Momma's Trauma

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Read my stories in order of upload if you want them to make any sense. Each upload is a continuation of the last. Momma's Pregnant Part Two contains the backstory being referenced in this chapter.)

Eugene led his grandson to his son's old room and tossed his bag onto the bed then pats Corey's shoulder. The room still unsettled him. It was so bare and soulless. The place still would have creeped him out even if the guy that lived in here wasn't dead.

His grandfather yawns. "Get some rest, son. We gotta be up early to get ready for the service." He then sighs. "It's gonna be a long damn day. G'night, boy." He heads back downstairs.

"G'night..." Corey watches him leave then shuts the door. He takes another look around the room then shivers. There wasn't much in here, not even a dresser or a mirror. Just the bed, the closet and that redneck flag. He knew practically nothing about his uncle and his bedroom wasn't giving him much to work with either. Corey walks over to the closet and opens it to snoop, but it was empty. He groans then flops on the bed. There was hardly any service here so he couldn't even get on his phone, so instead he got dressed for bed.

Courtney was finished with her shower and was in the middle of examining her baby bump in the mirror. She could remember doing the same when she found out she was pregnant with Corey. Her parents had no idea, it was Dale that had to buy her the pregnancy test. And even though she wasn't showing yet, she could feel her baby in there. And she wasn't going to let her mom take it away this time. As Courtney looked over her belly in her reflection, her eyes gaze up to her face and for a moment her young teenage self was staring back at her. She gasps from getting startled and steps backward. When her eyes readjust, her reflection is back to normal. Quickly, she grabs her towel and wraps it around herself to retreat to her old bedroom. This entire town was haunting her but after the funeral they could leave. Just one more day then they're gone.

She gets ready for bed then sits on her childhood bed fiddling with her tin box. But decides against smoking tonight. Who knew what shit would go down tomorrow, so it was probably best to save it just in case. She tucks the box back into her bag then lies down and stares up at the ceiling. The same ceiling she stared up at as a kid. She closes her eyes to at least try and get some sleep. It didn't take her long to fall asleep, today was very emotionally draining and had worn her out.

Her dream started off as more of a memory than an actual dream. She was in the trailer she and Dale were living in before he bought them the house. Her belly was swollen and round. Corey was just about ready to pop out of her any day now and they were both excited. Courtney was on the couch with her newly wed husband, lying her head down in his lap with her eyes closed as he stroked her hair with one hand and rubbed her belly with the other. She had forgotten how peaceful this era of her life was, before his drinking took a turn. It felt good to relive it again. She opens her eyes to look up at him but instead of seeing sweet Dale, it was Jacob Miller and he had the same glowing eyes from her dream in the car.

He gets her pinned down just like he had her in the store then starts kissing at her neck. Instead of attempting to fight him off, Courtney moans at his touch. She didn't feel any type of panic or disgust, just aroused. She felt his fingers slip inside of her and she cried out his name in ecstasy. Jacob pumps his three fingers inside of her and curls them, looking down at her with those glowing eyes and a devilish grin. She could feel that he was getting off to the fact that she was getting off, even though she wasn't supposed to.

He leans down and growls into her ear. "You could never forget about me, huh?" Suddenly he had no pants on and was jerking himself off while fingering her. He then pulls his fingers out and shoves them in her own mouth to make her lick them clean. He presses his tip against her entrance and violently thrusts himself in. She cries out and feels the same intense ripping pain she had felt when he forcibly stole her virginity. She then sees a flash of the aborted fetus images that were on those protest banners all those years ago.

Courtney's body shoots up straight in bed, scaring the shit out of Corey who had just sat down on the bed with her. She was in a cold sweat and still in a state of panic as she frantically looked around her bedroom.

"Shit!" Corey kept his voice hushed. "I didn't mean to scare you." He gently touches her hand. "You okay?" This was now the second time in a row he witnessed his mom wake up from a nightmare, and he knew it had something to do with this place.

His mother attempts to catch her breath and she squeezes his hand for comfort. "... Can you sleep in here with me tonight?" She squeezes his hand tighter. "Please?"

