Madame Williams ( teacherxstudent )

27

I took a deep breath and dialed a familiar number, "We need to talk."

"Really? That's all you say after almost six years?" I sighed on the phone, frowning at my mother's words.

I could hear her roll her eyes through the phone, "Well, it's what I need to do. I can't talk right now, I've been trying to reach you since last night. Why haven't you responded to any one of my phone calls?!"

I took a deep breath, "Is there something wrong? Did something happen that you need to talk to me?" I asked, trying my best to keep any annoyance off of my tone.

My mother hadn't kept in touch since I first got pregnant, I mean she did send a Merry Christmas postcard every year, or at least tell my dad to wish me a happy birthday, which was bullshit. She had tried after I lost Aaron, she really tried to be close with me again, but of course I pushed her away. My sister says I can't accept her apologies because of my big ego and stubbornness, but I like to think that it's because she hurt me and pushed me away in the moment I needed her the most, and until this day she has never acknowledged that she lost a grandson, too.

"No, no. This is something I have to discuss with you, as soon as possible." I hadn't heard her voice in many years, but I could never forget that angry tone of hers, and she was speaking with it right now, "I'm on my way to your house, now." And now she sounded neurotic and psychotic.

"Mom I'm sure one of your coworkers will be glad to cure your dementia, but I can't have you home right now." I said, running a hand through my hair, the anxiety rising as I kept overthinking what the fuck was going on.

"You're with her right now?"

My eyes widened at the question, "What are you talking about," I asked, not adding a question mark. I knew exactly what she was talking about, because who else would she be talking about, it's not like I had multiple affairs with different women.

She scoffed, "Laura's my patient, Diane. I know you've been fucking your student, that's why we need to talk." She groaned out of anger.

"Mom, I can explain." I said, adrenaline running through my veins as realization hit me. My mom knew about me and Lou.

"Oh I hope you can, that's why I'm parking outside your house right now."

I sighed, again, "I'm on my way there, uh... wait for me." I said and finished the call. I threw my phone to the passenger seat and watched it fall to where Laura's feet were just a few moments ago.

Now I understood why my mother had a sudden urge to contact me.

I groaned and put my hands in fists, banging them against the steering wheel. I had rage and the so described fear. I had just seen Laura go into her house and I wasn't going to text her about this, I felt it was better to shut up and explain tomorrow, maybe summoning her to stay after class so I could "have a word with her".

I closed my eyes and tried regulating my breathing, but I felt nauseous, like I was going to throw up. My chest felt tight and I didn't know if I was going to have a heart attack or a panic attack.

Somehow I made it home, where my mom had already parked. She got out of her car at the same time as I did from mine and no words were spoken until I had unlocked the door and we both were inside the house.

"Uh, want some water?" I played with my ring as I started up to my mom. I felt so small around her, like a defenseless puppy.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you."

She was still polite, at least.

Jillian was of course older than the last time I saw her. There were lines on her forehead, and her hands were veiny, she had also gained a bit of weight, but she remained as beautiful as the day she married my dad, and probably as bitter as when she divorced him.