Chapter 7

Francis' hands on the steering wheel tightened as he stared at Joe through the mirror; the little boy was staring innocently at his mum and through Hillary’s expression, he figured out the woman must be Camelia.

He turned his attention back to the road while Hillary remained fidgeted on her seat. She cleared her throat lightly, wishing she could shut Joe's mouth. She never expected him to say that despite knowing how blunt he could be for his age. 

“It's just a friend,” she stammered, unable to look into the eyes of Francis. “Get some rest, Joe,” she patted his head, “Remember the ice cream I promised you.”

This brought a smile to his face and he nodded happily, taking the posture of sleeping. Not long after, his light snores could be heard and only then did Hillary address the issue.

“I saw Camelia in the plane,” she started, trying to be as nonchalant as she could. “Funny how we sat beside each other,” she chuckled half heartedly.

“She looked different,” Hillary stopped to see Francis’ emotions, “More pretty, I would say.” She emphasised on the adjective, ensuring that her eyes remained glued to Francis. 

Francis took a deep breath before swerving to his left to park. The atmosphere became stiff and Hillary sat up straight, wondering what he wanted to do. He wasn’t going to snap at her would he?

The door to her seat opened and she watched as Francis squatted beside her, taking her hand in his. “Hillary…” He stopped to turn her face to meet his, “I chose you,” he confessed.

“Both you and Joe are my life now.”

Hillary stared at him teary eyed, her heart fluttering at the sudden confession. She knew that he meant it, he had always shown his affection even in the public. 

But he always had this attitude that was turned off for her and there was this feeling she got that she didn't properly have his heart.

This insecurity of hers, she needed to work on it. Camelia was past tense! She resolved.

Before she could say a word in response, he planted a kiss on her lips.

“Hmm,” she was taken aback by his sudden display. She closed her eyes and let the kiss deepen, her whole worries fading gradually before her.

Francis removed his head slowly before whispering into her ears, “I love you, Hillary.”

Hillary nodded frantically, overwhelmed by his actions. “I love you too.”

He smiled warmly and rose up, taking a step back from her and closed the door. “We are going to mum's place.” 

“What?” She blurted out. 

***

The house was coldly beautiful. The beautiful landscape, the excellent points, the brooding look and she knew that it was the same inside the house. Cold and without feeling, it was very different from Francis’.

The insides would be horrific, Hillary knew it, she had been here severally.

It would smell nice, of course, and lights would be lit across every single room because the elderly woman would have had the floor polished and every light on, but it wouldn’t be inviting. 

She dreaded coming here, even though it was her mother-in-law's apartment. One would imagine that she would be close to the woman when she had solidly stood behind her, telling her son to divorce Camelia.

Francis made a huge turn into the car park and turned off the ignition. Just immediately, the woman came outside of the house with a broad grin on her face and Hillary rolled her eyes inwardly and groaned.

It was all fake!

She carried Joe in her arms while Francis went ahead to greet his mum; it was safe to say that he was a mummy's boy.

“Is that my grandson?” Ashley moved ahead to meet Hillary along the way and carried the sleepy boy from his mum. “He looks so much like Francis,” she complimented, stirring the boy awake.

“Granny,” Joe screamed and wrapped his arms around her neck when he recognised who it was.

Hillary moved to the side, annoyed at how she was ignored but she shrugged, she was used to it anyway.

The whole family trooped into the house, Ashley chatting non stop with both her grandson and her son.

Hillary went straight up without bothering to follow them to the living room. From the corner of her eyes, she saw the large spread that lay on the dinner.

She was famished and annoyed at the same time; she needed to address Ashley to her husband. But how?

She entered the cold and bare room that stayed the same despite months of being away. Just like the owner, it was devoid of any colour.

Turning to the right, she headed to the bathroom, she needed a cold bath after the long flight.

The sound of the door opening made her realise that he was in the room. She stood up from the tub and slipped in her bathrobe. 

She saw him stripping his clothes when she got to the room.

“When will your mum start acknowledging me more?”