A/N: Things are slowly coming along. Thank you for the reviews and more will be helpful!
1990
Edna looked at the Forman house with trepidation and hatred. She remembered going by there once, when Steven was nine or ten and she was clear enough to care where he was. He was friends with a kid named Eric, a scrawny little boy that played with toys. They were running around with this brown haired kid and a girl with red hair by the garage. A short woman with puffy hair and a giddy smile came out with milk and cookies, which the kids ran to like in a commercial for some domestic thing or another. The woman looked up with a small frown, taking in Edna's ironed red hair, braless top, and tight pants. Edna knew her reputation better than anyone then, but to be examined by that poodle of a woman made her teeth grate. What's more, she caught her boy beaming at this poodle as though she was the best thing since apple pie. Shaking herself out of the past, she looked to Mary. "Well, we're here," she said to her slightly loathed travel companion. "Isn't this what you wanted?"
Mary looked at Edna with a raised eyebrow, making the older woman hate her even more. She walked up to the door and knocked on it with a firm fist. They waited, listening to the sound of children playing. Finally the door opened. In front of the two women were two little boys around six or seven years old. One of them was fairly skinny and pasty with red hair and green eyes and was sporting a dirty face. The other one was slightly stockier and darker with wildly curly black hair and sharp blue eyes that reminded Edna of someone. From the dirt on his hands and the flush of victory on his face she could deduce who was doing what. "Is this the home of Katherine and Reginald Foreman?" Mary asked.
The kids frowned and looked at each other. Finally, the little boy with red hair ran off, screaming for his grandma, leaving the little blue-eyed boy to stare at them. Edna was never good with kids and Mary merely gave the kid a tight little nod as his friend came back dragging an older woman with puffy graying hair. Edna instantly recognized Katherine Forman, known by many as Kitty. The woman had her hand on the little boy's shoulder and ruffled the dark-haired boy's hair as she came to the door. "Can I help you?" she asked, in a bubbly voice.
"My name is Mary Donahue," Mary said. "And you may remember Edna Hyde. We're here to talk to Steven Hyde."
Kitty froze and the darker boy removed his eyes from them and turned to Kitty. "Grandma…" he began.
"Luke, Zeph, there are cookies in the kitchen. Why don't you go get some," the other woman said laughing a distinctively odd laugh.
The two boys ran from the door. Kitty fidgeted slightly. "Edna," she said. "It's been too long."
"It has been," Edna murmured.
Kitty looked behind her and stepped back. "Come on in," she said.
They entered and found the place slightly out-dated, with nice furniture and carpeting. It looked more like a home than any of Edna's previous residences. In a recliner off from the couch was a bald man reading a newspaper. "Red," she said with false cheer. "Look who's here."
The man looked up from his paper and frowned. His glare reminded Edna of a watchful pit bull that used to guard the trailer park she lived in. "You're fourteen years too late," he said.
Edna bristled. Beside her, Mary gave her an accusatory look. Kitty mumbled something about refreshments and walked quickly to the kitchen. Red continued to glare at her, his hazel eyes taking her in with disgust. Edna took in the living room to avoid his eyes. There were pictures by the television, many of them featuring a scrawny man and a trampy blonde. On top of the TV must have been recent pictures, showing the both of them with other people and kids. One of them was of Steven. He was wearing a sweater and had his arms around a shorter brunette with olive skin and a dazzling smile. There were also three kids with them with dark curly hair and piercing eyes. There were a few other pictures of Steven, but the happiness of that one drew her eye. A slight movement from the kitchen brought her eyes to the door. From the door of the kitchen she noticed the two boys, Luke and Zeph, peeking through the door. She stared back at Zeph, knowing now where those watchful blue eyes came from. He called this poodle Grandma and she bakes him cookies. She turned to Red and found him still staring at her, waiting to speak. "I know that," was all she could say.