I do not own nor do I make profit off of Twilight. All rights belong to it's author Stephanie Meyer
TRIGGER WARNING! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MENTI0ON OF NON CONSENSUAL SEXUAL ASSAULT, ABUSE AND ADULT THEMES!IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED BY ANY OF THESE TOPICS PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER AND IMMEDIATELY EXIT. THERE WILL BE OTHER CHAPTERS THAT ARE SAFE IN THE FUTURE, SO PLEASE SKIP AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!
Reviews:
Boxessssss- First thank you for you instantly kind compliment on my writing, I truly appreciate it and can't thank you enough for it. Second I'm sorry about the heavy topic of this last chapter, it was a lot and I hope that you are doing okay and taking care of yourself. This next chapter is a bit lighter, but just as heavy in nature so please if you continue proceed with caution and as always TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST! I promise not to kick any cats!
Guest- I always love a good villian backstory and while I consider Sarah more of a victium than villian it is clear she's done some horrible stuff in her life and I wanted to highlight how we got there. I've been very carefull during this story to really explain that Mare doesn't hate her mother or vilify her in anyway. However I loved reading reviews where people talked about how awful Mare's mother was just so I could drop these chapter! Thank you for your amazing and interactive words, I absolutly loved reading them and really hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Shereelouise60- Lol, I love a good cliffhanger, I always try not to use them, but I can't help it. Thank you for the review and I really, really hope you like this next chapter!
AliceCullen3- and I LOVE YOU!
Agabriellafigueiredo- I'm sorry to make you cry, that's never my intention! I comppletly understand that you feel bad for Mare's mother, Sarah, but agree that doesn't excuse anything she's done, and I love that you feel that way! I feel it too. Don't worry we'll find out what happens and where Mare ends up and I can't wait for you to read it. THANK YOU, for your amazing review and kind words, it really made me smile and I love seeing your name pop up!
Books-n-Harley's- OMG it make's me so happy to read your review, first off, because you absolutely understood the assignment and got everything I was trying to reveal and that just makes me SO HAPPY! SO THANK YOU! Also you are right, Sarah's trauma does not excuse any of the things she did. I tried really hard throughout this story to show that Mare doesn't hate or vilify her mother in anyway, that she understands what her mother does to her is wrong, but also that she tries to understand, because morally Mare is a good girl, and the fact that you understood all of that, AHHH it makes me melt and I love it! Little spoiler for you, Sarah does get sober and does in fact feel so wrong and so incredibly sorry, but unfortunately that chapter isn't out yet, so please stand by till we get there I beg of you! Your review so incredibly kind and more than I ever deserve honestly! When I read your review I couldn't stop smiling both for the fact that everything clicked for you but also because you were soo nice to me and I can't thank you enough. I have been planning this since chapters one and I feel so seen, just for the fact that you say all the love and work that went into this little old story of mine and for that I thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! When ever I feel a bit deterred I just go back and reread your amazing words and instantly feel ready to start working all over again, and that my friend is the best gift you could have given me and for that I love you and thank you again!
DemonWolf25- I know, I'm sorry. I really hope it didn't put you in a bad head space and that your doing okay! '
Guest-I promise I'm still going strong, I just took the week off for Easter, but I'm back and I promise were going strong my friend
Magicbobagirl- I'M SORRY FOR MAKING YOU CRY! That's never my intention my friend! I do really hope you got to enjoy that ice cream thought! I promise I'm still writing, but can't promise happiness for this next chapter. If it's too much please skip it, I promise better things are coming, I just really want to flesh out Mare's backstory a bit more this month! Please take care of yourself! I'm sending goof thoughts your way my friend!
