"Where is this place?" I asked mom as she drove into the gates of the beautiful terrace.
"One of my properties." She said,
"Mom, I hate that you left him. Please, you shouldn't be going through this." I said, "I made this mess myself."
"No baby, you did the right thing. Now the whole world would know the monsters those people are." She said tapping my back.
"I'm proud of you. You stood for the truth."
"Thanks mom."
"Let's go in. I'll order food." She said.
The house is not as big as the one we left but it sure was beautiful.
"I never knew you had such amazing taste." I said, admiring the beautiful set up.
"I take this house as my little dollhouse always decorating," Mom giggled.
I smiled at how happy she seemed to be here. That alone made me glad.
The food was delivered an hour later after we both showered and changed into something comfortable.
We sat in the mini living thay had very minimal furniture.
Just a plush rug and a few throw pillows.
My heart welled when I saw what she ordered for me.
chicken parmesan and spaghetti.
My favorite.
"Thanks mom," I said, hugging her from the side.
"Come on now, it'll get cold." She said.
I dug in immediately and so did she.
The air was silent and the only sound was the one from all the food munching.
"Mom, what's wrong?" I asked halfway in.
"With what?"
"You and Dad. Why did you leave?"
"Cuz I wanted to." She said.
"You can't just want to leave the man you've been married to for over 30 years," I said.
Though Dad has always been a bit toxic and he's not the best person to live with, he has always loved mom.
And she loves him too. I can see in their eyes, the way they talk.to each other, the way they make each other laugh and how to bring peace and comfort to one another.
But tonight, mom decided to leave and he couldn't even raise his head to look at her, to convince her to stay.
That is not the couple I've known while growing up.
"You know you can tell me right?" I laid a comforting arm in her shoulder.
"I already told you." She said, avoiding eye contact.
"Then look me in the eyes and tell me what's wrong," I said.
"I already told you Adriana. Please don't push it." She was still not looking at me, and that's how I know she's lying.
"I can help you fix the problem!"
"No!" she yelled, waving her hands frantically in the air.
"Why?" My face fell.
"Christopher has been cheating on me all these years!" She blurted, then covered her mouth with her hands immediately.
My face drained of color, pale and stunned.
This can't be! I'm hearing it all wrong, right?
"No!" I exclaimed.
"Yes!" she said bitterly.
"It can't be," I whispered mostly to myself.
I've known this man for the past seventeen years, he hates me, yes. And i don't like him either, but when it comes to mom, he doesn't joke with anything concerning her.
He takes care of her, loves her, and does everything. I'd never be able to digest the reason why he cheated.
"Oh mom," I moved closer, giving her a hug.
"You know we've been unable to get a child for so long right?" Mom sobbed.
"The doctors said none of us were infertile,"
I leaned back a bit and watched her as she spoke.
"So, we thought maybe having a baby is not in our destiny. Hence, we stopped trying." She said.
"That's when I decided to get you," She smiled.
"I get it, but how is that related to him cheating?"
"Well, You know Caleb right?" She asked.
Of course I know him. He works in Dad's company.
"Yeah,"
"Caleb is Christopher's son," tears streamed down her face, and she wouldn't stop sobbing.
As for me, I was shocked, frozen in time. I didn't know what to say next, I didn't know how to go to bed with such information in my head.
"What the heck!" I felt like I was stabbed.
"All these years mom?"
"Yes baby. All these years. He has been with Alice. For over 28 years!" She was crying uncontrollably now.
I tightened the hug, still trying to wrap my head around all this.
Yes, Caleb should be around 28 years old now. That means Dad has been having this affair for that long?
And Alice, Caleb's mom. She is one of mom's good friends. Always visiting and bringing gifts and all.
How dare she?
"Please don't cry, please," I was tearing up too. This was too much.
Mom of all people does not deserve this. She is a good person.
"I don't blame him, clearly, I'm the one with fertility problems. At least he has a son." She sobbed.
"But Adriana, it hurts so bad knowing that he and Alice have been lying to me!"
"And the worst part is, they still meet. I saw it all. All the hotel tickets, the family vacations, everything Adriana! All behind my back!"
"Mom, mom, please don't cry, I promise you, I'm here now, I promise you. You don't need to cry." I consoled her.
"You are all that I have, Adriana." She said, cleaning her tears.
"I love you mom."
"I love you too baby."
"But why didn't you tell me earlier? Why did you go through all the pain alone?"
"Oh baby, you just got married. I didn't want to bother you with calls." She forced a smile.
My heart sank at the thought of how I didn't even try to contact her after the wedding. I was just so occupied with the Willingham issues.
I'm a terrible person.
"Come on, let's go to bed." She said,
"I want to sleep in your room tonight."
"Sure." She smiled.
Morning came and I was forced awake with the sound of my mom calling my name.
"Are you up yet? breakfast is ready!" she yelled.
I stood up and picked my phone.
over ten missed calls of Kents?
What was up so early in the morning?
"Adriana?" Mom called again. I quickly dropped my phone on the bed then rushed downstairs.
I was about to sit when we heard the doorbell ring.
"I'll check," Mom said.
I wanted to know who it was so I trailed behind her.
Police men?
I wondered what they were doing here.
"We are here with the arrest warrant for Mrs Adriana Willingham."
"Arrest? For what?" I blurted.