You see her as a drama queen? You don't think that seems a little harsh? She's what, 14 or 15 now? During the past year, her parents separated. We know she blamed her mother for that. Then with no warning, her mother went away. For a couple of months, her mother was just--gone. Because of the prior separation, Paige thought the reason Elizabeth left was that her mother was having an affair. Thanks to the KBG's careful planning, Paige thinks her mother was in Pennsylvania with "Aunt Helen." Although, since it was just a few hours away, I can't imagine what excuse Philip came up with for not going up to visit on the weekends.
Unavoidably, her dad must have been continuing his relationship with Martha while Elizabeth was gone, requiring more absences. He was still running other operations while she was gone, too. Now that she's back, her mother gets these urgent phone calls and has to leave at all times of the day or night--to do what, Paige must be wondering. Her mother is supposedly a travel agent!
What was it Paige said to the girl on the bus? "It just seems like there's always something going on. I'd just like to know what it is."
Children are remarkably adaptable. It wouldn't be ideal but if both of her parents were openly working a second job to make ends meet--because the travel business wasn't going well for example--that would be an easier situation for the children to cope with. That's why they came up with the story about Philip having to travel more out of town for work. But without a more rational explanation to fall back on, Paige is going to assume the worst thing that she can think of--that her mother is seeing someone else.
These things are relative. But having your parents separate and then having your mother gone for a couple of months and unavailable to you doesn't sound like a stable home life to me. She doesn't need to see her family situation though someone else's eyes to feel confused.
Re: Paige's "Crazy Life"
Unavoidably, her dad must have been continuing his relationship with Martha while Elizabeth was gone, requiring more absences. He was still running other operations while she was gone, too. Now that she's back, her mother gets these urgent phone calls and has to leave at all times of the day or night--to do what, Paige must be wondering. Her mother is supposedly a travel agent!
What was it Paige said to the girl on the bus? "It just seems like there's always something going on. I'd just like to know what it is."
Children are remarkably adaptable. It wouldn't be ideal but if both of her parents were openly working a second job to make ends meet--because the travel business wasn't going well for example--that would be an easier situation for the children to cope with. That's why they came up with the story about Philip having to travel more out of town for work. But without a more rational explanation to fall back on, Paige is going to assume the worst thing that she can think of--that her mother is seeing someone else.
These things are relative. But having your parents separate and then having your mother gone for a couple of months and unavailable to you doesn't sound like a stable home life to me. She doesn't need to see her family situation though someone else's eyes to feel confused.