Page 15 of Paint the Town, Dove
I loved her, you know? More than life itself, I loved her. She was everything to me, all I needed – my hope, my safe place…
MyDove.
But sometimes – sometimes people, they abandon you. They leave you without warning. They leave you with a fucking pity note tossed on the table promising you’d be okay, and you think it’s a joke,because how could I be okay without you mom?Then a week goes by and another week passes and another andanother…
A year –
Another year –
IT’S NOT A JOKE –
Fuck, fuck! I need something to – My fucking head! TURN OFF!
She’s gone.
She didn’t love you.
She never did.
TURN THE FUCK OFF!!!
“Ryden?”
Her voice.
My Dove.
Not Mom. Never Mom.
MY Dove.
I cleared my throat, peeling off the layers of insanity. Deranged thoughts.So many of them. Instinctively, I placed a hand over where Scarlett’s rested on my shoulder.
“Sorry, what were you saying?”Who was talking? I couldn’t tell. My neck twisted around the room, searching for someone with open lips.
“Abe supplied the interview questions, if you want to give it a once over before air time.” Scarlett tried to smile, but I knew it wasn’t real. I knew because I’d seen a million forced smiles before.
My mom loved to smile.
Abe was staring at me all blasé, fingers curled around a crystal glass. Deep within the creases of his eyes, I could sense the irritation, feel the impatience looming beneath his gaze.
He couldn’t do a damn thing.
He neededme.
Ifurthered his companies, people like me made him rich.
Iwas the one with the Grammy.Me,Ryden Spectre.
The rock star.
Not Abe fucking Turner.
He opened his mouth as I approached. “Would you like that drink before we begin, Mr. Spectre?”
I cleared my throat. “You know what,” I stood tall, regaining my composure, “I’d love a drink.”
He led me to the back corner of set where three gold bar carts lined the wall. Varying arrays of tequila, gin and scotch nested atop two levels of glass, myfavouritekinds.
