 |
|
|
| Timeline: Between "Together" and "Undercover" ************ "Rena, what are you doing!" Evelyn exclaimed, eyes wide. Serena shrugged and looked at the wall, a red crayon in her small fist. "Coloring." "Mommy is going to be so mad when she sees that!" "Nu uh!" Serena said. "Sides, it's pretty." Evelyn shook her head. "All I know is, I don't want to be here when she finds it." "Finds what?" Mac asked, entering the girl’s room. Serena hid the crayon behind her back. She gasped when she saw her daughter's masterpiece on the wall. "Serena Marie Rabb, what is going on here?" Evelyn quickly slid out the door. Mac didn't try and stop her, she just glared at Serena. "I make a picture, Mommy," she explained. "I see that. What did I tell you about coloring?" "Just on paper..." Mac nodded. "You will not be coloring for three weeks and I want you to wash all the crayon of the wall." Serena crossed her arms and pouted. "No! I like it!" "Do not talk back to me, young lady! Now, I want you to go into the bathroom, get a bucket and some rags, and come back in here." Serena stood up. "I HATE you!" she cried. Mac stared at her little girl, holding in her tears. She knew Serena didn't mean it, but it really hurt. "That's your perogative," Mac replied, leaving the room. She ran into Harm. "Mac, is everything all right?" She sighed. "No, everything is not all right. Rena just told me she hates me." "You know she didn't mean that," Harm said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Do you want me to talk to her?" "Please don't. I want her to understand the meaning of saying those words." Harm nodded and watched as Mac headed to their bedroom. A sullen Serena walked past him and into the bathroom. She came back a few seconds later. "Daddy, I need water in my bucket." *********** The next morning, after school, Serena marched up to her room to complete her task. It was a lot harder to clean then she thought it would be. Maybe her Mommy would be nice enough to finish cleaning it. She entered her room to find that Mac had already started. "You don't need my help, Mommy. I'll watch TV." "Serena, come back here right now! You are being punished. I will help you, but I'm not going to do this alone." "You're so mean to me! I don't want to see you!" Mac stood up and threw her rag back into the bucket. "If that's how you feel, then I'll just leave you to finish up here." Before Serena could say another word, Mac was out the door. "I still HATE you!" she screamed. ************ Harm found Mac in the laundry room a half-hour later. "Honey, are you all right?" Mac wiped away her tears and pasted on a fake smile. "I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" "Your red eyes would suggest otherwise," Harm replied, wrapping his arms around her. "Is Rena still..." "Saying she hates me? Yeah. It's a really horrible feeling. If she keeps saying it, I'm going to end up thinking it's true." Evelyn bounced into the laundry room. "Rena's almost done, Mommy." "Is that right?'' "Yeah, she wants to talk to you." She bounced over to her father, pulling on his arm. "Wanna play Chutes and Ladders with me?" Harm smiled. "Sure, sweetheart." **************** Mac found Serena in the bathroom trying to pour water into the tub. The bucket slipped out of her hands and dropped to the floor. She looked up to see Mac jump back. "Ahhh" she cried, scrambling to pick up the bucket. She slipped on the wet floor and fell on her rear. Mac immediately rushed to help her. Serena grasped onto her mother's arms and began to cry. "Shh, it's all right." "Mommy, I'n sorry!" Serena cried, letting go of Mac and rushing out of the bathroom. She felt horrible. She was saying mean things to her Mommy, being a bad girl. Mommy probably didn't like her anymore. "Rena!" Mac called. She found her curled on her bed. Mac sat down and pulled Serena into a hug. "I'n sorry I was so mean, Mommy! I don't hate you, I love you!" Mac kissed the top of Serena's head and looked into her eyes. "Do you know how much that hurt Mommy?" "A lot?" "Yeah," Mac said. "I knew you didn't mean it, but it still hurt." "Can you forgive me?" Serena asked in a hushed whisper. Mac hugged her again. "Of course I can, Rena. I love you so very much." Serena sat quietly in her Mommy's arms. She liked to be there. She felt safe there. "Um, Mommy, will you color with me?" "On what?" Mac asked warily. "Paper!!" she exclaimed, hopping off the bed. "Daddy just bought some for me." Mac laughed. "All right. Grab some and we'll join him and Evie downstairs." "Sounds like a plan!" |
