Chapter 89
TARA
I couldn’t say if I considered it funny now, or something else. For the last couple of days, I’d been worried sick about the outcome of us coming back here, but as soon as I laid eyes on my mother, all my worries melted into nothingness.
It was like she didn’t believe it was me at first, but immediately I said the word, a shocked sound slipped past her lips, and she threw her arms forward. going in for an embrace. On instinct, I did the same, laughing as the heaviest weight of the moment was lifted off my chest.
Wrapping my arms around her neck and burying my face into her clothes, I felt hot tears falling from my eyes, and I didn’t bother stopping them. She was alive. She was well, and I got to see her again. To smell that familiar scent of home, of my mother.
“My baby girl,” she cried, her smaller body racking with aggressive sobs against mine. “I never thought the goddess would bless me with a day to see you. again. This has to be an illusion. Please tell me it’s not a dream,” Mom cried, running her hands over my hair, down my arms, and back,
I laughed, reacquainting myself with the intimacy that was just her…
“It’s not a dream, Mom, I’m here.“”
She pulled away from me, still holding onto my shoulders, so she could stare into my eyes with her warm ones. Eyes that were so similar to mine, a the sniffed.
and
“Thank you, Moon Goddess for bringing my child back to me…..
“Children,” I corrected, my heart fighting to break through my throat. “Or more like…child and grandchild,” I said, my eyes shifting to my dad who still stood quietly behind Mom, before dropping to a lost–looking Nadia beside me.
Mom’s mouth fell open, and this time, her gasp was almost inaudible. A shaky
ty palm came up to her chest as she did a double take between me and Nadia, pieces of the puzzle falling into place in that head of hers
“By the moon goddess,” she muttered, tears rolling down her cheeks freely now. “Is this real?” Her voice broke on each syllable, drawing more tears from me that I didn’t know I had to shed, so I simply nodded because I didn’t think I could form many words,
“Yes,” I forced out, and Mom let out a wail that sounded more like guilt than relief, and I swallowed the lump that had balled in my throat back down Ar impossible feat.
“May 17a Mom asked somewhat solemnly after a few seconds passed, and I nodded again.
She dropped to her knees, taking Nadia’s hands in hers, and as Mom communed her feelings to both Nadia and the Moon goddess, my mind returned to the one piece I hadn’t yet resolved, and my eyes settled on my dad, unwavering this time.
“Dad,” I called in a clear voice, a feeling other than longing or happiness trickling into my system for the first time to anger, and it was directed at him.
since 1
set
t foot here. Something
yakin
“Daughter,” he supplied back, not bothering to call me by my name, and not trying to
rying to mask the indifference in his voice.
Was
this real?
After sending the away for making a mistake e that I spent years regretting–after all this time, he still didn’t flinch?
Did I truly deserve the award of the betrayal daughter of the century for getting pregnant outside of marriage? Could I not learn my lessons, and could my dad not learn his?
I was about to say something, I’m not sure what, only knowing that it was going to be a solid piece of my mind, but I held myself back when Mom’s familiar voice sounded in my ears, pulling me from the bout of anger that had me in a grip.
This day has to be the brightest day we’ve had in years if not decades. We’re so happy you’re back, Tara, and with Nadia.” Mom’s voice was slow, but the excitement seeped from it all the same.
I didn I recall mentioning Nadia’s name, and I briefly turned to see her smiling sheepishly at her grandmother before I realized that she must have introduced herself, but I missed it because I was being blinded by anger toward a man who I was beginning to resize didn’t care about me or my daughter,
“Were happy to be here, Mom. I’m happy to be welcome,” I said truthfully, even if only by her.
I made my resolution quickly. I was going to try my hardest to mend our broken bridges. After all, that was exactly what I was here for was that I wain 1 going to let my dad steal any more moments that I was going to have with my mum and Nadia.
the thing
Ch
Chapter 89
If he was going to make an effort to rebuild our relationship, then I was all in, I was all in for myself and his only grandchild, but if he want, then I’d know that whatever this was, it had nothing to do with me and said more about my father than me.
Come inside,” Mum gestured toward the house without looking at my dad for permission or
permission or his expression.
Something hail changed too. She wasn’t going to let him dictate what relationship she had with her family like he did all those years ago, and I was happy about that.
Pushing all the negative s
sides to the back of my mind, I focused on the present and on getting myself up to date with my mom
The house smelled familiar, and my homesickness started to feel better now that I was where I missed the most
Mom ushered us in, pampering Nadia like a mother hen who had reconnected with her lost chick, and I could only watch from a distance, and be awed. It took Nadia a while to fully come out of her shell, but she eventually did, and before long, her grandmother knew almost everything about her.
I spoke about as much as I could, catching my mom up to date on everything that happened with me over the years, making sure to highlight the good parts, while leaving the gory details where they belonged.
As I watched the evening unfold, I kept asking myself why I didn’t do this sooner, like years before now.
But all the while, my dad sat away from us with an unreadable expression on his face, tolerating our presence.
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