Page 21 of Dreaming
An hour later, he texted her again.
Send a selfie, woman. I’m shaking from withdrawal over here.
Laughing, she snapped one of her sitting on her mom’s balcony with the sunset behind her.
As I thought. You’ve gotten more beautiful.
On the first day of the new year, she received a package by courier. Opening it, she removed a platinum chain with a rectangular pendant. On the back were Roman numerals.
As she registered the date they signified, tears welled in her eyes.
Her mother appeared at her side. “That’s beautiful, Nia love.”
Turning it over, she showed her mom the back. “Our first real date. The night he changed what I thought would be my future…”
From the doorway behind them, Nicki asked, “What are you two whispering about? I hate that you keep secrets from me.”
“Talking to you about anything leads to arguments,” Nellie told her youngest daughter tiredly. “We’ve decided to avoid the yelling. I’m too old for all that stress, Nicki.”
Throwing up her hands, her sister shouted, “Everything is my fault! Perfect Nia never does anything wrong!”
Nellie tried to diffuse yet another situation with her child. “That wasn’t the conversation and you know it. You just proved my point. You search for reasons to be angry, to become confrontational. Frankly, it’s damn exhausting.”
Nia attached the chain around her neck, tucked it in her top, and turned to her sister. “I found you a condo. I’ll pay the mortgage and taxes. For a year, I’ll also cover your basic bills and utilities. It’s time to get a job, Nicki.”
“So…you came here to fuck up my life a little more?”
Tilting her head, Nia replied, “You think me buying you a condo and paying your bills – when you just turned twenty-seven – is fucking up your life?” Looking at her mother, she added, “You can always kick her out and let her learn what the real world is like.”
Nicki released a blood-curdling scream with her fists at her sides. “You don’t get to dictate my life, Nia!”
Slamming her palms on the dining table, Nia hissed, “Just pay for your life, right Nicole? You get to do what you want, hurt everyone around you, and I get to foot the bill?”
With a shake of her head, Nia released a bitter laugh. “I am sick of your behavior. I’ve never met anyone so greedy and hateful in my life and guess what? I don’t have to do anything for you – neither does Mom. You blew through the trust Dad left you in nine months and have nothing to show for it. You’re awful to us and you’ve turned yourself into a loser.”
“You’re the loser! Fat and crazy! You think you’re so smart but I’m way smarter than you, Nia!” Nicki picked up a decorative bowl on the sideboard and threw it across the room.
Nia caught it, placed it gently on the surface, and walked around the table to face her sister. Nicki tried to slap her…Nia grabbed her wrist.
“Let go of me, psycho bitch!”
“Shut your mouth,” Nia ordered dangerously. Nicki bared her teeth. “I can and will move Mom somewhere you’ll never be able to torture her with your antics again. I’ll move, too. What would you do then, Nicole?”
“You wouldn’t…”
“I would. I won’t tolerate your tantrums for another minute.” Leaning close, she whispered, “You need therapy because something is very wrong, Nicki.”
“That’s rich! The crazy bitch acting like I’m crazy!”
“You could be committed right now based on your behavior in the last six months alone.”
Nicki stilled. “Don’t you threaten me.”
“It fascinates me that you think you can do whatever you want without consequences. Neither of our parents are like you. No one in our family. How did you turn out like this?”
“I’m warning you, Nia…”
“Allow me to return the favor, Nicki. I’m taking my mother away because I think you honestly might be dangerous. The bills will be paid for six months and then you’re on your own because it will be sold. When I return to Chicago, I’m going to put the house on the market. There won’t be a forwarding address.”