At that moment his mother appeared like a scared child. He'd never seen her this freaked out or this vulnerable. Corey nods and scoots closer to her, wrapping his arms around her to hold her close. "Yeah, of course." He kisses her cheek. "I kinda didn't wanna sleep in that room anyway..." That room had bad vibes, he couldn't stop tossing and turning.

She scoots over to the edge of the bed that was against the wall so he'd have room to lie down with her. Corey lies on his side to face her and strokes her face to help calm her down. He originally came in here to do what they had talked about earlier, having sex in the same bed where his parents made him. But it didn't seem like that'd be happening with how distressed she was, but he wasn't upset about it. He didn't like what this place was doing to her and he didn't like how her mother talked about her or especially how she treated her. At this point Corey was just as eager to get the hell out of this place as she was.

"... Did you still wanna-"

"No." Corey quickly cuts her off. "Don't worry about that. Just try to get some rest." He kisses her lips softly then holds her face.

He really was a lot like his father and it was making her head spin. It was like she had traveled back in time as soon as she entered this town again. Both realities were clashing together and she could hardly keep up. All of this trauma she purposefully left behind was now floating to the surface and the timing couldn't have been worse. The only ways she knew how to cope were through prayer or getting stoned, and she absolutely did not bring enough weed to handle all of this. When Corey came into her room earlier and found her kneeling on the floor and weeping, he had actually walked in on her attempting to pray for the first time since she was a child. She didn't know what else to do, but it felt like a joke. The relationship wasn't there anymore. It was void and felt like she was talking to nothing. And maybe she always was. Corey being there throughout the night really made a difference. She didn't have another nightmare while sleeping in her son's arms. She knew he'd offer her a feeling of safety and security.

When dawn came, Luanne went up to Matthew's old bedroom to wake up her grandson but he wasn't in there. She found this odd since no one was in the kitchen or living room. She was always the first one awake in the house. She carefully tip-toes to the opposite bedroom and the door slowly creaks open. She peeks her head through and sees Corey and Courtney sleeping on the small bed together. He barely fit on the bed at all, half his body dangled off the side while his other arm stayed wrapped around his mother. He snored and drool streamed down his chin. Courtney was turned on her side facing her son with the blankets tucked around her tight, Corey had done that so she wouldn't get cold. They weren't exactly in a compromising position but Luanne felt that this wasn't normal.

She knocks loudly on the door and both of them startle awake and Corey accidentally rolls off the bed. Courtney sits up quickly to check on him but flinches when the lights abruptly flip on and momentarily blind them both.

Her mother angrily clears her throat. "Start getting ready, you two. We have lots to get done." She slams the door and the tension makes Corey shiver but Courtney just gets annoyed. She hadn't even been awake a full minute and her mother was already pissing her off, a true talent of hers.

Corey stands and he yawns, stretching out his arms and popping his shoulders. "Guess I'll see you downstairs." He leans down and kisses her cheek then heads to his uncle's bedroom to get dressed.

Courtney sighs and slips out of bed. She checked the time and it was barely even six yet. It was going to be a long god damn day. The dress she picked out was a little old and fit her kind of tight. She fully expected for her mother to make a comment on that later. She looks herself over in the mirror. Her dress was of course a solid black and hugged her curves but made her shoulders square. There were large black buttons and the top button could barely close from how much her chest had grown from the pregnancy. Most of her bras barely did any lifting anymore. Her baby bump was on full display in this tight dress and she couldn't cover it up with a coat from how hot the church was gonna be. No AC whatsoever and packed full of bodies. She decides to keep her hair down then puts on her black pantyhose to cover her legs. She also decided to not wear any makeup since that's how her dad liked it. Courtney wanted to avoid any arguments if she could help it, but that was wishful thinking.

Downstairs, her mother was already setting out plates for breakfast and was pouring orange juice in all the glasses. Courtney stands in the doorway of the kitchen and refuses to speak first. Her mother glances up at her just to eye her up and down then goes back to pouring. "That's what you're wearing?" Courtney doesn't respond, refusing to indulge. Her mother then rolls her eyes. "Do you mind going into town and picking up some more eggs? I'm afraid I don't have enough, considering you're eating for two."

