Chapter 292: Single Mom
Monday, January 30th, Evening
(Song Lyrics in Italics)
What the hell is Ashlyn getting at? She's repeating her last story all over again. Now she's talking about being a single mom; what the fuck, Ashlyn? Trin reflected upon what Ashlyn spoke about. Trin snickered at Ashlyn's story. Ashlyn looked over to Trin, and the two women locked eyes. Trin misjudged Ashlyn's mood, and she saw the she-bear rising behind her blue eyes.
"What was that all about?" Ashlyn asked.
Trin looked hard at Ashlyn. It was a meeting of two stubborn women who were about to lock horns. "Ashlyn, at least your kids have their dad in the picture, one of them regularly," Trin said.
Ashlyn ground her teeth; for a second, Trin could hear from across the table. Slowly, Ashlyn leaned forward, slowly, focusing on Trin. "Not my fault your baby daddy is a deadbeat," Ashlyn said.
Trin defiantly looked back at Ashlyn. "He's your brother-in-law," Trin said.
Ashlyn looked back at Trin. "Only by accident of birth," Ashlyn said.
Izzy sighed and looked over the two arguing women. "Ladies, we all can agree that Brian is a piece of shit; let's not fight and give him more space in our minds," Izzy said.
Ashlyn nodded and leaned back. She picked up her pint glass and took a sip of her beer. "Fair," she said.
"Yeah," Trin said, turned, and looked at Ivy. "So, want to hear about being alone and a single mom?"
Trin noticed Ashlyn rolled her eyes. Ashlyn took another sip of her beer.
"Sure, I guess," Ivy said; there is a bit of skepticism in her voice.
Ashlyn shook her head and looked over to the side. Trin looked over to where Ashlyn was looking. She noticed Mina coming over with their family taco platter.
Mina slowly lowered the food platter on the table. She looked over the table and set down the second plate. Standing there for a moment, she looked at the four women, gave them a fake smile. "Is there anything else?" Mina asked.
"We're good," Izzy said.
Mina nodded and walked away. Trin looked around the table and closed her eyes; she carefully took in a few deep breaths. The music and lyrics of the song on the air-filled Trin's ears. After a few lyrics pass through her ears, she slowly opened her eyes.
Everything is perfect
Everything is sick, that's it
You can't tell me to stop it
You can't tell me not to quit, that's it
"It snowed that night, started around one in the afternoon. When it snows in the city, it's amazing; at first, the city goes into minor chaos. Slowly, things settle down, and things move about in their usual ways. My contractions started earlier in the day, and after one of my classes, my water broke. Fallon loaded me into her truck and got me to the local Emergency Room. They got me to a hospital with a maternity ward. It was three AM when they handed me a nineteen-inch, seven-pound baby boy. I looked at him and named him Wyatt," Trin said.
"Awe," Ivy said and sighed.
"There's another bedroom on the floor my bedroom is on. We've set it up as a nursery, and that's Wyatt's room. I busted my ass, no sleep, between Wyatt, college, and working in the mailroom at my mom's company. Eventually, when the summer came, Ellie came up to help. My mom was there on and off, but it's tough. I had to give something up in order to make life livable. So, I started taking one less class, going during the intersession, and had no dating life," Trin said.
"That sucks," Ivy said.
"Anything for my son. Fallon graduated and took over her empire full time," Trin said.
"Fallon's empire?" Ivy asked.
"Fallon is richer than our mom; she inherited some legacy from her dad and now runs everything," Izzy said.
Revolve around yourself
It's you and no one else
Hard for me to stay
Swinging moods that change
From calmness to deranged
Unpredictable, unpredictable
"Well, Fallon let me live rent-free and pitched in for childcare, being the big sister she is. My job promoted me after my junior year on merit. Between Fallon's long hours and my long hours, I saw only Wyatt and maybe Fallon," Trin said.
"That's a lonely existence," Ivy said.
Trin nodded. "As I was finishing my degree in the summer intersession Ellie came up to visit again. She spent time watching after Wyatt, and her book hit upon being published. I graduated and started working full-time for my mom. Ellie changed her plans and moved into her dad's place in Hell's Kitchen to be close to Wyatt and me. I just kept working, and taking care of Wyatt, still living in Fallon's place," she said.
You would see if
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
"How did you end up on the Upper East Side?" Ivy asked.
"About four years ago, the woman who ran the business side of the company moved up to the board of directors after my grandma retired. The woman who moved up suggested me for her position. I was surprised at that, and it was to be a temporary replacement. I had to earn my way to make it permanent. Once, and to my surprise, I proved myself and got the job. As a gift, my mom sold me at a favorable rate," Trin said.
"So, you ended up mortgaged to your mom?" Ivy asked.
"Yeah, she wanted me to raise her grandson in a nice home of his own," Trin said and shook her head, "So, yeah, I'm raising a beautiful son who has a habit of knowing fashion better than me."
Clashing ways to live here
Compromise for me
I'm at both ends of the spectrum
You're somewhere in the between
Ah, come clean
"How in the hell did that happen?" Ivy asked.
"It just did. Wyatt's a natural. There have been many nights when Wyatt sat on my bed and helped pick out outfits," Trin said.
"That sounds cute," Ivy said.
"It is, but between being a mom and working at my job, I've had no time for anything else. If I wasn't working, I spent all my time with Wyatt. I wanted to be there for my son. Life has been basic and boring. But I'm content," Trin said.
"What's your most exciting night like?" Ivy asked.
"Ellie and Fallon would come over and listen to the Tree Hill Basketball games. Also, Sunday nights, Ellie would come by for movies," Trin said.
Revolve around yourself
It's you and no one else
Hard for me to stay
Swinging moods that change
From calmness to deranged
Unpredictable, unpredictable
"Sounds so homey," Ivy said.
"It can be," Trin said, "It's sometimes a lonely existence."
Ivy nodded and reached over to start making a taco. Trin sipped her beer and looked over the table. Ashlyn waited for Ivy to finish and started to make a taco.
"Have you dated since Brian?" Izzy asked.
"I've been on a few dates, nothing more than casual. Recently I've started dating again. I've been on a few dates," Trin said.
You would see if
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
"Really?" Izzy asked.
Trin nodded, "Yeah, it's only been a few dates," she said.
Izzy nodded, "Good for you," she said.
"You didn't put yourself out there when you and Keith weren't together," Trin said.
"I was hiding from my feelings and just not dealing," Izzy said.
Trin nodded, "Goth Izzy," she said.
"I wasn't a goth," Izzy said.
"Wore all black and black make-up, I'd say you were goth," Trin said.
"I would say that's goth," Ivy said, took a bite of her taco and a sip of her beer.
"I was there, and we even called you Goth Izzy," Ashlyn said.
"Are we going to have to get a ruling from Candi on this?" Izzy asked.
"Maybe," Trin said with a laugh.
Crucified, terrified, sacrifice, my whole life
My whole life, my whole life, my whole life
My whole life
If only
I can't contain myself
I can't contain myself
I just can't take myself
Ivy finished her mouthful of food and looked at Izzy. "You have children too if I remember correctly," Ivy said.
"Yeah, I mentioned that earlier, and you met them," Izzy said.
"In passing," Ivy said, "I've heard this beautiful story about Wyatt. Why don't you tell us about your children?"
Izzy nodded, "Sure," she said and sipped her beer.
