By 10:30 p.m., Katelyn had the kitchen clean, Jacob and Kayla bathed, gave Jacob his last bottle, and had both tucked into their respective beds. The kitchen was relatively clean; the dishes were done and she straightened up all the papers and junk laying around. She even made a plate for her mom with the leftover Mac & Cheese and peaches she’d made for dinner; it rested neatly on the main shelf in the refrigerator covered with plastic and with a post-it note simply reading “Mom.” Brianna ignored the cleaning spree by disappearing into her room.
Katelyn took the garbage outside to the bin. Chevy barked and rattled the chain link fence behind her. Katelyn grabbed a scoop of dog food from the shed and dumped it over the fence into his bowl. The headlights of her mom’s car pulled forward into the drive. She withdrew her hand before it was also eaten and latched the shed door.
Her shoulders tensed as she watched her mom park the car. Katelyn’s good mood suddenly vanished. She went back into the house.
Inside, she retrieved a fresh garbage sack from under the sink and shaped it into the kitchen garbage can. Her mom came in behind her, and Katelyn heard the keys drop on the microwave. She imagined her mom surveying the kitchen.
“Kids asleep?” Her mom asked.
Katelyn put the lid on the garbage can and walked away. She went into the living room and picked up the last of the toys, including the dolls she and Kayla had played house with earlier, and threw them into the overflowing toy bin by the wall.
Her mom walked farther into the kitchen and lit a cigarette. Katelyn could then hear the shuffling of paper and the opening of mail.
Katelyn picked up her back pack off the floor and headed for her room. She had just reached the hallway when her mom called to her.
“Katelyn.” It was almost a plea.
Katelyn turned around slowly and with a straight face looked at her mother. Katelyn noticed the drooping shoulders and sagging jaw. A momentary twinge of compassion filled Katelyn, but she didn’t let her face warm.
Her mom shifted and, more with her eyes than words, asked, “Did your dad call?”
Katelyn’s compassion turned into bitterness. Her mom wasn’t even thinking about the hell she’d agreed to in her pact with Gorman. She didn’t even notice the housework, the lack of screaming kids. And, now she wanted Katelyn to be part of her drama? Hell no, she thought.
Katelyn cocked her head and narrowed her eyes at her mother. “As soon as I get my phone back, mom, I’ll sure check.” She went to her room and quickly shut the door. A little part of her glowed with satisfaction. If her mom wasn’t going to think about her, then she wasn’t going to worry either.