Cozy Cabin Getaway Ch13

A shared sense of unease over the violent weather gives them all some common ground, but it can’t cancel out the awkwardness. After an agonizing dinner, Riley finds her courage. She knows what she has to do.

Mary is once again on the sofa with her book in her lap. She’s still drinking, and since she kicked Dad out, she’s gotten good at being drunk without seeming drunk. Riley would prefer to do this sober, but it’s not meant to be.

Riley sits beside her. Mary closes her book.

“I owe you an apology,” Riley says.

Mary takes a deep breath. “That was a little much,” she agrees.

“Um, oh. Right. No. I didn’t mean for that,” Riley says, pointing at the ceiling. “I mean, that too. That too. I just lost my head. Um. And it wasn’t Michelle’s fault. I was, um, the one… making that happen.”

“I noticed,” Mary says, blushing.

Riley cringes. “Right. I mean that I want to apologize for the whole thing. I think that I just took it for granted that you would be supportive and I didn’t think about how this would seem to you. Like you probably had an idea about what to expect for me, and now there’s Michelle and you’re having to rethink all that. And that must be really hard.”

Mary stares at her. Riley is expectant. Seconds go by.

“Mom,” Riley presses. “I’m apologizing. And I’m trying to validate your feelings.”

“I know,” Mary replies, looking a bit shell-shocked. She takes a swig and gazes at the rain streaming down the windows. “I’m just not used to it.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Mary absently pats Riley’s leg. “You’re not the problem here.”

Michelle emerges from the kitchen with a wine glass of her own. “I guess that’s my cue to apologize too,” she says, taking a seat on the other side of Riley.

“You don’t have to,” Mary says. “I should apologize for being a bitch to you. I probably won’t, but I’m acknowledging that I should. Just because I don’t approve of something doesn’t mean I have to make everybody miserable.”

“I made everyone miserable,” Riley tells her. “I picked this place. It sucks. That’s on me.”

Kayla rises from her armchair.

“This is what adulthood looks like, Kayla. You can run from it, but you can’t hide,” Mary says to her daughter as she walks by.

“I’m not running from adulthood, Mom. I need to pee.” She disappears into the bedroom.

“Mary, I’m not sure that I even think you’re wrong,” Michelle says frankly. “But we’re here now. We can’t go back.”

“I know.” Mary glowers at her empty glass. Riley knows her mother well enough to know that she is mad. Really mad. But she’s handling it, because it isn’t Riley and Michelle that she’s mad at. She opens her mouth to speak, but thunder crashes and the lights go out.