Climb | ✔

Chapter 25 | Precedent

Despite the multiple blow-offs, the time finally came for Winter and her mom to have their fated dinner. It was late June, edging on July, and the sky was clouded over with greying clouds. It would rain soon.

Maddison Levenson had given Winter the location of a roadside dinner not too far off from Rose's shop. So, as dinner hours came around, Winter came up with a quick excuse and told Rose that she'd be having dinner out with friends.

She slipped out of the shop front not soon after, the summer heat beating into her pale skin. She'd decided to wear shorts for the first time that summer season, and the barren feel of her legs against the hot air made her wish she'd picked somewhere even closer.

She padded past Sharpton Rocks, and the park just beyond the other side of the road, and further into the Old Downtown of Sharpton. The diner stood not far off, a quaint brick building with a modern, country aesthetic.

When she entered, the hostess brought her to her reserved booth, and she made time by scanning through the menu until her mother showed up. Some five minutes later, Maddison Levenson stood before her daughter, in the flesh for the first time in six years.

The magnitude of the occasion struck Winter suddenly and compelled her to her feet, as if she were greeting someone of great prestige and importance. Once stood up, she remained still while both she and her mother took a moment to stare and come to terms with what they'd done--what they were doing.

Maddison's deep blue eyes glimmered under the dangling lights of the diner, and the sun cascading in from the window made her bluish skin glow a healthy peach color. She'd aged some, Winter noted, but she looked better than she did in Winter's childhood. When her arms wrapped around her estranged daughter, she smelled like Chanel no. 5, and it smelled better than Winter had remembered.

Maddison Levenson was there, truly there, and she'd completely eclipsed the memory of her person in a matter of seconds and a quick but firm hug. Winter bit back the tears that threatened to well up as they pulled away and sat in the booth.

The first half hour or so was dreamlike. They talked relentlessly about every little thing which had elapsed in their time apart and more. It seemed to Winter as though it were the start of a new, ongoing relationship until it became time to pay the bill.

Maddison shuffled around in her bag for a sum of 2 minutes before sheepishly peering at Winter.

"Winter, dear," she began with a nervous giggle. "I hate to do this to you, but I forgot my wallet." She bit her lip, much in the same way Winter does.

Some sinister part in Winter decided then that, despite the euphoria of the meal and conversation they just shared, the logical part of her knew where everything was going. It was a simple matter of precedent, and precedent would have it that Maddison Levenson had no intention of paying for her dinner.

"Oh, really? I didn't bring mine since I kind of assumed you would be paying," Winter lied innocently.

"Oh," was all Maddison could say as her smile faded away. She looked expectantly at her daughter, eyes wide and lips pursed as she successfully contained her annoyance. "If you'll just excuse me for a moment."

Maddison stood from her seat, pulled her pencil skirt down her frail legs, and fidgeted towards the bathroom in the back of the restaurant. Winter took the opportunity of her absence.

She smoothly slid into the booth opposite and unzipped her mom's purse. Without even having to rifle through it, a black faux leather wallet laid in the center. She checked it and found that, while largely empty, her mom did indeed have a few debit and credit cards in addition to her license.