Page 100 of Take Two

Mama looks at Holly whose eyes are now filled with unshed tears.

“Can I have something to eat too?” Holly asks. She pats her belly and sighs. “I haven’t eaten all day.”

“In that case, after this little girl has had her dinner, please leave my house and my family alone,” Mama says. “I’ll fix you a plate, but it’s for the poor child you’re carrying, not you.”

That’s my mom. She’s always mothering someone, and it doesn’t matter who it is.

“Why are you here?” I ask Holly. I don’t understand her or this. There were never any real feelings between us. The only thing we cared about back then was drinking. The first time I thought of her in years was when I told Violet about her. I didn’t think of her again until she called me out of the blue.

Mama plunks down a plate of food on the table, and Holly attacks it with the same gusto as Charlene.

“I was hoping Charlene was yours,” Holly says between bites of food. “I had this fantasy that she’s yours, and you’d help me raise this baby I’m carrying.”

“That’s absurd,” I say.

“You can say that again,” says Violet. I throw an arm around her and pull her close.

“Child, where is the father of that little girl?” Mama asks.

“My gamma says my daddy’s in jail,” Charlene says as she’s stuffing food in her mouth. “She says he’s a bum.”

“Charlene, shut up,” Holly says. Mama purses her lips in disapproval. No one is to ever tell a small child to shut up in her presence. While Holly eats, Vickie picks up Charlene, who is done with her meal, out of the highchair. She washes her hands and face, and during that entire time, Holly doesn’t bother to look at her child or the stranger taking care of her. Once she’s done, she takes Charlene to the living room to watch TV with the kids.

“And where is the father of that baby?” Violet asks.

“I don’t know. He ghosted me after I told him I was pregnant.”

“After today, don’t contact me again,” I tell her.

“I’ll need a ride home,” she says, and I roll my eyes.

“We’ll call you a cab,” Vickie says. “Why did you come here?”

Holly looks at me, and her eyes harden, but only for a fraction of a second. It’s so brief, I think I imagined it. Then they soften, and tears fill them again. She takes a bite and starts to cough. Everyone one of us looks at each other, unsure of what we’re supposed to do. The tears fall and she stands with her hand on her belly.

“I’m so sorry,” she says, but I don’t buy it. There’s a hint of false sincerity in her voice. “I really didn’t mean to try and come between you two.” She gestures between me and Violet.

“You could never come between us, but that’s quite a performance,” Violet says.

“I did it for the money,” she says with a sniffle. “I was desperate.” She takes a napkin and dabs the tip of her nose with it. “I’m going to have two kids that I’m responsible for on my own. My ex won’t let me see my son.”

“Good grief! There’s another child?” Mama asks. “You need to get your affairs in order, girl.” Holly shrinks back, but Mama walks over and gets in her face. “And there is no reason for that child to be this hungry. If you weren’t pregnant, I’d beat your behind.”

Colt quickly steps between them and pulls Mama away.

“And you have this nice family,” Holly continues while moving as far away from Mama as possible. “Well, most of your family is nice, and you have money. So, when she called and said she tracked me down, I jumped on the opportunity.”

“What are you talking about? Who isshe?” I ask, suddenly bored by her and this entire thing.

“Theresa Scott,” she says, finally looking at Violet.

“Theresa Scott? Are you talking about Terri? My sister?” Violet asks. “What does my sister have to do with you?”

“She tracked me down and coached me to do this,” Holly says before she bursts into what I’m sure are fake tears.

“That’s impossible. How could she know about you? And she goes by Finley, not Scott.” Violet steps out of my arms and makes a move toward Holly, but I wrap my arm around her wrist.

“I don’t know how she found me. Ask her, but I’m really sorry for everything.”