3. UNIVITED VISITOR

“Okay, before you start with the twenty questions, I just want to let you know that the only reason I didn't tell you about Eric was because I didn't want to implicate your situation,” I start to defend myself to which mum is silent.

I've grown up with Nicole Chase (who happens to be my mother) to know that when she's silent, it's not a good look. She's either mad, upset, thinking or plotting your demise. For my sake, I hope it's not the latter.

“When did you find out?” She finally asks me in a calm, half whisper. I almost do not hear her. “That Eric was cheating?”

Taking a deep breath, I occupy the seat Eric once occupied and take her pale, frail hand in mine. Holding on to her is another proof that I'm going to lose my mother and that reminder makes me want to break down right now but I hold the tears back for her sake. One of us has to be strong.

“Last week,” I tell her. “I found him with a Nicole Kidman — in looks— wannabe as she was blowing the last sense out of the idiot.” Laughter bubbles out of my chest. “I'm surprised I didn't murder someone that night. I guess I didn't take after your temperament, after all.”

Mum chuckles, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You took after your father too much. His calmness, kindness, perseverance, toughness and looks. I wish he was here to see the kind of woman you've grown to be.”

I roll my eyes at my mother. “Except, he chose not to stick around and left with the newest, youngest, tightest pussy he could find. What a coward.”

“Ara…” mum groans, but I refuse to back down so I continue. “You are still caught up in the past of when he showed you an inkling of his love that you fail to see that my father — your husband — was a selfish man. In fact, I hope to see him one day so that I can give him a piece of my mind.”

Mum says nothing, just stares at me with pity. I hate that that's the look she always gives me whenever I start cursing out my father. I hate that I still hate the man even after all these years. I hate that I still love him.

“I'm going to be gone soon, Arabella,” mum finally says. “My wish is that he returns and you two reconcile or that you leave this hatred behind and forgive him before I'm gone from this world.”

I open my mouth to speak. To tell her she's going nowhere but she places her index finger on my lips, stopping me.

“I am going to be gone soon. Very soon, we will have no funds to continue my treatment and it's going to be over. That's a fate I've long accepted.”

“Except, you're going nowhere,” I still argue. “I am not giving up without a fight. We have come too far to give up.”

Mum casts me a sad smile. “I think our bank account disagrees with us. I don't want you to go through all these and in the end it's still a losing cause. Don't burn yourself trying to save me.”

I shoot her a determined smile, and squeeze her hand tighter. “I think it's too late for that, mum. I'm already in the fire and the saddest part about it is, I'm going to sell my soul to the devil if it means I get to save you. I promise you that.”

**********

Mum and I used to be able to afford basic living necessities. She used to work in Media, but ever since cancer came, and she had to quit work, things have taken a toll on us. Families and friends deserted us when we needed them the most and the had to take up responsibilities.

Returning from grocery shopping, I walk up to our front door, exhausted from the day's activities. Today, I had to go job hunting after doing one online and then I had my fair share of the basic Karen experience. To top that off, I visited my mother and seeing her so weak and frail, it seemed to down my energy by a million.

I'm hungry, but after buying groceries, I know the moment I walk into that room, I'm going right to bed.

Opening the door, I pull off my coat in the foyer and hang it. “I'm home!” I announce to my cat as I walk into the living room and I'm greeted by a meow. A smile makes its way to my face as I wait for him to saunter into the living room with his look of indifference.

Instead, I almost fall back on my butt from shock and surprise when I come face to face with a man. A tall, broad, breathtakingly handsome man. And he's holding my cat who leans into him affectionately.

And when I gape at him with wide eyes, millions of questions going through my head all at once, he smirks at me.

“We meet again, Arabella.”