12. Like Mother, Like Daughter?
The next morning after breakfast Gabrielle realised she couldn't leave the situation with her mother be like this. She'd vaguely discussed the matter with Wesley after they'd woken up this morning, but he didn't really want to talk about it. That was probably just his way of saying he was clueless. So, as usually, Gaby handled the situation on her own and arrived at the Golden Star Hotel at 10 AM. She walked over to the reception desk and inquired for her mother's room number. The person was rather unfriendly and looked as if he hadn't slept, but, he did tell her the number of Lilah's room, after Gabrielle had given him 50 dollars. She went up to the third floor with the elevator and soon found room 312. She knocked hesitant, not sure in which state she'd find her mother.
Lilah soon opened the door, a surprised look appearing on her face at the sight of her daughter; she'd expected room service. 'Gaby… I didn't expect to see you here.' Lilah looked actually normal. Too normal. Normal, like last night had never happened.
'I know.', Gabrielle replied, definitely not intending to act like last night had never happened. 'Can I come in?', she continued.
'Sure.'Lilah stepped aside to allow her daughter entrance. 'What's up?'.
'What's up? What's up! You're what's up! You're here because of our fight last night, and now you pretend it never happened, that's what's up!'. Gabrielle was hurt already, but her mother's denial and behavior now was like putting salt in open wounds, so there was no way Gaby could be her calm, usual self right now.
'I'm here because I want to be. The situation at your father's apartment wasn't good for you, it was confusing and gave you false hope. So I decided it's better for me, and for your father, and for you, if I stay here until I find something better.', Lilah said, acting like the infamous stoic bitch she'd so long played every single day.
Gabrielle turned her back towards her mother, tears running down her face. What did she do to deserve a mother like this? She, too, wanted a mother who would braid her hair, take her shopping, and told her about boys. Not one who worked 24 hours a day, and wasn't even home on Christmas Eve.
4 years earlier, Christmas Eve
13 year old Gabrielle was laying on the couch, watching 'The Sound of Music'. Her mom had promised to be home early, but early meant, in Lilah's case, no sooner than 11 PM. Gaby was home all alone, even the nanny, Emily, had gotten a week off to visit her family during the holidays. It was her only week off throughout the entire year. When Gabrielle had still been a baby, and a toddler, Lilah had hated that week. Simply because she didn't know what to do with a child. She just liked to skip the whole holiday thing. She thought it was exaggerated and fake anyway, all those people just used the holidays as an excuse to get drunk.
Lilah had no more worries now, though. At aged 13 Gabrielle could take care of herself.
Could.
That didn't mean she liked being alone on Christmas Eve with nothing to do than watch the 'Sound of Music'. Not that Gaby was a fan of self-pitying, not at all. But on a night like this her mother's absence stung. Julie Andrews' 'Do Re Mi' couldn't fix that. After a few more minutes Gaby couldn't take the sugar sweet happiness anymore and turned the tv off. Such a contrast with her own life, it was. She wasn't depressed, though. No more than the average 13- year old. She just wished her mom could be a little more… mom-like. That was her Christmas wish, but it probably was never going to happen. Sighing she walked through the luxurious apartment and entered her own room. Her room was huge, the kind any other girl wanted, with the most comfortable bed in history. Couldn't take away her emotional pain, though. Gabrielle didn't need a king-size bed, or a closet full of designer clothes.
She needed her mother.
Present day, The Golden Rose Hotel'And what about me, mom? What about 'my' feelings? ', Gaby asked, hoping for just a tiny little bit of tact here, a sign that Lilah still 'remembered' she actually had a daughter.
'Darling, I'm doing this for you. It's not okay when your separated parents live together.', Lilah said as she applied a dark red Chanel lipstick while looking in the mirror. 'And who knows, if you indeed go to England, what should I be doing there with Wesley? '.
'Mother, this isn't about..-'. 'I know.', Lilah interrupted her before Gabrielle could finish her sentence. 'This is about last night, about you reminding me that I'm a bad mother, and me walking away from the confrontation. That's the point, isn't it? That's why you're here. You want us to get all emotional, and then you want me to tell you that I'll change my life, get a safe job and start baking cookies. But that's not who I am, Gabrielle. I'm not that kind of person.'.
Gaby felt the tears start running again. 'You could at least try..'.
'Oh, I tried, Gaby. I tried so hard I didn't know who I was anymore. Why do you think I came back to Los Angeles? Not for me. And why, do you think I moved in with your father? Again, not for me.'. Lilah knew this wasn't the whole truth. Of course she'd moved in with Wes partly for herself, but right now she was upset. Too upset to face who she really was and what her actual intentions with Wesley were.
'Fine, so you came here for me. Mother's do that, they bring sacrifices sometimes! '.
'It was never in my nature to be a mother, Gabrielle. I tried, but I can't. '.