That jab makes Courtney's eye twitch but she says nothing and snatches her son's car keys. The water could be heard running from the upstairs bathroom, that meant Corey was taking a shower. So it looked like she'd be taking this trip alone. Courtney gets into the car and quickly heads off to the only grocery store in town. It was always open this early. This town was so backwards. Everybody got up around five and insisted on small talk. She wanted this just to be a quick in and out errand. Hopefully she wouldn't get recognized by anyone and trapped in conversation.

Unsurprisingly, the store was already busy this early in the morning. Corey's sports car definitely got people's attention but they were more taken aback by who exited the car. Courtney avoided meeting anyone's eyes and just kept looking straight ahead to where she needed to go. She snatches up a basket to hold the eggs in and maybe pick up some flowers for the funeral. There of course were already going to be some there, but she thought she should at least leave something for her brother. She went to get the eggs first and looks through them all to find the brand she knew her mom always got. Out of habit, she begins to chew on her nails and skin while scanning through the eggs.

"Courtney Webber?" A grating high pitch voice makes her ears ring, a voice she had never wanted to hear again.

She takes a deep breath then turns her head in the direction she heard it from. "Delilah Preaker... Hey." Courtney didn't have the strength to even fake a smile right now.

Delilah Preaker was a girl Courtney had grown up with. They were in the same grade and had almost every class together. She was always the pretty blonde that all the boys wanted and the school's queen bea. She tormented Courtney for no reason other than the fact that the boys thought she was pretty too. She accused Courtney of getting braces just because she had braces, despite the fact Courtney had gotten her braces installed three months before Delilah got hers. She also started the rumor that Courtney's older brother was gay and went off to join the navy. Matthew was a marine, but it's not like kids cared about the difference. Delilah looked pretty much the same except she was clearly bleaching her hair blonde now and her nose was smaller. Which didn't make any sense to Courtney because it's not like her nose was that big in the first place.

She wore a smug grin and kept her hand on her hip. She was also wearing all black, so that only meant that she'd be attending the funeral later. "Well look at you!" She sounded like she wanted to laugh. "Sorry to hear about your brother. Guessin' that's why you're back in town?" She flips her hair over her shoulder and her perfume that smelt like a hotel bathroom practically chokes Courtney.

"Yeah..." Courtney refused to play into the small talk game. "I'll be leaving right after." She gives up and grabs a random carton of eggs. She didn't give a shit if her mom would be happy or not, the old woman could eat it or leave it.

"Aw, so soon? You're not gonna stay for the reception??" She fake pouts.

Courtney turns to her. "What reception?"

Delilah half laughs. "Yer parents are hostin' the reception at their place. Don't tell me ya didn't know?" She eyes her up and down, definitely noticing the bump. "Oh! You're pregnant! Ya totally look like a mom." She laughs. "Ya gonna keep it this time?" She laughs again evilly at her own joke but the hilarity is cut short with a hard whack in the face with the carton of eggs. The loud impact echoed throughout the aisle and the cracked eggs dripped all over Delilah's dress and chin. She holds her face in shock and most of the store had stopped to look. Nose blood begins to mix in with the egg.

Courtney throws the carton at Delilah's feet and shakes the dripping yolk off her hand. "Yeah, I'm keeping it." She shoulder checks her as she passes by then storms out of the store. Fuck this, fuck all of this. Why did no one mention that practically the whole god damn town would be coming over to the house after the service? What the fuck else were her parents not telling her? She speeds off back home and leaves a trail of dust behind her. She angrily parks the car in her parents driveway then stomps up the front porch and swings the door open. Her family was sitting at the table already, both her father and son in their suits and bracing themselves for the intense energy she had just entered with.

"Whose conducting the funeral?" She only turned to her mother, paying the men no mind. It only occurred to her in the car that neither of her parents mentioned it and that could have only meant one thing.

Her father sighs deeply and takes off his glasses. "You didn't tell her?"

Luanne shrugs. "I didn't think it was important. Where are the eggs?"

"IS IT HIM?!" Corey flinched at his mother's screaming. He'd never, ever seen her like this before and he had no idea what was happening.

Eugene frowns and rubs his temple. "... Jacob Miller's daddy died several years back... He took over the church. He'll be hosting your brother's funeral."

Courtney grabs whatever object was closest to her, which was the pitcher full of orange juice and raises it over her head then slams it onto the kitchen floor. The glass shatters and juice spills everywhere. She lets out the loudest scream her body could produce until her face turned red. Neither of her parents were shocked by her reaction like they were expecting it. She then sharply turns to Corey and he gulps. "We're leaving. NOW."