Gretchina- You wrote so many things this month, I ask for forgiveness if I don't answer or get to everything! You're completely correct when it comes to Sarah, she grew up in an environment where mental health wasn't thing or at least the people around her didn't consider it a thing and because of that she's suffered. It of course doesn't not condone the things she's done to herself or her daughter, but I wanted to really flesh out why both Sarah and Mare are the way they are. Their both products of their environment, one just was able to take more than the other. When I tell you I have been planning these since I started the series...so much time and work, but I really wanted to use foreshadowing and kinda make people go back and see all the easter eggs I've been planting since I published the first chapter and I love that you're going back and doing just that! You make me so happy! Let me alleviate any anxiety about your questions...all will be answered, everything from the money, to Pre-K, to figure skating, to learning about her name, to finally learning about her father...all of that is coming my friend I PRMOMISE! This chapter alone should answer some questions you have and I hope it stops the mystery lol. Next when it comes to your theory about Mare and what happened to her on that curb...well my cleaver little minx you are absolutely CORRECT! Again an upcoming chapter will explain it all, but you are very smart and cunning and I LOVE THAT! In this crazy out of control world thank you for reading this little story of mine and leaving these amazing and kind words, I always love seeing your name pop up and being able to repsond to you. I know you say my story has helped you and I lvoe to see that but you have really helped me my friend and I hope you know your worth, because you are so amazing and this world is such and amazing place with you in it. Someday if I ever get a book published and let me tell you that's my biggest aspiration in life you my friend will get a beautiful signed copy sent directly to you! but please dont take that as it will ever happen, as I've said in the past I have over a hundred rejection letters and I don't see anyone picking up my own story anytime soon, but hey a gal can dream. THANK YOU for you amazing words and kind spirit, i'm sending all my love and good vibes for a nice week your way. Please take care of yourself my friend and I'll see you next time!
Play the Game
Elizabeth refuses to hire a nanny, despite having one for her children, she insists Sarah take care of Marceline on her own. Any medical professional would say Sarah exhibited severe signs of Postpartum depression combined with PTSD, but Elizabeth calls it the baby blues. She told Sarah to get over it, she's a mother now and she needs to act like it, take care of her child, and be an adult, Sarah tries, but...it's hard. Marceline haunts her, her face shape, her eye color even the short dark wispy baby hair...none of it is Sarah's. With her light features, blue eyes, blonde hair, heart-shaped face...Marceline has none of that. Sarah doesn't remember who raped her, but whoever they are...Marceline inherited everything from them...She hates her.
…
"Breast is best."
"I'm not breastfeeding." Sarah insists, shaking the bottle of formula and handing it to her father. He smiles and begins to feed his grandchild,
"She'll get sick easier, breast milk has benefits in it that protect against bacteria."
"No, it doesn't" Sarah grumbles sitting down in front of her textbook, just because she's taking a gap year doesn't mean she can't keep up.
"I read it in a magazine while getting my hair done." Elizabeth sips from her Starbucks cup while fluffing out her newly highlighted and low-lighted hair.
"You didn't breastfeed." Sarah points out,
"I have a perfect chest, breastfeeding would have prematurely sagged and aged me." Just another thing she can rub in Sarah's face, "But, maybe if I did, we wouldn't be here."
"Elizabeth." John scolds, holding Marceline closer,
"Yes, look where it got you." Sarah mocks closing her textbook, "A dead son and a daughter you can't stand." She gets to her feet, heading towards her room,
"Yes, darling keep playing the victim and see where it gets you in life." Sarah turns around so fast she almost drops her textbook,
"It got me a baby I didn't want." She screams slamming the door so hard it rattles the silverware on the table. Elizabeth only rolls her eyes and looks towards her husband,
"See what happens, you spoiled that girl growing up and now look at her." John keeps his mouth closed, it's what he's good at when it comes to his wife and daughter. Instead, he looks down at Marceline and smiles. He loves Sarah, but Marceline is a second chance, he's not going to screw it up.
…
"How do I look?" Sarah asks her father. He's in the living room, Marceline napping in his arms,
"I think you look very professional." He tells her. Sarah smiles and smooths her long skirt, she's going back to school today and she can't wait. It's been almost a full year and a half since the incident, and ten months since Marceline was born, and finally, Sarah's going back to school. She's been counting the days down on her calendar, crossing each day off with a large red X and today is finally the day. Yes she should be a Junior instead of a sophomore, but she's just happy to be learning again, but more importantly, she's happy for the freedom. Since Marceline was born, she's been with her day and night, never having time for herself or the freedom to do what she wants. Today that changes, she's going to class, by herself...she can't wait.
