Chapter 46 A Mother On The Edge
Alarmed, she whispered to the kids. "Go inside. Don't come out until I ask you to. Do not talk or whisper and yes, please, no movement." Amanda said hurriedly. "Now go in. Be fast" she added.
When the children were all out of sight, Amanda opened the door and joined Rowan who had been standing at the entrance of the house.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Amanda asked, unease.
"Exploring the city," Rowan answered, smiling.
Amanda stammered. Standing there at her entrance seemed awkward and she wanted to ask if he wanted to come in but was concerned at the same time that one of the kids might disobey her instruction.
"Errmmmm, I don't…you want to… ermmm.." She stuttered and was soon interrupted by Rowan. "It's okay. I don't want to come inside. I just came to give you this" he handed Amanda the flower he had been holding to his back.
"Oh, Rowan please," Amanda said, blushing. She managed to hide that from Rowan however.
"What?" Rowan asked.
"Let's get this straight. You asked me to act like your girlfriend, not to be your girlfriend. Can you please stop all of these romantic attitudes and focus on the acting." Amanda retorted.
"That is what I am doing, Amanda" Rowan smirked. "You don't want me to present myself to my parents as an unromantic boyfriend and father to be. I need to rehearse this, so I can get used to it."
Amanda sighed, feeling a bit flustered by Rowan's playful attitude. "Fine, fine. Let's just keep it cool. It's acting, it's not real. Nothing more than that."
"Are you sure it is nothing more than that?" Rowan teased.
"Rowan please, stop." Amanda snapped.
Rowan nodded, taking a step back from the doorstep. "Okay. It's alright. I should leave now." Rowan said.
Amanda was not sure if Rowan was displeased with her attitude. She was just unstable with things going on with her and his sudden appearance. "Thank you, Rowan." She raised the flower to Rowan who was already walking to his car. "I love it"
Rowan smiled which made Amanda smile too. That was the assurance she needed that he was not angry.
Amanda went back inside the house and was welcomed with the staring faces of her kids and curious mother.
"What happened? Why was he here?" Mrs Roberts asked, curious about her answer.
"Hold on mother," Amanda said, her gaze on her children. "I thought I gave you an instruction. What are you all doing here?"
"Because he left already" Adora said
"And how did you know that? Let me guess, you were peeping" Amanda yelled.
"Mom! Why are you weird today?" Tyler asked.
"You think I am weird? No, I am not. I am angry because I gave you simple instructions and you disobeyed and am definitely not going to let that slide."
"We did nothing wrong mommy, you wanted us to hide and we ensured he didn't see us." Mason said, panicking.
"Why are you even hiding us from your boss? Are we not your children anymore?" Tyler asked.
His words shocked Amanda and she turned to her mother for help. Mrs. Roberts was surprised as well. Her expression informed Amanda that she was helpless in the situation. Before Amanda could find the right word to say, Ryan spoke.
"I think that is because mommy likes him though." Ryan said.
"And he doesn't like mommy," Mason snapped.
"Don't say that" Adora cut in, "He gave mommy flowers. That means he likes mommy too. That is what men do on tv."
Amanda's shock intensified just by listening to them and she became dumbfounded.
"I don't think that is the reason though. Remember earlier, she didn't like Aunty Mabel but she did the same thing. She hesitated when she asked if she was our mother. I think it's more about us." Tyler said.
"What?" Amanda exclaimed.
"Yes, mommy. I agree with Tyler." Mason replied. "That is why we get teased in school all the time about our dad."
"Someone once said that mommy was too young to have us which is why she dumped us to our grandmother." Adora said.
"True. I had the same experience. Only a few people knows she is our mother because mommy hids us from everyone." Ryan said.
"Which made us believe she doesn't have friends." Mason added.
"Which is not true. She is only ashamed of us." Tyler exclaimed.
At this point, Amanda had exhausted her patience. She had been trying to control herself but what the kids said hurt her. "Enough, she yelled.
"You think I am ashamed of you?" She pointed to them one after the other. "That is your problem. I still see you as my babies, the ones I gave birth to just yesterday but now you have proven me wrong. You are not that young anymore."
"Amanda!" Mrs. Roberts tried to stop Amanda sensing her anger but she already lost control of herself.
"No, mother. They have proven that they are not kids anymore so they deserve to know." Amanda turned to the kids again.
"You think am ashamed of you? Then you must know how hard it is for me to raise you kids, four of you, on my own. I work hard every day to put food on that table, to give you the best education, I ensure you get every one of your cravings as soon as I have the money."
She turned to Adora. Panic etched on the girl's face. "Someone complained I dumped you to my mother, your grandmother and you have a problem with that? Would you prefer to be with the person's mother or grandmother then?"
Adora shook her head hurriedly, "No, mommy" Amanda turned to Mason immediately "And you are always teased about your father right? Is that new? Are you the first kid not to have a father figure? Aren't you doing too well to be concerned about your father?"
She didn't wait for Mason to talk, she turned to Tyler "but your justification for that is that I am ashamed of you right? You think am a weird mother. Tyler, that is because our lives are in danger and I am trying my best to keep you all safe."
"Amanda," Mrs Roberts called out again. She could sense Amanda's mental breakdown. The panic, the anger, the confusion, they have all come together to put her down.
"Mother, they need to understand that I might have no choice but to send them to the countryside just to keep them safe."
Mrs Roberts sighed. "I know but that is enough. Look at them" they both looked at the children who are now fidgeting. They could tell with their mother's expression that they hurt her deeply.
Amanda wiped the tears that have been running down her cheeks, "Now you all go inside, you are grounded for the rest of the day"
The kids hurried into their room with no hesitation. Mrs. Roberts pulled Amanda softly. "come here. Sit."
They both sat on the couch.
"They are just kids, Amanda." Mrs. Roberts said.
"And they know too much." Amanda snapped.
"Yes, they do. But that is a blessing. They are smart. Too smart for their age. But we can not overlook the fact that they are kids and they have rights, Amanda. They have the right to ask questions about their father, about you, about me."
"Those were not questions, mother. They were allegations." Amanda exclaimed.
"Which was true anyways," she added.