"What?!" Aida asked looking perplexed.
"Vanessa, will be visiting us tomorrow hopefully" Raymond replied as he started the car.
"To do what?" Aida asked. That was a question Raymond couldn't answer, not because he couldn't explain himself but he didn't know why Vanessa was visiting them. He felt anxious at the thought that Van would be visiting them.
Raymond's silence told Aida, he wasn't ready to talk about it and she didn't pry it any further . Somehow, Raymond felt a bit relieved when Aida stopped prying him. He drove in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. When they arrived home, Mary saw Aida with Raymond and had a questionable look.
As if reading her mind, Raymond began;
"Aida came to my workplace today. It happens Vanessa is in town and they met already. Vanessa will pay us a visit tomorrow" and walked to his study after the summary.
Mary was visibly shocked and teary Aida did not help in calming her poor old nerves. Mary hugged Aida who walked in to her arms sobbing. Mary patted Aida's back as she cried and did nothing to console her. After all, Aida needed it. She needs to have her emotions flow like water, never concealing her pain. To Mary, it was one step to growth for Aida. She never liked how Aida held back all her emotions and pains in order to appear 'prefect' in front of Raymond and her. After an hour, Mary felt Aida's tensed body relax. When the room was filled with only sounds of laryngomalacia from Aida, Mary knew it was time to console and find out what happened. Mary released Aida from the hug and faced her, as they sat on the sofa simultaneously. After Aida finished narrating everything that happened, Mary looked in her eyes and said;
"You don't have to hate Vanessa. Van is a good girl, woman to be precise. Hardships, tortures and tough life, couldn't even bend her" there was a hint of admiration in Mary's voice which was not missed by Aida, yet, she didn't say anything.
"If there's anything I am more that certain about, it's about the fact that Vanessa never hates you" Mary continued.
" Then she doesn't like me either. She never looked for me. She didn't talk to me like a mother who loved her daughter. She was a careless woman who cared not about my feelings nor anyone's. She was just harsh and.." Aida replied but was interrupted by Mary.
"And seemed not affected by anything you said. She looked happy and more like she was enjoying your misery. That's exactly the Vanessa i know. And that's her way of getting you to spill all the hurt inside since keeping them won't do you any good" Mary retorted.
"Really? I think it's been a while you met her. She's absolutely different from the person you think she is" Aida snapped.
"Oh, Aida! How do I get you to understand?" Mary asked with sadness laced in her tiny voice.
"She never loved me. She never looked for me. She can't just show up one-day and claim me. Guess what? She acted like I was some kind of plight, an unfortunate situation! She didn't even look me in the eyes. She made me feel like a disgusting little squeaky mouse! She never looked for me, not even once. She could have reached me if only she has wanted to reach me. All this while, i have been crying and praying to God to let me meet her and she treated me like trash when we finally met!" Aida vented while Mary listen to the grievance of the young lady in front of her. There was no doubt Aida was hurt and had wanted Vanessa to apologize to her for leaving her behind and never reaching out to her.
"Aida" Mary called out softly and reached for her hands. " You need to rest" Mary said and kissed her softly on the forehead. "We'll talk after dinner"
"I ate a lot today. I don't think I can eat anything else." Aida replied.
"I'm not taking a no for an answer. We are eating dinner together. We'll talk after that" Mary said softly yet sternly.
Aida walked to her room without trying talk Mary out of her decision. Once Aida closed the door to her room behind her, Mary relaxed on the sofa and said calmly;
" She's gone now. You can have a seat"
Raymond who was standing behind the bookshelves, walked out and took a seat beside Mary.
"Are you ok?"