"Remember to come straight home, the driver will pick you up at-"
"I know." Sarah rolls her eyes gathering her backpack and purse, Elizabeth pops one eyebrow, "I'll come straight home." Sarah says quickly. Her mother has complete control over her, it's only because of her mother she can go to school. She still has to play her game.
"Make sure you do, you're Father and I have an event tonight, we can't watch Marceline.
"You don't watch her as it is." It's true, Elizabeth loves her grandchild, but she doesn't watch her, John does whenever he can, but since she was born, it's been Sarah. That's one thing she and her mother have in common, neither can stand their daughter. Elizabeth hates Sarah cause she's not Marcel and Sarah hates Marceline...because..she reminds her of that night.
"Excuse me." Elizabeth raises a perfect blonde brow,
"The driver's waiting," John interferes, "Don't be late." Sarah crosses the living room and pecks her father on the cheek,
"Bye Daddy," She turns to her mother, "Bye Mama." She turns and quickly rushes to the elevator, Elizabeth keeps a frown on her face until Sarah's out of the apartment.
"She didn't say goodbye to her daughter." Elizabeth chides grabbing Marceline from her husband, "What did she even dress her in, these are not the clothes I picked out." She looks over her grandchild in disgust. These are clothes from Carter, Elizabeth just had a delivery from Burberry and Ralph Lauren delivered yesterday,
"I think she looks cute." John coos at the baby, Elizabeth rolls her eyes,
"I have to do everything myself."
It's later that day when Sarah gets home from class and peeks in on her daughter napping that she has a full-blown argument with her mother,
"What did you do?" She yells at her mother who's currently getting ready in the master bedroom closet,
"Whatever do you mean darling?"
"Mare," She emphasizes,
"Who?" Elizabeth asks, holding up two different pairs of diamond earrings, both from Tiffany's,
"Mama," Sarah shouts, her mother knows she's never liked the name, Marceline, since bringing her home she's grown used to calling her Mare, a nickname her mother doesn't agree with.
"She's in the nursery dear, you really should know these things, you created her schedule, you know it's time for her second nap."
"Her ears mama, you pierced them." She feels the anger rise inside of her, it threatens to boil over when her mother smiles,
"I did no such thing, darling paid someone to come over and do them, yes I did, I think the baby Chanels are absolutely adorable. Marceline is such a good baby, she barely cried." Elizabeth smiles even wider, Sarah didn't stop crying for an hour when her ears were pierced and she was 5, Marceline quieted right down after a few seconds,
"I didn't want her ears pierced." Sarah forces out through clenched teeth,
"Just like you didn't want her." Her mother questions, finally picking out an earring option. Sarah bites her cheek and takes a deep breath through her nose,
"Why are you punishing me?" Elizabeth rolls her eyes,
"Don't be dramatic darling, if one of us is being punished it's me." She heads over to the full-length mirror making sure her earrings go well with the professional hair and makeup she had done earlier,
"I'm taking them out."
"Do it and you'll find your school money gone." Sarah closes her eyes and takes a breath, "Now thank me for the earrings, they weren't cheap."
"Thank you, Mama." Sarah turns and leaves, she hates it here, but she has nowhere else to go so for now, she'll keep going. One day she'll get away.
…
"Say it, say Grand-mere," Elizabeth tells her granddaughter holding out a spoonful of applesauce to the 16-month-old,
"That's too hard," Sarah tells her. Their both sitting at the table, Elizabeth feeding Marceline, Sarah studying.
"No it's not, Marceline is a smart baby, she'll pick it up fast," Sarah stays quiet. Marceline has started speaking, her first words being papa after John. Ever since then, Elizabeth has been trying to get her to say her chosen grandmother name.
