Chapter 34- Rae Snaps
Skye woke up at 8am. She never ever woke up that early. Even the days her shift at the Banner started at 9, she was always at least 45 minutes late. But she crashed so early because of all the hard work she did on her room. Rae let her take her room for the night, though Myrtle spoke up and said that Skye should be the one to take the couch since she was younger, but Rae insisted Skye take her room. She did after all have a big day painting her room and needed a comfortable sleep. But it was John who ended up taking the couch and Rae took his room. She had four bedrooms and Skye was relieved that her mother didn't just bunk with the detective.
Skye made Rae's bed (in other words, she messily pulled the covers up close to the pillow and the top corner of the bottom sheet wasn't even properly fitted to the mattress) and she finally showered to get the paint out of her hair. She should've done it the night before, but she was just so tired. When Skye came downstairs, she wasn't impressed to find John the only one awake making some coffee.
Skye groaned rather loudly. "What are you still doing here? Isn't the guard outside enough protection?"
John sighed. "Do you like cream or sugar in your coffee?"
"Milk." Skye sat at the kitchen table and scowled at him.
"You'll be glad to know I'm heading into the station today," John said. "And later I'm going to Port Charles to work with Mac Scorpio on the kidnapping and arson case."
"Oh? Are you going to move there?"
"No. It'll probably only be for a few hours."
"But maybe they'll want to hire you there," Skye said. "Or even better, they'll refer you to another state. Surely they can find a place in Hell for a nosy cop like you."
"Skye Chandler, go rinse your mouth out with soap!" Myrtle said as stepped into the kitchen with Rae. "This man helped you prove your innocence when you were accused of attempted murder."
"Yeah, after Mom led a witch hunt against me…" Skye mumbled and crossed her arms.
Rae sighed. "I thought you forgave me for that…"
"He set up your lie detector test which got you out on bail," Myrtle added. "You need to show him some respect."
"It's fine, Myrtle," John said. "I've gotten used to it. It's just nice to see her starting to show respect to Rae now."
Knock. Knock.
"On that note, I should really head to the station," John said and gave Rae a peck on the cheek. "Call me if you need anything."
Skye rolled her eyes as Rae walked John to the front door. He kissed her properly when they were out of Skye's view, but they were interrupted when there was another knock.
Rae opened the door to find an anxious Erica.
Erica threw her hands in the air. "I've chosen to co-exist with you, but I really need to talk to Myrtle alone, please."
"You drove from Pine Valley and you couldn't call first?" John asked.
Rae patted his chest. "It's fine, John. Have a good day at work."
She let Erica in and closed the door behind John.
"Have a seat in the living room," Rae said. "I'll go get Myrtle."
Erica browsed the room while she waited on the couch. Rae certainly didn't have very good taste, but that didn't surprise her at all.
"Erica, dear." Myrtle sat on the couch with her and hugged her.
"Are you feeling any better, Myrtle?"
Myrtle nodded. "Much better. I'm so glad to be out of hospital."
Erica cut to the chase. "That ungrateful little juvenile delinquent refuses to live with me! I show her a little kindness and she slammed the door in my face! Well, that's the last time I ever do anything for her."
Myrtle sighed. "So, it didn't go well with Kendall."
"I went there right after I left the hospital. I was kind and I told her I wanted to start over, but she wouldn't have any of it. Well, I am just done with her. Bianca and I are better off without her."
Myrtle shook her head. "Erica, you can't just give up on your daughter so easily. Would you give up on Bianca like that?"
"No. But that's different."
"Different, how?"
"Well, Bianca is Bianca. And Kendall is Kendall."
"They're both your daughters whether they live with you or not. You can't expect Kendall to let down her walls so easily. She's too much like you to do that. But I bet she was up all-night just thinking about your invitation. Give her a few days to meditate on it. Then reach out to her again. And she very well might slam the door on you again. But the more and more you reach out to her she just might one day keep that door open."
Back in the kitchen, Rae and Skye sat at the table eating their oatmeal.
"Skye, why don't you like John?" Rae asked.
"Why are you asking me?" Skye grumbled "It's not like my opinion matters. You'll just keep seeing him anyway."
"Of course, your opinion matters. I'm just confused. You were getting along so well with him when he was helping you with the case, and now he's trying to help you again. If there's a good reason that you don't like him or that you don't want me to date him, then I want to know. But if it's just because you want me with Alan, that's not going to happen. So, why don't you like him? Did he do something to turn you off or… I don't know. You tell me."
Skye shrugged and moved her spoon in a circular motion through her oatmeal. "You can just do better than him."
"And better meaning with your father?"
"Maybe."
"Skye, your father is married, and I haven't had those kinds of feelings for him since we were young. Right now, I have those feelings for John. But if you have a real reason you don't want me with him, then tell me. Otherwise, I'm going to assume it's just because you want your father and I together."
"He's just annoying."
"Annoying, how?"
"He's always here."
Rae sighed heavily. "That tends to happen when you're dating someone. They're going to come around a lot."
"See? I told you that my opinion wouldn't matter to you. You don't care that he annoys me."
Rae massaged her temples. "A lot of people annoy you, Skye."
Skye rose from her chair. "So, you're saying I'm the problem."
"No. That's not what I'm saying…"
"What you're saying is that I'm the problem and John Sykes is more important to you than I am."
Rae gaped at her. "That's not true."
"What do they say? You can't choose your family? But you're certainly choosing John."
"Skye, please…"
"Then fine, choose him over me. What I think doesn't matter at all. I have no say, what else is new. Just keep on seeing—"
"Shut your mouth, Skye!" Rae snapped. "Not everything is about you. I've taken you in. I've given you a home. I've been patient for you while you take your good old time to get a job and while you keep scheming. I even spent my savings to buy you those outfits, yet you didn't even ask me to buy you that paint, you just told me you were buying it… with my money. And now you have an issue with John who has worked so hard to help you? Why can't you show a little gratitude instead of continuing to stand there grumbling like an ungrateful overgrown child?" As soon as Rae paused for breath and looked into Skye's welled up eyes, she immediately regretted everything she said and placed a shaky hand over her mouth. "Skye… I—I didn't mean…"
"Well, it's nice to know how you really feel about me, Mother…"
Skye hastened from the kitchen and as past Myrtle and Erica, and up to her room. Rae buried her face in her hands and started to cry.
"Is everything okay?" Myrtle appeared in the doorway.
Rae shook her head. "I—I need to make things right. Tell Skye I'll be back. I'm going to the police station."
"Why are you going to the station?" Myrtle asked.
"To break up with John."