Page 78 of Imperfections Forbidden
“Unless a piece of your flesh is ripped off with it and opens a fresh wound.”
“Cat.”
“Fine, I’ll see if I can go over there tomorrow.”
“Good.I’ll call you tomorrow to see how it went.I’m going back to the office.I have to show a Brownstone to a couple near Eastern Parkway and New York Ave.They’re looking to move from Manhattan.”
I walk him to the door and I remember Ava.“What’s up with you and Ava?”He looks at me like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.“She likes you.”
“I’m not looking for a relationship.”
“Who’s to say she is?Ava’s not a labels type of girl.She might surprise you.”
“All girls like labels, especially the ones with money.The more labels the happier they are.”
“Get out of here.”I push him playfully.He gives me a hug and leaves.
I lie down on my bed and think about tomorrow.I need to get my panther necklace, anyway.I guess I’ve made up my mind.I’m going to see my parents.
Cat
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hello, Catherine.”
She stands back to let me in.I called her to let her know I was coming over to get some more of my stuff.She just said that will be fine.The only thing was, I had to come between one and two, because Kate would be at her office then getting a few things.She’s going to be working from my parents’ house for the next month.She doesn’t want her seeing me and getting her upset.
“How are you doing?”
“I’m surviving,” I say.
“You didn’t call anyone; we haven’t heard a word from you.”
“Did you want to hear from me?”
“What kind of a question is that, Cat?”
“An honest one.”
“You could have at least called to see how your sister was doing.”
“How is she doing?”
She turns and walks into the dining room.Her back is straight as a rod, which tells me she’s not happy with me—as usual.I follow behind her like she wants.She sits down in one of the chairs and crosses her legs at the ankle.Signaling for me to sit down with a point of her finger, she puts her hands in her lap.She’s barely made eye contact with me since I walked through the door.She didn’t even touch me, as if I would contaminate her.She clears her throat before she starts to speak.
“Since you finally cared enough to ask, your sister is not doing well.She is, however, making progress, no thanks to you and your…and him.”
Great.“I didn’t come here for this.I don’t want to argue with you or anyone.”Oh my God, I feel myself getting emotional.I close my eyes and try to force it down.I don’t want to cry.Not here.Not now.
“You don’t want what, Cat?To face what you did to this family?Your sister, your brother?Breaking your father’s heart?You didn’t want to face what you did with that man.What you did was selfish and shameful.How can you even stand to look at yourself, knowing what you did?”
Her words are flying at me fast; I can’t believe her, of all people, calling me shameful and selfish.I slam my hand down on the table, tears stinging my eyes.“Enough.How dare you, of all people, throw this back at me?You, the woman who was going to leave her devoted husband and her child for some man who knocked you up and didn’t want you or his children.What you did was worse than me falling in love with a man who loves me.You know what, forget it.It was a mistake for me to come here.”
“What did you expect, Cat?Were we supposed to be happy you’re sleeping with your sister’s fiancé, the father of her baby?”
I push back my chair and get up.She gets up and tells me with all the authority of a queen on her throne to sit down.
“Sit down.Catherine, please sit down.”
