His hands were trying to reach out to my cheeks, but then I slapped his hand away aggressively.
"Are you crazy, Mason? We're both supposed to be mourning our spouses, not trying to be together. We have children. We have our careers and a whole lot of other things to think about"
"But Lau...."
"No buts Mason. You had your chance and you missed it. You can't have any other chance again" I replied and immediately regretted. I never meant to bring that up, seeing that it's been almost eighteen years.
"What do you mean by 'I missed it'?" He asked, seeming oblivious, which angered me the more.
"Nothing Mason. Forget I ever said anything. Now I want you to leave"
"What??!!"
"Things are getting strained and awkward between us. So leave before my kids come back and find out that..."
"... find out what, mum?" Alex walked in at that moment with Amanda. She looked from Mason to me and back to Mason. I cleared my throat.
"Nothing really dear. I wasn't expecting you so soon. How did the shopping go?" I asked her with a smile. Mason was still standing there fidgeting with his fingers. I wondered what he was still standing there doing. I hated the way he was making me break all my resolves. He was my best friend for Christ sake and should in case any thing goes wrong between us, I could lose him as a friend as well, which was something I'm sure I wouldn't survive.
"Well. Well, Annie's boyfriend came over and they were all acting lovey-dovey and It felt so awkward with me being there and I started to feel sleepy. And that's why I'm home. Hello to you too Mr Smith" She walked away to her room immediately.
I stilled and I know Mason felt the same way too, judging by the way he tightened his fists. My kids refer to him as uncle Mason or Mason, most times.
"You need to leave now Mason"
This time around, he didn't protest. He turned and left instantly. A part of me wanted to run after him, call him back, kiss him senselessly and tell him how much I also loved him; how I've never really given myself any chance to feel anything for anybody because I've always loved one person who rejected me earlier on.
I was really relieved that Alex didn't bring up the issue after that day, neither did she try to ask what we were talking about.
It was finally Amanda's birthday. I told Andrew to take her out of the house so we could get the house decorated and set. The party was supposed to begin properly at noon, so we had enough time to do the decorations. Tash and Pat also stopped by to assist in the decoration. I was really glad to see them and I didn't hold myself from expressing how happy that made me, to them.
"I'm really glad you both are here. Thank you" I said, taking turns to hug them.
"Of course. I wouldn't miss my favourite super girl's birthday for anything in the world" Tash said holding up what looks like a big box. It was wrapped beautifully with a purple ribbon and the words 'Happy birthday my Super Girl' written on it. I smiled at her thoughtfulness.
"Of course today's an off day at work and apart from watching movies on Netflix and doing FaceTime with my brother, I have no other thing to do so I decided to..."
"What a boring life!" Tash exclaimed sarcastically and walked away immediately. Pat and I laughed hysterically.
"Anyways you're welcome" I smiled at Pat.
"Of course I am. Now let's get this place cleaned up quickly. Why on Earth would you bind blue balloons together with brown balloons, Laura Anderson?? Amanda's friends would see this and run away, ruining her day for her, all because her mommy has no sense of colours" Pat said and began disassembling everything I'd spent almost an hour doing. Tash was assisting Alex in the kitchen. I was super proud of my daughter. She volunteered to bake Amanda's birthday cake; Andrew also told me she's making small chops as well. I have her the money she needed to get all the things she'd use though. The house was filled with the aroma of different kinds of food. I was really impressed.
I decided to go to my room to have my shower and dress up as guests were beginning to arrive. Tash was in my room, in just a bra and panties, admiring herself in the mirror.
"What are you doing here?" I asked her.
"What does it look like I'm doing? Anyways Nathan and I are now dating" She said with an excited smile. I don't know why, but that information made me feel sad and a little jealous. Here she was finding love and here I was picking up the broken pieces of my life.
"Don't give me that face, Laura. Everybody have their own times and seasons, and probably this isn't your own time yet. Besides, you know all the stress I had to go through before Nathan and I decided to work on our differences"
I smiled. I was about to ask her how exactly they resolved everything when I heard a uniquely familiar voice. Still in my nightwear, I rushed out of my bedroom down the hallway ignoring Tasha's advice to at least put on a robe.
"Mamma!!"
I screamed loudly as I jumped on my mum's body. I hugged her tightly, not willing to let go. I looked at Alfred who was standing at the door and watching us and I smiled gratefully at him.
I pulled away to look at her.
She looked so beautiful and as if she never aged a day. She kissed my forehead like she always did when I was younger.
"Oh my God Laura!!! I used to call you a wildflower and I was actually right. You did not just survive sweetheart. You bloomed and I'm proud of you" My mother said so sweetly.
"Oh how I've always wanted this day to come to a reality"
I hugged her again, not wanting to let her out of my sight.
Alex came out of the kitchen soon after, with her face and body covered in flour, with Pat trailing behind her. I almost laughed at the scene.
My mum pulled away from me and moved close to Alex. I looked at both their faces; the resemblance was so noticeable.
"Alex meet your grandmother. Mum, meet Alex my beautiful daughter and your amazing grandmother"
My mum's eyes watered. Alex pulled off her apron slowly and hugged my mum happily.
"I'm so happy to finally meet you grandmummy"
Tasha and Pat took turns hugging my mum as well and telling her how they've heard so much about her from me.
I went outside to meet Alfred.
"Thank you so much Alfred. You don't know how much this means to me"
"It's alright Laura. The only reason I don't hate my asshole of a brother, is because he made beautiful kids with you and provided me with beautiful nieces and a nephew. Asides that, I still don't get how I was ever related to him. You didn't deserve to be treated the way he treated you. I hope you find love again, Laura, and I mean it. And for the record, I never maltreated your mum" He laughed. "She actually worked with me as my housekeeper and that was when I found out who she was. I'd never have collected a million dollars from you, anyways. You need it more than me"
I hugged him so tightly. He's really showed how he cared about me by being amazing. Just then his phone rang. He quickly gave me a big grocery bag that I didn't realize he's been holding, and asked me to give it to Amanda as a birthday gift. He turned to leave, promising to stop by later At the same time, I saw Mason turn back.
Oh shit!!!
He obviously saw me hugging Alfred and probably got the wrong notion that we were together. I wanted to run after him, but then a hand on my shoulder stopped me.
It was Alex.
"Do not, mama. Why would you let men treat you like shit? You deserve to be pampered, not to be the one pampering them. Anyways, the party's about to get started" She said with a smile and I held her hand softly and walked back inside with her.
The parlour was already filled up with children, but something was wrong. Andrew and Amanda were not back yet. It's been 4 hours now.