Five Words

Chapter 43

~Cher

I zip my suitcase and pull it off my bed settling it down on the floor. I quickly scan the room with my eyes to ensure that I haven't forgotten any essentials. I tuck my phone in my pocket and grab the car keys off the dresser. I knock on the door that separates Ace and me.

"Hurry up, Ace."

I can't believe him. He is the one who convinced me to wake up this early in order for us to begin the day there. I didn't want to wake up early to drive us there, but he insisted and now he is taking too much time.

Dragging my suitcase behind me, I open the door. Simultaneously, Ace's door opens and he exits with his own suitcase behind him. His lips curl into a smile when he locks eyes with me.

"Good morning," I say with a smile of my own.

"Good morning." He replies and walks to me.

"Are you ready to go?"

He nods eagerly and I notice the glimpse of excitement in his eyes, but it doesn't stay just a glimpse for long and the feeling of excitement has taken over him.

After several frustrating tries, at last, we have managed to fit both of our bags into my tiny car.

"You should buy a bigger car." Ace says as he closes the car's trunk.

"By the way, this car is very suitable for this town's streets if you think about it." I answer him and run my hand along the length of the car, "Plus, it's chic."

"Not really." He rolls his eyes and walks to the passenger's seat.

"I'll grab one last thing." I hear his groan but I ignore it and run up the stairs.

I run to Paulina's room and knock a couple of times. Paulina opens the door and smiles at me.

"You leaving already?" She glances at the clock then back at me.

I raise my hands, "Your son's choice not mine. I'm here for our--"

"Yeah, hold on." She doesn't let me continue and walks inside to bring it.

I see my mother sitting on Paulina's bed. We haven't really talked since our useless argument the other day. I mean it wouldn't have been useless if she would've just told me what is it she doesn't want me to know. She knows that I hate it when people lie to me, and she out of all people should trust me more than anyone in the world. The fact that she trusts Paulina more than she trusts me hurts me deeply, and I believe that she knows it.

"Cher..." She begins as she gets off the bed.

"Are you ready to tell me?" I ask her directly, my eyes cutting through her.

"Honey, you're leaving and--"

"I'm sorry then."

Paulina is waiting by my mother with the garment bags in her hands. I can see that she wants me to talk to her, and hear her out. Unless she is willing to speak the whole truth, I don't have it in me to talk to her when I know that she can't trust me.

"Paulina, please." I extend my arm waiting for her to hand them over.

"Cher, talk to Adele. Sometimes we keep things from our kids to protect them. Your mother is looking out for you, darling."

"No." I shake my head, "My mother doesn't trust me. She clearly doesn't know that I love her and there is nothing that can separate me from her no matter how big it is. We will work it through."

I avert my gaze and look at her, "I thought family came first, mom. But I guess it doesn't."

I don't wait any longer and I walk to Paulina taking the two cases from her. I glance one last time at my mother. I am ready to hold Ace off for as long as it takes if she will tell me. Sadly, she doesn't change her mind.