"Mom here. I put in a spoon of sugar only." says Jim giving the coffee to her Mom and sitting beside her on the sofa and kept his mug on the table after taking a sip.
Mother takes a sip and looks at him in suprise. "It's good with one teaspoon also." she says in amazement because she never preferred sugar in her coffe.
"I always told you it's better to have it with sugar sometimes." he says.
She sighed and then says, "I started drinking it bitter when I fell in love with your dad. He liked it that way since always. I was not much of a coffee person back in my young age and so hardly did I gave it a try either sweet or bitter. But after he came into my life I changed myself for him. I tried to like things which he liked. Always keeping his preferences over mine was my way of expressing love towards him. And I guess it made him happy too." she says with a heavy throat.
"Patting her shoulder slowly he says, "Mom what happened?"
Her gaze fixed in her coffee she begins, "It all began when your father visited South Haven, Michigan. It was almost two or three months ago precisely. He went there for some of his meetings with his new delegates. He was planning to purchase a 5star hotel there and therefore he had to meet with some people there. It was a 3 days trip he told me before he left. It was nothing new for him to visit places like this but this time he returned with her. "
" So she came with Father from her hometown. " he says in a thoughtful way.
" Yes she came with him. But he introduced her to me as her new assistant from her new hotel. And it was nothing to be suspicious about for me as well. But as time passed there were things that came to the light and often my maid hinted me about them. But since I never thought in that way I couldn't catch her hints. " she sighs, sipped her coffee then continues, " I wish I could have understood what she wanted to tell me before it was too late. But things already have gone too far to make a U-turn. And one day out of the blue I found the file on your father's study table and it mentioned that he had already transferred his shares to her. After that trying to keep my calm I asked her and he didn't denied it either. He clearly stated that he'll be marrying her soon and it was a gift for her." her eyes filling with tears and her voice becoming slow.
"It's okay Mom. Calm down." he says rubbing her back.
"The problem is that he is not stopping at that. Now he is demanding your shares also to give her. I mean if he wants to marry then just marry what is the point in making her equal to his position. He is blinded enough not to see that what she is after."
"I know Mom. I know." he says with his mind running unable to figure out the real intention of Cindy behind it. He is confused about whether Cindy is doing all this by herself or someone is behind her planning all this. It's quite clear that his Father must be having lots of rivals in the corporate world and maybe it's someone trying to take over the company and that person is using Cindy.
"Jim what should we do now? You know I care least about money." she says and the stress is deeply effecting her.
"And someone is behind his power and money." he says confidently.
"Your Father is very sensitive when ut comes to his company."
"I know Mother and I'm hoping it to be less complicated situation rather than what I am assuming."
" What is your assumption?" she asks.
Shaking his head he says, " Nothing just this or that. But you need not to worry about it now. I'll look into all this and figure it out what is cooking. Why didn't you told me all this earlier?"
" I thought I should tell you but you were on the tour and you hardly visited one time since you returned.I wasn't able to figure out the correct time to discuss with you." she says disappointed.
" I'm sorry Mother. I shouldn't have been so reckless and irresponsible towards you. Please forgive me." he says with his head bowed and heavy voice breaking because he seems like crying.
" No my son." she lifted his head and hugged him.
" I'm sorry for being a stupid son." he sobs.
" No my baby you are not stupid." she says patting his back.
" Believe me I had everything planned about visiting you with Anna or to meet all three of us somewhere for lunch or dinner but then things messed up a lot in last few days with her and I got occupied." he told wiping his face.
" What happened?" she asks.
And then he told the entire thing to her and as he ends it she says, " This poor child is always in misery by one or the other. She had a father who was of no good neither was her fiancee. God give her strength to pass through it."
Since she has known her too from the time Jim and she became friends so she is aware of all the shit Anna went through and how much Jim is concerned about her.
"Would Anna be able to sort it out. Should I talk to her about this?" he wonders.
" Aren't you going to hospital? " she asks getting up .
