Staring at her mother’s driveway, she collapsed on the wheel. Most women got to come home to loving mothers who listened. Must be nice to be them. Sucking in her breath, Penny stepped out. The tightness in her chest transformed to her heart pounding. She stepped out, mentally rolled up her sleeves, and intended to yell. Geneva had plotted something, and Penny needed to end it. She would never be her. Never.
Flexing her fingers, she buzzed the doorbell. Her lips formed a straight line, and the humidity only added to the heat growing inside her.
Jay shouldn’t pay for her. Pounding at her mother’s door, she heard the scurrying footsteps inside. “Open up, Mom.”
Her mother opened the door, letting a cool breeze of air conditioning out. “Penny, I didn’t expect to see you.”
She pushed past her into the house. “I’m here to talk.”
Her mother smiled. “I’m surprised. We should be celebrating your success, not fighting.”
Her hands curled into fists. “Mom. What were you doing with Mrs. Marshall the other morning?”
Geneva shook her head. “Talking about you and Jay. But you are asking the wrong questions. Let me go get us something to toast with.”
Throwing her hands in the air, she yelled, “I’m not toasting with you. What were you both plotting, Mom?”
“Again with the wrong question and focusing on the wrong things, sweetheart. His mother and I were having a disagreement. I want you to have his child. She wants you out of his life, but she’ll let you stay, if I help her out.”
Sweat formed on her back while she swept her hands through the air. She’d never get to be with Jay or have his child. Tears welled in her eyes, but she fought that back when she yelled, “With what? What did she want you to do?”
Her mother answered, “With a project, honey. Have you had lunch?”
Penny glared at her. “What project?”
“Borrowing his tablet. It was easy today. I walked into your place, took his tablet, and gave it to her. Now she won’t object to you both getting together, so you should be happy.”
Crossing her arms, she snapped, “Mom. Arrghh.”
“Sit down, Penny. We have to talk.”
Her mother’s knowing eyes sent iciness into her. She shook and flinched, wanting to leave now. “Mom?”
“Sit.” Geneva pointed to a seat. Penny followed orders. Her mother sat next to her, took her clammy hand, She shook inside. She didn’t want to know this. “What did you do, Mom?”
“Just ensured you are well settled. You’re my daughter and I want the best for you.”
Her shoulders became tight staring at her mother’s fake chest, toned skin, and cheery personality. “Stay out of my life, Mom.”
“Then stay calm and head right back into bed with your sexy, rich boyfriend.”
Whatever happened, this could not be good. “No. He’s not my boyfriend.”
“That boy’s in deep when it comes to you, which only shows he has good taste.”
Covering her ears, she yelled, “Mom, stop it.”
Her mother’s wide smile reminded her of an animal about to pounce on its prey. “No. Go home and have a lot more sex.”
Her voice was shrill. “Why?”
Petting her knee, her mother gazed calmly into her eyes. “I want grandchildren.”
Gulping. Her chest hurt. Covering her mouth, she knew. Oh my. “The condoms.”
Her shoulders fell backward. “I replaced them. Took out the latex and replaced it with a lamb sheath. Paying the man off at the convenience store was easy. They don’t pay them a lot anyhow. I also replaced your vitamins, and his, to ensure you have more than one this first time. We need his swimmers and as many of your eggs fertilized if we intend to get more in child support later.”
Her mouth fell open before she begged, “Mom. I’m not you. Don’t do this to me.”
“I did this because I love you, sweetheart. Everything was going well. You should be happy. I’m not saying you ever have to leave him, if you don’t want.”
She became disoriented. This was too much. Turning away, she spat out, “I’ll never be you.”
“Fine, but you are my daughter. This is what’s best for you.”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she yelled, “I hate you.”
Her mother’s laugh boomed in the air. “Now go back to him.”
She yelped, “I won’t.”
Her mother had a gleam in her eyes. Penny stared getting dizzy. What else could she do? Her mother gave her a grin. “You don’t have much of a choice.”
“What else did you do?”
“You don’t have any money.”
The direct eye contact, watching, assessing. She’d been like that with men all her life. Her eyes welled with tears. “Yes. I do. I’m leaving.”
Her cheeks were wet when Geneva told her, “No, you don’t. I’m your mom and your passwords have been the same since middle school. You don’t have any money. I transferred it to mine.”
“What did you do?”
“I took it to ensure you went back to your man.”
What had she done? She did everything her mother wanted. She shook her head, and her tears burned her cheeks. “How did you get into my building? We have a doorman.”
Smiling and looking pleased with herself, her mother put her chin out. “Ehh, he was eager and I’m your mother. I did what I had to do, sweetheart.”
Pressing her hands to wipe away the tears, she stood up. “Geneva, we’re done. There is nothing else to say.”
“Go home, where you belong.”
The slamming of the door echoed. She needed to scream. She couldn’t be pregnant and she couldn’t go back. No. The tears came back, uncontrollable, as she started the car. How could she let this happen? She knew her mother. She never should have come back.
She could never look into his eyes again. She couldn’t do this. She stopped at the front gate of the community. Jay had one request and her mother had betrayed them both. Picking up her phone, she texted Jay. Your mother stole your tablet. Be careful and goodbye.
Soon, she headed north on the highway. Sleeping with the gators couldn’t be worse than staying in Miami.