“Mom. Why do you let him do this to you? We should pack our things and leave. He’s got no right to make you sad.”
“It’s not so simple, sweetheart.” Norma picked up the crumpled bundle of paper towels. Her mascara had smeared beneath her lashes, and Aspen wiped the sooty stain from her cheek with the pad of her finger.
“Why not? I’ll help you with everything. I promise. I’ll move our stuff and you’ll never have to fuss at me again. I’ll do whatever you say.” Her voice took on a pleading tone.
“Aspen, you do what I say anyway.” Norma smiled through her tears. “You’re the best daughter a mother could wish for.”
“Why don’t we move then?” Once the glass was empty, Aspen nudged her mother’s shoulder gently.
Norma sighed shakily. “Stephan won’t let us.”
Aspen stared at her mother’s flushed cheeks. “How can he stop us?”
“I don’t have any money, sweetie. Stephan hasn’t allowed me to work since we’ve been together, and I don’t have a penny to my name. I don’t own anything, and he’s threatened to sue me if I take one thing from this house.”
“He’s such a pig.”
“I know, I know. I don’t have enough to rent a place, and I don’t have money for a bed or food. I won’t be able to pay your school expenses. Stephan covers all of that now.”
“You’ll get a job.” Aspen grabbed her mother’s hands.
“How? The only thing I’ll be capable of doing is waitressing, and I don’t have any experience with that either. Where will we sleep until I get a paycheck? We have nothing.” Fresh tears rolled down her face.
“Argh!” Aspen shouted in frustration. “He’s made sure that we’re dependent on him. I hate him!”
“No, don’t hate him, sweetheart. Hate your mother because she didn’t put you first in her life.” Norma’s blue eyes shone with tears. “I made the mistake of marrying someone for security because I wasn’t brave enough, and I didn’t think I could make a life for me and you after your father died. Hate me because I’m weak and stupid.”
“Don’t be silly, Mom. I love you and I’m so proud of you. I know it was tough when Dad died, and I didn’t realize that you felt this way.”
Norma rubbed at her eyes with the remaining paper towel and sniffed softly. “Stephan was so nice to you when I first met him. I didn’t realize that he only wanted an unpaid housekeeper and someone to look after his daughter. He already had a house, and we were about to be kicked out of ours. I didn’t have a job and the rent was due. Before your dad died, he spoke about a new house that he’d been building in his dreams. I wish it was the truth. I’ve tried to go there in my dreams at night, even though it’s not real, but I can’t even imagine it while I’m sleeping.”
Norma took a deep breath and wiped her nose again. “Stephan was there when I was at my lowest, and his offer of help came at the right time, or so I thought. I never thought he would change into such a mean person.” She reached out and grabbed Aspen’s knee. “I hate the way he treats you, don’t think I don’t know what he’s doing. I’ve just kept quiet because there isn’t a thing I can do about it.”
Aspen hugged her mother again. “Don’t worry, Mom, we’ll work this out together. I thought you wanted to be with him. I’m older now, you’ll see, we can get through this. Give me a little time and I’ll have a solution for you. I promise.”
Norma gave her daughter a sad smile. “Just remember that I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom. Now get up and wash your face. I’ll help you fix dinner.”
Although Norma was still shaky, she rose from the chair and soothed the creases from her shirt.
Aspen smiled at her and said, “I’m just going out for a sec, I’ll be back soon. Don’t start dinner without me.”
She gave her mom another hug and breathed in the vanilla scent that was so familiar to her. Once she’d released her, she darted toward the kitchen. Her backpack was under the table and she dug around in it for a quarter. The bag couldn’t stay there, and she made a mental note to take it to her room when she got back.
After finding the quarter, she raced down the driveway and out into the street. A pay phone was situated in the middle of the block, and she headed straight for it. Dylan’s number was imprinted in her brain; she’d stared at it enough times in class. The metal buttons were difficult to press, but she punched in the number and deposited the quarter when asked.
Dylan answered on the first ring. “Aspen, what’s wrong?” His voice sounded thin and distant as he spoke.
“How did you know it would be me?” she asked.
“You’re the only one who has this . . . Never mind, what’s the matter?”
“Can you meet me at the playground on the way to my house?”
Dylan was quiet for a second. “What time?” His voice didn’t sound warm, and she worried if she’d been right to call him.
“Um, now?” she said softly.