Again, thanks to Phoenix Satori and Coors1977 for reviewing the story, I'm glad you are both enjoying it. (BTW, when are you two going to update your stories? I'm hanging out here! LOL)
Anyway, this will (hopefully) start running at a slightly faster pace from the next chapter on, not too much, but just enough so that things don't get (too) boring. :o)
Here we go again...
"Did you and Mom have another fight?"
Kiara cornered Rhiannon the next night just after Rhiannon's first match with Gail Kim at a house show.
"We had a disagreement, but I'm sure it'll blow over." Rhiannon told her niece cautiously as they took a seat in the cafeteria. "Why's that?"
"She's been really quiet for the past few days. And all she and Matt are doing is fighting. Some of the things he's asked her kinda made me think that it's because of you." The girl shrugged, resting her chin on her hands as she gazed up at Rhiannon.
"Oh." Rhiannon had begun to feel a bit guilty about some of the things she'd said to her sister that day. It seemed that the more her bruises began to fade, the more her heart ached with regret. She shouldn't have let her emotions get the better of her. And she certainly shouldn't have tried to bring up the past with her sister. It was like trying to talk to a brick wall.
"I think Mom feels guilty about something, but I don't know what it is." Kiara informed her aunt, fishing for information. She knew something had big had happened between Rhiannon and Imogen before she was born, but neither of them ever talked about it.
"It doesn't matter Kiara. Your Mom and I will sort it out when she's ready." Rhiannon said firmly, not wanting to involve Kiara anymore than she already was. Kiara knew her aunt was only trying to protect her, but she was tired of being kept in the dark and she was definitely tired of being treated like a child.
"It does matter, Rhiannon. It matters to me because I'm the one who has to put up with Imogen's moods, not you." Kiara replied heatedly, and Rhiannon raised an eyebrow in disapproval. It had been a long time since Kiara had spoken to her like that, and knew it was a sign that her niece had run out of patience.
"Well, let me put it another way then. It's not my place to tell you about the problems your mother and I have. If I do, then things will only get worse for both of us. If you don't like that, take it up with Imogen."
Kiara's mouth opened to retort, but before she could, a pair of perfectly manicured hands slammed down on the table causing both Kiara and Rhiannon to jump. Kiara looked up to see Imogen, her face taught with anger, leaning over the table and staring intensely into Rhiannon's eyes.
"Leave now, Kiara." Her mother instructed coldly, and for once, Kiara did as she was told. There was something in Imogen's expression that frightened her and she didn't want to stick around to see what would happen next.
"What's the problem, Imogen?" Rhiannon asked, not intimidated in the least by her sister's display.
"You stole my spot, you ungrateful little bitch." Imogen said slowly, her voice shaking with anger and Rhiannon grimaced. She'd known this would happen, but had hoped that they'd deal with it privately.
Apparently not.
"I see you've spoken to management." Rhiannon replied quietly, not breaking eye contact with her sister.
"They're sending me back to OVW because of you and don't you try to deny it!" Imogen spat, her voice rising a few notches and Rhiannon shook her head incredulously.
"Because of me? They were going to send you back there anyway, no matter who they brought in from OVW. And as for being ungrateful, what exactly is it that I have to be grateful for? I gave you money Aunt Kath left to me in her will, which you didn't deserve, and let you live with me rent-free for nearly 10 years! I taught you the basics and gave you your start in this business, I got you a development deal with me in the beginning and I took care of your child when you wouldn't make any time for her. And now I've found out you've been spreading rumours about me behind my back -again - to try and get me to fail here! Now tell me again why the hell should I be grateful to you?" She hissed loud enough only for Imogen to hear, and her sister's face fell completely.
"So that's why you're trying to ruin my life? You're trying to get revenge by ruining my career, my relationship with Matt and trying to turn my daughter against me."
"Oh for god's sakes Imogen, stop being so paranoid. Management were planning to send you back to OVW over a month ago, but Victoria got injured so they had to put the plans on hold. I have no idea what's wrong with your relationship with Matt, so don't try and blame me for that. And as for your daughter, I've done nothing but try and fix your relationship, but you're both so stubborn you won't have a bar of it. I've always made excuses for your neglect of Kiara, but not anymore. You're a bad mother, Imogen. It's time you got your act together and started taking responsibility for what's gone wrong in your life instead of constantly trying to find someone else to blame. In short, it's time for you to grow up."
And with that, Rhiannon stood up and calmly walked away, leaving Imogen slumped over the table in shock.
Jeff stared at Rhiannon in horror as she told him the full story of what had happened with Imogen just moments before.
"Imogen accused you of trying to ruin her life? Is she blind or just stupid?" He asked with a smirk and Rhiannon sighed, taking a seat on the bench next to him.
"All I know is I'm walking away. I can't keep worrying about what she says and does anymore. Imogen's thirty-one years old now, she needs to start taking responsibility for her own actions. And I need to move on with my life." Rhiannon told Jeff decisively, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her. As hard as the decision was, especially as it meant walking away from Kiara as well, it had to be done. Imogen had to learn there were consequences for what she did, but she never would learn if Rhiannon kept hanging around ready to come running every time something went wrong.
"I was wondering how long it would take you to figure that out." Jeff said with a sad smile. "But what about Kiara?"
"I don't know. I'll keep in touch with her as much as I can, but she's not my daughter and I can't keep interfering in her life. It's just making things worse for all of us. Imogen wanted her as far away from me as possible, and she's getting her wish now. I only hope she starts being the mother Kiara needs." Rhiannon whispered, trying to blink back the tears that had begun to form in her eyes. "God, I'm going to miss that girl." Jeff wrapped an arm around Rhiannon's shoulders as she started to sob.
"I know, honey. I know."
Another chapter down, God knows how many to go. LOL
Next chapter, you get to see things from a different perspective (guess who it is), so stick around for a startling revelation or two. I shall update within the next day or two.
And I appreciate the reviews I've been getting very much...but as usual, I'm going to ask for more. Just so I know whether or not I'm on the right track, of course. :winks:
Take care everybody! :runs away to update Stronger: