Ashley
I was sitting there in the long cold clean white hallway. I wondered why mom was so upset about my work. She hadn't been upset about my modeling or working at the bookstore or working as a cocktail waitress. But then id barely had a chance to tell her before shed been interrupted by kate. The hall was quiet. And still. And right now I needed both.
Back in Brooklyn whenever it was this quiet it meant that dad was coming home. And that was never a good sign. No one knew this but angela wasn't my only daughter. She was however my only living daughter.
Down the hall I heard mom and Amanda arguing. Hospital staff was bustling but no one paid much notice to me. No of course they didn't.
"karen where you goin?" I heard dad ask.
"to get some coffee. Out. I don't really know," she replied.
They both left.
I heard footsteps come down the hall toward me and near jumped. I stiffened.
"honey its ok," Amanda voice said.
I looked up to see her standing in front of me.
"oh. Ok. Sry," I said.
"hey I get it. Mind if I sit?" she asked looking at a spot next to me.
I glanced at it then back at her; "sure, free….um. Hallway."
"im not asking for the hell of it, you know."
Her words cut me. And cut through to me.
I sighed.
"actually no. I don't mind. Fact is I could use the company."
"ok."
She sat, putting her legs to the side.
"your mom kinda came down on you hard huh?" she said.
"yeah um…why?"
"well - and this is between us - "
I nodded.
"but when she was a little older than you she was one. She worked in the Moulin rouge. In paris."
"yes I know where that is Amanda," I said.
"oh. Ok. I know you don't know much about her past."
"yeah or, anything."
"she doesn't talk much about it. I was there."
"in paris?"
"yeah went and visited her."
"oh."
"you might not know this or be aware but shes scared."
I looked at pam; "then why didn't she just tell me?"
"shes not so good w/ feelings."
"shes a therapist."
"it doesn't mean shes a good mom."
"shes not bad either," I said.
"I didn't say that," pam said.
"no I know."
"oh. Shes just. Complicated."
"yeah im beginning to figure that out," I said.