Chapter Four
The road was long and straight, bending gradually to the right. In the distance, the setting sun cast the horizon into shades of orange and red. In the car, Margaret's aunt hummed softly to herself. It wasn't a particularly nice sound, but it was comforting. Soon they were pulling into the driveway of her new home.
“I hope you know your aunt Daisy and I are excited about you and your mom moving in with us,” Aunt Skyler said as she turned off the car.
“I know,” Margaret replied only half honestly, “I am also excited.”
“I just wish your dad were here to enjoy it with you,” Aunt Skyler said with a sigh.
Margaret mumbles, “Yeah but He's in prison.”
“That's true, Margaret,” Aunt Skyler said as she reached over and hugged her niece. “You'll make a new life for yourself and be happy.”
“Thanks, Aunty,” Margaret said as she stepped out of the car.
Once Margaret enters the house she heads straight to her room. It is two times smaller than the one in calfironia, and smells of lavender. Margaret immediately walks to her bed which is almost fit for royalty, where she collapses with a sigh. On her skin, the velvety material feels like satin. Abruptly the ring tone of her closest friend’s chimed from in her backpack instantaneously Margaret reaches to answer Veronica's phone call.
“Hi, Roni!” Margaret squeals.
“Hey, Margs,” Margaret’s childhood best friend replies, “I miss you so dang much girl!”
“I miss you too,” Margaret says
“Tell me everything about your first day,” She prompted her tone curious.
Margaret reveals, "It was a challenging but enjoyable first day. Tomorrow, I begin an art project, and I suppose I have made a few friends.”
“Wow really? Sounds fun,” Veronica replied in a joyful tone. “Did you meet any attractive boys?”
Margaret laughs, "Uh, maybe. There was one boy I noticed in Miss Folio's class today."
“Oh my gosh! Tell me all about him!” Veronica exclaimed, ecstatically.
“Ok well I don't know much about him but he is also in my art class.”
“Sounds like you must be interested in him!” Veronica asks with a giggle.
“I don't even know his name yet,” Margaret responds, “so I'm not interested in him, silly, we just met.”
Margaret can imagine Veronica's bright smile, “Well you should be! I bet he's hella gorgeous!”
Margaret laughs, “It’s all fun and games untell somebody falls in love.”
“Hey I have to go I'll talk to you tomorrow, ok?” Veronica asks207Please respect copyright.PENANAS3NMQKKKCH
“Ok, bye V! Love you,” Margaret replies207Please respect copyright.PENANAiEjolmkeNL
She then sets down her phone with a smile, glad to have a friend like Veronica. She gets out of bed and heads for the kitchen where she finds her aunt making dinner.
“Hey Aunt Daisy,” Margaret says as she enters the kitchen, “It smells really good in here.”207Please respect copyright.PENANAnyyoNbmEjh
Daisy gave Margaret a genuine smile as she incorporated cream cheese into some mashed potatoes. “Thank you, hun; I just finished cooking.”
Margraret's mother, aunt, and cousin gather to join them.
“I'm hungry,” Margaret says as she sits down at the kitchen table.
“I can imagine,” Daisy replies with a laugh, “You've had a long day.”
Margaret felt her stomach rumble in response to the delicious smells of potatoes, salty green beans, and grilled chicken wafting from the dishes on the table.
Well eating their dinner, the family talks about Margaret's new school and all the new people she has met. Her aunt Skyler was excited for her niece, and she was happy to help her get adjusted to her new life. Both of Margarets’ aunts where very warm and welcoming. Margaret's mother, on the other hand, started bringing up the fact that her husband was in federal prison.
Talking loudly, Constantine continues, “I truly have no idea what Nathan was thinking. He ruined our marriage with his whore of a paramour and then stole millions from clientele on top of that.” She takes a deep breath, “Margaret does not deserve this; our lives have been changed by the consequences of a stupid man's inappropriate actions.” It was hard for Constantine to see her daughter go through such a big change, but Constantine’s sister Daisy assured her that Margaret would be just fine. “It's pretty upsetting for all of us. We just want you to feel safe and happy,” Daisy assured her family.
Margaret felt like she had to do something to make her mom feel better. Margaret knew her father had driven her mother over the edge. She was ashamed and upset at her father for being a liar, a cheater, and a scam. Margaret was well aware that she faced an uphill battle ahead with both her parents and her life. Her parents were happy and married at the age of 25. But a few years later Nathan started to cheat on his wife on and off, which had little effect on Constantine. Because at home, Nathan treated his wife and her daughter with respect and love. Constantine and Margaret were both aware of the unfaithful man's adulterous affairs. His wife bought alcohol after swindling him for money and expensive things. Margaret was frustrated with her current situation. She loved her parents, but they were never there for her. They were always busy with their own lives. Her mother worked long hours as a lawyer and devoted all her free time to drinking. The only thing Margaret wanted was for her parents to be there for her when she needed them, but that never happened.
When Margaret is forced to leave her prestige school, her money, and her friends because of her father's professional behavior, her entire world is thrown into chaos. Margaret felt as though she was being pulled back to the identical sensation of extreme confusion and isolation from when her dad was tried and convicted. She cried a single tear as she thought of her dad. She missed his laugh, his smile, and the security that he once provided. Margaret didn’t care if she ever saw her father again.
Margaret is irrationally upset and baffled. Hating that she can't talk about her problems with anyone, even her family. They don't seem to understand what it's like for a young adolescent to go from a lifestyle of wealth to almost poor. To have to leave everything behind and restart. The mental toll her dad and mom were putting on her.
"Everything is going to be okay," Daisy reassured her niece. "It's a tough time right now, but you'll make it through." She meant it.
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