Chapter 61 CHAPTER 61: Mom 2
Hazel
William hurried out of the house, dragging me behind. I remembered the nightmares that had plagued him all these years, how vulnerable he had been the night he opened up to me. The pain in his eyes and voice as he had told me about his childhood. I knew he needed to address this once and for all. This may turn out to be the redemption he had been craving for all these years. He pushed the door open and hurried outside, drawing the attention of some of the guests who were still around. As we stepped outside, he bolted to the car, but I jerked him back.
“Will wait” my voice rang out, bringing him out of his hazy state.
“Hazel, I need to get out of here. We need to get back to Ethan” he said.
“Willie, we've only been here for an hour or so and we both know that's not why you want to leave”. I said as I got close to him and touched his face.
“Why is she here after all these years?” he asked me. I could feel the emotions swirling around in his eyes - pain, hurt, disappointment, doubt.
“You will have to ask her that question and others that are in your mind. You need to face your fears…you need to go through this one…no hiding” I said, searching his eyes as he gazed into mine. I could see and feel his earlier resolve faltering. Then he nodded at me and gulped. I held his hand and guided him back inside the house, but this time I took him to his old room. Everything was as it was when he lived there. His father had not bothered to change anything in the room. He sat down on his bed as it creaked under his weight. I took his hand and kissed the back of his palm.
“Are you ready to see her now”? I asked. He looked uncertain before he nodded.
“I'll be right back” I said and strode out of the room, closing the door slowly behind him.
My heart pounded against my chest as I made my way to the study. As I neared the door, I could hear sobbing on the other side of the room. I hesitated before I knocked.
“Come in,” Mr. Thorn said from inside. I opened the door and stepped into the room. Sarah was huddled on the sofa where we had earlier sat and Mr. Thorn was hovering above her. Her eyes were red-rimmed with tears. She looked up at me.
“Is he gone”? She asked
“No, he is ready to see you now” I replied.
She nodded and looked up at Mr. Thorn. I watched as he took her hand in his gently, helped her to stand at her feet and pulled her close for a comforting hug. Watching their exchange was heart-wrenching as I could see the love they had for each other radiating, making me wonder what their story was. It was not my business, but I hoped for the sake of William she had a really valid excuse for staying away for so long.
I led the way to William’s room as Mr. Thorn and Sarah followed behind. As we got to the door, I pushed it open gently. William looked up when we got in and his eyes finally settled on his mother. He took a deep breath and pinned her with a stare that spoke volumes. As she got in, she strode to him and took his hands in hers.
William
My heart skipped frantically as I watched the woman that gave birth to me come in with my father and Hazel. I would recognize her anywhere even though age had softened her features. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at her, unable to believe my eyes. Her eyes were red-rimmed and sunken in. As I stared at her, I wondered about the kind of life she had lived over the years and why she was back. Then she came close and touched my hand, her fingers trembling and lips quivering. I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes. The memories of her were faint and almost non-existent, but it baffled me how I was so sure she was my mother.
With a stoic expression, I returned her gaze. “Why” I asked,
Just then I saw Hazel trying to scurry away. I turned in her direction.
“Hazel, I would appreciate it if you could stay. I need you, "I said simply. She nodded and sat down on the couch on the opposite side of the room and gave me a little smile and a nod.
I turned back to my mother and repeated the question I had asked earlier. That was the only thing on my mind. There were so many things on my mind and I hoped for the sake of everyone that she had a valid reason for disappearing and abandoning me for so many years.
She breathed a sigh and looked around. As if on cue, my father brought a chair over, and she sat down opposite me. She looked over at my father before she closed her eyes and began her story.
“I met your father when I was fourteen years old. My mother was a maid in their home and I tagged along when I was not in school. I bonded with your father at first sight and what helped was that he was just a year older. Then, as the years went on, we began to develop feelings for each other.
Then, on my eighteenth birthday, we got carried away and that was when you were conceived. I didn't know until my stomach started to grow, and my mother found out I was pregnant. It was too late to abort the pregnancy. Somehow, your grandfather, who was a very strict person, got to find out about it and banned us from seeing each other. He came to our home one day and made a deal with my mother. He vowed that Thorn would never marry me. According to him, we were not in the same class and our relationship would only bring shame to the family. My mother pleaded for him to let us go, but he said, as long as your father’s seed was inside me, he would never let us go. He stopped my mother from working for him and got us a place away from town. I carried you to term and once you were weaned, he took you away from me.
All this while, your father was not aware of where I was or what happened to me. Then one day, your father found us and vowed to never leave me anymore. His father went along with his plan and got us a place in town, but he had another plan we never knew. He made your father believe that I would always be in his life. We were together for four years, taking care of you and playing house, but were not married.
Then, when your father went to college, your grandfather executed his plan. He threatened my mother and promised to make her life a living hell if she refused to leave town with me. He gave us two options - stay in town and never see you again, or I could disappear and get to see you anytime I wished, but with the clause that I would always keep my distance. I had already put my mother through hell. I couldn't do that to her again and, besides, I was just a girl with no money or job. At the time, there was no way to contact your father and I did not have any resources or financial capability to protect you, so my mother convinced me to leave.
I have watched you grow on the side. I was there on every birthday, every big event in your life, but I have only watched from the sidelines, and I am sorry I was not able to stay and fight for you”, she finally concluded her story.
“Grandpa died a long time ago, what kept you away”? I asked
“I didn't know how to start explaining my way into your life. I didn't know how to convince you that my intentions were pure and even now, I am not here to be in your life or disrupt it. I found out about the accident and the recent fall-out with Emily and then about your baby. I talked to your father and told him I couldn't stay away anymore. She spoke.
Then she continued “I have never stopped loving you William, even for a day. So, I am here today not to seek forgiveness but to let you know that you can count on me anytime. I don't ever want to be excluded from your life anymore.”
“We want to try again, son” dad chipped in. “I know you have asked me several times why I have never considered marriage. The truth is that I never got over your mother”. He looked over at her and took her hand in his, staring into her eyes throughout his speech, “She is the love of my life, and we have decided to try again even at this old age”, he said, looking fondly at my mother. I want to experience what it feels like to be with someone I love even at old age, but if you do not approve, I will not force her on you, which is one of the reasons I called you and Hazel here today” he said, his eyes never leaving hers.
I turned to Hazel who was looking intently at them with tears streaming down her face. I watched as she wiped the next batch with the back of her hand and my breath hitched.
I turned to my parents, “Mom” I whispered. The word echoed in my mind like a distant memory, a reminder of all that I had lost and all that I had longed for. She turned her attention to me with red-rimmed eyes, her gaze fixed on mine with a mixture of sadness and hope.
"Mom," I whispered again, the word tasting foreign on my lips as I reached out to touch her face. "Is it really you?"
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she nodded, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke. "Yes, William. It's me."
“I've missed you so much, and I had dreamed of a day like this. I've never resented you nor thought for one day that you left because you didn’t love me ", I said, as my eyes stung with tears. I just shut down that part of me and had nightmares until Hazel came along and saved me "I said, while I turned to Hazel, who smiled through her tears.
“I loved you then, I love you now, and I never stopped loving you” I said as my mother sobbed the most.
Then, without a word, we were in each other's arms, the years of separation melting away in an instant as we clung to each other as if our lives depended on it. Then my father joined us. I looked over at Hazel and she came over to us and hugged us as we all huddled together. The world faded into the background as we stood there, lost in the moment, lost in each other.