"Here is fine, thank you," Rene said as she got out of the car. "Miss, you left your change,"
The cab driver said, but she turned with a warm smile.
"Two dollars is nothing I can't live without."
"Thank you, miss! Have a nice day!" He exclaimed excitedly as she chuckled with a gentle nod.
"You too, sir."
She politely replied and headed into the supermarket.
She grabbed a small trolley and walked through the aisles, picking things off her list one by one until she reached the tissues, which were arranged on the top shelf.
With a deep sigh, she looked up in defeat.
"Who puts tissues on the top shelf?
That's so unprofessional for people my height!"
She grumbled, but suddenly, she smelled a masculine scent and heard a deep voice from behind,
"Let me get that for you," He said, stretching to grab the tissue over her head.
She turned excitedly, but to her surprise, her smile vanished into a frown.
"It's you! Are you following me or something?"
She inquired furiously, arms crossed, as he laughed, placing the pack of tissues in her trolley.
"Of course I'm not following you.
I came here to shop too and saw a beautiful lady in distress, someone I could help with a little stretch.
Did I do something wrong?" Henry asked sarcastically with a smirk.
Then she squinted her eyes in disbelief.
"Fine, if you're here to buy something, where's your trolley? Or maybe something you actually came here to buy?"
Her question brought him back to reality as he cleared his throat and looked around.
"Right. This, I came to get this." He said, grabbing a soap dish. Suddenly Rene burst into laughter, trying to hold it in, but she couldn't anymore.
"You came to get a soap dish? Really?" She inquired as he cleared his throat one more time, tapping his fingers on the blue soap dish.
"Well yeah, mine at home got spoiled, so now I need to get one. You know, as the responsible man that I am..."
"Right..." Rene responded sarcastically, but just as she was about to speak, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and slipped it out.
"Quiet, it's my mom!" She warned him with a whisper before answering.
"Jesus Christ, Mom, calm down. It's literally only been about twenty minutes! Fine, I'm coming! Sheesh!"
She yelled as Eunice disconnected the call abruptly. "I see you're in a hurry.
I could give you a ride if you don't mind?" Henry suggested, and this time, she didn't decline. "I'd appreciate that, honestly.
I don't have the energy to deal with the cab drivers right now,
but we need to go!" She exclaimed,
But just as she was about to grab the trolley, he gently pulled her over to his side as he crossed over to hers, dumped his soap dish into her stuff, and grabbed the trolley.
She turned with a smile,
"Thank you."
She said as he nodded and both walked to the counter.
He quickly handled the payment before she could reach for her money and headed to the car abruptly.
She couldn't even fight him this time because all she kept thinking about was her mother's rants if she got home late.
"We're here. Yes, the very house to your right, please," Rene said as Henry pulled over at the parking lot.
She turned and, instead of a hug, gave him a peck on his cheek before jumping out of the car.
She walked to the backseat and grabbed her poly bags filled with groceries.
"Do you need help?" Henry asked, unbuckling his belt, but she yelled,
"No, I'm fine, and thank you so much, Henry.
I owe you one." With her feet, she slammed the door closed and screamed an apology as she ran inside.
She slammed the door to the house closed in the same way as she quickly walked toward the kitchen counter to drop the groceries, not paying any attention to Eunice, who stood by the counter staring.
"I see you have a new friend," Eunice said, but she ignored it, slipping the groceries out of the polybags one after the other.
"I hope this one has money because at least he would give you a purpose in this house."
Right after Eunice's words, Rene angrily slammed her palm against the counter, her lips pressed as she tried to conceal her anger.
"Here's everything you asked me to buy.
Oh, and here's your money; my, in quote, rich friend handled it."
"Yes!!! This is what I am talking about! Wait, did he give you something to bring home?" Eunice turned and yelled in excitement, but instead, Rene shook her head in disappointment.
"Is this all you want from me? Do you need help with something? Or can I go be aimless in my room as always?" She asked sarcastically as Eunice rolled her eyes.
"Sheesh! Why do you always have to be so negative? Such a downer!" She exclaimed, her voice laced with annoyance. "This is good news,
Don't you want to share it with your mother?" Met with Rene's sharp look, she cleared her throat and picked up the potholders from the counter.
"Fine. Start the dough while I check on this set."
She said, walking towards the oven as Rene silently got a bowl from the cabinet nearby.
"We really appreciate your orders.
Thank you! We hope you thoroughly enjoy everything, and please, recommend Bakerlicious to your friends and family, we'd love to serve them too!
Don't hesitate to call us again for more orders, as well. Bye…enjoy!"
She exclaimed excitedly, her words accompanied by a friendly wave as the customers departed.
She was grateful they were late, as it allowed both her and Eunice extra time to perfect their creations.
Just as she was about to walk back in, she saw Michelle walking over and paused in her tracks, leaning against the door.
A look of anger and annoyance washed over her face. Michelle, who then spotted her upon her head lift, immediately smiled and ran towards her sister, her face lit with excitement.
However, Rene abruptly turned and stormed back inside.
"Please, Rene, don't be angry at me." Michelle pleaded, slowly shutting the door behind her.
Rene turned to face her, her eyes devoid of emotion. "You're truly unbelievable, you know that…right?.
You just left without a word, knowing I'd bear the brunt of everything.
It's Thursday, and I just remembered it's your day off.
So why on heavens green earth would you abandon me here with her? On such a busy day like this?
Do I look like a joke to you? You've really fucked me up this time, and I'm not even exaggerating!"
Rene's voice was thick with both fatigue and a deep sense of betrayal.
