One Day

It was the Christmas holidays and everyone was gathered in front of the TV with a cup of hot cocoa in front of them.

“So we’ll watch A Charlie Brown Christmas first, then the Grinch, Home Alone, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer… does that sound good?” Thaddeus asked. He was home for the holidays, and was determined to spend as much time with his family as he could.

“That many?” Sardonna groaned.  “We’re going to be here all day.”

“It’s not like you have plans. You’ll just be on the internet,” Izzie said, shaking her head.

“It’s not like you’ll be watching. You’ll be asleep before the first movie is over,” Sardonna replied back to her, sticking her tongue out.

“She’s got a point,” Casey agreed, and Izzie shoved her arm a little for taking Sardonna’s side.

The doorbell rang, and Sardonna jumped up to answer it before her sister could say anything back. Deep down, she cherished the time spent with her family during the holidays, and this year, she was especially excited because Casey was with them.

Her excitement disappeared in an instant when she opened the door, revealing the woman standing there. A cold weight settled in her stomach, the thrill of the moment replaced by a sense of dread. She had just been a child when her mother left, but the woman standing in front of her looked so much like her and Izzie that there was no question who she was.

Mother.

In that split second, the warmth of the holidays faded into the background and was replaced by a cold, dead silence.

She gulped, taking a few steps back cautiously. “Izzie?” she called out, her voice quivering. Without waiting for a response, she turned and ran back to the living room, her heart pounding.

“What? Who is it?” Izzie asked, surprised etched on her face when she felt Sardonna collide into her arms. She instinctively wrapped her arms around her sister, trying to shield her from whatever had just happened.

The door slammed shut, and moments later, a woman emerged in the living room. An awkward silence filled the space as she stood there with a goofy grin plastered on her face as she surveyed everyone in the room.

Thaddeus stood up and moved towards Izzie, a look of disbelief across his face. Confusion and concern mingled in his expression as he tried to understand what had just happened.

“You’re still around,” the woman said to Casey. She seemed genuinely surprised. “Hmm, I guess Izzie actually got something right for once.”

Casey’s expression hardened, but she didn’t reply. She had seen Izzie’s mother a few times before, and knew that she had abandoned them shortly after Izzie left for college. She didn’t like the woman, and knew how much she had hurt Izzie and the kids.

“Hello children,” the woman said. She opened her arms as if expecting the kids to run towards her.

They all stood there, frozen in a tense silence. Only Ulysses broke the stillness, his arms flapping back and forth excitedly, waiting for the movie to start playing.

The woman looked at him with a scowl on her face. “What’s wrong with him?” she asked, as if she had forgotten that Ulysses had special needs.

“Nothing is wrong with him,” Izzie snapped back immediately. She had one arm carefully in front of Sardonna, as if to shield her from the painful memories their mother’s presence stirred up, and the other arm linked tightly with Thaddeus’, a silent declaration of unity.

It had been ten long years since their mother had last shown her face. Izzie honestly thought that she had died when she didn’t even bother to show up for their grandmother’s funeral.

“How did you find us?” Izzie asked, annoyed.

The woman set down her bag on the armchair. “Not too hard. You still live in the same town so I just asked around. Plus you’re dating this big shot Olympic star. Everyone knows where she lives.” She scanned the house. “Wow, not bad. You guys did pretty well with this house.” Her eyes fell on Thaddeus and Sardonna. “And you two grew up.”

“Casey, can you-…?” Izzie bit her lip, and her eyes went to Ulysses.

“Yeah.” Casey helped Ulysses back to his wheelchair and pushed him back to his room. He didn’t need to be here for this.

“Oh,” the woman said when she saw Ulysses in his wheelchair. “Right…” she murmured, as if she was just remembering that her son had a disability.

“What are you even doing here?”

“What? I can’t come back to see my children?” Her lips curved up and her eyes went to Thaddeus. “My beautiful boy.” He had always been her favorite out of all of her children.

“Not after ten years, you can’t.”

“Well, I’m still your mother, aren’t I?”

“No, you’re not. You’ve never been a mother to us, and you don’t have the right to call yourself our mother now,” Izzie said. “I’m their guardian now.”

The woman’s face grew cold and resentful. “Well those two are still underage, aren’t they? Legally, they’re still my children, and I’m their mother.”

Izzie pulled Sardonna closer to her, as if she was afraid the woman would take her younger sister away. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.

“You don’t really care about us,” Thaddeus said, his voice smooth and calm. He studied the woman for a moment, as if searching for a hint of sincerity in her eyes. “What do you really want?” He had been so young when she left, barely old enough to hold onto any memories of his mother. She had been kind to him, but in the end, it hadn’t been enough. The thought always lingered in his mind: she hadn’t loved him enough to stay.