"You're not even French," Sarah says closing her textbook with a sigh,
"Well, it's not like she's going to be saying Mama any time soon," Elizabeth digs at Sarah, although this doesn't hurt because Sarah doesn't want her to call her mama, she doesn't want to call her anything,
"She'll call me by my name."
"Absolutely not," Elizabeth practically shouts, "We are not hippy's and we are not lower class. Don't even say something like that." Sarah keeps her mouth shut, play the game she repeats in her head, play it until you can get out.
"Yes, Mama," Sarah says as Elizabeth goes back to trying to get Marceline to talk. In the end, Elizabeth gets her way, a month later Marceline can say Grand-mere, and a week after that she calls Sarah's mom for the first time, and against her will, Sarah melts.
…
"Are you sure you want to walk, you can just get your diploma sent to you." Elizabeth practically grumbles,
"I worked hard for this mama, I deserve to walk across the stage," Sarah tells her for the fifth time that day, it took a year longer than it should have but Sarah is graduating. When asked she's always said the day her daughter was born was the best day of her life, but that was a lie, today is going to be the best day of her life, no matter what her mother says.
"I'm proud of you darling." John smiles at his daughter,
"Thank you, daddy."
"Pretty." A 3½ year old Marceline tells her mother,
"Thank you." Sarah caresses her daughter's cheek,
"Alright, well we are going to take our seats, come along Marceline." Elizabeth grabs her granddaughter from her husband's hands to place the child on the ground, grab her hand and leads her away,
"She always does things like this." Sarah sighs, her father laughs and repeats the same motion on Sarah that she did on her daughter,
"Today's about you, don't let her take it away."
"John lets ago!" Elizabeth shouts,
"I'll be watching." He turns away and heads towards his wife and granddaughter. Meanwhile, Sarah reaches up to touch her cheek. It's a gesture made with love and after 3½ years Sarah realizes it, she does indeed, love her daughter.
…
"I signed Marceline up for ballet today," Elizabeth tells Sarah when she walks through
the elevator door onto their floor. She's been working at the Metropolitan Museum in the restoration department for around 6 months now, the pay's okay, nothing like she's used to, but she's putting away every last penny, saving it for a day when she can end the game with her mother.
"Ballet?" She questions setting her bag down, "She's kind of young."
"She's four, she needs something to express herself." Sarah rolls her eyes, she remembers when her mother signed her up for ballet, and she hated it.
"I was thinking she would do well at soccer." She can hear Elizabeth scoff,
"She's not middle class, ballet is an expensive and graceful sport, she'll do well at it." Expensive is correct...Sarah knows she couldn't keep up with payments if she were on her own..which she wants to be.
"I was only saying it because Mare's feet are big for her age." Elizabeth sighs,
"Marceline," She emphasizes, "Will grow into them."
"Where is she?"
"Your father took her out to celebrate, don't worry I told him they could only go out for frozen yogurt, ballerinas don't eat ice cream."
"Yes, mama."
…
"Figure skating?" Sarah questions one night over dinner,
"Theirs a little girl in her class that's only taking ballet lessons to enhance her movements and teach her how to be graceful. The two have really hit it off and Marceline has asked to join." Sarah doesn't like the idea of her daughter skating not only is it more expensive, but she could get really hurt,
"Do you really want to skate?" Sarah turns to her daughter. Just like herself at her age, Marceline has been taught not to speak at the dinner table unless spoken to first. It's her mother's rule,
"Yes Mom, please?" She asks mouth full of pesto pasta, it's her favorite thing their chef makes,
"Mouth," Elizabeth chides, and Marceline immediately swallows,
"I've already signed her up and bought the skates," Elizabeth mentions casually as if she didn't just spend over a thousand dollars today on lessons and gear,
"I wish you would ask me these things first," Sarah tells her mother picking over her plate,
"We're you going to pay?" Her mother asks with a brow raised,
"Mama-"
"I didn't think so." Sarah looks to her father who gives her a comforting smile,
"She'll be okay love," he tells her and she feels like she's able to relax a bit, "You'll be safe and protected right my bug?" He asks Marceline who smiles and nods,
"Yes, papa."
