladies?”

“Yes, please.”

“If you want, I’ll meet her without you.” Mommy was very kind, but this was closure I needed.

“I appreciate that, but I have to see first-hand for myself.” Had my mother ever loved me?

Did she even want me? Most likely I was a monthly government check and nothing more to her.

Did she even know who my father was? Too many unanswered questions and honestly, ones I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer to.

Needing and wanting were two very different things. “Did I leave my phone in your office?”

Mommy pulled it out of her purse and laid it face down on the table. “Baby, if you don’t want to do this we won’t do it. No questions asked.”

But if she turned the phone over and the message was there, how would we handle it?

“Let’s just get it over with.” I had my wife and my new family to help me through the hard days that were sure to come. Mommy flipped it over and there was the notification.

She googled the address and snarled. “Not too far and not in a good area. There’s no way in hell I’d let you meet her there alone.”

This just kept getting better.

“I’ll just transfer the money, then we won’t have to see her.” I reached for my phone, but she stopped me.

“Trust me, I hate what I’m about to say but it has to be said.

I fully expect this to a clusterfuck, plain and simple.

Let me just get that out there. But if you don’t see her, and see for yourself, you’ll keep living in a bubble that results in her draining your checking account.

This will suck, there’s no two ways about it, but it has to be done. ”

She was right. She’s always right. “I’m afraid.”

“I know you are, baby girl, but I’ll be right there beside you. Now, let’s eat, then we’ll get in the car and get this over with.”

I barely picked at my sandwich and said nothing along the short drive. The closer we got to the homeless encampment the sicker I felt. Was this where she’d been living all this time?

“Are you ready, Princess?”

No. “About as ready as I’ll get.” We stepped inside one of the dingiest coffee shops I’d been in. When she spotted Mommy her eyes widened.

“Who’s this?” she pointed at her.

“I was about to ask you the same thing.” This woman may’ve had my eyes but that was it. Every inch of her was filthy. Her arms and face were covered in scabs, and she’d developed some sort of twitch. “You smell awful.”

She raised her hand to me, but Mommy caught it mid-air. “Do not ever raise your hand to my wife again. Understood?”

Mom drew her arm back like she’d been burned. I was stunned. I don’t ever remember my mother hitting me. Maybe I’d blocked it out, but I didn’t think so. Hell, she wasn’t around long enough to do anything to me.

Mommy pulled an envelope from her purse and handed it to my mom.

“This is the last you’ll get from us. Do not reach out to Darcy again until you’re ready to get help.

Rehab, I’ll pay for.” Her eyes lit up, but Mommy didn’t miss that.

“I’ll pay the facility directly. But until you’re ready to get help, stay the hell away from her. ”

She snatched the envelope and snarled. “That’s my daughter, you can’t tell me what to do with her.”

“Yes, she can,” I cut in. “She’s my wife and she protects me and right now I need to be protected from you.” I turned and walked out. No clue what else was said and I didn’t care. I had to get the fuck out of here and all I wanted was to curl up with my mommy and put this day behind me.

Mommy didn’t question me on the way home or make me talk.

She let me be with my thoughts. When we stepped inside the club, she told Abby she was taking the rest of the day off.

As soon as we were inside our home I lost it.

Full on meltdown. Mommy held me while I cried and let me work through what I had to while her arms stayed firmly in place.

In my safe space that was our home.

In my safe place, wrapped in my Mommy’s arms.