White Space Season 2

brought some stuff.”
    “Well, come in, already, you have a key!” her mom barked from her nest, six feet from the TV.
    Cassidy went to unlock the door, but noticed it was already unlocked.
    “Mom, you left the door open again, how many times do I need to tell you to keep it locked?”
    “I haven’t even been out today!” Vivian said, shouting over whatever inane game show was polluting the screen.
    Cassidy didn’t bother arguing. It was pointless. Besides, anyone on the island who knew Vivian wasn’t likely to fuck with her. She may be an old drunk with a bad back, but she was feisty as fuck. Anyone dumb enough to come into her house uninvited would surely regret it.
    “OK,” Cassidy said, bringing the bottle of wine into the living room. “Got you some Coppola.”
    “Oh, you sprang for the good stuff,” she said. “Did your boyfriend give you some shopping money?”
    Vivian spat “boyfriend,” barely barring judgment from her voice and taking Cassidy by surprise.
    “What? I thought you liked Jon.”
    “Like is a strong word. I’m getting used to him, let’s say,” Vivian slurred her words. “And Emma seems to like him.”
    Oh, great, she’s already hitting the sauce, and she’s Angry Drunk tonight!
    “He’s a nice guy,” Cassidy said. “And he’s been very nice to you, so drop the attitude.”
    “So why are you bringing me stuff? You came over with stuff yesterday.”
    “I’m going into the city with Jon and Emma. I’ll be there tonight and tomorrow, so I wanted to make sure you were set.”
    “The city? Why?”
    “We wanted to get out of town for a bit,” Cassidy said, feeling like a child having to explain herself.
    I’m a grown woman, for Christ’s sake.
    Cassidy wanted to snap back at her mom, but it wasn’t worth the argument. Vivian was likely looking for attention since Cass was about to go off and have a nice evening.
    God forbid I do something fun .
    She headed to the kitchen to put the groceries away. “Want me to make you something while I’m here?”
    “Oh, I don’t want to trouble you, Sarah. ”
    Cassidy sighed, not sure if Vivian called her Sarah absentmindedly as she was prone to doing these days, or if it was on purpose, to drive a knife in her psyche.
    Just another little dig. Why the hell does she always have to snipe at me? I’m the only one left who will put up with her shit, and take care of her. She ought to be nicer.
    I’ve news for you, Viv, Sarah ain’t here anymore. I am. So cut the shit.
    There was a time Cassidy might have said all that to her mom, but that was when Sarah was still around. Back when it didn’t matter if her mom was pissed, since Sarah was there to commiserate, and usher her back to normal. Now, without anyone else, Cassidy didn’t want to push back, or allow Vivian to push her away completely. Vivian was too stubborn to ever apologize, or admit she needed anyone, so if they fell into a huge battle, she might very well retreat into isolation. An isolated Vivian would be a dead Vivian before too long, without help. So Cassidy had to let things slide and not allow Vivian to further sabotage their relationship.
    Cassidy had given up on trying to prove Vivian wrong, or achieving the small victories once so important to her. The war was over, Cassidy just wanted peace in her life.
    “It’s no trouble,” Cassidy called back. “Would you like a grilled cheese and some soup?”
    “Sounds good,” she said. “You staying to eat with me?”
    “Yeah,” Cassidy said, pulling a pot from the bottom cupboard. She went to set it on the stove when she noticed the interior, crusted with gunk from the last time Vivian made something. She wondered if her mom forgot to run the dishwasher and simply put the pot away dirty, or if the dishwasher had just done a shit job cleaning that pot. Cassidy pulled out a few pans and noticed that they, too, were dirty. As were several cups and plates.
    Jesus, Mom.
    Cassidy wanted to say something, but didn’t want to embarrass her mother. She hated thinking her mom might be going senile, even though it seemed increasingly difficult to ignore. She thought about Silver Linings, the island’s largest age-in— place retirement community, and wondered if she could convince her mom to sell the house if she could afford living there — where staff could help take care of things like this.
    Cassidy pulled the dirty dishes from the cupboards and loaded the dishwasher. Vivian continued watching TV, off in