Cozy Cabin Getaway Ch10

It doesn’t get easier when they’re eating lunch. It would be better if they could all just eat wherever, but having soup means that they’re all at the table.

Mary pours more wine for herself. Michelle brought so many bottles hoping to relax herself, but instead, she gets an aggressively drunken Mary. Mistakes were made.

“It’s not like I don’t get it,” Mary says, pulling her sandwich apart. “When things got bad with their father, I lost all my confidence. I mean, when I found out what was happening.”

“Mom,” Kayla says tiredly.

Mary ignores her and goes on.

“The idea of suddenly being alone was really scary and it makes you think about your age. And then you don’t like that so much, so you think if you’re with someone much younger you’ll feel younger too.”

“Um,” Michelle tries to protest, but Mary rolls right over her.

“But Riley?” She scowls across the table at Michelle. “Your own player? Someone that you’re responsible for? How old was she when you first met her? Twelve?”

“Eighteen,” Michelle says, but Mary isn’t listening.

“This is someone who looked up to you.”

“Actually, she was sexually harassing me from the beginning,” Michelle cuts in. “Always finding excuses to hug me. I didn’t get it back then.”

“You’re very huggable,” Riley says.

“Seducing my daughter is not the answer to feeling old and alone,” Mary says firmly.

“Are you not hearing a word we say?” Michelle asks, exasperated. “Actually, forget it.” She throws her napkin on the table and gets up. “I need air.”

Thunder crashes. The rain had lightened a bit, but now it slams into the cottage, snapping like bullets against the windows.

Michelle’s teeth grind audibly.

“OK, I don’t need air. I just need a minute.”

“Sure, run away,” Mary says, a little slurred as Michelle climbs the stairs.

“Mom! What the shit?” Riley demands.

“I’m supposed to just let this happen?”

“Yes! Oh my god. Fuck it.” Riley pushes her chair back and hurries after Michelle.

She finds her sitting on the edge of the bed, staring vacantly. Riley sits beside her and hugs her.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Maybe I should be sorry,” Michelle replies morosely.

“Oh my god! Tell me you aren’t listening to her!”

Michelle shrugs. “Riley, you’re young. You’re hot. You’re a celebrity. I’m…” Michelle looks down at herself with a little sigh.

“Oh my god! Shut up!” Riley grabs Michelle’s face and turns it to look her in the eyes. “Do not let my dumbass midlife crisis having mom do this to you! She doesn’t even mean it! She’s just a mess right now! The thing with Dad really messed her up!”

Michelle’s not hearing it. She seems to deflate.

Riley groans in frustration and pulls Michelle’s glasses off.

“Hey,” Michelle says, and Riley kisses her hard on the mouth, cutting her off. “Mmm!” Michelle says as Riley pushes her down on the bed, which squeaks noisily.