"That's a girl," At five Marceline is one of the most well-behaved children Sarah has ever met, not that she really has anything to do with it. She's not home a lot and Elizabeth has really taken to raising her since she's been out of diapers. Although Sarah tries, on her days off she'll take Marceline to the museum just like her father did to her, but she doesn't seem to enjoy it as much as she did at her age. She used to take her to the metropolitan, but her colleagues all would say the same thing,
"Aren't you cute?"
"Those are the brightest green eyes I've ever seen"
"I can tell you take after your father."
That one hurt the most, she's never told anyone how Marceline came into this world, how are they supposed to know that comment hurts, but it's true. Marceline doesn't have her mother's eyes or hair, she kind of has her nose, which Elizabeth thanks god for,
"That's the Callahan's nose, she must have that."
"She starts school this fall, she won't have time for a sport,"
"Darling you don't know what you're talking about, of course, she will," Elizabeth says. Maybe Sarah doesn't know, she hasn't gotten to really raise her daughter since she went back to school, how would she know?...She doesn't.
…
"We really should call her grandmother." The principal of the private preschool, pushing her glasses higher on her face,
"I'm sorry, I was under the impression I was her mother," Sarah says casually, looking over her new manicure, it's her little treat to herself.
"Well yes, but it says here that her grandmother is the signing the checks,"
"Correct." Sarah shrugs, "But I'm the guardian and I'm on the paperwork and I say, she's no longer attending here, so please, reinstate that money into the account you took it from, call my daughter down here and we'll be out of your hair." Sarah told her mother she didn't want her daughter to attend here, begged in fact, but Elizabeth went and did it anyway. The Horace Mann school is one of the best in New York City, and for 54,000 a year it better be.
"Once she's removed for this year, she won't be able to reenroll, until next year, that puts her a whole year behind." The principal says tipping her glasses down to her nose to really emphasize how dramatic this decision is,
"I know," The principal sighs again
"I very much advise against this."
"I know for a fact that last year you brought on a teacher that you had to let go months later for being inappropriate with the younger female students." The principle stiffens at this,
"I don't know where you heard your information, but that has never been proven." Sarah leans against her chair and crosses her legs,
"Because you swept it under the rug, you didn't want the parents that are paying you astronomical tuition to know that a sexual predator got through your doors," The principal is quiet, "Do you know my last name?"
"Callahan I concluded, Miss Callahan. Child out of wedlock, very unlike the prestigious Callahans to indulge in such a thing," Sarah laughs,
"That doesn't hurt me, no, but what does is the fact that my mother is paying such a high tuition for a school that doesn't do background checks."
"Yes, we do," The principal practically shouts.
"Clearly you don't, so you have two options, unenroll my child and return the money back to the account you got it from, or I take this to the news. Which one will it be?"
…
"You unenrolled her!" Elizabeth screams the moment she enters the apartment.
"I sure did mama," Sarah says lazily flipping through an art magazine, Elizabeth walks over grabs it from her daughter's hands, and throws it across the kitchen,
"Little dramatic don't you think mama?" Elizabeth is fuming,
"Don't you dare talk dramatics to me, Sarah, you unenrolled Marceline from one of the best pre-K institutions in this city." Sarah gets to her feet,
"I told you I didn't want her going there and you disobeyed me."
"Are you-"
"Paying for it?" Sarah stops her mother, "No, I'm not, because if I was you wouldn't let me, because the Pre-K I wanted isn't posh enough for you." She places several pamphlets down on the table in front of her mother,
"What are these?"
"Schools I've researched and found acceptable for Mare to attend next year for Kindergarten." Elizabeth grabs them and begins to flip through them,
"The fourth one is the same school JFK attended." One of Elizabeth's eyebrows shoot up clearly interested now,
"And Pre-K?"
