A good friend can tell you what is the matter with you in a minute. He may not seem such a good friend after telling. Arthur Brisbane, "The Book of Today"
Exile: Day 5Scarlett's eyes popped open. What had awakened her? She listened for a moment and only silence greeted her. Just as she decided it must have been a dream that woke her, she heard the noise again. She rolled off the bed, and walked to her bedroom door. She turned the knob gently to let the door fall open a crack. She could hear Lady Jaye talking to someone.
Had Jaye finally lost it? Scarlett had heard of people getting cabin fever, but not after only five days. Maybe she had hit Jaye a little too hard the other day if the woman was talking to herself now.
"For Heaven's sake, Mother…" Jaye's voice was cut off.
Scarlett realized she was talking to someone on the phone. She was about to close the door and continue her nap, when the little devil on her shoulder urged her to keep listening to the conversation. Rather, one side of the conversation.
Scarlett, as a general rule, didn't eavesdrop on other people's conversations (not unless she was in the field). Somehow she figured if she listened, she might learn a little bit more about what made her teammate tick.
"Mother, we have been over this a million times! This is not an act of rebellion. I enjoy what I do. Why can't you just accept that and be more supportive?" Lady Jaye asked.
Her mother could be a real piece of work sometimes. Roslyn Hart-Kingston (Formerly Roslyn Hart-Burnett) felt the need to be in control at all times and, unfortunately, that included controlling the lives of her children.
"Allie dear, all I'm saying is you should come home. Jeffrey Keiser has been asking about you. You know, he just made partner at his law firm," Roslyn eased effortlessly from one subject to another.
"Mom, I'm sure Jeffrey has done very well for himself, but for the last time I am not interested. I have a life here and a career. Both of which I am very proud of," Lady Jaye could feel her temper rising.
"Yes, yes. You are your own woman. Your father and I realize that. So, you can come home and give up this game you're playing. You have made your point," Roslyn cajoled.
Lady Jaye lost the tenuous hold she had on her temper, "You have some nerve. How dare you accuse me of playing games. For as long as I can remember, the only game player and manipulator in this family has been you! You manipulated everything in our lives just so you could get what you wanted from each of us. You talked Dad into taking a job that made him miserable. You convinced Alex he wanted to be a doctor, and you almost persuaded me I wanted to be a debutante trophy wife! I have a mind, Mother, and I intend to use it whether you like it or not!"
"Alison Jeanette! I did not raise you to speak to me this way! I raised you to…"
"Be happy!" Lady Jaye finished for her as the tears welled up in the back of her throat. "You raised us to be happy. Unfortunately, my idea of happiness isn't the same as yours."
"Well, since you are so happy you won't be needing the allowance I put into your bank account will you?" Roslyn all but purred.
It was as if the woman slapped her in the face. Roslyn was, indeed, a real piece of work. To stoop so low as to threaten cut her own daughter off just to get her way.
"Fine Mother. If you think that little of me, then perhaps it is best you don't think of me at all. Thanks for calling," Jaye didn't wait to see if her mother had anything else to say as she gently replaced the telephone receiver into it's cradle.
Scarlett whistled under her breath. Some people had serious family troubles. She was just glad her family wasn't dysfunctional, just slightly malfunctional. Was that a word? She could hear Lady Jaye's sniffles coming from the other room. She was about to go see if she could comfort the other woman when, but stopped herself.
Scarlett leaned against the door frame, and thought for a minute. On the one hand, it was really none of her business and Lady Jaye may not appreciate the intrusion; she barely knew her. On the other hand, everyone needs a shoulder sometimes and due to current events, hers was the only one available.
The muffled sobs pulled at Scarlett. She made up her mind and quietly walked into the small living room they shared. Lady Jaye was sitting on the couch with her head buried in her hands. Scarlett sat down next to her and put an awkward hand on the other woman's shoulder. She felt Jaye stiffen momentarily, and then succumb to a fresh wave of tears. Scarlett, not knowing what else to do, kept a reassuring hand on her shoulder. For a long time, the two women stayed that way.
After some time, Scarlett took a deep breath and began to speak in a muted voice, "My mother died from a stroke when I was eleven. We had a fight that morning about which dress I was going to wear for my school portrait. She wanted me to wear this green dress she had picked out. I hated it. Even more than that, I resented her trying to dress me all the time. I recall her telling me she had too bad a headache for her to argue with me, and to just put on whichever dress I wanted. I felt as if I had won some major battle. That was the last time I saw her alive. My uncle came and picked us up from school in the middle of the day. He drove us to the hospital where mom was on life support. She had been declared brain dead, but Da wanted us to be able to say goodbye. After we said goodbye, they turned off the machines. When we got home, I put on the green dress, and didn't take it off for two weeks."
Lady Jaye sat stunned. She turned and looked at the red-head sitting beside her. There were silent tears flowing from Scarlett's eyes.
"Why are you telling me this?" Lady Jaye asked.
"Because somehow, I thought it might be relevant," Scarlett answered.
"I'm not sure I follow you on this one, Red," Jaye wiped away the last remnants of her tears.
"Look, I don't really know the situation between you and your mother. There is one thing about mothers I do know: you only get one. Your mother can take the place of everyone else, but no one can ever take the place of your mother. Alison, call her back and apologize," Scarlett held up her hand to stop the Lady Jaye's objection, "Not for living your life the way you want to, but for your harsh words. If you don't do it now, you may never get the chance," having said her piece, Scarlett reached for the phone and handed the receiver to Lady Jaye.
TBC