Chapter 118 Drugged?
Kristen's POV
"How have you been, my child?" Mom inquires with concern as we sit at the table. Earlier, she invited me to a burger joint and I couldn't turn down her offer, so I ditched my friends to join her.
We drove in our separate cars.
"Good," I reply, after letting a whole minute pass.
"I can see you're pregnant," Mom settles her elbow on the table, clasps her hands together, and rests her chin on top of it.
"Is it Calhoun's?" She asks upon knowing the answer.
Swallowing hard, I reluctantly nod.
"Pregnancy sure suits you, I can't recall being this pretty when you were inside of me. I was as fat as a whale, unkempt because I was just a sixteen-year-old who had no idea of how to take care of herself." Mom winks at me.
I chose to say nothing, instead.
"Calhoun is treating you right?" If anyone sees us at this point, they would think nothing of any sort has ever transpired between us because Mom is staring at me with so much concern, that I find it very hard to believe.
"You don't have to act so casually, Mother. You're hurt because of me and I am still not free around you," I point out.
"It's okay, Kristen," Mom waves this off, "Just stop being guilty already, I'm starting to get over Calhoun."
"Really?" I blink.
And she nods.
"I've been seeing someone," Her cheeks turn crimson.
"Really?" Christ, this is huge. I can feel my heart hammering in my chest from the news.
"Our relationship is now three months old." She says with glee.
I am lost for words at this moment.
Mom has fallen in love with someone else?
She's truly gotten over Calhoun?
And she no longer hates me?
"I know our relationship is strained because of what transpired between you and Calhoun and me, but it's not bad to acknowledge the fact that I have a daughter somewhere.
"And I am going to be a grandmother at age 37," Mom chuckles to herself.
While it just creeps me out, to be honest.
Why is she being so free as if nothing ever happened? Why is she sounding like she never hated me before?
Several thoughts are slamming through my mind right now, making me feel times two uncomfortable as I was before.
"Who would have thought that I would be a grandmother at age 37," Mom continues. She's still smiling except she's not doing it with her teeth this time. Her lips are clamped together, so it's almost like a forced smile or I am the one imagining it.
I rub the side of my arm to ease the tension I feel within me.
It's not as if having her here like this isn't a good thing, but she's being overly nice..and that's what scares me.
"Have you met your father?" She drums her fingers on the table.
"Yes," my voice is a little cranky when I let this out. Because my throat was tight.
"He genuinely wants to be in your life," Mom informs me as she rests her chin in her open palm.
"I know," I say.
"I don't blame him one bit, it was all my fault because I was careless that night." Mom looks away from me and sighs.
And the need to change the topic is overwhelming.
"How has life been for you?" The least I can do is to loosen up a bit around her.
"Not so bad, I thought I'd die from heartbreak but look at me, alive and finding happiness once again," Mom tucks some blonde strands away from her face and tucks in behind her ear.
"You deserve it," it's surprising that this response came out before I could even stop myself.
And mom nods.
"When is the baby due for delivery?"
It's just a harmless question, isn't it? She's not trying to hurt me or
my baby.
"In three months," I inform her.
And she smacks her hands together as if she's excited.
"That's great news, I can't wait to see him or her. Hold them in my arms," she adds.
Would I want mom to carry my child? It'd be complicated.
Because it could've been her who could have had Calhoun's child and
not me.
Will she truly be happy upon seeing the child or she'll tear up and inwardly hate me for having Calhoun's instead of her?
Would Calhoun even let her come closer to me and the baby?
The thoughts in my head are making me feel unsettled.
"We should eat and go, I'll bet you don't want to keep anyone
waiting."
And I need no seer to tell me she's referring to Calhoun.
The waitress arrives without food and drinks and settles it on the
table.
I am contemplating staying and eating with Mom, but when I stare
at her, the innocent look on her face makes me remain in my seat.
She picks up her glass of wine and drinks out of it.
While I hesitate before copying her.
"How does it taste?" Mom asks with keen interest.
"Great," I respond, still holding the glass and examining it.
"I am glad you like it," she throws me a quick smile.
While I drink the remaining of the wine and upon nearing its end, my
eyes spot something white like a drug.
Before I can say something, there's this instant migraine that slams through my head. And the empty glass of wine crops from my hand and cracks when it hits the floor.
"Kristen, are you okay? You're not going to throw up, are you?" Mom asks with worry laced in her tone.
And as I fasten my gaze on her, her face is blurry. Everything else around me is getting hazy.
"Kristen..." Mom reaches out across the table to touch my hand. And
I can't even pull away because the pain in my head is something
worse that I cannot even wish for my enemy.
"That's my daughter, she's not feeling too well," I hear mom
explaining this to the waitress who has her height lowered to the floor as she sweeps the broken pieces of glass into something. "Hey, Kristen..." My eyes are already fluttering close as mom nears
my side and she puts her leather jacket around me.
"Let's get you home."
And darkness suddenly envelopes me.