Chapter 24
The last family member I needed to speak with was Valerie. Even though we were not overly close growing up we had started working on our relationship the past year or so. Growing up we were polar opposites and at times I down right despised my sister, especially when she would go tell Mom things just to get me in trouble. Val was always Mom's favorite, they had a special connection that we never had. I was always closer to Daddy and my grandparents, they seemed to understand me better than Mom did.
Val avoided me for a good two weeks after the funeral, she wouldn't return my phone calls so to say I was shocked when she finally called me back this morning and invited me to lunch was an understatement. I agreed to meet her at the diner down off Haywood at noon. I just pulled into the parking lot and had this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I just felt like this wasn't going to go well. I finally got enough courage to get out of the car and make my way inside the diner and to towards the back booth where Val was sitting. She looked like complete hell, like she hadn't slept in weeks, I almost didn't recognize her.
"Hey Val" I said as I slid in the booth.
"Steph, the only reason I called you back in because Grandma called me and asked me to speak with you. So this is how this is going to go, I'm going to talk and you're going to listen. You are not going to interrupt me and then after I'm done you can talk. I honestly cannot promise I will stay around and listen to you after I finish what I have to say, but I will try. Do you understand?" she said as she stared me down.
"I understand," now understanding the knot in my stomach when I pulled in.
"Mom and I were always closer than the two of you were. I spent a lot of time with Mom since I moved back home and all she ever wanted was the best for you. She wanted your marriage to Joey to be like hers and Dad's marriage, for you to have kids and to find the happiness that she had found in life. She feared that you weren't living up to your obligations of being a good wife and that you would be a horrible mother, and in all honesty I agree with her. You never seemed willing to give up anything to make Joey happy. You had to be independent, you had to work, you still ate take out for over half your meals, and the meals that you actually cooked could be used as a torture device. It's not that difficult to make a decent pot roast or spaghetti and meatballs, you just weren't willing to put any effort into it. The more she realized how much of a screw up you were the more she would take a small drink to calm her nerves, then when you started cheating on Joey with that Thug Ranger she lost it. She became detached from reality, but you were too self absorbed at the time to realize that. You pushed her over the edge of that cliff with your engagement announcement. You did that, not anyone else. Dad and Grandma may have found it in their hearts to forgive you but I never will. To me you are no better than that Thug murderer you call a fiancee. This will be the last time I will see you, please quit contacting me. I do not want you around me or my family. I don't want my daughters to have you as an influence in their lives and I don't think that I can be in the same room with you without wanting to take out my pain on you physically. Goodbye Stephanie."
Val got up from the table and left me there processing what she had said. She believed that this was my fault! She hated me and believed that I had murdered Mom. I got back in my car and headed back to the apartment. I went straight up the 7th floor and laid down on the bed in my thinking position. I felt the tears stinging the back of my eyes. I cried for the rest of the afternoon until Ranger made it home. He walked in and picked me up and held me as I finished crying, never saying a word. His silent support meant the world to me, I hope he realizes just how much I love him.