Sad People

Aurora POV:

Few kilometers away, I remembered I had forgotten the Cake. I’d promised to drop it by the Hart ranch for Tess, but it was still sitting in Michael's office. I no longer had a key, and I'd rather have died than phoned him to let ne in to get the cake. He’d think it was a ruse, so that I could see him again.

I stopped by the bakery instead and to get another cake. I approached the lady behind the counter.

"Good evening Ma'am" I said

"Evening"

"What may I get You"

"A Cake?" I replied

"Is it for an occasion? Most of the cakes available are blank" She said

Luckily for me Tess didn’t want a message on it, just the cake.

"That's fine" I said

"I will have that one" I added whilst pointing to the pink one

I stopped by the Hart ranch property at Tess and Cag’s enormous house and handed it off to their housekeeper, with a beaming smile that never reached my eyes. I finally headed home. I was on the verge of tears on my way home. I parked at one side of the road and calmed myself. My mom mustn't see me sad nor know I quitted my job, it'd cause her distress. That was the last thing I wanted. I started driving again after steadying my emotions.

My mother was lying on the sofa, watching the last of her soap operas.

“Hello, sweetheart,” she said, smiling. “Did you have a nice day?”

“Very nice,” I lied, smiling back. “How about you?”

“I’ve done very well. I made supper!”

“Mom you aren’t supposed to exert yourself,” I protested, gritting my teeth.

“Cooking isn’t exertion. I do love it so,” the older woman replied, her hazel eyes that were so like mine sparkling with pleasure. Her hair was silver now, short and wavy. She lay on the sofa in an old gown and housecoat, her feet in socks. Nights were still chilly, even though it was April.

“Want to eat in here on trays?” I offered.

“That would be lovely. We can watch the news.”

I grimaced. “Not the news,” I groaned. “Something pleasant!”

“Then what would you like to watch? We’ve got lots of DVDs,” she added.

"Young Sheldon" I said

Her mother gave her an odd look. “My, my. Usually when you want to watch that one, you’ve had an a bad day.” She was fishing, trying to dig answers from me. I knew she wouldn't back down till I came clean.

I cleared my throat

"I had a spat with my boss" I replied, not daring to tell her I'm currently without a job

“It will all blow over,” she said

"He’s a difficult man, I imagine, but he’s been very kind to us. Why, when I had to go to the hospital last time, he drove you there and even sat with you until they got me over the crisis.”

“Yes, I know,” I replied, without adding that Mr. Angelo would do that for anybody. It didn’t mean anything, definitely not that he had a kind heart.

“And then there was that huge basket of fruit he sent us at Christmas.” The older woman was still talking.

"Yes mom, I know"

I headed to my bedroom while she looked for 'young sheldon' . I changed into jeans and a sweatshirt. The whole time I wondered I she was going to get another job without naming Mr. Angelo as a reference. He might give her one if she actually asked, She just hated having to ask him to. She’d told her co-workers, and Mr. Angelo, that she was going to work for Jordan Leo, but it had been a lie to spite Mr. Angelo.

I appeared in the living room to see my mom has finally found the DVD she was looking for. We ate and watch the movie till mom was feeling sleepy. I turn off the TV before escorting her to her bedroom.

Only after I heard her gentle snore did I head to my bedroom and seize my freedom of crying, I cried myself to my threshold. hating my own show of weakness. Fortunately, nobody else would see it. I finally wiped off my tears with a rejuvenated hope, I was going to get a new job. I had the skills, I am a hard worker. I would be an asset to any prospective employer, I told myself firmly, because her ego was badly hurt. I'd show Mr. Angelo. I could get a job anywhere!