“There’s only one thing she’s ever wanted,” Izzie said, “You want money, is that right? Well, you can forget it. You’re not getting a penny from us.”

“Oh come on, can’t you help your mother out?” She threw her hands in the air. “I’m in a really bad place. I got mixed up with some bad people and just need a little bit to stay afloat.”

Izzie felt her chest tightened. Her mother hadn’t changed at all over the years. She was still the same self-absorbed person. It baffled her how someone so wrapped up in their own world could survive for so long.

“You guys seem like you’re pretty well off now, and you have that Olympic track star to support you. Surely, you can spare a few grand to help your mother.”

“Her name is Casey,” Sardonna said, her eyebrows furrowed. She freed herself from her sister’s protective hold, and stood before the woman, “and we’re not giving you any money.”

The woman seemed shocked to see Sardonna talk back to her like that. “How dare you talk to your mother like that?” Her eyes went to Izzie. “Is this how you’ve been raising your siblings? With no respect?”

“Respect has to be earned,” Sardonna replied. “I don’t have to respect you. You’ve done nothing for me.”

Izzie couldn’t help but smile as she watched Sardonna stand bravely in front of their mother, addressing her as if she posed no threat at all.

“Donna’s right,” Thaddeus agreed, also stepping up in front of Izzie. “You’re nothing but a stranger to us. Kindly get out of our lives. We’re not giving you any money.”

The woman scowled again. “Maybe I do have to see to my rights and get my kids back,” she threatened. “You’ve clearly manipulated them, or they wouldn’t be talking to their own mother like this.”

“Go get a lawyer then,” Casey said. She had returned, and had been leaning against the doorframe, listening. “I dare you.”

“Stay out of this. This is my family. It’s none of your business.”

“Casey is more family than you’ve ever been,” Sardonna snapped back. “Our family is none of your business, and YOU should stay out of it.”

“You are just like your sister, Sardonna,” the woman said. “So dark.”

“Leave, or I’m calling the police,” Casey said, reaching inside her pocket for her cellphone. “I believe child abandonment is a federal offense.” She locked eyes with the woman. “And you’re right about one thing. I am that big shot Olympic track star, and I’m rich. Try and take the kids away, I fucking dare you.” She took a step towards the woman. “I will hire the best lawyers, and sue your ass until you have nothing left. You will rot in jail for the rest of your life, and I guarantee that you will never, ever have a shred of happiness in your life again.”

The woman stumbled backwards, clearly taken aback by the strength of Casey’s words. She turned to glance at her kids, as if expecting them to help her, but instead found them standing together, united in their silence.

“Get out,” Sardonna and Thaddeus both said. Their gazes were firm and certain. They both wanted their mother out of their lives. They didn’t need her anymore. They already had a perfect family without her.

The woman mumbled something under her breath that they couldn’t hear, and grabbed her bag. She turned for one last glance at her children, a flicker of realization crossing her face – she would never see them again.

There was a long moment of silence after the door slammed shut behind her, the sound reverberating through the air. Everyone stood still in the living room, exchanging glances as they tried to process what had just happened.

“I’m proud of you two,” Casey finally said. She stepped up to Sardonna and Thaddeus, and put her arms around them. “You two standing up to your mother for Izzie. That was really something.”

Izzie smiled, her eyes slightly watery. “Yeah. Thanks guys. You two have really grown up, huh?” She put her arms around them too, pulling the three of them close to her for a hug. “I guess I don’t have to worry about you guys anymore?”

“You’ll always have to worry about me,” Sardonna said softly with a smile. “I’m always going to be your annoying, bratty sister.”

Izzie let out a chuckle. “True.”

“Me too. I’ll always need you to look out for me, sis,” Thaddeus said with a smile. “But we’ll be here for you too. You’ve always protected us, and now it’s our turn to protect you. No one can bully you anymore.”

Izzie smiled and hugged them tighter.

“Well, except for me. I’ll always bully you a little,” Sardonna teased. “That’s just our thing.”

Casey reached out and pinched Sardonna’s cheek softly. “No, that’s our thing.” She paused for a second. “I’m glad to be a part of your family.”

“And we’re glad to have you,” Izzie said, her lower lip sticking out a bit.

They hugged for a few more seconds, and then Sardonna went to get Ulysses while Thaddeus went to prepare the movies.

“That was not the day I was expecting,” Casey said, wrapping Izzie in her arms. “But seeing them stand up for you makes me so happy. You did an amazing job raising them, Iz.”

“I’m so glad I didn’t mess up,” Izzie replied softly. “They’re truly the best gifts I could’ve asked for.” She hugged Casey tighter. “And you. I love you.”

Casey looked down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “I love you too,” she said before they separated and got back on the couch to enjoy the rest of their day with their family.