Chapter 10
Lauren couldn’t believe what a good night’s sleep could do for one’s disposition. She’d gone to bed a bit ticked at her father’s stubbornness and her mother’s willingness to play along.
But it was a new day, and she decided that she would keep the details of her newly acquired contract to herself. Angela had sent her a copy of the book contract late last night, and she’d read through it this morning while she lingered in bed. Though it was so common in most households, she decided against revealing she had access to the Internet at home. That old saying “What you don’t know, won’t hurt you” could be applied in this case.
Lauren closed her laptop and quickly made up the bed. Twenty minutes later, she was showered, dressed, and sipping a cup of tea in the kitchen. Her parents were still sleeping. She enjoyed the early-morning quiet, the privacy, and was having second thoughts about continuing to live in the house. She could stay in the guest cottage, though it would require a few repairs; she would mention it to her mother later, when they decided to act like grown-ups instead of ten-year-olds. Or not. But then she’d be acting like a kid herself. That would be silly, and she laughed at the pure childishness of her thoughts.
“Somebody’s in a good mood,” her mother said, entering the kitchen.
“Mom, you’re up early,” Lauren commented. “Dad okay?”
“I let him sleep in; he needs his rest.”
Lauren placed a pod of her mother’s favorite Dunkin’ Donuts coffee in the Keurig—the sole twenty-first-century item to be found in the house, only tolerated because Lauren had insisted on having one when she had come home three years ago—then clicked the BREW button. As soon as the cup finished, she held the cup out to her mother. “No cream or sugar, right?”
“Watching my waistline, dear. Thank you.” Her mother was wearing the same yellow chenille robe she’d had since Lauren was a little girl. The bend in the elbows had thinned, and the belt she wrapped around her waist was not much more than a few strands of material struggling to stay together.
Definitely time for a new robe. Lauren would order her one for Christmas. And she’d use the Internet. A flash of humor crossed her face.
“What are you smiling about?” her mother asked. “You didn’t seem too happy last night.”
Lauren sat in the chair across from her mother. “And you know why, too. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t back me up, at least tell Dad to listen to what I had to say. I felt a little blindsided, if you want to know the truth.” She took a sip of her tea.
“No, that was not my intention. I’m sorry. Your father was so hyped up over the weather, I just didn’t want to upset him more than necessary. He’s been so touchy lately.”
“Mother, you’re just putting off the inevitable by treating him like an invalid. First of all, he’s not mentally encumbered in any way, at least none that I know of. He can either accept what I’m going to do for John Giampalo or not. It’s his choice. And while we’re speaking of choices, I think it’s time I told you that the sales on Black Friday weekend weren’t that good. I placed a few ads in the papers last night, but I’m not sure if they’ll help at this point.” Lauren took another drink of tea. Now was the time to tell her mother the cold, hard facts. Before her father joined them. “Yesterday, I called my financial adviser. I asked him to deposit enough money in Razzle Dazzle’s account to keep us going for a couple of months. If Dad doesn’t make the leap into the twenty-first century, there isn’t going to be a lot of hope for the store’s future.”
“But I thought you said the sales were decent.”
“We sold all of Jenny Farrow’s pieces to one couple. Had it not been for that, we would’ve barely covered the commissions on a couple of your crafters’ sales.” She knew it was not what her mother wanted to hear, but she didn’t see much point in putting off telling her the truth any longer. She was bound to see the bank statements; most likely, they’d arrive in today’s mail.
Lauren’s heart saddened at the expression on her mother’s face, hating that she’d had to be so real, so blunt with her. This living in the past had to stop, and new attitudes might as well start immediately, with her new writing contract. They couldn’t remain in the dark forever. “All you have to do is take a close look at the bank statements, Mom. While we’re not in debt, thank goodness, we aren’t making much profit in the store. Again, if you and Dad would consider adding a website for Razzle Dazzle, I wouldn’t be surprised if sales for the month of December would carry us throughout the year. You both have to open your eyes and see what’s really happening in the world today.” Lauren went to the sink, rinsed her mug out, and placed it in the dishwasher.
“I can see exactly what is happening,” her father said, entering the kitchen. He was fully showered, shaved, and dressed. The scent of Prell shampoo clung to his damp hair, and the faintest odor of a new cologne wafted off him.
“Dad,” Lauren said.
“Lauren,” he returned, his voice matter-of-fact.
Her mother hurried to make a cup of coffee for her husband. “Al, sit down. Lauren wants to talk to you. I’m not going to play referee, either.”
“Good morning to you too, Ilene,” her father said, in what Lauren thought of as his king-of-the-castle tone of voice. He sat in his usual place, and Lauren saw no sign that his movements were a struggle. Maybe today was going to be one of his better days.
Her mother placed the coffee in front of him. “I’m going upstairs to shower. You two can help yourselves to cereal or whatever you want.”
Lauren couldn’t help but laugh. This was her mother’s way of telling her dad to “deal with it or else,” without actually saying the words. There had been a few episodes like this when she was a teenager. Times changed. She was not going to play along with their childlike games.
“I’m not having breakfast,” Lauren said. “You need help with yours?” This was the least she could do. He was, after all, on many days unable to do much of anything other than sit down.
“I am perfectly capable of making my own bowl of cereal, Lauren,” he said. “I’ll eat in a bit.” He sipped at his coffee, his gaze appearing to be a million miles away.
“Look, Dad, I know you’re upset with me. About the book. But I can’t pass up this opportunity. It would be foolish of me. And of you to think I shouldn’t take it.”
“I haven’t said anything about this to you, so why do you assume that I’m against it?” He directed his gaze to hers.
“Last night. You didn’t acknowledge what we both know you’re trying to avoid. You let Mom make a fool of herself, and I think you’d at least be a little bit remorseful about that.”
“I suppose I deserve that,” he said. “I didn’t want to discuss this man last night, and frankly, it isn’t something I want to talk about now. Lauren, you do what you must, and that’s all I’ll say. Now, if you’ll grab me that carton of milk, I’m going to fix myself a bowl of cereal.”
Stunned, it took her a minute to absorb what he had said. “As you said, you’re ‘perfectly capable of making your own bowl of cereal.’ I won’t stand in your way,” Lauren stated before sailing out of the kitchen and heading upstairs. She didn’t ever recall a time, at least since she’d returned to Fallen Springs as an adult, when she’d had any major disagreement with her parents. Or at least one that was so divisive, pitting her against them. Or her against her father. Both of them would have to learn to live with the decisions she made for herself. And if they didn’t climb out of the past, they were going to lose a lot more than an argument with her. They’d lose a family legacy when Razzle Dazzle Décor fell headlong into bankruptcy. Even though she would do whatever she had to in order to prevent that from happening.