Turnover

40.

It should've felt different.

Walking into Bellagio's Italian Restaurant, Kesi let out a shaky breath as she spotted her mouth. Cassandra's eyes landed directly on her , her eyes.

"Right this way Mrs. Ingram."

She allowed herself to be led by the waiter, but she was beginning to regret her choice. Cassandra was a different woman , even smaller than she was at Kesi's wedding. Her skin seemed to have lost its glow and the light from her shocked eyes was nearly out. Wringing her hands together , Cassandra gave Kesi a pleasant smile as she sat down.

"Wow , Kesi you're having a baby?"

"Well , it looks like that." Kesi smirked before she placed a hand on her stomach "I passed my due date two days ago so it's any day now."

There was almost a serenity that crossed Cassandra's features before her eyes became sad.

"I'm so proud of you Kesi. Despite everything I put you through , you managed to have a beautiful life and you accomplished so much."

"Thank you mom."

She blanched , she hadn't heard Kesi address her in that way in so long that it almost immediately brought tears to her eyes. Reaching out a hand , Cassandra took Kesi's palm in hers.

"I was no mother to you and we both know that. I'm not asking you to keep me in your life , I'm just asking you to forgive me." Cassandra gave Kesi a squeeze before she continued "I'm dying Kesi and I don't want to do that and be on these terms with you or your brother."

How did one cope with that news? Kesi was crushed , it was one thing to know Cassandra was ill but to hear from her mouth that the prognosis was fatal was another feeling all together. For some reason she felt a cool sensation run up her spine.

"Are you sure? Is there nothing doctor's can do?"

"It's Kidney Failure Kesi , there's no donor and there's no guarantee there will be one. I've accepted my fate."

"What about me?"

The question escaped her lips before she even thought about the words. All her life she'd always felt the pull to help people , save them. Maybe her harsh upbringing with Cassandra had softened her to the plights of others. Kwasi had always told her to give people chances , a helping hand and she knew that without them her father would've never gotten her.

Cassandra's face fell before she looked away from her daughter. She didn't deserve that. Shaking her head , she turned back to Kesi moments later with a sullen expression.

"Kesi , I wouldn't let you."

"I'm not asking you mum , if you need it to survive then..."

Raising a hand , Cassandra stopped Kesi mid-sentence.

"There's no guarantee my body would accept it and I could never ask that of you Kesi , I couldn't even ask it of Kasim. You are young and promising, your whole life is ahead of you and you and Brandon are starting a family. I wouldn't risk your future on me. You only have two kidneys Kesi, and one of them has no business going to me."

It was hard to hear words that made you feel hopeless but Cassandra seemed to relax after she'd gotten to articulate what she really wanted.

"Kesi I didn't come here to worry about me leaving Earth. I came here hoping to share a bit of yours , to correct even a fraction of the hurt I gave you and to let you know that you're my daughter. You're my only baby girl and I'm so ashamed of how I treated you on account of how things were between your father and I."