She knew it would not be possible at this moment. She had to be grateful for the olive branches the universe continued to extend to her. One came in the form of Baxter.
Sure, he was not, and had never been her type, but he was a way out of this hellish nightmare that was now her life. She could save money on the side. She would save enough to purchase a house for her family. Her fathers trust for her younger sisters protected their inheritance.
Bunny had already been told by the Solicitors her inheritance was tied up in the familys' companys holdings and shares.
They were now all seized by the Government. She pulled her covers back and got into the bed. The sheets were cool on her soft skin. She left the tv off. The loud sounds of her neighborhood played out in the backdrop. She recalled the first night she had spent here. Bunny did not sleep a wink because of the sounds. Now, she was very much accustomed to them and enjoyed hearing them. She closed her eyes and drifted off...
That following morning, while sitting on the edge of the bed and drinking a cup of black coffee, Baxter texted her;
Baxter: morning, beautiful :)
Bunny: morning !!!
Baxter: ne plans 4 2night sexy?
Bunny: hehe... not if it doesn't involve u ;)
Baxter: Good girl. Will send my car to pick u up @ 7. The dress is formal. C U l8r
Bunny: kk :) :)
Bunny had agreed.
Why not go. It was a free meal and drinks. Baxter told her to dress formal. Bunny had nothing formal to wear, just one navy, sequin minidress, and scuffed-up designer shoes. The only pair they let her keep.
She felt so cheap and ashamed. The irony of how she would have talked about her own self right now was not overlooked by her. It was actually overwhelming to her. The old Bunny would have sneered at the thought of one of her wealthy peers having a prostitute as a mistress. She would have also gone to great lengths to embarrass the prostitute at the party.
Her old, rich friends could possibly be there tonight, she thought. It was all so nerve-racking to think about. This was not how she pictured her life. She was supposed to be working at a fortune five hundred company. In meetings at the Riviera, and drinking champagne, not being the class nerds Mistress.
Her father was supposed to be there for her. He was supposed to be showering her with praise and throwing her a lavish congratulatory party for all her hard work. That was not the case. Her family was scattered. Daddy was in prison. Bunny was reduced to this.
Was it what she deserved?
*********
Her father was supposed to be there for her. He was supposed to be showering her with praise and throwing her a lavish congratulatory party for all her hard work. That was not the case. Her family was scattered. Daddy was in prison. Bunny was reduced to this.
No one deserved this, she thought as she emptied her coffee cup, got up from the corner of the bed, washed it out in the bathroom sink, and sat it upside down on the counter beside it. After that, she got dressed. When she wasn't working, her favorite wardrobe staples were a gray, bleach-stained sweatshirt, with faded denim jeans. She wore white low-top Converse on her feet. She didn't have any clients scheduled for today. She decided to visit her mother.
She grabbed her black, small, gold link cross body, putting it on as she exited the room. Bunny made a left, then another. Which led her down a dark outside corridor. The dark corridor led to an underground parking garage.
She pulled her car keys out of her pocket. She had been able to save a little money for herself and acquire a '98 BMW. It had a dull, maroon color. She unlocked it and got in. She turned key in the ignition, starting the car, drove out of the parking garage and onto the street.
Besides visiting her mother, she had a list of things she needed to get done today. She had to wire money to her sisters school. She also had a nail appointment. Her life wasn't as glamorous as it had been before, but she was surviving. She knew if she became Baxter's mistress he would help her financially. Some of that pressure would be taken off of her shoulder.
Not completely, but enough for her to focus and come up with a plan other than her spreading her legs for a man who had the right amount.
The only problem she saw was that Baxter was not her type. He was a good lover. He enjoyed taking his time, but he was boring and safe, even with her. A few minutes later, she arrived at her mother's. She kissed her grandmother good morning when greeted by her opening the door.
"Good morning, granny," She smiled.
Her grandmother returned her smile and spoke, "Good morning, sweetheart !"
Bunny hugged her. Her grandmother hugged her back. After a few comfortable seconds, they broke the hug. Bunny walked past her and went to find her mother. She knew she would still be in bed. Her mother hadn't been sober since her father had been arrested.
She had checked out and left it all on Bunny. Bunny lightly knocked on the door. There was no answer.
Her mother had not been sober since her father had been arrested. She had checked out and left it all on Bunny. Bunny lightly knocked on the door. There was no answer.
"Hello," She called into the dimly lit bedroom her mother occupied.
She walked towards the covered window and opened the blinds, letting the morning sunlight come in. Her mother stirred.
" Honey, What are you doing here? " Her mother groaned.
" I came to see you, and by the looks of this room in the daylight, you needed me to, " she retorted.
To Bunny, it appeared from the excess water bottles and empty carryout containers her mother had not left this room in a few days.
Her mother sat up at her words. She put her left hand up to cover her eyes from the bright light shining in her room. Bunny was embarrassed...
*********
Her mother sat up at her words. She put her left hand up to cover her eyes from the bright light shining in her room. Bunny knew she was embarrassed.
"I'm sorry. You are right. I have just been so tired lately. Your father..." She trailed off.
"Mom," Bunny was already getting frustrated with her mother.
"I know! I'm not going to cry about it. I'm just stating a fact. I will try to do better- No! I will be better." Her Mother's voice wavered. There was no self-conviction in her words.
Bunny had heard this speech from her before. Would she be better? All Bunny could do was love her and hope for the best. She could not judge her. No matter how badly she wanted to. She knew her mother had no clue where she was getting her money from.
She also had a feeling that with all that stress they had endured, her mother didn't care, as she was being protected from the darkness of it all. Bunny knew she was much more stronger mentally than her mother. Her father had always told everyone that to an embarrassing fault. In the past, she had loved him doting on her. Now it turned her stomach.
"You are right, mom. You will get better. Please, don't feel bad about dad. O.K. ? This was his fault. Not yours." She meant the words she said.
She sat on the bed next to her mother and draped her left arm around her shoulders. Her mother was trying so hard not to break down and cry. Bunny hated every single second of this because it was her father's doing. This was what he had reduced her mother to a pool of tears. She wasn't even her mother anymore.
Her mom found her composure and spoke, "I love you, Bunny."
"I love you too, mom. Now, get dressed."
"Alright. I will," she agreed.
Bunny got up from the bed and exited the room, closing the door behind her. She leaned softly against it and exhaled slowly, evenly. Bunny had to pull herself together. Her mother's sadness sometimes rubbed off on her. At times it felt like a millstone around her neck. She was fighting every day with it.
The guilt of her father's mideeds hung over her head like a gray storm cloud. Once she regained her bearings she walked back down the hall and sat on the couch next to her grandmother. Thinking on her life, Bunny's grandmother had been very welcoming, even though her father had openly despised her and told them that she couldn't be trusted. All along, it had been him. He was the one who couldn't be trusted.
"Let's go on our walk." Her mother announced as she rounded the corner of the living room. Bunny quickly stood up and followed her mother out the door while waving goodbye to her grandmother.
She and her mother walked in silence at first. That was O.K. with Bunny. She had quite a lot on her mind today. She didn't want to make light conversation.
"Thank you for getting me up out of bed. I already feel better." Her mother admitted.
She had quite a lot on her mind today. She didn't want to make light conversation.
"Thank you for getting me up out of bed. I already feel better." Her mother confessed.
"I'm glad you do, mom. I know this is hard."
"It's tough, but we just have to stick together." Her mother stopped walking and so did she.
She hugged her. Bunny returned her mother's hug.
"When was the last time you saw your father?" Her mother asked after breaking their embrace.
She had finally asked her the dreaded question...