Chapter 35- Skye's New List

"Why do you want to break up with John?" Myrtle asked.

"Because my daughter is more important to me than my relationship with John," Rae said.

Myrtle sighed. "What happened? Why are you and Skye so upset?"

Rae wiped away some of the tears in her eyes. "I snapped at her, Mama."

"I'm surprised it took you this long."

"I haven't yelled at her like that since literally minutes prior to finding out she is my daughter."

"I have a hard time believing that. I can't imagine you saying anything out of line. It was different before."

"I told her to shut her mouth."

"And did you tell her she doesn't deserve to be loved or that she's a sad little girl that no one had any time for again?" Myrtle asked.

Rae shook her head. "No. Of course not. But I called her an ungrateful overgrown child."

"She is an ungrateful overgrown child," Myrtle said.

"I shouldn't have said that. I listed all of the things I've done for her this past month including taking her in to my home… The way I said it, she probably thinks I meant that she's a burden. But I didn't mean that at all. I want her here."

"I know you do," Myrtle said.

"Then I let out that I spent my entire savings on her new outfits and how she didn't even ask for the paint. All I was trying to get across to her is that I wish she'd be a little more grateful and respectful towards me. I know I owe her so much more than outfits that cost thousands of dollars, and the painting she did in her room that was such a big accomplishment for her. I just worry that part of me is trying to match the parent she did have growing up and I feel like that's part of her standard of what a good parent is… but while I make good money it's nowhere even in the same ballpark of what Adam has."

"You shouldn't have bought her those outfits," Myrtle said. "Now, I'm not saying you can't buy her things. But she needs to learn how to live by a budget and not expect a parent to give her anything and everything she wants at her every demand. You should have just bought her clothes at a reasonable price within your budget, even if it's not what she's used to. And yes, the painting was good for her, but she should have asked. I know you're walking on eggshells with her but if you don't put your foot down with her now then she'll never respect you. If you keep taking all of this from her then you're probably going to explode even worse. Adam Chandler is what she knows and yes he's probably the standard for her right now, but this is your chance to raise that standard."

Rae raised an eyebrow. "Raise that standard by giving her less than Adam gave her?"

"When it comes to material goods, yes. While giving is one love language, it can be overindulged, and the other areas can be neglected. That's what Adam did to Skye. She was neglected in all of the areas that really matter for her emotional well-being. What she needs is some good healthy discipline out of love not a thousand-dollar outfit. She needs to learn the value of hard work and to respect those that love her and who will stand by her. And she most certainly should not be telling you to break up with John who is good to both you and her."

"I just want to show her that I will always put her first," Rae said. "Even before the man that I love."

"And that would be completely reasonable if he was treating you or Skye unfairly or hurt one of you. Then of course you would and should choose Skye over him. But he's done nothing but stand by both of you."

"That's what I told her. I flat out asked her why she doesn't like John, but she didn't have a reason other than he annoys her because he's always here. If he ever did anything to hurt her and I mean anything, he'd be gone within a second, but I know he would never do that."

"Then you mustn't break up with him," Myrtle said. "You give Skye an inch and she'll take a mile."

Rae shook her head. "But this is Skye's language. Our relationship is so fragile. We came so far and I'm afraid I just blew it by snapping at her. She's in so much pain right now, maybe it is best that I just focus on her. I don't want to lose her again."

"But you need a good healthy outlet. You might even grow to resent Skye if you give up the man you love for her. That isn't fair to either of you."

Rae ran her hands through her hair and paced back and forth. "I—I don't know. I—I need to get out of here and think." She passed Erica in the living room where she was reading the newspaper and grabbed her coat before she headed out the front door.

"Can one of us escort you?" one of the guards asked.

"Thank you," Rae said. "But I really need to be alone to clear my head." She headed down the sidewalk alone.

"Well, she headed out in a huff," Erica commented back in the living room.

Myrtle sighed. "She needs a little time to think. Erica, dear… I really need to go up and talk to Skye. Will you stay a little longer and we can have breakfast?"

Erica nodded. "Okay, Myrtle."

Myrtle made her way up to Skye's room where her granddaughter was standing by the window. She still hadn't tidied up the newspapers or the paint trays from the day before. Skye turned abruptly but stopped when she noticed Myrtle. "I—I think I made a mistake."

"A mistake, Skye Chandler?" Myrtle gritted her teeth. "You downright put your mother in tears!"

Skye swallowed hard. "I'll go get her. I will fix this."

"Not until we've had a little talk."

Skye pointed towards the window. "But I just saw her walking al—"

"You will respect your mother from here on out!" Myrtle literally stomped her foot causing Skye to jolt and pointed her index finger at her. "You will ask her if you want something and if she says no you will not put up a fuss. You will get serious about looking for a job even if it's what you consider a servant's job. Then you will sit down with me and I will teach you the art of saving and budgeting. And I will also show you how to properly make a bed and we're going to add more chores to your list. And finally, you're going to apologize to both your mother and John Sykes. You will show respect to both of them and I don't want you giving either of them attitude again. Do I make myself clear, young lady?"

Skye gulped and nodded, then started to chew her fingernails nervously.

"John Sykes is a good man, and I couldn't ask for better for your mother," Myrtle said. "She is not interested in pursuing Alan romantically. You need to accept that."

Skye wrapped her arms around herself and started to tear up. "I just got jealous, okay?"

Myrtle scrunched her face. "Jealous that Rae has a good man?"

"No! Jealous that… that he spends time with her. I didn't want her to forget about me."

Myrtle shook her head. "No one can replace you in her heart, Skye. She literally jumped state to state for years looking for you! She's even seriously contemplating breaking up with him just to prove to you that you're more important to her than he is."

"I will fix this…" Skye tried to walk past her, but Myrtle stopped her.

"I'm adding one more thing to your list, Skye Chandler, because your mother is too afraid to even suggest it. We are going to find you a good therapist."

Skye burst into tears and Myrtle wrapped her arms around her, but Skye pulled away.

"I'll do it. I'll do everything, I will," Skye cried. "Just please let me go find her. She went down the street without a guard!"

Myrtle's mouth dropped slightly, and she followed after a frantic Skye.