Season: Winter
In this post: Victoria Hale, Dominique Keyes, Tiffany Keyes
It amazed her, the little things that seemed to through her day into a downward spiral. The day would start out nicely, well nicely as possible since she received the call that Anton had died in an elevator accident. Dominique would get out of bed determined to make this day different, better than the last. It never worked as planned, something always ruined it for her. She knew that somewhere the gods were having fun at her expense.
Today, had started out like all the rest. Dominique was determined to finally take her mother and sisters advice and try to move forward with her life. As they said, she was the only parent Tiffany had. She had to pull herself together.
Breakfast was cooking on the stove, Tiffany was upstairs getting ready for school. Everything was going great, exactly like she planned. She was setting the table when she happened to past a calendar on her way to the kitchen to get the glasses.
It hit her like a blot of lighting. It had been a month. A whole month.
Dominique barely made it through breakfast. She put on her best happy mommy smile as she packed Tiffany off to school. Then she headed into the house to call Mildred and notify her that she wouldn’t make it into Half Cafe this morning. After getting off the phone with Mildred, she called her job to tell them she wouldn’t make it into the office this afternoon.
Instead, she headed to her room and took up a position that had become way to familiar over the past few weeks.
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Victoria was getting the feeling that maybe she had failed her children in a very fundamental way. When Dewayne had died all those years ago, she completely lost it. Had become completely unglued at the seams.
As she watched Tiffany get off the bus, she wondered if she would have even shown a small amount of strength, back all those years ago would she have found herself in the position she was in now. Waiting at the top steps to greet her grieving grandchild while her mother spent another day in bed “resting”.
“Where’s Mama?”
“Upstairs, taking a nap”
“Again.”
Yes, again.
Victoria patted the cushion next to her and waited for Tiffany to settle in. Dominique should have been the one seating here comforting this child. But because of her negliagnce her daughter couldn’t cope. Maybe, if in those weeks after Dwayne’s death she hadn’t locked herself up in her room, her daughter wouldn’t be doing the same thing now.
“Mama’s sad because daddy’s never coming back?”
She hadn’t expected that, didn’t know how to answer. Didn’t want to answer. Her granddaugther had asked a question and so she answered the only why she knew how.
“Yes.”
“But, I miss daddy too and I don’t sleep all day.” The confusion, the pain, were all there. In the voice and face.
She drew her close and held on. Held on to Tiffany as tight as should have held on to Dominique all those years ago.
Victoria said the only thing that came to mind. ”I know baby, but your mama needs just a little bit more time.
Monique
Wow, interesting how it all comes back around in terms of coping skills. I hope little Tiffany learns better coping skills now that grandma is on the other end and “knows better”
Aw how sad for Tiffany, I also hope that her grandma can help her since her mom is too busy mourning herself.
Poor Tiffany. I sympathise with Dominique but at the same time, her daughter really needs her right now. I’m glad she’s got her grandma but I hope this doesn’t affect her relationship with her mother too adversely.
It’s interesting to see if from everyone’s point of view, how it affects each of them and how they cope.
How did he die? I don’t think you mentioned it.