67__Last minute

67__Last minute
Her son was standing on her doorstep.

Even through the tears in her blue eyes, Sharon Nolen could still see the perfect image before her. Blonde hair and perfect blue eyes just like she remembered.
The first time she’d seen him had been so shocking, she’d barely been able to register it. Seeing him again, being able to look at how much he’d grown…

She broke down.

Braden jolted, watching in shock as she sunk to the floor, sobbing. He was instantly on his knees, reaching for her.
He managed to get her back onto her feet and she threw her arms around him, weeping inconsolably.

He didn’t know what else to do, he was frozen stiff with awkwardness but she was crying so painfully before him. Braden carefully raised his arms and held her, his mind roaring with a multitude of emotions he couldn’t sort right now.

The thought that he was holding his mother was the loudest one in his head, giving him a feeling he’d never felt before.

It was both heart-breaking and soothing. He wanted to scream his throat raw, but he also wanted to just hold her in silence. He wanted to pour out the endless questions he had but couldn’t bring himself to utter a single word.

“Braden,” she cried, pulling away to look at him. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She sniffed, wiping her face with visible embarrassment.

She was lovely, he thought with hesitant adoration. She was so lovely, his mom. She looked younger than forty-seven and so very beautiful.

She didn’t seem to know what to do with herself. With trembling hands, she tried to reach for him before lowering her arms. Her hands reached for his again, retreating timidly every other second.
He looked at her hesitant actions and drew awkwardly away, lowering his gaze.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she quickly said, like she was afraid she’d make him leave. “Come inside, Braden. Would you like to come in?”

He looked at her and nodded, grabbing his other bag.
Eagerly, she stepped out of the way and he went inside.
Braden came to a quick stop, hearing his mother close the door behind him.
In shock, he stared around at the apartment.

She hurried over to him and stood, staring up at him like she was afraid he was a mirage. “How did you find me, Braden? Did anyone follow you? No, no. How are you? Are you hungry, should I make you something to eat?”

He was still looking at the apartment. It was empty.
Braden looked at the window he used to stare at. “Where’s the flowerpot?”

Sharon blinked, glancing at the window. “What? Oh… I gave it to my neighbour. I never could keep anything alive, I’ve no idea why I bought it.”

She’d been trying to bring some colour to the depressing apartment, but the flower had only ended up dying and turning as grey as its surroundings.
‘Wait…” she looked at him. ‘How did you know about the flowerpot?”

“Do you live here?” Braden asked quietly.

She paused at the change of topic and then quickly looked around. “Oh. I forgot it was empty. It was temporary, this place. Somewhere to stay while I thought of how to meet you. It’s an unsafe region, but this much was necessary for me to stay hidden. I can’t believe you found me…”

He met her gaze, curious about everything she had to say but not knowing what the hell to ask first.

“I was…” She sighed. “I was about to leave. I’m leaving today, going back.”

“Back where?”

“Hawaii.” She didn’t hesitate to answer him. Sharon would give him her soul if she could, she wouldn’t deny her son as single thing he asked for. After being the worst example of a mother, it was the least she could do. “I’ve been in Hawaii all these years.”

Braden couldn’t look away from her. He’d been to Hawaii several times. His mother had been there and he hadn’t even known.

Her eyes filled with tears again. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry, sweetie, I really didn’t mean to. I shouldn’t have. I should’ve fought, I shouldn’t have given you up! I…”

She was crying again, unable to speak through the tears. He took her hands and held them, but she kept her head down and he watched the tears stream down her cheeks.
“Please, don’t cry,” he whispered.

He was mad at her. So mad, but he couldn’t express it for the life of him. At least not now, he didn’t want to scare her again. He didn’t want her to run away from him again.

She raised her face and looked up at him with wide eyes. “Your grandfather. Does your grandfather know you’re here? Does he know I’m here?”

He shook his head. “No. I never even told him about you coming to the hotel.”

She gasped and then sighed so heavily, he could tell she’d been stressing about it. “Oh, thank you! I’m so sorry, I showed up with no warning. I have no right to. I just wanted to see you, I w-wanted to fix everything.”

“Why?” he questioned gently. “Why now?”

She shook her head. “It isn’t from now. I’ve always wanted to, but I couldn’t. Before, it was because they had custody and I wasn’t allowed to see you. Then later, I didn’t because I was so ashamed of myself. I knew you must’ve been so angry with me, my love, I’m so sorry. This time, I decided to come and give it a try. Please, Braden. Give me a chance. Hm? I’ll make up for everything.”

He listened to her in silence, watching the tears stream incessantly down her face. He sighed, looking at the empty apartment. ‘You’re leaving right now?”

She nodded. “Yes. I… I had some trouble with my guesthouse in Honolulu. It was taken over by some criminals.”

He frowned and Sharon sighed, lowering her gaze. “Your… your father gambled it away.”

Braden’s mouth dropped open. “Wait. What?!”

“Yes, it was horrible, I was terrified that I would lose everything I worked so hard for. He came to see me after years and I was far too shocked by his presence to realize he was plotting away my only source of income, that bastard.”

He was shocked, staring at her. “How did he…? Wait, so you’ve lost it? Your guest house.” His heart was already crumbling at the thought.

“I’m close to losing it,” she said. “I ran away from the whole thing, but I need to go back now. Before I really lose everything.”

