Chapter 61

                                    

                                          
The dress I was wearing was very out of place in that little truck stop. The people that were in the building turned their heads and stared when the little bell rung by the door. I didn't care. I hoisted the heavy skirts up to keep them from dragging in the slush on the welcome mats. We made it into the little diner and the struggle really began when I decided to excuse myself for a bathroom break, leaving my mother to order my food. Keeping all those layers off the muddy floor was an immense challenge. I was just thankful that I had opted to leave that gorgeous crown in the glove box.
                          
When I managed to get out of the small washroom my mother was waiting for me at a little table far away from listening ears and curious eyes. She was fiddling with the lid on one of the drinks in front of her. As I drew nearer she smiled and I wasn't able to tell if it was forced or not. I felt like I didn't even know this woman anymore. I lowered myself onto the rickety chair across from her.
                          
"This one is yours," she said, pushing the cup towards me. "Rootbeer, still your favorite, right?"
                          
"Yes," I agreed, sipping some through the straw. 
                          
"I was worried when I got a call from your school saying that you weren't attending classes. I know how important your education is to you. I know that you wouldn't give it up for anything, certainly not some boy."
                          
"Really? Because I was worried when Holly told me that you were given an opportunity to come to Germany and you decided not to. In fact, I was told that no one could find you, that you essentially disappeared after they made the offer to you. Do you know how much I worried about you? Do you even care? You could have called or even just sent a letter with no return address." I wanted to be an adult about this. I wanted to have a conversation with my mother. But after what she had put me through I could feel tears welling in my eyes and my voice was raising with every word. I wanted her to know what she had done to me. I wanted her to feel my pain. 
                          
"Keiko, this is not the place for this kind of conversation. Lower your voice. I would tell you to eat something but it seems that they feed you plenty," she huffed, running her critical eyes over me.
                          
The burger she had purchased for me was half way to my mouth when my jaw unhinged, flopping down with disgust. She was unbelievable.
                          
"What?" my mom snapped, already defensive. "It's true."
                          
"You haven't seen me for over a month. You haven't even bothered to try and get in contact with me and those are your thoughts?" I demanded. "I'm your daughter. Don't you want to hug me? If Ajax and his family are so awful then you should be concerned with things other than how they are feeding me."
                          
My mother rolled her eyes, seeming exasperated. This was not the way a reunited mother-daughter duo were supposed to react to each other. Before I could spit more venom at my mother I took a hardy bite out of the greasy food and washed it down with several gulps of the pop. Yes, I was furious, but she must've shown up here for some reason. 
                          
"You know I always want what is best for you. I'm just worried that if they are fattening you up then you won't be getting many tips as a stripper."
                          
"I'm not going back to stripping," I announced, glaring at her. The mention of it brought a sharp pang to my stomach.
                          
"And why not? Because Prince Ajax told you not to? Where is the strong woman I raised."
                          
I reeled back as if she had slapped me. The pain in my gut worsened. I had felt that I had been  as tough and resilient to everything that had happened. My whole world had been turned upside down and yet I had never broken. I had faced everything as best as I could. I had done what any sane, rational person would have done in my position. I leaned on those closest to me, those offering shoulders to cry on and answers and I had put my life back together piece by piece. Frankly, I had felt like I was making great progress until she had shown up.