Corey quickly stands out of his chair and stumbles to go up the stairs to get their things and to get the hell out of this kitchen. Luanne blocks her daughter from leaving, stepping over the pool of juice on the ground. "Courtney, you're being selfish and dramatic!"

"DRAMATIC?!" She roars. "You want me to just fucking sit there while the man that raped me runs my brother's funeral?! YOU WANT ME TO ACT LIKE HE NEVER DID ANYTHING- LIKE *YOU* NEVER DID ANYTHING!!!!!!" Corey listened to her yelling from the top of the stairs but kept himself hidden in the shadows. He felt like a child listening to his parents argue again.

"What did I do NOW, Courtney?! Huh? I'm always the bad guy in your story!"

"Luanne-" Her husband tries to shut it down but both women ignore him.

"YOU MADE ME KILL MY BABY!" The room fell silent except for Courtney. "OH NOOO! I SAID THE THING! I SAID THE THING NOBODY WANTS TO FUCKING SAY!" She shoves past her mother and looks towards the stairs. "YOU HEAR THAT, COREY?! YOUR POOR INNOCENT GRANDMOTHER IS A BABY KILLER!" Corey stared back down, not knowing how to process all of this. He felt out of his own body at this point.

Her mother stomps angrily. "Courtney, that is enough! I did what was right!"

"Girls- please!" Eugene stands and slams his fist on the table. "None of this is about that right now!" He puts his glasses back on. "Courtney, I know that man and yer mother hurt you- but yer brother is dead! That's what today is about! If you want to bite each other's heads off after, then so be it. But you two will not do this right now!" Her father was clearly emotional but tried keeping it together. He did just lose his only son and they were making it about them.

Courtney frowns and looks down at the mess she made. Her anger subsides and is replaced with guilt. "... You're right, daddy..." She goes to his side and takes his hand. "I'm sorry..." He pulls her close and hugs her tight, swallowing his pain down so that he couldn't let a tear out. She rubs her father's back while her mother grabs the mop from the corner and begins cleaning up the orange juice before it becomes sticky. "We'll stay for the service... But I can't stay longer than that... I just can't."

Her father pulls away and nods. "I understand." He moves her hair out of her face then touches her cheek. "... Go talk to your boy." Courtney winces. In the heat of the moment she had dragged her son into this and now had to face what she'd done. She nods then goes upstairs but Corey had already disappeared from the hallway.

She sighs and opens the door to her old bedroom and sure enough Corey was sitting on the bed and staring blankly at the wall, his tie now undone. Courtney frowns and gently closes the door behind her as she approaches him. "... Hey, baby." She sits on the bed but leaves some distance between them.

"Hey..." He blinks but doesn't look at her. "So that's what's been going on, why you didn't want to come here?" He understood it now and didn't blame her. Though he wished his mother would have just told him honestly and directly instead of screaming at him from the kitchen. He finally turns to look at her. "It happened in the store, didn't it?"

Courtney swallows and simply nods. She was surprised how much he already put together so far. "Right before I met your dad..."

Corey thinks for a moment. "And he's gonna be up there, at the funeral?" His mother nods again then he turns back to the wall. "Would you have kept it?"

She puts her head in her hands and could feel herself about to be sick. "Don't ask me that." Her voice cracked and she couldn't stop herself from crying. Corey, realizing he'd gone too far, reaches over and holds her side.

"I'm sorry." He pulls his mother into his lap like a weeping child. "I don't think we should go... I don't want you to see him." If nobody else in this town was going to protect her, he at least would. He didn't want that man around his mother or their baby.

Courtney hiccups and shakes her head. "W-we have to go." She sniffs and his shirt becomes damp from her tears. "We can leave after." She looks up at him and he holds her face. "But I have to be there."

This doesn't make Corey happy, but he couldn't exactly drag her out of here himself. He sighs and presses his forehead against hers. Unexpectedly, his mother kisses his lips and wraps her arms around his neck tight. The forcefulness of her kiss pushes him backwards on the bed and now she's on top of him. Corey becomes flustered and quickly pulls her off of him.