Looking at her puzzled he checks the time and jumps to his feets. It's quarter to 4 now and he didn't even checked up on her today, not even once.
Mother looking at him got the idea that he must have done something that he's getting shaky about.
"What happened now? Did you forget something?" she asks.
"I didn't called her today not even once Mom. I was going to hospital in the morning but I received the call and went to office." he says rumbling thorough his clothes and then rushing to the room to change.
" I'll come with you." she said loudly.
Coming out in a black shirt and black denims with hair brushed back but few strands falling on the forehead gives him this cute but tough look at the same time.
" That's great. She'll be rejoiced to meet you too." he says coming out.
" Lets go then." she says going towards the door.
He also follows her after picking up the keys, cellphone and his coat. Rushing around the house he makes sure to turn off the lights and check the stoves also. Watching all this Mother felt he surely became responsible. Earlier all this was done by the servants for him but now he is doing all this with such competence. She feels proud of him being such a good person. After putting the mugs in the dishwasher he finally moves out of the house and locked it.
" Let's go." he says with a bright smile.
Smiling back she went with him but as they were about to head towards the exit of parking her phone starts ringing.
He stops the car for her to answer. "Where are you?" Richard asks in his rude way of talking.
"Do you need something?" she asks.
"We are discussing about something and I need you to be here."
"I'll be late today. You please carry on with your discussions." she replies politely.
"I didn't ask you. I told you to be here Irene ." he says sternly.
She ends the calls without replying and looks at Him. Understanding her expressions he took her to the house without asking anything further.
" Give my regards to Anna." she finally says something while she steps out the car.
"Mom!" he calls.
She turns towards him, "Promise me you'll inform me if anything comes up. Don't worry about me or my work or my whereabouts, just call me like you use to do during my college days." he pleaded.
" Sure Son." she says caressing his cheek and then bidding goodbye she went inside the door.
He was unsure to leave her like this because he don't trust anyone in this house but still he has a bit in his mind about his father not being narcissist towards her.
For a moment he felt like going inside and turning the tables around but he is afraid that it might ruin the situation. He would do so but he needs complete information about Cindy and her plans beforehand.
Taking a deep breath he turns his car and drove towards the hospital. By now it is already 5 in the evening and the sky seems dark because of the clouds today. Will it be snowing or raining today he thought to himself.
"Ohh.... why didn't I texted her? She must be overthinking the whole scenario from yesterday. Arghh... what should I do now." he says scratching his head hard.
"I should call Isabelle." he says snapping his fingers.
Stopping his car outside the hospital he calls Isabelle, "Please don't say my name and don't talk in front of her." he begs as the call is received.
" Why so?" Anna asks.
Listening her voice he just flashed out for a moment. " No I just meant that if she'll talk you might get disturb while resting." he says trying to sound convincing.
" And why shouldn't she say your name?" she again asks.
" I meant you might be bothered if she says it's me calling." he stammered figuring out what to say.
" Come up with some good reasons Jim. Atleast the ones which can make some sense." saying this she ends the call and keeps the phone on the side table and smiles at Isabelle who is asleep on the couch.
He bump his head on the steering for making such lame excuses and not listening to before speaking.
" Gosh... Why do I have to make mistakes one after the other?" saying this he turns the car and went.
"What was the use of making such excuses? And why is he not coming yet?" she wonders.
"Is he fine? I should have asked this atleast. Ohh my why do I always forget to be a bit nice?" she says.
Had she not been asleep I wouldn't have received the call. Who knows what he wants to talk to her about. She just started overthinking again on this petite issue. Now questions like, should I call him? should I text him and ask where is he and why didn't he came today? should I wake her up and ask her to call him to know what he wants to talk about? etc and many others.
Looking at the door hoping it to open any second for him to enter she thinks all this. But even after minutes passed Jim is not here. "Why is he not coming? I surely did heard the ambulance siren simultaneously on both sides. He was here when he called so what's taking so long?"