Mel & her Mama | Best Not to Linger
Jan. 20th, 2025 01:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsBackdated to January 20th Ma Guthrie encourages Mel to go back to the mansion, in her way.
Mel walked into the house, humming some tune Lewis had been playing last night, in her work clothes. There was hay in her hair, a grease stain on her cheek, and dust caked under her nails.
“Mama!” She called out, “You in?”
She’d been helping out around the farm as well as she could these past few weeks. Actually needed chores out of the way, she’d resorted to things such as dusting the attic or sweeping the barn. Or checking the truck over again for the tenth time.
"In the kitchen, Melody Grace! Come warsh yer hands, I know you been back under the hood of the dang truck agin!" Lucinda had been busy herself with work after the far too long but simultaneously too short tense holidays, picking up odd jobs and fillin in for folks on vacations or maternity leave. With Melody home - odd, but appreciated - she'd been able to work some full-time hours even, knowin the littles would have someone willin to mind 'em and help 'em with their homework. She appreciated it, and she'd resolved to actually tell her daughter as much, instead of hopin she'd just know her Mama appreciated what she were doin for the family.
She suspected there was somethin Melody weren't sayin, too. A reason she'd run home insteada runnin right back to the city like her older kids had, and Lucinda was... concerned. Just a lil bit, mind, but she had regained some of her even now that she ain't have Sammy and his mistake - ain't her business, Sammy was real clear on that - or Paige and her young man underfoot, so she was determined to dig a little. Find out why Mel weren't so keen to get back to her opportunities. And if she were lucky... not that she ever were, but if she were this one time, maybe get her daughter back outta town without th' anger or quiet despair the oldest three had t'wards her... and without gettin her shot at by them thrice-damned Cabots. Agin.
The brunette wandered into the kitchen and gave her mother a little wave before doing as she was told and going to the sink. It was needed- her hands were gross. As Mel scrubbed she said, “I was jus’ lookin’ it over some again. I know it’s been givin’ y’all trouble.” Not that the old thing had ever run smoothly. She would never admit it, but working on the vehicle made her feel closer to Daddy. Just a little.
"When hasn't it?" Lucinda asked, eyes doing a cursory sweep of her daughter. "There a reason you stayed behind? Cause I know it weren't on account of the truck."
Mel colored with embarrassment. She would never lie to her mother, but the truth had been avoided thus far. "Oh, y'know. I git a mite homesick up North. Jus' wanted to stay an' help a bit, like I said." The sorta breakup and being fired weren't things that needed to be shared- couldn't bear the disappointment. Besides, her last paycheck was doing good here. Mel was able to treat her siblings and Mama a bit. It was nice.
Internally Lucinda had to wonder if it wasn't issues with her older siblings' romantic...choices that weren't having Melody stay in Kentucky. "Well we're just fine here. Don't need you frettin' and staying down here." Otherwise Samuel would never let her hear the end of it.
A hand reached up to tug at her hair, but found nothing as it was braided back. It settled on rubbing her neck instead. "Ah, well, okay. I'll um- see 'bout headin' back some time then. Get outta y'all's hair." A familiar pang of hurt settled in her chest. No matter what she did, it never seemed like her mama wanted Mel around. The mutant was more trouble than she was worth.
"That ain't- there ain't nothin' here for ya Melody." Lucinda said, trying not to sigh. "Ain't like there's a lot of jobs here willin' t' take ya on."
“I know Mama, I know.” Mel said, voice near a whisper. “It was real nice bein’ home fer a while, though. I miss y’all when I’m gone.” Her family, her house, her town, her mountains. All of it.
“We miss you too.” Lucinda replied automatically, even if that missing came with relief. One less child to worry about, one less mouth to feed, one less troublemaker underfoot.
Standing there awkwardly for a moment, unsure as to whether she should try for a hug or not, though she wanted one, Mel shifted on her heels. The conversation seemed to have run its course. “I can pick up the kids from school if ya want? ‘Bout that time now.”
"That would be helpful of ya." Lucinda said, giving her daughter's shoulder a squeeze. "Thanks hon."
She resisted the urge to lean into it. "No problem Mama. I'll be back in a bit." Heading back to the door, Mel swapped the truck keys for the ones for the passenger van. As soon as she was outside she let out a shuddering sigh before fixing her face up. It wouldn't do for the kids to see her all worked up.
