The Burial
Emma
“Did you know about that too?” I questioned when we got into the elevator. But this time, Liam shook his head. “I had also met her on the rooftop that night–” He paused, and an uncanny expression painted his face.
“Is there something more?” I asked, and he stared at me way too long, hesitating to speak. But he finally nodded.
“I guessed, at first it seemed impossible, and I didn’t think she was your mother, but the resemblance gave me a feeling she had something to do with you. I held off investigating due to the issue in the company, then your Grandmother’s health.
At the mention of Grandma, my heart stretched a little, but I nodded with a short smile, glad not to feel like a fool who knew nothing once more.
“Then how did she find me?” I said my thoughts out, and in that same moment, Liam’s phone began to ring. He picked it without hesitation, giving off the vibe that whoever he was discussing with was important. But his face had dropped. I had been expecting another bad news, but he just placed his phone on loudspeaker before us while the elevator chimed open at the same time Ms. Racheal apologised.
“I’m sorry for not informing you. I was curious because there were so many similarities between you both. I only found out about her return recently, and it just happened, and I took a DNA test. I’m sorry for doing all those without your consent.” I froze, as it all began to connect. Aside from Liam there was only one person she had usually talked about, which was her friend she always empahasized, that looked too much like me, which meant the stories she told me about her friend, the fact she was from–It all made sense, I should be mad regardless, leaving me with what she had said alone, about leaving for another man, it made no difference but now that I connected the dots, it made me feel a little sympathetic for her, but it didn’t change my mind, I didn’t want to be her daughter. I have the right to do that.
“It’s okay, Ms. Racheal, thanks for telling me.” I feigned a smile.
“Really? Oh, thank goodness, I thought you had been mad. I guess you’ve reunited with her. Oh, lord, I can believe you are the dearest daughter. Oh! Least I forget, I guess your dream of being a fashion designer is going to–”
“Let’s talk about this later, Racheal,” Liam stated and abruptly ended the call. I was utterly confused as he placed his hand on my lower back, guiding me out of the elevator.
“Why did you do that?”
“Your Mother–Sorry, Harietta Benson is the CEO of M&A. And I’m sure Fiona is already involved with inheriting it, and if you are not up for reuniting with your mother, it's best we don’t instigate anything.” Liam simply advised, and I nodded because he was right. I just wanted to grieve my Grandmother in peace, and I am in no way interested in inheriting a business from someone whom I didn’t grow up with.
We held the burial the next day. I had refused to let them burn my Grandma’s body and had settled for an actual burial to lay her to rest. There were not many; there were no chairs, just Derek, Selena, Grace, Liam, and me with the pastor and some extra men who had helped carry the casket. I had refused to cry; I held it all in, after all, this was a farewell, if her spirit was still around, she had been sad to see me weep. I had to be strong for her. Grace, on the other hand, was wailing, despite Selena’s comfort. I had seen a line of tears past Liam’s shade. To me, it was enough; this showed that there were enough people who loved Granny. We had sung a hymn, but the minute we were done, a black van pulled up, causing all attention to turn to them. I mean, I wasn’t expecting the kind of people to pull up with such a van, and the first person to step out did leave me in shock, but not the second. Turns out Liam’s parents were the first to step out; they were in less luxurious clothes, most especially Mrs. Anderson, who had a simple black waistcoat and black trousers, with black flats and a shade covering her eyes. I didn’t know how to feel about them being here, I mean, they also didn’t give my grandmother a break with their obsession to show us we are poor and couldn’t dream of being part of their family. But here they were.
Liam had walked up to them. I didn’t have to hear his words to know he wanted to leave, but my attention shifted from them when two ladies walked down the same van, first Fiona with a skimpy skirt and heels. She didn’t want to be here, I saw that in her expression at first sigh, but then Harietta was the next one that step down. Rage boiled within me. I warned her to stay away. Why did she come? Not just that, but she came with the people I so much wanted to be away from. I forced myself to turn away, the tears now building up. Fuck, I couldn’t cry not before them, and remember the goal, this was a farewell, I couldn’t ruin it for Grandmother, but Harietta came up to my side and dropped a flower right next to mine for Granny. Then she patted my shoulder.
“I’m sorry for coming late, Mother. I betrayed you,” She sniffled. Fucking crocodile tears. “But I promise to take care of Emma now, you don’t have to worry.” I wanted to talk back at her, but this wasn’t the time nor the place. Eventually, Liam’s parents also made it past Liam to drop their flowers. But that wasn’t all the guests, as someone dark, so dark looking, yet he was covered with colorful clothing, he dropped a flower different from the rest, and he didn’t just drop it, he threw it to the casket. Mother and I were the first to speak up.
“Wilson”
“Father.”