Chapter 30: Power

Things have been weird since Mom and Dad had the big blowout a few weeks ago. They barely speak to each other. Dad avoids Mom for the most part, I think he's even continued sleeping in a different room since that night. Everything else is normal, though, Dad goes to work and comes home, talks to me, and then disappears when Mom comes by. Mom just wanders around the house looking like she's up to something. She's so creepy and cold. Dad brought Joliana, his co-worker, to our house today. I know her because I've worked with her too. Joliana's been over to our house before a few years ago when I was in high school, and I know Mom doesn't like it even though her and Dad are completely platonic.

I wonder if Dad likes Joliana, but I know he'd never do anything with her as long as he's still married to Mom. I kind of wish somehow Mom and Dad would break up, but that's such a horrible thought. I wonder if Absolon's home. He's been dating Titanium, so he's often out with him. I wonder how Mom would react to that, boys dating each other. She hasn't been very cold to Absolon since he's not interested in me. She's so ridiculous, so mean to guys I date, but completely okay with him. I'm glad she's not picking on him, but she has all these hypocritical double standards that I don't understand. She listened to Dad about being nice to Absolon, so why couldn't she listen to Dad about being nice to Camo?

Messaging Log:

Absolon Marseilles <830-555-4364>

Absolon, are you at home? 5:24pm

Yeah, in my room. 5:24pm

Good, I think to myself. I could really use a friend right now. I haven't seen Camo for a few days and I miss him like crazy. I'm just about to go upstairs, but before I can exit my room, I hear Mom and Dad arguing.

"What the hell is she doing here again?"

"Chill out, Kalya, she's helping me with work. What do you mean, again? She hasn't been here for a long time."

"I mean again because she's been here before. Seriously, you are so dense sometimes, Charles."

"Oh so now I'm stupid? Leave me alone, Kalya, if you're not going to talk to me about our actual problem."

"You mean Verona? Yeah, until Verona stops sleeping around like a common prostitute, I'm not going to acknowledge her boyfriend choices as legitimate."

"She is NOT sleeping around! Ugh, Kalya. Joliana and I have work to finish."

"Work as in flirting with each other."

"I have never flirted with her. You should know, you are always spying on me."

"I have to or you'll flirt with her."

"ARGH! Kalya! You don't trust me! I'm done with this stupid conversation. I have work to do."

I pull out my cell phone and text Absolon again because I want to talk to him but I don't want to run into Mom. 

Messaging Log:

Absolon Marseilles <830-555-4364>

Ugh, they're fighting again.  5:27pm

Sorry. Do you want me to come down? 5:28pm

Please,  would you? 5:28pm

LOL, yeah, it's no problem, Verona. 5:29pm

It's not long before Absolon knocks on the door and comes in. I'm relieved to see him and even more relieved that Mom didn't stop to talk to him. I smile at him and then continue pouting.

"What's up, Verona?"

"I miss Camo a lot and I'm exhausted from all the tension that's going on in the house."

"They were really going at it just now. She's accusing him of cheating."

I roll my eyes and bury my face in the pillow. Absolon comes over and lays on my bed, rubbing my back.

"That's dumb. Your dad wouldn't do that."

"I know, right? He's been friends with Joliana for years, and every time she's over here, she acts like a complete lady. Do you know why Camo hasn't been at work?"

"Yeah, he and Titanium went to Egypt."

"Ugh, I wish I was with him. This is stupid. Is it mean of me to wish that Dad would kick Mom out?"

"No. Things fall apart sometimes. It's not like he hasn't tried."

I hear the door open and don't care to look up to see who is there because I don't want to talk to anyone but Absolon right now.

"Well, well, what do we have here, Verona? Cheating on your so-called boyfriend already? He was just here a few days ago."

Unfortunately, I have to get up because Mother is picking on me again. Ever since that night I punched her she has been on the warpath, like she has a personal vendetta against me. I think she needs a chill pill. No big surprise, she has a condescending tone to her voice.

