5. tensions

Last time…

“When were you going to tell me about this boy?!” She slammed her hands on the table slightly, and pushed her chair back roughly. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.” She stood then, and tossed her napkin on the table. “You never tell me anything anymore anyways.”

---

Odelia stormed out of the house after dinner that night, running from the table before Rosena or Meredith could say anything.

When had she stopped telling me things? Odelia wondered. Why has she stopped talking to me? When had my mother taken my place?

Odelia saw the way her mother looked at her…and couldn’t ignore the fact that things weren’t fixed between them yet…

But is mom even trying to fix things? She asked herself. I came back to help…I came back hoping to fix everything. But does she like having me around?

Rosena was always talking to Meredith, normally leaving Odelia out of the conversation unless Meredith pulled her in.

We’ve hardly been here a month…how come they’ve gotten so friendly already? Meredith didn’t even know about her grandmother until dad died! And now…

It finally hit her, as she lost her balance and fell to ice.

“Mom is stealing my daughter away from me,” Odelia whispered to the open air around her. “My mother loves my daughter more then me…”

4. family

“If you can get it running,” Rosena gestured to the rusted car sitting in the driveway. “Then I don’t see why you can’t use it.”

Meredith happily started working on fixing the car up. She spent time in her room reading books on how to repair it.

She tried asking Odelia for help but never got very far…

---

“And how are your grades?” Rosena asked over dinner one night. “I don’t want that old car to cause a drop in your schoolwork.”

“Oh grandma!” Meredith waved her hand, as if blowing the question away. “Of course not. I’m still keeping my grades up.” She smiled softly between bites. “My homeroom teacher even said that mechanics is a great thing to learn, and recommended some more books.” She turned to her mother beside her and addressed her. “And he said that it’s good to know so you don’t get ripped off, right mom?”

At hearing her daughter actually talking to her, Odelia dropped her spoon in her bowl. “Oh, yeah…” she mumbled softly.

Meredith ignored her mother’s response, and continued talking to Rosena. “Brant even said it was great “for a girl” to know how to fix a car.” She blushed slightly at Brant’s name, but kept going. “And you know how I want to impress him and-“

“You what?!” Odelia quickly addressed her daughter, her spoon still sitting in her bowl. “When were you going to tell me about this boy?!” She slammed her hands on the table slightly, and pushed her chair back roughly. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.” She stood then, and tossed her napkin on the table. “You never tell me anything anymore anyways.”

3. dear diary

I expected my grandmother to be some…horrible person, after what mom has told me. But I’m slowly learning that my mom was wrong. Is wrong.

Ever since we arrived, my mother as avoided my grandmother. And the more time I spend with my grandmother, my mother avoids me.

I love my mother, but my grandmother is so nice and so kind. And I feel like my mother doesn’t want to stay.

What’s going to happen to me if my mother wants to leave again? Will I be forced away from my grandmother? Or will I be forced to choose between my mother and my grandmother?

I hate to say this, but if I had to choose between them…I’m not sure mom will be happy with my choice.

2. bonding time

“Mom has never really liked music, but I played violin in school.” Meredith was happy to hear that her grandmother had a piano and a violin in her house.

“Would you mind playing for me?” Rosena showed Meredith into the music room. “I have always enjoyed music, and it would bring me great joy to hear you play!”

Meredith adjusted the shoulder rest and set the instrument on her shoulder. “I’m afraid I’m very out of practice and rusty, but I’ll try my best.”

After running a few scales with Rosena, Meredith put the violin down. “Thanks for keeping me in tune.” She gently rubbed her fingers. “I’ll be glad to pick it back up again.”

Rosena smiled softly. “And I will be very glad to help you.” She stood then and gestured to the door. “Come, let me show you your room.”

Meredith found herself in a small room in the corner of the house. “It’s larger then my old room!” She exclaimed, running her fingers along the desk. “I even have a desk! And a bookshelf!!”

“Your mother said you liked these books,” Rosena pointed out the few books on the shelf. “So I got them for you.”

Meredith turned to her grandmother then and wrapped her arms around her middle. “The room is wonderful! Thank you grandma.”

1. the loss of a father

“Hello?” Odelia’s confident voice rang out over the phone.

Rosena hestated. Her daughter sounded so happy, was it right for her to ruin that with her news? “Odelia?” She finaly asked after a moment or two.

“Mom?” Odelia replied with a shaky breath. How long had it been since she’d heard her mother’s voice?

Rosena paused again. “Your father’s…gone, Odelia. He’s gone.”

---

“Meredith, honey?” Odelia hesitantly knocked on her daughter’s bedroom dorm.

“Yeah, what is it?” Meredith put her book down and looked up at her mother. “Hey, have you been crying?”

Odelia swiped at her cheeks again. “I’m afraid I’ve just had some upsetting news…”

---

“Meredith! I’m so glad you’ve decided to come stay with me.” Rosane held her granddaughter at arm’s length. “Now, let me look at you!”

“You look just like your mother.” Rosane teared slightly. “Now, come inside before we’re drenched!”