Frostbitten Read Free Page B

asked. Not that Anastasia
was complaining. She was the last person who wanted to talk about the last few
years of her life. However, her grandparents’ blatant avoidance of the subject
made it just as awkward.
    After finishing the
main course, Mrs. Lockhart brought out dessert. “I remember how much you
enjoyed my cranberry pie,” she said, while cutting Anastasia a slice. “You used
to beg me to make it every night.” After a moment’s pause, she added,
“Cranberry pie was your mother’s favorite, too.”
    As impossible as it
seemed, the atmosphere became even more uncomfortable. Mr. Lockhart cleared his
throat loudly, as if warning his wife to be quiet, but she refused to take the
hint.
    “You should call your
mother to let her know you’ve arrived safely,” she advised Anastasia.
    “I’ve already sent her
a text message,” Anastasia said, annoyed that the conversation was starting to
revolve around her mother, “but I doubt she’d care either way.”
    “That’s not true,” Mrs.
Lockhart commented with a small frown. “Your mother loves you very much.”
    Anastasia couldn’t help
but snort. “If she was a true mother, she wouldn’t have abandoned me. Everyone
goes through rough times, but a mother isn’t supposed to send her daughter away
for someone else to handle.”
    “You’re tired,
Anastasia,” Mrs. Lockhart said softly. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
    “No,” Anastasia
snapped, “you’re the one who doesn’t know what she’s saying. You have no clue
what my mother is like, and how could you? You haven’t seen her in seventeen
years!” As soon as the words had escaped from her mouth, Anastasia regretted
them. She looked at her grandmother, who was forcing back tears.
    “Your...your mother has
done the best she can, especially considering her circumstances.”
    “Grandma, I’m so
sorry,” Anastasia apologized in a hurry. “I always say the wrong things.”
    “It’s alright,” Mrs.
Lockhart reassured her, even though she was obviously not okay. “I should start
cleaning up,” she added quietly, taking her dish into the kitchen despite the
fact that her slice of pie had gone untouched.
    Silence followed her
grandmother’s departure, and although her grandfather continued to eat his
dessert as if nothing had happened, Anastasia’s head was lowered in shame. For
the second time that night, she felt her heart break. Of all the stupid things
she’d done in her life, making her grandmother cry was her worst crime. How
could she be so cruel to someone who had always loved and supported her?
    Anastasia forced
herself to eat the pie, now unable to enjoy its sweet tartness. She’d already
ruined dinner, and she didn’t want to hurt her grandmother even more by not
finishing the dessert which was made especially for her. It was a small
gesture, but it was the best that she could do.
    “You don’t have to end
up like your mother,” Mr. Lockhart finally spoke in a tone too matter-of-fact
for such a delicate topic. “That’s why you’re here.”
    Not wanting to respond
to her grandfather’s insensitive words, Anastasia stood up hastily and said, “I
need to finish unpacking, and I should get organized for school tomorrow.” She
then hurried out of the dining room, unable to bear being in there for a second
longer.
     
     
    Her grandfather’s words
haunted Anastasia as she lay in bed that night. From the stories her
grandmother used to tell her, to the numerous photographs showcasing a happy
family, Anastasia knew that her grandparents once had a close relationship with
her mother. Now, Mr. Lockhart spoke about Kendall as if she was dead, and Mrs.
Lockhart looked broken-hearted every time her name was mentioned. Worst of all,
Anastasia knew that it was her fault.
    Kendall was only
sixteen when she became pregnant with Anastasia. It all started with some guy
who was passing through Cedar Falls. After meeting Kendall, he decided to stay
for a while, and their