Chapter 66 Mother
The morning after, she left home and went to work still not talking to Thyago. Although he drove her from the office and tried to apologize about last night but because she was still sulking for siding Elena over her, she took for granted him and acted deaf. She just couldn't accept the fact that he believe Elena more than her which is his wife. He's such a fool to believe that Elena wasn't capable of telling lies. That bitch is indeed capable of breaking their marriage apart, how could he not realize that?
A part of her mind is having qualms that Elena told her might be true. What if Thyago lied to her about his relationship with her cousin? What if he really had a long-time relationship with Elena and the reason why he married her is just to get even and get revenge on her cousin at her expense? What if he was only lying every time he told her he love her and the truth is he was still in love with Elena? And worst, what if she was only living this dream? That she was only making illusions that she has a perfect marriage? There's been a lot of what-ifs running through her mind, she couldn't think straight anymore. She couldn't even concentrate on her job when she reached the office.
Then all of a sudden through the complexities of her mind, she suddenly remembered what her mother-in-law told her that marriage is a kind of amazing ride. Many adventures, fun, misunderstandings, quarrels, happy moments, and obstacles that will test the union and companionship but just as long as that married couples love and trust each other, they will remain strong and unbreakable. And then she realized, this might just be a hurdle to their relationship. Just as long as she remains strong and fighting, they will overcome this hurdle.
But what if Thyago himself is not willing to fight or he'll let himself be fooled by other woman's pretensions like Elena? Will she keep going still? She knew they have to settle things out but not now, she was still sulking over Thyago. They will talk soon, she just has to let this anger pass through.
At 3 pm, she was about to meet Mrs. Erlinda Stanford at an Italian restaurant to talk about the house she wanted to refurnish. Liz set their appointment and she was currently waiting for the client to come around. Strange but she has this crazy odd feeling. She kinda has this feeling of discomfort and uneasiness like there was something bad that was bound to happen. According to Liz, Erlinda Stanford is the wife of Wesley Stanford- the CEO of Stanford Construction Firm. Funny but she just doesn't like the name Erlinda because she reminds her of someone she doesn't wanna think about or rather a person she wanted to forget. Currently waiting for the woman to arrive at the restaurant and getting ready with the designs she was about to present her, it was about fifteen minutes passed when she saw the middle-aged woman in a blue dress being guided by the hostess that was now coming towards her table.
When she finally met the woman, she got stunned by her appearance. She looked very familiar but she was so sure she had never seen her before. She was a middle-aged woman with a height of around 5'6 or 5'7. She had these beautiful hazel eyes with thick long lashes, brown and shiny hair, a white complexion, and her smile- the way she smile at the hostess? That smile? She has known someone who possesses that kind of smile. It really felt like she had seen her before. She remained at her seat examining the old woman until she gasped by surprise and suddenly covered her mouth using her palm when she finally figure things out. Now she finally recognized her!
I have seen her face. I have seen her familiar face for quite a lot of times. How foolish I am not to recognize her easily! Now, I know why she looks so familiar because she was exactly like the woman I see in the mirror! Yes, in the mirror! But the mature and older version of me...
"M-Miss Erlinda Stanford?" She stuttered trying to confirm her client's name.
No way! It's impossible! She can't be that woman. That woman left us, she chose to leave me for her own selfish dream so there's no way she will have the guts to face me. She was not her, but... why she looks exactly like me?!!!
"You're all grown up now." Said the woman.
Her voice got broken like she was about to cry. Her eyes were teary and by the way, she looks at her it's as if her eyes show some kind of a melancholy feeling or yearning.
"E-Excuse me?" She asked stuttering.
"It's me, Beatrice. Your mother." Although she had the feeling she will say those words, shock still engulf her after hearing that revelation.
"No way!" She exclaimed in pure anger.
She immediately stands up and walks away from the woman not wanting to face her any more. It is clearly not a business meeting, this is a trap so she could talk to her. She walked fast as she could feel tears is now fastly streaming down her face wanted to leave the place immediately.
What does she want? After so many years, all of a sudden she'll burst out and tell me she's my mother? What for? What would she expect me to do? Run to her and embrace her? That will never gonna happen!
"Wait, Beatrice! I wanna explain to you child!" She was almost outside the establishment when the woman run and followed her trying to talk to her.
"What do you want!" She confronted furiously.
"I know I made a mistake. I chose my dream and left you and your father. I got blinded by wealth and fame. I know you can't forgive me that easily for what I've done but believe me I always think about you, child. I wanna see you. I just wanna see the child I gave birth to." She could see the sincerity in the woman's eyes but there's no way she'll give attention and pity to those eyes.
"The child you gave birth to? When was the last time you acted as a mother to me?" She made sure her tone was sarcastic and insulting.
"Believe me I regret what I've done--
"Stop! Whatever your reasons are, I'm not willing to hear it! I'm too busy to have this charade with you. To think you even pretend as my client just to talk to me? " She stated accusingly.
"I asked help from your husband. I told him I wanna make things right and make up with you. Please listen to me, child." She begged.
"My husband? What do you mean? Thyago has something to do with this?"
She couldn't believe her husband was involved in here. Oh right, he was the one who recommended her. How could he!
"Don't get mad at him, child. I was the one who convinced and asked him to talk to you." She explained.
"Now that we're talking, what do you want then? All of a sudden you'll just come and want to barge in my life? What, you want to act as my mother now?"
"I just want you to recognize me as your mother. To make up with you and cope up with those times I missed." The woman stated in a pleading way while crying. Yes, she was now crying too and she don't understand why a part of her is hurting while she seeing her this way.
"Don't you think you're twenty-five years late now? Just get out of my life because I don't need you!" She shouted full of hate.
"I'm so sorry, child..." The woman tried to come closer to her and was about to touch her but she immediately moved away.
"No, I will never forgive you!" She stated angrily while wiping the tears streaming in her eyes.
"Please, hear me out, child." The woman still pleaded.
"Leave me alone!" She shouted.
The woman still wanted to reach her but she run away and immediately hop in her car as soon as she reached the parking lot. She starts the ignition and drives fast away from the woman. The woman was left crying as she watched her on the side mirror of her car.
She couldn't understand herself but she was getting affected by what the old woman had said. It's like she had been longing to see her but her anger and pain still taking place and overpowering. She could still remember telling herself she don't need a mother in her life because her father is more than enough. But seeing her right now, why it seems like a different story? She had forgotten her a long time ago, she even make herself believe that she never existed at all. How come she came back claiming to be her mother now?
When she was young, she used to wonder why she didn't have a mom as her classmates does. Her father told her she left and she even came to a point where she thought she was unacceptable to leave by her own mother? She remembered always crying at night for no particular reason why her mom left and decided not to come back. There are times and occasions that needed her presence and she took for granted them all telling herself she doesn't need her but there really some situations that do not allow her to be happy at all because of her loss. She will end up asking herself what's wrong with her why did she leave. That she was not enough reason for her to choose to stay.
During Mother's days and some special occasions that needed her participation, she always felt different from the others and that make her feel lonely and sad. No Mom helps her through her costume play at school and no Mom who helps her fix her hair. No Mom she can present at school and no Mom who helps her choose her dresses to wear. There's no Mom who helped her do her make-up during homecoming parties and prom and she bears all of those moments without her. Although her father had been there for her all along but it's still different of course when you have someone you call Mom.
The resentment and hate she has for her through the years are all coming back now and she just can't stop the tears from falling. She was never there at those times when she needed her most and now she came up barging in her life expecting she will hear her explanations? What would she expect her to react? Accept her with wide arms open? She doesn't need a mother anymore. She was way too late...