Mr. Whitlock

15 - The Argument

"Mother, I really don't want to talk about it." Marie said, as calmly as she could.

"Maybe you just didn't press hard enough, you know grandmother can be stubborn but I'm sure she'd listen if you told her how much it would mean to me. She trusts you, you know."

"Please, I-"

"How about you go back and visit again tomorrow, and really try this time. I promise that-"

"Have you ever considered what I may want in this situation? Perhaps convincing an old woman on her death bed to change her mind just to help my selfish mother isn't something I find enjoyable." Marie fought hard to keep her voice steady, although her words flew out like hot blades so quickly that she couldn't control herself.

"How dare you." Anne narrowed her eyes, disappointment contorting her face into a frown, "She is your grandmother, not just some old woman on her death bed. That is incredibly disrespectful. And I am not selfish, I am anything but that. Do you know the sacrifices I have made for you?"

"What? What could you have possibly sacrificed for me? All you've done is molded me into someone I hate, someone full of mistrust, pathetic ambition, and spite. I can't think of one thing in this moment that you have given up for my own good. So tell me, what comes to your mind?"

"You are not someone hateful, Marie!"

"Yes, I am. Because do you know who I sound an awful lot like right now? You. And I can't stand it, mother, I can't stand it." Marie wiped frustrated tears from her cheeks as she raised her voice in anger. But Anne could not hear it, for she began to yell over her daughter.

"I left everything for you and your sister. And for my mother. I left behind my career, my house, my friends, I even left behind my husband. The father to my own children! Do you understand? I had to start our lives completely over, all to take care of your grandmother in the short time she had left. Are you not grateful for the things I've done, Marie? Because as of now, it sure feels like you're the selfish one here." Anne folded her arms with an exasperated exhale, shaking her head at Marie.

"Oh, stop it with that. You may have fooled everyone else, but not me!" a laugh escaped Marie as she rolled her eyes.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Anne said slowly, gaping incredulously.

"The only reason you left our home was to have an excuse to abandon father. You played the victim card, as you always seem to do, using the entire situation as a crutch to boost your own appearance. It's disgusting, mother. Your behavior is revolting to me!" Marie's volume matched her mother's now, loud and uncontrollable. In that moment she couldn't remember if there had ever been another instance where she had talked to her mother in such a candid manner. She knew for a fact, though, that this was the first time she had lost her composure to this much of an extreme.

"That is not true! What has he told you? Your father is a liar, you know! He had no right to be in your lives, and of course I had to find a way out but that is not why I came here. I can't believe what you are saying to me right now, Marie. You are spitting horrible, vile things in my face and I think it's best if you stop talking."

"Are you serious? You are the one who brought all of this up! All I wanted was to be on my own, but you had to make it about you, when it was clear now was not the time." Marie forced the words from her lips, her throat feeling raw and tight. Then she took a few shallow breaths as she struggled to cool herself, before speaking again with an apologetic tone. "Listen, for a while I was considering staying here. Moving back. But honestly, this is exhausting. I'm sick of this, and quite frankly I'm sick of you."

Anne gave up her frantic yelling as well, instead allowing two tears to roll from her eyes and down her cheeks. She pressed her hands to her chest, as if hoping to dull an ache in her heart, and Marie wondered if the woman had blocked out most of what her daughter had said.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, and Eve I am terribly sorry you had to hear this. I said what I said, though, and I believe me returning home will be better for all of us. Goodbye."

"You're leaving? Just like that?" Anne looked up, "You just throw out false accusations, sprinkling in a bunch of cruel words just for fun, then run away? I thought I raised you better, truly. I thought I raised you much better than this. I-"

"Mother, that's enough." Eve placed her hand on her mother's shoulder, her voice firm. Then she slipped a reassuring gesture to her sister, nodding as if to tell her she could go and that they would be alright without her.

And with that, Marie packed her few bags with a heavy heart and heat burning behind her eyes. Her emotions were so burnt out from her explosion that she nearly forgot about Mr. Whitlock until the dreadfully rainy trip back home.