Monica comforted her Mom all the way home. She took her Mom to the room and her Mom finally broke down in her hands. "I'm sorry sweetie...I haven't been a good Mom...please forgive me sweetie " Martha cried as she clasped her hands around Monica's.
"Mom please stop apologising...you have been the best Mom I could ever wish for...please stop this... I'm going to cry if you continue" Monica urged her Mom to stop crying as she was feeling pained seeing her Mom like this.
"I know you wouldn't deprive me of a fathers love for no reason...hehe...I met my Dad for the first time when I was 12..." Monica said and let out a sarcastic laugh towards the end trying to crack a joke.
"I know you are still young sweetie... but there are some things you must know" Martha said in seriousness before wiping away her tears.
"I never wanted you to know of that scum of a Dad...he was so heartless many years ago and now has come back into our lives...I don't want him to take you away from me..." Martha said as her tears flowed again.
"Mom...its okay...don't tell me if you don't want to but please stop crying..." Monica consoled her Mom.
"No my dear...you must know of that b*stard's true colour..." Martha said as she started narrating the previous events.
"Your father got married to me while I was still in my teens. He wasn't really old back then, just a little over 40. We met at my 16yrs birthday and something unexpected happened which led to our wedding a year later" .
"During the year before we got married, he was very loving and affectionate. He always took me out either on movie dates or dinner we spent quality time with each other".
"He would always pick me up from school and read with me when I have exams. That time, I slowly fell for him and was convinced that age was just a number because he proved he loved me" Martha continued deep in thought.
"It wasn't until after a year after our marriage that I realised the scum of a man that I married. He would always insult me for not being able to bear a child and disgrace me whenever the opportunity arises. I would always convince myself that he was going through a phase because I couldn't birth a child but that believe was crushed when he married again".
"Not once...not twice...not even thrice but he got married five times. He divorced two of his wife who birth a girl and I wasn't an exemption to this" Monica couldn't hold it in anymore as she burst into tears while flying into her mother's embrace.
"Mom..." she cried. It looks like the situation has changed as Martha is the one doing the comforting work. "Child...I'm sorry..." that was the only thing that could come out of Martha's mouth and a soft murmur at that.
Monica cried until her eyes were swollen before she stopped due to fatigue. Martha could understand how brave of a daughter Monica was. At 12yrs and she was this mature and never did anything irresponsible. She could imagine how hard it was for her daughter to discover she was abandoned by her own father so she comforted to the best of her abilities.
Its okay sweetie...he's not worth it...you are the bravest and strongest girl a mother could ever ask for so show me that fighter in you" Martha said to Monica in a courageous voice as she wiped her tears.
"Please dont ever leave me Monica...I know your father will never let you be with me so please promise me you will always stay by my side". Although it was selfish of her to demand her daughter not to acknowledge her father, that was the best decision she had to make. Who knows...he might even mistreat Monica once he got custody so she wasn't going to take any risk.
"Now cheer up my princess...do you want me to cry??" Martha asked with a pitiful expression as Monica burst into laughter while cleaning away her tears.
"C'mon, let's go have dinner...I'll make it up to you for our ruined evening. The mother and daughter duo regained their bearing as they set out for dinner.
It was already late in the evening when Mrs Clara and her husband came back from work. The twins by this time were already back from their friends place so they all sat together for dinner. The table was unusually quiet so Mrs Clara ordered pizza for dessert.
"Whatsup Martha...are you okay??" Mrs Clara asked when she noticed Martha and Monica still looked lost even when eating pizza.
"Martha..." she called out again when Martha didn't respond. "He's back...he saw Monica..." Martha said in an expressionless voice. "I think he will try to get custody of Monica" she said.
"Martha..."
"Dont worry Clara...I was just thinking...maybe its time I get married again..." Martha cut in when Mrs Clara tried to comfort her.
"WHAT!!! "