"She doesn't need Pre-K she can enter Kindergarten next year." Elizabeth places the pamphlets down,
"Alright, I'll humor you, Sarah, she doesn't attend Pre-K, I'll even choose one of these schools you picked up, but I'll warn you, you're treading on thin waters, I refuse to let you mess Marceline up, the way you messed up your own life. She's better than you, and I want only the very best for her." Sarah shrugs,
"Looks like you're willing to put in the effort for her, I wonder what that's like?" Elizabeth's lips thin, it always happens when she's angry, she turns and heads back out the door, she needs a long soak in an expensive marble tub and luckily for her, she has the premium pass for her favorite luxury spa. Sarah watches her go and then walks across the floor to pick up her magazine. She was able to remain calm, but secretly her mother's comment hurt her, but she refuses to show it, she won't show it ever again...she has to play the game.
…
"Her hip is bruised," Sarah points out, gently placing ice on her seven year's olds skin,
"She fell,"
"It's called a toe pick fall mama,"
"Mom," Sarah corrects her. It's clear Marceline has been hanging out with Elizabeth too much,
"It's just a fall, dear. You should hear what her coach says." Elizabeth has been in an oddly good mood this week and now she knows why. Marceline has been skating for two years and has taken to it well. At first, she was just competing with her skate mates, then she was competing to place higher in her levels, now she's training to actually compete against other skaters,
"I don't want her skating anymore,"
"Mom!" Marceline shouts,
"Hush,"
"Sarah can I talk to you in private?" Elizabeth grabs Sarah's hand to pull her to the master bedroom. She practically throws her in and slams the door,
"You're hungover." She shouts at her daughter,
"I am not," Sarah whispers, if only because her head slightly hurts,
"You are, don't think I haven't noticed your new habit, not to mention Carl called me to tell me you've racked up quite the bill at that dingy bar down the street from the museum." Sarah looks away, of course, the accountant would call and say something, she's been there every night for the last 8 months. She remembers the first time she got drunk. Her mother was yelling at her because she hadn't been at Marceline's last competition, choosing to stay late at work instead, she ended up leaving the house and finding a random bar as she wandered downtown Manhattan. That night she drank so much that she forgot everything bad that had ever happened in her life and it was amazing. Somehow she got home and realized alcohol was the solution to all her problems. Since then she frequented the bar down the road from her job, she would tell her parents she was working late and drink only to sneak on home later. She thought she was brilliant, but now she sees her mother probably knew the whole time,
"It helps me forget." She whispers,
"Forget that you have a child at home waiting for you?" Her mother spits, "Who do you think takes care of her, makes sure she gets to school on time, and then practices after? Who checks her homework and tucks her in at night?"
"I think the driver takes her to school, practice, and home, and then daddy checks her homework and puts her to bed." Elizabeth scoffs,
"Who pays for everything, because obviously it isn't you! You use my credit card to fund your new hobby and stash your paycheck away for god only knows what!" If she was brave she would tell her mother she was stashing it away to get away from her, but she's not and she doesn't feel well, she wants a drink. So instead she says nothing,
"Pull yourself together Sarah, before your father and I kick you out." Sarah swallows and turns quickly slipping out of her mother's room and then quickly out of the apartment and down the elevator to the lobby and then out of the building and down to the nearest bar. She orders a tequila shot and doesn't stop till she forgets.
…
"A sponsor?" Sarah questions her father, who nods.
"They say she's going places, that she's one of the most talented 9-year-olds they've ever seen. They said they wanted to train her and eventually she could get to the Olympics, can you believe that?" Sarah nods looking over the paperwork. Since she started skating at 5, Marceline has taken to the sport like a fish to water, and now she has people who want to take her and train her,
"You and Mama don't have to pay anymore?" Sarah asks brow raised,
"The sponsors pay for everything, although they don't have to." Sarah smiles...this could be her out. She's recently gotten a job at NYU the same university she went to...the same one she was...no she doesn't think about that anymore.
"What does Mama think about this?"