"I'm not doing anything with Absolon, MOM! He's comforting me because I'm sad. Can't you see? I'm wiping my eyes because I've been CRYING?!"

"Comforting. Uh huh, sure, more like comfort by lust. You should be ashamed of yourself. I have half a mind to tell your boyfriend the next time he comes over how you cavort around when he's not here. Now I know the real reason you wanted us to take Absolon in. You wanted a boy toy."

I don't know what it is, but the stress of everything that's been going on and the fact that Mom just threatened to tell Camo mean things about me makes me start crying again. I bury my face into my pillow again, wishing I could just disappear. Then I hear Absolon talk to Mom.

"Mrs. Balestrom, Verona and I are not involved, I can assure you."

"Oh? Why should I trust you? You're a former nomad."

"I'm not interested in her."

"Why? She's a perfectly beautiful girl. What's wrong with her?"

"Nothing, Mrs. Balestrom, I'm just not attracted to her."

"Why? Do you not like brunettes?"

"Uh, no, that's not it."

"Then what? You prefer men?"

Absolon stops talking and I get up because Mom has crossed the line, yet again. Absolon's personal life and preferences are none of her business.

"Mom, will you stop?!"

"Stop what, Verona?"

"Embarrassing everyone?"

"Nonsense, Absolon shouldn't be embarrassed that he's a homosexual. Are you, Absolon?"

"Mom! That's not what I meant! You are slapping a label on him that is unnecessary! People shouldn't be labelled!"

"It's unnatural to be attracted to a man when you are a man! It's inappropriate."

"Absolon is NOT inappropriate! His life choices are just that, HIS! They are NOT something you have any right to judge! Get out of my room! I should have kicked you out of here earlier!"

"You can't talk to me like that. I'm your mother."

"Well you can't tell me to go to my room because I'm already in it!"

"I have every right to come and go as I please, Verona."

"Mom this conversation is pointless, what are we even talking about anymore?"

"We are talking about the fact that you are a slut and you make friends with people who have questionable lifestyles. You should be with Marcus because you need to be disciplined. Running around like this is unacceptable. I'm ashamed that your last name is Balestrom. You aren't worthy of that surname."

I snicker under my breath because Dad has just walked in. Mom's going to get it now.

---

I just let Joliana out of the house and see Kalya in Verona's room, torturing her yet again. Verona's yelling at her about something mean she said to Absolon and Kalya is looking smug. I hate her high and mighty attitude. Kalya says she wants Marcus to teach her discipline? No way. I need to intervene. Wait, did she just say what I think she said? She said Verona isn't worthy of her surname? My surname? It's not even Kalya's name to abuse! She married me, and it is MY last name. That's it. I've had it with Kalya.

"If there is anyone who isn't worthy of the Balestrom name, it is you."

"What? Charles, don't be ridiculous. Where is your mistress?"

"You can't talk to Verona and Absolon like that. I don't have a mistress. How many times do I have to tell you that? Are you deaf? Get out of my house."

"Well, I never! Are you saying you want a divorce?"

"Stop stalling. Get the fuck out of my house. That's what I'm saying."

"Why do you care about Absolon? He's not your son."

"I decided to take him in. I'm going to treat him like family. GET OUT."

"What does this mean for us?"

What does this mean for us? Well, I hate how she's dragging my name through the mud with her rude behavior and then accusing Verona of being the one who is causing trouble. She is so annoyingly stubborn. She wants to continue to be my wife and have a powerful name with a fancy house? She's going to have to stop being so pig-headed. I can't stand her. These past few weeks she's either been ignoring me, or picking fights with me. She's driving me crazy. I've decided that she needs to leave for a while. She keeps taking things for granted. I'm going to make her see that her life could fall apart very quickly.

"Trial separation. Get the fuck out."

"Where will I go?"

"That is not my problem."

"Charles, I'm sorry. We can fix this."

"That may be, but for now, you need to get out."