Chapter 4

We got home a little after six in the evening, dad and I met mom in the dining hall. She was chewing on her thumb, and we wondered what was happening. She never did this unless she was anxious. "Luci, what is wrong?" Hunter asked. She did not seem to notice us standing there, she straightened up when her gaze fell on us, and a pleasant smile displayed on her face "Oh, I did not hear you get home, nothing is wrong, I was just worried about where you were" Hunter and I stare at her "Did you not see the note that I left you?" I ask her, I know I left one on her desk. She seems to widen her eyes briefly, I must have missed it. Hunter and I feel a little dubious, she is obviously lying but, neither of us questions her. 

Hunter wraps his arms around her, "actually, I took Molly out for the day" her eyes widen "Why?" I do not understand her reaction. "I received my award letter from the school, I won Valedictorian" Mom runs to me, and gives me a big hug. "Congratulations Baby!" She is bouncing up and down with me while Hunter is shaking with laughter at our antics. "Let us go out to dinner!" Hunter says, we grab our belongings and head to his Mercedes. As Hunter and I are leaving the phone rings. I tell Hunter to let it ring however, he is not one to just let it lie. He answers it, and the phone immediately hangs up. We shrug and walk out the door to continue with our night. 

We pull up to the restaurant, I see Hunter stiffen while my mother is busy opening the door. She walks out and heads inside not even noticing his behavior. It is like she is oblivious, she says she cares but, sometimes, it is like she puts up walls or completely does not pay attention to how he acts. Right now, he is showing concern, and she is not paying attention. I lean over and whisper to him "Hunter, what is wrong?" he shakes his head "I do not know, I have a sixth sense that someone is watching us" I stare at him in shock, I thought it was just me! "You too? I felt it earlier in London" He turns and stares at me "Why didn't you say anything?" His tone was accusatory. I hung my head low "It happened while I was waiting for you at the coffee shop, the first time it felt cold, almost chilling. I went back inside to hide, then the second was right before you arrived however, it was different. like someone seeing into my soul and calling out to me. The scent was so attractive and intoxicating, my inner voice wanted to follow it, I do not know what is going on with me, I think I am going crazy." I tell him in a small voice, hoping he will not think I am insane. He hugs me in his arms, do not keep things from me. If something like that happens again, tell me, and I will help you find out the truth, in both scenarios, I will handle it." I nod my head in agreement. 

We join my mother in the restaurant, I look around for her, and I do not understand where she went. We clearly saw her come in here, I turn to the maitre de, "Um, excuse me, there was a woman by the name of Lucinda who just came in here by herself a short time ago, my height, medium brunette hair?" he thinks about what I ask "Yes, she, I believe went to the ladies room" I look at him curiously. She has been in there this long? I head towards the ladies' room where he motioned while I see Hunter arranging a table for us.

When I arrive, I find her sitting down in the waiting section on the sofa. "Mom?" I cannot explain why she is sitting in here, is she avoiding us on my celebratory night? she notices me and wipes the emotions off her face "What are you doing? are you hiding from us?" she looks shocked "what?! No, do not be absurd Molly" I stand there trying to understand her "Then, why are you in here so long, why did you completely ditch us in the car? We are supposed to be there celebrating my Valedictorian announcement, and I am feeling like you are hiding from us, or is it, Hunter?" She glares at me "Molly Edith Fawns! You mind your business! I am not hiding from you or Hunter, he has been amazing to us! I cannot ask for a better man, I just have some things on my mind! Now Drop it!" she growls at me.

I am shocked by her tone, the last time she used a tone like this with me, I was six and ran out in front of a car on the road. I scared both of us. Now, I have done nothing wrong for her to react like this. "I am just trying to understand! I always feel like you are closed off at times, I find you acting like this and when I ask why to understand, you shut me out! You say you love him but, you were upset when I called him my stepfather, you glared at me when I asked if you will ever marry." she goes to cut me off but, I continue "You walked away for years when I asked about my real dad, Hunter has offered us to move in with him, you have been seeing him for five years yet, you refuse the thought." I keep going "You have been absent-minded lately, and secretive. You completely ignored Hunter and me outside! You walked in here like we were invisible, and you're growling at me for being concerned? Fine, whatever, this is my celebration night Stay in here!" I growled and walked out leaving her stunned.  

I am so pissed, how dare she talk down to me like this when I did nothing wrong! How dare she shut me out like this! I do not even know where this power that I am feeling is coming from however, I see my mother nearly cowering in submission and I hear small howls from inside that stalls like dogs whimpering after being hurt. 'What the Fuck?!' I leave the room and look for Hunter trying to reign in my temper. 

I see him seated at a table, concern on his face when he sees me "Everything okay?" he asks I shake my head "I do not know, she is hiding in the bathroom and will not tell me what is wrong? I do not understand her behavior today, she has always been a closed-door but, she just growled at me" I tell him in a low voice. He looks shocked. "I will try to talk to her later, I cannot believe she did that". we both sigh. "Let us just leave her to her thoughts and enjoy our night, I gave her a piece of my mind, if she comes out then fine, if not, I would rather stay the night with you". He looks at me shocked "Dad, I know I have never done that but, I am too angry with her, she purposely shuts me out when she is like this, all I ask is to understand and be there for her yet, I get growled at and told, "mind my business". he shakes his head and apologizes that I would be treated like that.

During this moment of Hunter and I having a heart-to-heart, my mother walks towards us however, when she hears me confiding to Hunter, her temper flares at me and she walked out...Why I do not know, I think it is safe to say that my recognition dinner just took a nosedive due to my mother.