Waiting by Erin Dennington ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 28 Christina hung up the phone and leaned against the building, pulling her kids tight to her chest. She kissed both of their foreheads and found herself rubbing Tommy's right shoulder and Becca's left one. For once, Becca did not put away. She even allowed herself to be held by her mother. Thoughts swam in Christina's head. She knew that this accident would paint an unfavorable picture of her in Matthew's mind, even though she was not to blame. He already thought ill of her because she was still taking antidepressants. He never could understand that depression can sometimes be biologically related...and he would sometimes publicly degrade her, saying that it was "all just in her head." He would tell Becca, her precious Becca, half-truths and eventually persuade her that her own mother could not be trusted. Christina would catch Becca, and even Tommy at times, watching her, looking for signs of "the crazy woman" that their dad said she was. The lies tore at her heart, but for her children's sake, she was staying with her husband of 14 years. Fear of what Matthew would say and what poison he'd whisper about, jokingly, as usual, made Christina clench her teeth. She shivered, not so much as from the cold, but from the knowledge of just how much power he had over her. He'd even stooped to calling her boss to see how she was doing, which had led her boss to start prying into her private life. It used to make her ashamed, knowing how very lowly people thought of her, but she had slowly begun to feel like fighting back. Although she was angry, she was also afraid. Her children were her most treasured thing and she wasn't about to just let go out of fear. If Matthew wanted a fight, by damn she would give him one. "Mommy?" Tommy asked, interrupting her reverie. "Is it ok if I put Superman on as soon as we get home?" "Of course, sweetie," she said, "why wouldn't it be?" "Well, you wouldn't let me wear it before and if I had been wearing it, I could've flown." Becca laughed. "No, dummy," she said. "Only Superman can fly, not little boys." "Becca, please don't talk to your brother like that," Christina said, although she was trying to hold back a smile. But Tommy wasn't upset in the least. "That just shows what you know," he said, and pulled away from his sister. "Aw, I'm sorry," Becca said. She reached over, pulled Tommy close to her, and gave him a big, fat noogie on his head. He squealed and backed up so fast that his feet flew out from underneath him and he landed on his rump. "Ok, kids, settle down," Christina said. "It's really slippery here. Don't play around." Just then a voice spoke up from behind her. "I can play with them, if you want." Christina, shocked, looked over at the speaker and saw that it was a teenage Korean girl. The girl was pretty, dressed in dancer's leggings, a down jacket, and mittens. She reminded Christina of a China doll with the proud way she carried herself. She stood with a dancer's grace and exuded quiet confidence. "I mean, I know it sounds weird, but my family is stuck back there in the traffic jam behind this accident, and I have nothing to do. And, pardon me for saying so, but you look kind of worn out." Christina looked around and, seeing that there was nowhere this stranger could take her kids to, she nodded her assent. "But nothing rowdy," she interjected, and the girl agreed and started to lead the kids over to a bench, telling them she'd show them some cool dance moves. "By the way, I'm Christina," she said, and the girl introduced herself as Stella. The kids raucously introduced themselves and Christina laughed to herself -- there was nothing shy about her kids. There was no way could anyone claim that they were messed up. 21:35 - 11.07.02 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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