'You can't? You were doing better! So you had one bad day, tonight didn't go so well as you hoped, but who cares! Do you just walk away when one thing doesn't go the way you planned? Then you're not who I thought you were.'. Gaby was really through with this now, she couldn't listen to this any longer, so all she could do was walk out, thinking her past Christmas wish would now never come true, and so she did walk out, slightly realising that this probably made her just like her mother. She slammed the door behind her and ran out of the hotel. 'Real mature, Gaby.', she said to herself as she stood outside in the pouring rain. This was really crucial for her hair, so she entered a nearby coffeeshop and ordered a Cappuccino. A few days earlier she'd had zero problems. Her parents had been together, she had no fights with her mom, and she didn't have to decide between staying here or moving to England. That all changed now. Gaby really needed to talk to someone. She could call her father, he would no doubt come over, but he was obviously, and understandably, prejudiced. He would never advice her to go to England, and he'd probably ask her to calm down and then go talk to Lilah again. That was all very sweet and well-meant, but not what Gaby needed. She need a fresh opinion from someone who wasn't involved in this. She took her cell phone out of her purse and dialled Stephanie's number. It took a while before she answered.
'Hello?', a very sleepy voice sounded from the other side of the line.
'Hey sleepyhead. Did I wake you up?'.
'Just a little. It's Saturday morning, and inhumanly early!', Stephanie protested.
Gaby checked her silver Versace watch with a raised eyebrow. 'It's almost eleven o'clock.'.
'That's what I'm saying! Early! Oh by the way, how were things with your grandpa?', Stephanie inquired while her brain slowly started to wake up too.
'My grandfather? That seems like ages ago.', Gabrielle sighed.
'what do you mean? What else happened?'.
'What hasn't? Listen, I er.. I'd like to talk to you, not on the phone.'.
Stephanie sighed, she wasn't a morning person. Especially not on Saturdays. 'Do I have to get out of bed for that?'.
Gaby grinned. 'I'll buy you a Latté. '.
'Ooh, I can get up for that.'. Gaby could almost hear Stephanie grin, she had a strange Latté- addiction. 'Where are you?', she then asked.
'A coffeeshop, Stanley's. It's nearly the Golden Rose Hotel.'.
'I know where that is, it's close to my house. I'll be there in a minute or twenty. If I can drag myself out of bed.
'' Good luck with that. I'll see you then.'. Gabrielle hung up the phone and waited till her friend arrived.
20 minutes passed.
30 minutes passed.
40 minutes, 2 Cappuccino's and some apple pie later Stephanie entered the coffeeshop. Her red brown curls hung down her back in a 'just showered'-way. She waved enthusiastically as she spotted her friend and walked over. 'I'm awake! Sugar-rush from chocolate bar for breakfast.', Stephanie said as she sat down and asked the waitress for a Latté. 'You're still buying?', she asked with a wide grin.
'I'm still buying, despite the fact that you're at least 20 minutes late..', Gaby said with a soft smile.
'I know, sorry. I'm not very punctual. I just had to take a shower, I didn't even have time to dry my hair! Now tell me about your issues.'.
'Right, my issues.', Gaby nodded, and started telling Stephanie about everything that had happened with her grandfather, her parents, and then with her mom this morning. She even managed to do so without crying.
'Wow.. Damn, your life sounds just like an extremely bad soap opera.', Stephanie said, meaning it for the full 100 percent.
'I know. So what do I do?', Gabrielle inquired.
'I'm not so sure about your mom. If I were you I'd just leave her be for a while, let her know you're angry. She might apologise.', Stephanie suggested, stirring her Latté.
'Apologise? My mother? I'm not exactly sure that'll ever happen.'. Gaby sighed, once again being reminded of her mother'' stubbornness. And, her own . Like mother, like daughter, right? Hopefully only when it concerned the stubbornness, because there was no way Gabrielle wanted to look like Lilah.
'Well, at least you'll show her that she'll really lose you if she continues acting like this.'
'I guess you're right.. I don't wanna see her now, anyway. I'd either start crying or go homicidal.', Gaby said with a weak smile.
'Can't blame you for it, either. But let's talk about the other thing. Come on, Gabe, England! You're 'insane' if you don't do it! London has the 'best' shops, and those 'boys'! Damn the accent is hot!', Stephanie beamed. 'And I can come visit you! My mom won't let me go to England alone, but if a friend would live there..'. Both girls laughed at Stephanie's enthusiasm, and it made Gaby forget her sorrow for a while.
'So you're saying I should go. But what about everyone here? Like, my dad, and , you?'.
'You can call me all the time, your dad-dude too! And we'll email! ', Stephanie exclaimed.
'The way you put it makes it all so easy..', Gaby frowned and wondered why she hadn't thought about it that way herself.
'But it really is that simple. And if you don't like it there all you have to do is buy a plane ticket and I'm sure that's not too big a problem for someone like you.' Again, both smiled. Stephanie was really good at making other people, even Gabrielle, feel better.
'Thanks, Steph. You're a real friend already. Not everyone would listen to my soap opera-like issues.'.
'Oh, you know… I kinda like soap opera's. ', Stephanie admitted with a grin, finishing her coffee.
