Mamma Mia, Secret Relationship, tension
“DONNA SHERIDAN, you sit right back down on THAT chair before I beat your little ass.”
The three women stood in what Donna converted into the master bedroom. The bed was unmade, the sheets disordered and wrinkled after days of being in use by a person who tossed and turned instead of sleeping. The air was stagnant, difficult and unpleasant to breathe in, so Tanya made her way to the window and opened it, broad as it was only possible with its old design and creaky hinges. In the meantime, she still kept an eye on Donna, making sure she wouldn’t try to escape the room again as she tried the conversation; though even if she tried, Rosie continuously guarded the door preventing her from doing so.
But Donna didn’t look like a runner anymore. She was sat as she had been told, and if anything, she looked like a very sad little girl about to burst into tears.
“Now, now,” continued Tonya. She put her palm on Donna’s shoulder and patted it lightly. “I didn’t really mean that, you know. I’m not really going to beat you.”
“Oh, move!” Rosie came forward and waved her hands, shooing Tonya away. “You’re terrible at this, you know that?” She crouched down in front of Donna. “Donna, what is going on, darling?”
Now Donna actually did burst into tears.
“Oh, who’s terrible now!” cried Tonya.
“Shut up!” Rosie cried back.
“You both shut up!” This time it was Donna. “It doesn’t matter. He’s gone, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me, it’s nothing.”
“Who’s gone?” Tonya crouched down by Rosie and they now both looked up at her puffy red face.
“I- I was with someone. A guy I’d met a few weeks before you came. We were dating for a month or two, and I really liked him, and...” Her voice broke.
“And what? He left you?” asked Rosie.
“That scumbag! Tell me what his name is and I’ll find his ass and—“ Tonya began her rant.
“No, no, it’s not like that!” Donna groaned. “He was great, that’s why I hadn’t told you. He was great. He was nice and handsome, and when I told him about Sophie he was nothing but supportive, but...”
“But what?” Tonya shook her head.
“I can’t date!” Donna rose back up to her feet so fast Rosie and Tonya almost lost their balance leaning on her. “That’s why I haven’t told you before! What was I even thinking when I agreed to that date? And what’s more, what was I thinking when I continued that charade? I’m a mom now, goddamnit. I have to work and raise my daughter. Besides, what good men are in this life?”
Tonya made a face. “I’m with you on that, sister.”
“You’re both insane.” Rosie seemed outraged by the idea. She then looked straight at Donna. “What did you do? Where is he now?”
“I broke up with him. And I don’t know.” She sat down on the bed and hid her face in her hands. Rosie and Tonya joined on the empty sides and they both began caressing her back. For the next while, nothing more was said. No words were right nor none were needed.