Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,109
the year, the flowers always flourished at the Spencer Estate. It was one of the only things I missed about this place… that and my nanny. Marisol had practically raised me. She’d told me bedtime stories, helped me with my homework, played games and watched movies with me. Just the thought of her brought tears to my eyes.
She was still working here when I moved out and I wondered if she’d be here today. Sadly, I figured she wouldn’t be.
The trees in the backyard had pastel netting in different colors wrapped around their trunks. Pastel eggs floated on the clear surface of the pool.
Round tables dotted the yard, all of them covered in white cloth. The chairs all had different colored bows tied to their backs.
Whoever had done the set up and decorating had done a good job. It really was beautiful.
“Swanky,” Jared said, letting out a low whistle.
“Yeah,” I mumbled, because there was nothing else I could say.
People milled around, drinking fancy drinks, but the party clearly hadn’t started yet. There was a small stage set up and I knew there would be live music, and then the charity auction would begin.
The doors at the back of the house slid open and I turned my head.
It was the first time I’d seen my mother in almost two years. She still looked the same… just a little more plastic. She had clearly gotten a facelift and it even looked like she’d had something pumped into her lips. Gross.
“Katyrina,” she said. My full name alone was like nails on a chalkboard. Hearing it come from my mother was like having open heart surgery while awake.
“Mother,” I gritted between my teeth.
She descended the steps and stopped in front of me.
She patted my cheek but it was hard enough to be a slap. I flinched at her touch but she went on like nothing had happened. I could feel Jared tensing beside me.
She looked me up and down. “Still homely I see,” she sneered.
Somebody, shoot me now.
“Still a bitch, I see.” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. I instantly bit down on my tongue, tasting blood.
Her eyes widened and then she pointed a long, red, manicured finger at me. “Watch your mouth, Katyrina. Keep in mind who pays your bills.”
My face colored at her words.
Jared released my hand, cupping my waist instead.
This time, my mother looked him up and down. “And who are you? I don’t recognize you.”
“Jared Reed, ma’am,” he held out a hand for her to shake. “Katy’s boyfriend.”
“Cynthia,” she replied. She turned to glare at me, acting as if Jared wasn’t standing right there. “He calls you Katy. You know how much I hate it when people don’t call you by your given name.”
“And you know how much I hate it when people do,” I replied in a cool, clipped tone.
She took a step back, a huff escaping her red lips. “How I ended up with you as my daughter is beyond me,” she crossed her arms over her fake chest. Everything about her was fake.
I could feel Jared’s hand flex against my waist. I knew that if I looked, his jaw would be clenched, the muscle ticking.
“Enough of the pleasantries,” I glared at my egg donor. “What is it you need me to do?”
“Just mingle and talk about the charity. It would help if you would talk about what a good mother I’ve been,” she picked at an invisible piece of lint on her white dress.
I snorted. “Nice try. I’ll do two of the three.”
“That should be enough,” she waved her hand in dismissal.
As she walked away, Jared whispered in my ear, “That’s your mother?”
“That’s her.”
“She’s nothing like you,” he said, in disbelief. “I mean, I figured as much but… damn, I didn’t think she would be that bad.”
“That’s her being pleasant… at least pleasant to me,” I shrugged.
“I don’t know how she managed to raise a child,” Jared muttered under his breath as we walked around the large yard.
“She didn’t. My nanny raised me. I was nothing but a showpiece… a prize to her. That’ll never change.”
Jared ran his fingers through his hair. “Most people would look at this house,” he motioned to the expansive building, “at all this fancy stuff and think you were a spoiled brat, that nothing bad would ever happen to you. They would never begin to fathom what you’ve been put through.”
“This is all just a façade, Jared,” I said, staring at the too green grass.