You and Me

Chapter 38

Ivan's POV

I could tell that Charlotte was getting uncomfortable and I would too, I don't know why mom is acting this cold towards her. Violet greeted us and her eyes lit up when she say Charlotte. "Oh my god sister in law, hey!" she said and Charlotte got up and hugged her. I love how they get along. They are the two most important women in my life and it makes me happy that they get along.

"Don't call her your sister-in-law Violet, they aren't even married and I doubt that they will." my mom said and I didn't respond. Not because I didn't want to but from the shock. How could she say that? Why is she acting this way towards the woman I love. I looked at Violet who looked at my mom wide eyed and then at Charlotte who looked like she was going to burst right now before I could say anything to defend her, she spoke. "Um, if you could please excuse me." she said, she got up and started to walk to the bathroom. "Charlotte!" I shouted at her and as I got up, Violet placed her hand on mine and spoke. "It's ok, let her take a breath, okay? If she doesn't come back in five minutes I'll go get her" she said and I just sat down and closed my eyes. I sighed and opened my eyes to look over at my mother. Anger and worry was filling my body. Anger towards my mother for being so cold and cruel to the woman who I started to plan a  life with. And worry for Charlotte, the pills are already making her feel insecure, depressed, and her feelings are all over the place and now my mother is making it all so much worse.

"Why are you acting so cold towards her? What the hell is wrong with you?" I said to my mother. Anger filled my words and she took a sip of her drink. "I agree honey you took it too far the poor girl has done nothing but be nice and sweet to you, why are you treating her the way you are?" my father finally spoke. "Honestly mom, she's the sweetest girl in the world, you don't even know what she's going through" Violet spoke and rolled her eyes at my mother. "Oh god stop defending her Jesus! I just want what's best for you Ivan and that girl isn't" she said and I scoffed. "How would you know?" I asked her, clearly annoyed. "I mean look at her she is a walking mess, she came into your life to just make a mess out of the company and you" she said. What the actual fuck is wrong with her right now?

"Are you fucking serious?" I said to her and she looked at me with wide eyes because I swore to her. " You see you spent a month with her and you are already disrespecting me" she said and Violet scoffed. "That's enough," Violet said. "I'm going to go check on her" she said and before she could get up Charlotte came out and I could see she had been crying because her eyes looked red. She wiped her cheeks and then approached the table. I got up to make sure she was okay and walked a couple steps towards her. She just sent me a small sad smile that I could tell was forced and walked right past me. I walked to the table behind her and saw that she picked up her purse. She's leaving. I could feel my heart quickening and aching. "Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Lombardo for tonight but I really need to go" she said and started to put on her purse. "See Ivan she's too weak for you" My mother said and I could just explode right now. "Mother enough!" I spoke to her anger evident in my tone. "I'm so sorry if I offended you in any way Mrs. Lombardo, but please stop making me feel like a piece of trash or a broken doll who needs to be fixed. I'm leaving because my father isn't okay and I need to go see him. Thank you again for tonight." she said, wiping a small tear from her cheek. I could tell she was trying to keep it together. I saw she was about to start walking and I grabbed her arm. She just closed her eyes and exhaled. "Wait, I'll take you," I said, reaching to grab my suit jacket from the chair before she stopped me.

"No" she said and I looked at her confused and I could tell she was hurting. Seeing her like this was starting to hurt me as well. That one word made my heart ache for her. "What" I said to her. I could tell she was trying to hold back tears. She took a big breath and blinked a couple of times. "No, it's okay, stay with your family... Waverly's office is near here so I called her. She's waiting for me outside... It's ok" she said and my heart was aching. I should've just asked her for us to leave as soon as I realized that my mother had it out for her. Instead I stayed here.

"Char-" I said before she cut me off. "Ivan, it's okay, I'll be fine. I um... I gotta go I'll talk to you later" she said and I nodded I leaned in to kiss her but she kissed my cheek instead, her lips quivering against my skin, I heard her release a small sob and immediately she started to walk away. I saw as she walked away from me and with every step she took I felt more pain. I knew she had to go for her father but I could tell she was hurting from what my mother said. When she was out of my sight I turned around and grabbed my blazer. "I'm leaving" I said bluntly and Violet got up. "Me too, I can't stand to be here anymore. I've never seen you be so cold to someone the way you were with Charlotte's mother... and let me tell you something you're wrong" she said and walked out of the restaurant and so did I.

Charlotte's POV

"Ivan, it's okay, I'll be fine. I um I gotta go I'll talk to you later" I said to him trying to hide the pain that was starting to eat me alive. He nodded and started to lean in for a kiss and I just lightly kissed his cheek. It was so hard for me to contain my emotions that as soon as I kissed him a sob left my body and I could tell he noticed by the way he stiffened his body, I couldn't stay there because I knew I would breakdown so I started to walk away and the tears ran down my cheek. I felt like my heart was being stabbed a thousand times. I got in the car with Waverly. I had briefly told her what had happened while in the bathroom so she didn't ask any questions because she knew I was too upset right now. She started to drive to my parents house and I just stared out the window. My phone started to ring and I picked it up to notice it was Ivan. I didn't want to answer knowing I would start to cry so I let it ring. After a couple of minutes later my phone started to ring and it was an unknown number I picked up thinking it was the doctor who told me he was going to call me when he was done examining my dad.

"Hello" I said into the phone after clearing my throat. "I'm so sorry for what my mother said, you know that I love you right?" the low voice on the other end said. Ivan. I started to cry and I moved the speaker from my phone trying to hide my sobs but I knew that Ivan could hear them because he exhaled.

"I know Ivan but-" I started and he cut me off, "I love you with everything and I won't let my mother come between us. I know you want her approval but I don't care because you are the most important thing in this world to me" he said and I heard a woman in the background. "Hey what about me dick head" she said and I instantly knew it was Violet. I started to chuckle. "Alongside you Violet, damn" he said and I started to laugh.

"That's what I want to hear. You laughing and giggling instead of crying, let me come to you please, I want to be with you right now" he said  and I just sighed. "Ivan-" I said. "I'll even bring Violet if you want," he said, cutting me off. I smiled even though I knew he couldn't see it. "Okay" I whispered into the phone. "Okay I'll see you in a little bit... I love you" he said and I felt so much calmer. "I love you" I said and we hung up and I sent him the address.

"Waverly can we stop at the pharmacy first" I said to her and she looked at me confused. "I want to get my dad a teddy bear" I said and she just chuckled. "You and your obsession with getting teddy bears for your dad... he has like a whole room filled with them" she said and I chuckled. " I love him and that way he has hundreds of bears to remind him that I love him everyday." I said to her and she just sent me a smile which I returned. We drove to the pharmacy. I was feeling better but I could still hear Ivan's mom's words. What was hurting more was that she doesn't even know me so why is she so against me being with Ivan?

Published 06/13/2022