A Single Mom Meets Someone New Ch 83

“Right after Granny died the vultures descended on me. It was so bad. You and Mom were busy with Victoria. Dad was overwhelmed with taking the throne. I was so alone. I didn’t know which way was up or down for that matter. All I wanted to do was come home. For things to be like they were before. The things they were saying. The lies. I couldn’t take it. I lashed back. I was ill equipped to deal with it. I guess I cared to much what they were saying.” Gillian paused. 

“There’s nothing wrong with fighting back.” Bette said. 

“I called Mom. You were away in New York I think. I begged and pleaded to come home. All I wanted was for her to come hold me and tell me everything was going to be okay, but she didn’t. She said I was an adult and to start acting like one. She said that I couldn’t come home and that if I ran away I couldn’t stay at the house that it wasn’t my home anymore. I could hear Victoria call for her in the background. She said she had to go and then she hung up. I felt like I had been replaced.” Gillian sniffed. 

“Oh honey that was never the case. We’ve always loved you and you’ve always been apart of our family.” Bette wiped the tears from Gillian’s face and then from her own. 

“After that my life tails-pinned out of control. I gave up on everything I wanted and did what I was told. Everything. No questions asked. I turned into a shadow of my old self. It’s my fault. She came to see me to try and help and I wouldn’t let her. She wanted me to come to LA to live with her or Helena, but I told her there was nothing left for me there and I’d never come back never not even for her. She said that she’d move there and she tried but she couldn’t take the public scrutiny that is my life. I can’t blame her. I can barely stand it myself. We had a huge blow up fight. The worst. We said such hateful things to each other. I said I never wanted to see her again and told her to get the hell out of my life. She left and never came back. She always gave me exactly what I wanted.” Gillian cried. 

“Oh honey.” Bette just held Gillian. She had no idea it had gotten so bad. She just thought Gillian was busy and didn’t have time to talk.

“I don’t want anyone to know. She’s part of the group she needs that. I know it. I don’t want anything to change for her just because I’m back. Promise you won’t let that happen.” Gillian looked at Bette. 

“I promise I’ll try.” Bette said wiping the tears away again. 

“I guess that’s all I can ask.” Gillian said. 

KNOCK. KNOCK. 

“Bette, Phillis is on line one she says it’s important.”  James poke his head in. 

“Okay tell her I’ll call her right back.” Bette said. 

“Will do.” He looked at Gillian. 

“I better go.” Gillian stood. 

“You’re coming to MOCA tonight aren’t you?” Bette asked. 

“Yeah, but I probably won’t stay long.” Gillian said.

“Okay.” Bette hugged her. “I love you and don’t worry everything will be okay. I promise.”   

“I know. Thanks for listening.” Gillian said. 

“Bette She says it can’t wait.” James said. 

“Okay.” Bette said. She kissed Gillian on the cheek and hugged her one more time before letting her go. There was no way she was going to tell Tina. She felt guilty enough as it was.