Just as Rene turned, Michelle grabbed her, pleading, "Please, Renata, I won't do this again.
Don't be angry with me; I can't handle any more anger." Michelle spoke calmly, her voice laced with pain as Rene quickly turned around.
Suddenly, she noticed a bruise on Michelle's wrist and instinctively grabbed her hand before Michelle could pull it away.
"No, please, Rene, wait!" Michelle pleaded, trying to pull her bags away…but her words were met with silence.
Rene forcefully pulled up Michelle's sweater sleeves, revealing a hand covered in bruises.
Immediately, Rene's eyes filled with rage, and her breath quickened with anger, but she remained silent.
"Please, Renata, not a word. Mom would kill me, please." Michelle begged.
"And I... I will kill him. Who is he?!"
Just as Michelle was about to respond, they heard Eunice descending the stairs, prompting Michelle to quickly compose herself.
She quickly pulled her sleeves back down and wiped her tears as Rene walked toward the stairs. "Have they left? Did they tip me?"
Eunice asked as she met Rene on the stairs.
"They have, and they did. It's on the counter. I'm going to take my bath."
Rene replied without looking at her mother. Not like she cared when her favorite child stood before her.
A smile flickered across her face as she approached Michelle, but the girl recoiled, creating a physical distance when she tried grabbing her.
"You make it so hard to believe you're even her mother. What did she ever do to you?"
Michelle spat, her voice laced with anger. "Watch your tone, young lady.
I won't have you speak to me in that manner!" Eunice warned, her authority strained.
"Right! And what are you going to do about it?" Michelle challenged, a spark of defiance in her eyes.
A subtle nod acknowledged the mother's inaction. "I didn't think so.
But it's not entirely your fault. Next time, I'd stay, maybe that might help.
I'm going to take a bath now."
She turned towards the stairs, her words laced with a cutting sarcasm.
Eunice then chuckled, "Anyways, dinner will be ready later, and bring your sister, if you two even have an appetite."
She yelled as she headed towards the living room.
After a typically chaotic dinner, Rene and Mimi retreated to their rooms, eager to avoid Eunice's prying ears.
About two hours later, Rene walked to Mimi's room and cautiously peeked, whispering, "She's probably asleep by now, right?."
"I'm sure she is. Come in,
" Mimi replied, her face etched with worry and shame as she sat up against the bedside stand.
As Rene settled down, Mimi bowed her head, confessing, "I know I messed up, Rene, but Mom can't find out."
A gentle smile touched Rene's lips as she lifted Mimi's chin, their eyes meeting.
"That's not my worry, and it shouldn't be yours.
Just tell me, who is the animal that did this to you?
Again... I just need its name!" She asked, her gaze hardening with fury as she gestured to Mimi's injured arm. Mimi, tears streaming down her face, whispered through a sniffle,
"It was Enoch…
Immediately, Rene's jaw dropped, recoiling in disgust.
"You have to be kidding! Please tell me this is a joke!" She exclaimed, her voice laced with anger.
Mimi reached for her arm, but Rene pulled away, pacing with a finger in her mouth.
Mimi quickly stood, wiping her tears, trying so hard to compose herself.
"I know, Rene, I know..."
"No, you don't! You clearly have no idea, because if you did, you wouldn't still be with a man who nearly killed you.
Are you okay?
Like are you actually sane in the head?
Or are you under some kind of spell or something? Because I don't get it!
Wait, is he blackmailing you?"
Rene questioned,
Her expression shifted to concern as she approached.
Her heart ached when Mimi shook her head, saying,
"I just really love him, Rene. You wouldn't understand!"
"Understand? You think I wouldn't understand?"
Rene snapped, tears welling in her eyes.
"Yeah, I mean, when was the last time you were in a relationship?
Heck, how many boyfriends have you even had?
It's not easy to just stop loving someone who has been embedded in your heart for years.
Someone you've loved for a long time!" Mimi yelled, sobbing uncontrollably, as she bent, grabbing her knees for comfort.
Rene sighed deeply,
"For years you said? You're only seventeen, turning eighteen soon, and you call two years of toxicity… 'years' of unbreakable love?
You're disappointing, Mimi.
You know what, you wouldn't get it anyway, so go ahead, do whatever you want!" Her voice was calm yet stern.
"Please, Rene..."
"Please what? What do you want me to say? I might not have been in a relationship for ages, but I know my value. Are you trying to find ways to get killed quickly?
Or maybe trying to be a father who will abandon you and leave you to raise your children alone, like Dad did to Mom?"
"Dad did not abandon Mom; he died."
Michelle's words annoyed Rene as her friend thickened.
"Does this seem like a joke to you? Even if this scenario isn't the best, can't you see what the desperation of parents did to us as children?
Me especially…at least mom loves you. Heck, can't you see how bitter she's become? Can't you learn from that?" "Rene…"
Mimi called out, but this time it was more of a whisper.
"Don't do that. Don't. You know what, I don't think it's love.
I think it's an addiction. You're addicted to the pain and don't know how to do without it.
But let me tell you, you need to stop before he kills you, because news flash, he has more money than we and would be able to bury the news in the blink of an eye.
Don't die for nothing, and don't you ever mention that animal to me… ever again.
This is the last time. I'd be praying for you but from afar, hopefully you receive sense sometime."
Rene said, tears streaming down her face. Her voice, filled with the pain of not being able to help her sister escape the toxic relationship she's been in for years.
She turned and slammed the door, but her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor, leaning against the door, her head on her lap as she sobbed.
Mimi, too, sat on her bed, buried her face in her hands, and wept.