Gabrielle smiled too. 'That makes two of us. I don't miss As The World Turns, ever. So how are things with you and Nick? ', she then inquired, glad to bring the subject to something lighter.
'Me and Nick? I told you, we're just friends, we're not each other's type. He's more attracted to you, anyway.'
'To me? Why?', Gaby questioned, suddenly getting very interested.
'Why? Because, your eyes are greener, your taller, and your boobs are bigger.', Stephanie pouted, glancing down at her own AA-cup which wasn't really there.
'That's not true!', Gabrielle protested, starting to feel a little awkward. '… Your boobs are fine too..'.
'Sure, if you like tiny. But that's not the point. I don't want anything with Nick. Do you?'.
'I uh… I don't know. I haven't had many boyfriends. I'm afraid I'm a little naive on that front.', Gabrielle admitted reluctantly.
'That's okay, we can fix that. But that wasn't the question. Do you like Nick too?'.
Gaby smiled a little. 'Maybe… I think of him a lot. But if I go to England I don't think I still have a chance with him.'.
'True.. but I'm sure London boys are hot too! And, more sensitive. Sensitive guys are 'so ' nowadays. ', Stephanie said excitedly .
'I'm not so sure if English guys are sensitive, but who knows?'. Both girls giggled at that.
'I should go, it's late.', Gabrielle said as she glanced at her watch. 'I wanted to work on that Science project.'
'Okay, then I'm going too, I promised to lunch with my brother Julian.', Stephanie said , getting up as Gaby put money on the table for their refreshments.
'You have a brother?', Gaby inquired as they left the coffeeshop.
'Yea. Jule's six years older than me. He's a med- school student. Nice, really, but a little overprotective sometimes. I guess that's just a part of the whole big brother thing. '.
'Yea, I guess. I wouldn't really know. You got here by taxi, too?'.
'Nope, walking. I live really nearby. Good luck with your Science project!'. Stephanie and Gabrielle each went their separate ways. Stephanie by foot, and Gaby by cab. She was facing a boring after noon, full of science; her least favourite subject. Science was the only subject she actually had to do her best for, the other stuff she just read through once or sometimes twice and it was enough for an A. She probably was more into languages, just like her father.
'Hey dad.', Gaby greeted Wesley when he came home from work at 8 PM.
'Hello, dear. I'm sorry I'm late. We got held up by a Maluni- demon clan.', Wesley said as he took off his jacket.
'And, did you kill it?', Gaby inquired. The entire kitchen table was full with her science books spread out. The after noon had been even more boring than she'd thought, but hard work paid off; she was nearly finished, and she was sure she'd done pretty well.
'Eventually, yet it was harder than we thought, since they started multiplying.
'Gaby smiled softly. She liked this, the easy small talk. When Lilah came home, which seldom happened while she was still up, she wouldn't say much because she was either too tired or unsure of what to say to a child.
'Have you had dinner yet?', Wesley inquired.
'Not yet, I wasn't feeling so hungry so I decided to wait for you. Shall I order Thai or did you want Chinese?'.
'Thai is good.'. Wesley poured him and Gaby a drink and handed her the phone to order. While she was ordering he took a look at the stuff on the table. He was impressed, she was definitely a daughter of his. 'This is looking good.', he told her as she put down the phone. 'Do you need some help with it?'.
'No, but thanks. I'm almost finished.', Gaby said as she started clearing the table. 'I'll do the rest tomorrow night.'. When she was done they both started setting the table for dinner.
'Have you talked to your mother?', Wesley asked.
'I have, indeed. It didn't go as well as I'd hoped.', Gabrielle admitted sadly.
'' Oh, I'm sorry..Would you like to tell me what happened?', Wesley asked, also sadly because he'd hoped things would now go better between her and Lilah.
'Just, stuff.. I wanna leave her be a for a while, give us both some time to think and calm down.'.
'That's probably the best for the both of you.', Wesley nodded, putting plates on the table.
'Yes, I think so too. But daddy, I actually wanted to talk about something else. About grandfather's proposition?'. Gaby wasn't sure how her dad would respond, but this was her own decision, he wouldn't be able to change her mind.
'Ah, yes. Have you made your final decision?', Wesley inquired. He was quite worried about this, he didn't want to lose her, and wanted her to have nothing to do with his father. Gaby was 'his' daughter, he'd finally had something Roger had nothing to do with, but of course it all had been too good to be true. Would his father ever leave him alone? Would Wesley ever win?
'I have, yes. Dad, it was a really hard decision, and I've considered all my options and thought them over very well. I even talked to some people about it.'.
Wesley nodded, wanting her to go on. He was sure she'd made the right decision, whatever it was.
'I know I haven't known you for a very long time yet.. and I'm sorry. I wish you could have always been my father, but what's done is done. I love you, and we're quite close now, and I'm hope we'll remain that way. However, I'm almost an adult now. I want to grow up, and see the world. I want to make choices, and take chances. Daddy.. I'm going to England.'.