Hand in Hand, Forever... (Sequal to The Art Teacher)

Chapter Twenty-Three: Promises Should Be Kept

*Zayn's POV*

I stand in confusion as she hugs me, trying to comfort me but its not working at all. Why was she here and why now? It didn't make sense to me, she hated me with a passion, why was she being like this to me all of a sudden? She pulls away and looks at me, trying to read my expression. "Honey are you okay? Doniya go get your brother some water." Doniya stands up and nods before she walks out of the Living Room and is gone into the kitchen.

"Mom... why are you here? Why now, why ever?" She sighs and takes a seat back on the couch where she was sitting when I came inside. She pats the spot next to her, asking for me to sit next to her. I nod as I slowy make my way towards her, sitting as she gets ready to explain herself.

"Zayn, I know what I did to you was wrong, so wrong I understand why you can't forgive me. But I just need you to know that none of it was ever my idea. It was Yasers. He's done things to me that made me do this horrible things to you. But when we finally got a divorce, I realized that I needed my babyboy back. I had to come and explain myself to you, that's the lease that I could give to you. Then when we came we heard everything. From Madison to Kayla and schooling. And then I heard what just happened and I just thought I had to be there for you. For once in your life I felt like it would be this momwnt where you need your mother." Doniya came back into the Living Room with a glass of water and handed it to me before walking over to the other side if the room. I stare at her and sigh before turning back to my mother.

"Well that's nice and all, but I don't know what to believe and all. But I will think it over. And you can crash her tonight if you guys want. You can come.meet Kayla tomorrow also, she's been dying to meet you guys." Mom nods her head and heads upstairs to the bathroom as I sigh and walk over to Doniya, who's been playing with her fingers for awhile now. I sit next to her which causes her to scoot down away from me some. I sigh and lean back, staring at the ceiling. "What's wrong with you?"

"You that's what."

I look over at her to see her staring very hard at me with a emotionless face. I knit my eyebrow together as I shake my head, clearly not understanding what she meant. She sighs and pats her legs. "Promises should be kept, Zayn. They are meant to be kept. But you broke yours."

"What promise?"

"That when you found a good home, somewhere to settle down to start a new life you would come back and get me. You would comw back and save me from that hell hole that I've been living in. But then I come here and hear you've been living life as good as you can. And not once did you ever think to come and save me, or even think of me or the other girls I bet."

I sit back straight up, looking back at her with my eyes buring into her skin. I guess she got the message because she swallowed hard and back away some more. "Don't you even dare and say that. I've thought about you girls every damn day of my life. I didn't come and save you because I wsnt trying to just got to jail right away. Because me and you both know that mom or Yaser would do it in a heart beat. I was waiting for the right time to come and do it, but this is what you think I did?"

She shakes her head before looking back at me. "I just didn't want to be played around with or used to get my hopes up to high again. I really didn't know Zee." I sigh and scoot closer to her, wrapping my arms lightly around her as his hug her. She sighs and rubs my back, saying sorry almost every second that she gets. But I really don't blame her for thinking that's what I did. I would have thought the same thing if it took that long for my brother to come and save me.

"I'm sorry Don, but get some sleep hun. You need it after that long drive."

~

I woke up before anyome else did, which was around 5 in the morning. I got about like maybe an hour and a half of sleep last night. Its so weird not having Kayla next to me at night, cuddling into my chest. But I ended up waking up to get a shower and maybe make they girls some breakfast if they were up for it. Then we would go to the hospital to see if Kayla was awake or if I would have to wait another day to see her beautiful eyes again.