Mel walked into the house, humming some tune Lewis had been playing last night, in her work clothes. There was hay in her hair, a grease stain on her cheek, and dust caked under her nails.
“Mama!” She called out, “You in?”
She’d been helping out around the farm as well as she could these past few weeks. Actually needed chores out of the way, she’d resorted to things such as dusting the attic or sweeping the barn. Or checking the truck over again for the tenth time.
"In the kitchen, Melody Grace! Come warsh yer hands, I know you been back under the hood of the dang truck agin!" Lucinda had been busy herself with work after the far too long but simultaneously too short tense holidays, picking up odd jobs and fillin in for folks on vacations or maternity leave. With Melody home - odd, but appreciated - she'd been able to work some full-time hours even, knowin the littles would have someone willin to mind 'em and help 'em with their homework. She appreciated it, and she'd resolved to actually tell her daughter as much, instead of hopin she'd just know her Mama appreciated what she were doin for the family.
She suspected there was somethin Melody weren't sayin, too. A reason she'd run home insteada runnin right back to the city like her older kids had, and Lucinda was... concerned. Just a lil bit, mind, but she had regained some of her even now that she ain't have Sammy and his mistake - ain't her business, Sammy was real clear on that - or Paige and her young man underfoot, so she was determined to dig a little. Find out why Mel weren't so keen to get back to her opportunities. And if she were lucky... not that she ever were, but if she were this one time, maybe get her daughter back outta town without th' anger or quiet despair the oldest three had t'wards her... and without gettin her shot at by them thrice-damned Cabots. Agin.
The brunette wandered into the kitchen and gave her mother a little wave before doing as she was told and going to the sink. It was needed- her hands were gross. As Mel scrubbed she said, “I was jus’ lookin’ it over some again. I know it’s been givin’ y’all trouble.” Not that the old thing had ever run smoothly. She would never admit it, but working on the vehicle made her feel closer to Daddy. Just a little.
"When hasn't it?" Lucinda asked, eyes doing a cursory sweep of her daughter. "There a reason you stayed behind? Cause I know it weren't on account of the truck."
Mel colored with embarrassment. She would never lie to her mother, but the truth had been avoided thus far. "Oh, y'know. I git a mite homesick up North. Jus' wanted to stay an' help a bit, like I said." The sorta breakup and being fired weren't things that needed to be shared- couldn't bear the disappointment. Besides, her last paycheck was doing good here. Mel was able to treat her siblings and Mama a bit. It was nice.
Internally Lucinda had to wonder if it wasn't issues with her older siblings' romantic...choices that weren't having Melody stay in Kentucky. "Well we're just fine here. Don't need you frettin' and staying down here." Otherwise Samuel would never let her hear the end of it.
A hand reached up to tug at her hair, but found nothing as it was braided back. It settled on rubbing her neck instead. "Ah, well, okay. I'll um- see 'bout headin' back some time then. Get outta y'all's hair." A familiar pang of hurt settled in her chest. No matter what she did, it never seemed like her mama wanted Mel around. The mutant was more trouble than she was worth.
"That ain't- there ain't nothin' here for ya Melody." Lucinda said, trying not to sigh. "Ain't like there's a lot of jobs here willin' t' take ya on."
“I know Mama, I know.” Mel said, voice near a whisper. “It was real nice bein’ home fer a while, though. I miss y’all when I’m gone.” Her family, her house, her town, her mountains. All of it.
“We miss you too.” Lucinda replied automatically, even if that missing came with relief. One less child to worry about, one less mouth to feed, one less troublemaker underfoot.
Standing there awkwardly for a moment, unsure as to whether she should try for a hug or not, though she wanted one, Mel shifted on her heels. The conversation seemed to have run its course. “I can pick up the kids from school if ya want? ‘Bout that time now.”
"That would be helpful of ya." Lucinda said, giving her daughter's shoulder a squeeze. "Thanks hon."
She resisted the urge to lean into it. "No problem Mama. I'll be back in a bit." Heading back to the door, Mel swapped the truck keys for the ones for the passenger van. As soon as she was outside she let out a shuddering sigh before fixing her face up. It wouldn't do for the kids to see her all worked up.