Glancing at his bags, she took his hand. “I believe it’s fate that you came here this morning, Braden. Just… go with me. Hm? It doesn’t have to be forever, just for a moment. For you to have come here like this, with your bags… I’m thinking something upset you. Take a break, come to the island with me. Maybe you could help me save my guest house from those… hoodlums!”

He was silent, staring at her in shock as he tried to process her request.

“What do you say?” his mom asked gently. “Go with me?”

Her initial reaction was an instant burst of panic.

Erin stood frozen in place, staring at Braden’s grandfather.

Slowly, very deliberately, her brain suppressed the panic and she inhaled deeply, her wide eyes filling with tears. “You’re lying.”

Julius’s jaw clenched. “I am? Ask him then. Ask him yourself.”

She swallowed hard, a blink spilling her tears onto her cheeks where she wiped them harshly away, refusing to cry. With shaky hands, she ripped open her bag, digging in for her phone.

Erin instantly dialled Braden’s number and prayed, begged heaven that he’d pick up.
He couldn’t have been that angry with her, could he? He couldn’t have left her?!

It rang and rang with no answer. With renewed panic, Erin started texting him. She barely knew what she was typing, she couldn’t see through her tears. It didn’t matter, as long as she got an answer. He had to answer her, he had to!
“Please,” she whispered. “Please, Braden…”

“I never knew you thought so evil of me,” the Chairman said, staring blankly at the carpet beneath his shoes. “I always thought you were fond of me, I took pride in it…”

Erin looked at him. “W-what do you mean?! Of course, I’m fond of you, this family practically raised me.”

He scoffed and raised his gaze to her face. “We did, didn’t we? All our associates know you, Stephanie would practically kill for you… and I…”

Erin watched his face darken. “And you’re like a grandfather to me,” she said firmly. “I may have been cross with you, but that won’t change anything, so please… please, bring Braden back.”

“You think I’m cruel enough to separate two people who love each other,” he continued gravely. “And snatch a child from his mother.”

“Sir, please bring Braden back,” she pleaded. “I know he wouldn’t have willingly left me, you must have made him—”

“God,” Julius muttered. “You all think so low of me, don’t you?”

She was shaking her head. “No.”

“You’d rather believe I forced Braden to leave than to believe he left you of his own will. Which he did.”

“Please, tell me where he went.”

“He told me not to.”

“Sir—”

Erin’s phone vibrated in her hand. With a gasp, she raised it and checked her messages.
He’d replied! Her heart flew into overdrive.

Grandpa’s right. Her eyes widened. We need time apart, Erin. Don’t call me.

Erin’s face was frozen with shock, her mouth open and eyes wide as tears blinded her. A trembling breath of disbelief blew out of her mouth, denial already mounting in her heart.

“Wait, this…”

“See? I told you,” said the Chairman. “Now, stop this nonsense and get ready for work. Braden being gone doesn’t mean you don’t have to go to the office—”

“He wouldn’t have!” she said.

Julius slowly stood, towering over her even if he leaned on his cage. “Get ready for work, Erin.”

“I’m not going to work! I’m going to find Braden! I know he’s still in the country, he couldn’t have left! Not without me. He loves me.”

A laugh was the response she got.
“Love?” The Chairman scoffed. “No son of Michael Stone could love a sincere and naïve girl like you, Erin. So, stop allowing him to make a fool of you and go to the office. You can have Braden’s office now that the presentations are done.”

She stood in trembling silence, her phone clutched to her chest, the words on its screen echoing in her head.
She refused to believe it. She’d find him, she’d call him, she needed to speak to Braden himself or she’d never believe it.

The soft sound of a bell broke the silence and Julius looked down at his phone.
We’ve found him.

The words brought relief, they did. They brought ease and a better feeling of control on the matter. This was for the best. He’d speak to Braden separately and make everything right.

Without another word, Julius Stone turned away and left the room, leaving Erin to fight her panic with denial.

“Of course, he wouldn’t!” said Stephanie, placing a cup of hot tea before Erin.

Her mother covered her hands with hers. “It just doesn’t sound like Braden to run away, he’s probably just cooling his head somewhere.”

Erin shook her head tiredly, her eyes and nose red from the annoying tears she’d fought so much. “I also don’t believe it. Braden wouldn’t leave like that.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get people looking for him immediately.”

“It’s no use,” Erin said, leaning her head on her mother’s shoulder. “I’ve spoken to Mr. Clint. Apparently the Chairman’s people already searched everywhere and they didn’t find him.”

Her mother sighed heavily and rubbed her back.
“Oh, come on,” said Steph. “It’s nothing to sigh about, we’ll find him and then you’ll see it was all a big misunderstanding.”

“What if it wasn’t?” Erin whispered fearfully.

Her brown eyes looked at Steph with fear she couldn’t hide. “What if… what if he really decided I wasn’t worth it after all? I should’ve gone with him when he asked me to. I shouldn’t have let him leave without me, it ruined everything—”

“You’re overthinking, Erin,” Stephanie said, raising a hand. “And that is not going to help you. On the contrary.”

“Steph’s right,” added her mom. “Braden’s probably just somewhere they can’t find him, it doesn’t mean he’s left the country.”

The comforting words only drew a heavy sigh out of Erin. “He won’t pick up my calls and hasn’t texted me back since…” She trailed off. With a frown, Erin shot upright, frowning as something occurred to her. “Wait… you’re right. He probably is somewhere they can’t find him. Somewhere only I know he goes.”

Her mom and Steph blinked cluelessly, but Erin was convinced.

She jumped up and grabbed her jacket, racing for the door.
His mom’s place.