Falling Stars [h.s]

Chapter 38

Aurora

After ringing the doorbell, I stood patiently, holding tightly onto my daughters hand, waiting for the door to open. Soon enough it did. My father stood opposite of me with a look of disbelief that immediately turned into relief. "Aurora?"

"Hi dad." I breathed out. He continued standing still and staring at me, probably trying to process everything. To my surprise he took a step out of the house and wrapped his arms around me securely. I felt myself dropping Layla's hand and bringing my own up to hug my father back. He buried his face in my shoulder that I could now feel as being wet. He was crying, making me cry as well. He squeezed me tightly as if to say he never wanted to let go. I know I didn't. I never wanted to let go of him. I felt safe again in my fathers arms. Something I haven't felt in a really long time.

Eventually we parted and controlled our emotions. "I've missed you so much Aurora."

"I missed you too dad" I cried. His eyes dropped down to Layla who shyly grabbed a hold of my leg. "Who's this?" He asked softly.

"My daughter. Her name is Layla." He dropped down to her level and stared at her carefully. "Hi Layla. I'm your grandpa. It's so nice to finally meet you little one."

"It's nice to meet you too." She beamed immediately swaying away from her shy state. He picked her up cautiously as if not wanting to break her and held her in his arms. "How old are you ms Layla?"

"Seven!" I toned out of their conversation, trying to wrap my mind around where my mother could be. I peered into the house but I couldn't see much of anything.

"Why don't you come in. I'll make tea and we can chat for a bit." I nodded at his request. We made our way inside the house. I took a look around everything about the room looking the same way it did six years ago. We took a seat on the living room couch, my father leaving to retrieve the tea he mentioned from the kitchen.

He came back with cups placed on a plate and a thermo. He placed the stuff on the small coffee table in front of us before sitting down on the across next to the one i was on.

"How are you Aurora? How has life been treating you? Where are you staying?" He asked questions one after the other, uncertain with himself of what he wanted to ask first.

"I'm good dad. Very well. Life has been treating me very good as well. I love California now. Napa. With Odyssey and her kids. We're happy. I'm happy."

"That's good baby. I'm glad you're happy. I was worried about you. I haven't heard from you ever since you left and I just didn't know what to think or do. I tried contacting you but you know how your mother is. She refused to let me get in touch with you. I'm just so happy to see you right now. Alive and well."

"Speaking of mother. Where is she? How is she doing?" He left out an exasperated sigh, slightly shaking his head. "In all honesty, she's not doing too well Aurora. Ever since you left she hasn't been the same. She tries to mask how she is really feeling, but you leaving really did take a toll on her." Hearing my father saying all this broke my heart. Was it true? Did my mother really miss me or was it just a facade?

"Where is she now?" The front door opened and as if on que my mother walks in through the door carrying grocery bags. I quickly stood up going over to help her. She picked up her head, making eye contact with me. She looked different then what I last remembered. Much older, but that was self explanatory. The gray bags under her eyes making it seem like she hasn't slept well in a while.

She stood staring in disbelieve for a few seconds before speaking "Aurora?" I held onto the bags in her hands, stopping them from dropping onto the ground.

"Hi."

She took a step towards me before bringing her shaky hands up to my face and softly placed them on my cheeks. "Is that really you?" The tears glossing in her eyes made my own tears begin to rise. "Yes mother, it's really me."

She let out a breath of air, saying my name once more. "Aurora."

"Mother." She removed her hands from my face, bringing them to her eyes and wiping away her tears instead. She took another look at me before walking away. I stood in the same spot, processing what just happened. I followed her into the kitchen, placing the bags on the kitchen counter. I watched my mother as she began to put away the groceries. As she ignored my presence.

"Mother?"

"You don't have the right to call me that." She snapped suddenly. Turning to look at me with a look of anger in her now red eyes. "Not after leaving us for your own selfish needs and never calling to check up on the people who raised you."

"I only left because you pushed me away! For so long I tried to be the perfect daughter but it seemed as if anything I did was never enough. You tried to control me, my life and what was I to do, stick around and let you?"

"Your return is not needed nor wanted here, go back from where you came." Her words triggered something in me, instead of reacting to it, I left the kitchen, quickly getting my daughter and saying my goodbyes to my father who tried stopping me from going, before leaving out of the front door.

"Who is this?" My mother's voice sounded from behind me as I was walking down the driveway. I stopped in my tracks, turning to face her.

"No one you need to concern yourself about. I'll be out of Boston and out of your hair in no time. Until then I promise to keep my distance. Goodbye mother." I turned around continuing my walk to anywhere else but here. Footsteps sounded from behind me, suddenly a hand grabbing hold of my arm. Turning around, my mother stared me down before her eyes met Layla's.

"What is her name?" She asked softly.

I hesitated to tell her. She wanted nothing to do with me. Why should I have to tell her about my daughter?

"Layla Alaska." My mother crouched down as tears brimmed her eyes once more. "She's beautiful Aurora. She looks just like you when you were younger." I held tightly onto my daughters hand as my mother got closer to her and tried picking her up. Layla refused, grabbing a hold of my leg instead. A look of hurt flashed over my mother's face. She stood up, turning to look at me instead.

"You know, the real reason for my leaving was not because you pushed me out, but because of my daughter. I didn't want her growing up here with you. I wanted a better life for her. One where she didn't have to deal with the toxicity that comes along with being related to you. I was going to allow her to grow up in a place where she wasn't welcomed or felt she had to hide away to escape your toxic behavior. I was not going to allow you to treat her the way you did me growing up. And I think I did a pretty amazing job raising her without your help. Don't for a second go to thinking we need you because I can assure you we don't and we've been doing a pretty damn good job without you these past six years. I can assure you that Layla will never come to you for anything. There isn't anything you could do for her that I can't... The only person she will ever need is me. I made sure of that."

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