8 - Secrets from the Past

Early the following morning, I heard a knock on my door. Still struggling to wake up, I put on my bathrobe and walk to my locked door unlocking it. While opening, I could smell the oh so familiar perfume of Mama and looked up at her. She gave me a heartwarming smile, and I smiled back as nicely as I could because I could barely open my eyes.

"May I come in?" She asks politely.

"Sure." I step away from the opening of the door to give her some space to come into my room. Although she is as skinny as a broomstick, I still make way for her out of respect. She walks around my room and sits on one of the sofas. She folds her legs casually like she always does and looks up at me. Oh boy. I know that look. I'm so in trouble this time.

I give her a sheepish grin as she opens her mouth to talk.

"What happened last night was utterly unacceptable. Do you know how disappointed your father was last night? Do you have any slight idea of how you made our family look last night? If I didn't come up with that excuse that you weren't feeling well, you would have broken the long friendship your father has with the Wrights. You know very well that we can't go through that drama."

I bow my head in shame. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean any disrespect in my behaviour last night. I'm sorry."

Mama gives a long sigh and shakes her head. She looks back up at me with sadness in her eyes. "What happened last night? Why did you run away from the dinner party and come back home in such a hurry?"

"I was just a little bit shocked. That's all. I didn't expect that to happen last night at all. I didn't expect to become engaged with Eugene on the first day we met. I felt sad and angry that you and papa didn't ask or told me anything about this. I deserve to know who I'm going to marry, and I need to be happy. What is a marriage if you don't like the person at all?"

Mama looks at me but keeps quiet. She seemed to be thinking deeply about something, and that's when she rose from the sofa and walked out onto my open balcony.

"Rose, do you know how your father and I met?"

"No?" I say sceptically. Where is Mama going with this?

"We met just like this. Our families are also big business people, and your father was the only son of the most prestigious businessman in France. Our two families were also great friends, and so our parents decided it would be best if the two of us get married to keep the business partnership flowing between the two families."

"Oh..."

"Your father and I were also not happy about the arrangements, but we decided we could give it a try. It wasn't easy at first. Your father struggled a lot with the business, and my fashion career was starting to take off. We fought a lot. Hell, we even thought of getting a divorce, but then our parents came to visit us two years after the marriage, and my mother gave me some good advice at the time I needed it the most."

Grandma Fiona?

"What kind of advice?"

"She told me that even though things are not working out right now, give it all you've got, but never let go of what you hold dear."

"But mama didn't love papa at all at that time. What does that advice help you in any way?"

"I never knew what my mother meant at that time. I thought she was mad in her head."

Mama shook her head and smiled. I could see a tear creeping down her left cheek.

"But then, after that visit, your father got into a terrible car accident on the way to work. He was immediately sent to the hospital and had a seventeen-hour long surgery. I waited in the waiting room that whole time. I was scared. I didn't know what to expect. In that time of darkness, I found out the meaning of my mother's words. I loved him. I didn't know that. In our time together, I began to fall in love with your father, and I didn't notice it. I only realised it when I was at my lowest."

I didn't know what to think. I never thought that mama and papa would have had it so rough in their wedding. They look content to me, so I didn't expect this to have happened.

"After my long wait in the waiting room, the doctor came out. He had a poker face, so I didn't know what I was to hear. He came up to me and put his one hand on my shoulder, holding it tightly. I almost started to cry, but the news came unexpectedly. Your father was alright. He had survived the accident. After he was out of the operating room, I sat with him in his hospital room until he woke up. I was so glad to see him awake that I started to cry. I held his hand tightly in mine, afraid that I could lose him anytime soon. I could tell he was happy to see me there. He also started to cry and told me he was sorry. He asked me if I could forgive him. I didn't even care, as long as I didn't lose him in such a way again."

She wiped away the tears that streamed down her face and smiled again.

"After that, we started again. We became good friends, and everything started going well. As soon as we had you, the family finally became complete. We were so happy and are still. So Rose, my words to you are this: give it a try. Yes, it will be tough, but I know you are a headstrong girl, so I know you'll get through this. So please, give it a shot?"

I look up at mama. She has a smile on her face, and I embrace her.

"Sure, Mama. I'll give it a try."

"That's my beautiful girl." She kisses me on the head and holds me tight. I don't know how long we stood there, but it felt nice giving Mama a long hug. I needed it. I needed this.

After a while, mama pulls away and looks at me.

"I think it's time for you to get ready for breakfast. Dress up nicely like you always do. I'll call in the maids to start running a warm bath for you. I'll meet you downstairs in two hours."

"Alright."

Mama smiles and gives me another kiss on the head before she turns and leaves my room. I looked at the door she just walked through and smiled. Maybe I could give it a try. At least I'll do it for mama and papa. 

I go back to my bed and sit down, and that's when the maids walk in. Alright, let's do this.