"You know you're mother, any chance to brag, she takes it." John looks at his daughter, really looks at her, "Darling are you okay?" No, she's not. In the two years that have passed, she's become a shell of a person. Hates herself, and because of that she drinks, and recently she's become mean. She can't go for more than 12 hours without a drink and most recently... she's hit her daughter. It was their usual Saturday outing, the only day she really saw her child. Both of them had grown busy, Sarah had work and her drinking schedule, while Marceline had school and figure skating. It was only on Saturdays between 2 and 5 that the nine-year-old had free. Sarah had done her usual three shots of patron before their outing, just to keep the shakes away. Marceline had been telling Sarah about school when she had made the mistake of calling her Mama, instead of Mom. Sarah had whipped around and slapped Marceline...hard. She knew it was wrong, she knew this would changed the way her daughter saw her, but she didn't care at that moment. She slapped her and then dragged her home, telling her she couldn't tell anyone, so far she hadn't.
"That's amazing." Sarah smiled, realizing that if her daughter had a sponsor and Sarah didn't have to pay, she could officially stop playing this game with her mother. She could take her daughter and leave. She had been saving for the last five years and had enough to support her and her daughter...enough to keep the shakes away too. This was her out. All this time she thought she was going to be the reason she and her daughter got away, but no this whole time it was Marceline. She looked up at her father and smiled,
"Thank you, Daddy, this was the best news you could have ever given me."
…
"This is the fourth shot you've had, I'm going to have to cut you off at six." The bartender tells her as she quickly downs the fireball.
"Weddings make me sick." She tells the bartender who grabs the shot glass and tosses it in a sink of soapy water,
"This wedding cost half a million dollars, enjoy yourself." She rolls her eyes, weddings like these are only to show off, she bets the bride and groom will be divorced in five years. One of them will cheat, she doesn't know which one yet, but thank god for a prenup. One of the lawyers who works for her father invited them to his daughter's wedding. She didn't want to go, but her mother insisted, at least she got a new dress out of the deal. She rolls her eyes at the bartender and goes off to find her family's table, dinner is about to be served, and with that comes a nice glass of champagne.
She finds their table quickly and goes to sit down when she stops dead in her tracks. She races forward and swipes the plate her mother has just placed in front of her nine-year-old.
"What are you doing?" She finds a waiting walking past her at the perfect moment and forces it into his hands,
"Sarah," Her mother smiles, grabbing her wrist and pulling her down into her seat next to her, "You're making a scene." She hisses,
"What was on her plate." She looks to her daughter, whose eyes are as wide as saucers. Marceline actively stays out of her way these days. Sarah hasn't been the nicest to her lately, mostly because her daughter catches her amid a blackout...Sarah isn't nice during these times.
"Dinner, although apparently now theirs nothing." Elizabeth looks around making sure, no one's watching.
"I told you to order her chicken fingers from the kid's menu." Elizabeth laughs at this,
"She's a Callahan, not some low-class trash, she eats what I and your father eat."
"Lobster Thermidor?" Sarah hisses,
"Don't be dramatic, there's Benadryl and an EpiPen in your clutch and the chefs prepared your steak in another room, you're fine."
"What about Mare? Have you ever gotten her tested for a lobster allergy, because I know for sure I haven't, what if she eats it and goes into anaphylaxis shock?" Elizabeth resisted the urge to roll her eyes, not here in public,
"Don't be ridiculous, I doubt you passed on your allergy." Sarah sees red. Elizabeth could have killed her daughter, what then...wait, then Sarah would be free, wouldn't she? Her mother would have nothing to hold over her, she could take the money she's been saving and she could travel, her 10-year plan would still be possible, all she has to do is let her daughter die...can she do that? She turns to Mare. Her eyes are large, and she looks scared...no Sarah can't do this, she loves her daughter..it took a long time to get there, and she's still not perfect. Sober her would never hurt her on purpose,
"I don't want to find out." This is it, she's taking her daughter and running, her planning starts now, she's done playing this stupid game with her mother, she's done.