| 13. An Unexpected Call 10:32 am Who would be calling at this hour? I'm a sick woman, I need my sleep. Ring. It could be Chad Meg reluctantly opened her eyes and picked up the ringing phone. "Hello?" "Eve?" She sat up. Could it be�? "Mom?" It had to be�her only her parents still called her by her first name. "Yes." "Mom I'm glad to hear from you," Meg said hopefully, praying that her mom felt the same way. "I wasn't too glad to hear from your manager at 5 o'clock this morning." She swallowed. "I'm sorry he had to be the one to tell you that." "He should have called later. You know I like to sleep in now that I'm retired." "Mom, are you concerned in the least bit that I have cancer?" "Of course I am, Eve. Do you know much our insurance is going to go up now?" Tears welled up in Meg's eyes. "Is that all you care about, Mom? The money?" "Well that's the only good thing you've gotten out of that foolish career of yours, so I'm quite concerned with you keeping it." The last thing Meg wanted was to get in an argument with her mom, especially since they hadn't spoken in months. "I've gotten a lot out of this, Mom. Do you know how successful I've been for only doing this for a few months?" "Oh yes, a million records sold since March. Good for you. You know they only buy them for the sex appeal." She was horrified. "How could you say that? I work hard at what I do and I don't expose my body to sell records, especially compared to the other acts I'm up against. Why can't you just accept what I do and that I'm doing something that makes me happy?" "Don't get all angry on me now, Eve." "That is not my name!" she screamed. "I have never gone by that name and you only call me that because you're ashamed that I'm your daughter!" "Maybe I am!" her mother screamed back. "You gave up a great career on Broadway to pursue some stupid dream." �Broadway was your dream, not mine! This is what I�ve wanted to do and I was tired of having to pursue what you couldn�t when you were young!� �That was not my fault! If you hadn�t come along, I�d be a respected dancer at the Met!� �We all make mistakes,� she said bitterly. �And maybe me leaving home was a mistake, but�all I ask is that you forgive me and give me your blessing.� She sighed. "I still just don't understand why I'm not good enough for you and Dad." "Eve. You're making something out of nothing." "Nothing? Nothing? All I'm asking is that you accept me as I am and that you would be there for me. I need a mother, not a critic," she pleaded. "Please, Mom. I need you right now." The line was silent. "I can't do that, Eve." "No," Meg sobbed. "Mom " "Goodbye, Eve." "Mom, please " Click. She was gone. |