Troubled Indeed

CHAPTER SEVEN

It's getting dark outside. I've been standing at my mother's doorstep for a couple of minutes now and I can't make my hands stop shaking. I'm still processing what just happened. Is this all real – is Simon really back in my life? I can't go in like that, everyone will know immediately that something is going on. But before I can do something about it the front door opens and my boy lunges at me.

"Hey, sweetheart," I manage to say as I hug him tightly. I want to protect him from the evil that is his biological father. I don't want to let go of him, but he starts wiggling after a few seconds.

"Mommy, why are you sad? Where is Anthony?" he asks me in his cute toddler voice. Is it really that obvious that even a three-year-old can tell that something is wrong?

"Honey, I'm just very tired, but I'm so happy to see you! I think Anthony is at home. Are you ready to go?"

"Not before you have a cup of coffee with your mother," I hear my mother's bossy voice from somewhere inside the house. I think she might be mad at me because I left Benji with her for longer than we agreed. Then again, why wouldn't she want to hang out with her only grandson? He's adorable!

"Let's go inside, honey," I tell Benji as we step inside and close the front door.

"So, tell me, dear daughter..."

Oh boy, here it comes.

"...what was so important that you decided to miss my cake-tasting appointment?"

Oh. My. God. I totally forgot. I was in such turmoil of events that I completely forgot that I promised I would go with her.

"I mean, I didn't mind the company," she shuffles Benji's hair as he walks by, "But he said every cake is yummy and we should choose each one...so basically, he's full of cake and I'm nowhere closer to picking one for the wedding."

I have two options here, lie my ass off or tell her the truth, which I suspect will be out in the open soon enough.

"I met Simon," is all I tell her. Let's see if she remembers.

"Simon...Simon...why is that name so familiar?" she has her arms crossed on her chest and taps her chin with her index finger, and then suddenly it dawns on her.

"Simon! That little shit that got you pregnant and then took off?" she's raising her voice gradually and Benji's head pops in from another room, his expression full of questions.

"Go play, honey, grandma is just being a little bit loud," I smile at him.

"Could you keep it down?" I whisper, "Benji will never know about this or hear that name again."

"Well, he might not, but I want to know everything," says mom as she goes after Benji, and I hear her talk to him about watching cartoons.

"Now, he'll be occupied for some time, let's go talk in the kitchen." Her mind is made up, she tugs my arm and I go with her.

"Where's Alexi?" I suddenly realize I haven't seen him.

"I think he's at his restaurant. Or back at his place. I'm not sure," she adds quickly.

"Did you guys have a fight?" I ask cautiously.

"I wouldn't say it was a fight, more like a misunderstanding," she talks as she moves around her kitchen preparing us coffee.

"About..." I drag the word out.

"About adult things you don't have to worry about," she says sweetly, placing a fresh cup of coffee in front of me and taps on my nose with her index finger.

"Is the wedding still on?"

Mom stops walking around and stares at me in disbelief with her eyebrows raised. I'm trying to understand her emotion right now but fail miserably.