In Love With Ms. Manoban

Part 45

"What's with the long face, Lalisa? Aren't you happy to see your Mommy?" Mrs. Kissoon's voice was hard, stern, contrary to the smile on her face. Jeremiah stepped in front of Lisa as her mother approached them. Lisa stepped forward and placed her right hand on his shoulder to grab his attention.

"It's okay, Jerry. I'll handle this," she said to him. "Why don't we take a walk, Mom?" Jeremiah looked at her, obviously not wanting her to be out of his sight, however, Mrs. Kissoon agreed. Giving Jeremiah one reassuring look, Lisa left the house with her mother. When their feet met the sidewalk, Lisa decided to speak up first.

"So...Uhm, thank you for coming." She started off. "I'm glad that you came, actually. I wanted to talk to you for a long time now." 

"We both have phones Lalisa." 

"I know but..." Lisa stopped, not knowing how to continue her sentence. They continued to walk in silence around the block surrounding the area Lisa lived in. As they turned a corner, Mrs. Kissoon spoke up.

"Did you invite me here so that we could just walk? I could do plenty of that at home," the woman said impatiently. Lisa rubbed her belly for comfort while asking God to help her with her mother.

"I wanted us to talk about the last time you were here." Lisa stopped her steps and turned to her mother. "I didn't cheat on Jonathan, Mom."

"Of course not. You don't have the guts."

"Then why did you say that last time?" Lisa asked in confusion, ignoring her the other woman's harsh tone, but the woman simply shrugged. 

"So whose baby is it?"

"Jonathan's. We broke up after I got pregnant."

"Why? Is it because of that boy?"

"No, Mommy," Lisa whimpered. 

"What do you even see in him? Does he even have a job? How will he take care of you and the baby? I know you've done some stupid things but this one is the worse."

"I didn't mean to fall in love with Jerry."

"Nickname basis I see."

"But it happened." Lisa continued, regardless of the interruption. "And the fact that Jonathan wasn't really there for me, and Jeremiah made me feel so special. I was so vulnerable at the time. I just wanted someone's love." Lisa paused to wipe my tears she didn't realise were there. "Not that of a family member or friend, but of someone who wanted to be with me and wanted my child too. He even told me about God and the love he-"

"God?"

"Yes?"

"That man is going to leave you. Just like your father did to me; running after God and forgetting about everybody else."

"He's not gonna leave me, Mom. He's excited about the baby, I mean babies," she smiled warmly, rubbing her enlarged stomach on instinct. 

"Now you're having twins? Isn't this rich?" The older woman said with a scowl on her face. "How stupid are you? He's gonna be up and running as soon as they are born."

"Yes, h-he's nervous about the tw-twins but he assured me that he's going to s-stay." Doubt was slowly replacing the little assurance Lisa had. Her mother always had a way of changing her mind, making her feel doubtful of her choices. "He's not going to leave me. We're going to get married," she said quietly, looking away from her mother's angry gaze.

"For future reference, don't say I didn't warn you." Mrs. Kissoon turned to walk away but Lisa grabbed her arm.

"Wait. Please don't leave yet." She looked at her mother with pleading eyes. "Just stay for a bit. I would really appreciate it. The shower will be over soon, anyway. Please."

Without saying a word, the older woman walked back towards the house at a pace Lisa surely couldn't keep up with. She took the space to think as she walked leisurely. Her mother always had a way to make her feel less, but still, she wanted to please her. She wanted her mother to be proud of her, but no matter how hard she tried, it was never enough. However, Lisa wouldn't stop trying. There's got to be something she could do. There's got to be a way.

Once she was in front of her house again, she spotted Jeremiah waiting for her on the bottom step. He got up when he saw her, and placed a kiss on her temple.

"Everything okay?" He asked, referring to the situation with her mother.

"Yeah. It will be." She forced her smile, not wanting to worry him about her doubts.

"Come on. Everyone is waiting for you to break the baby bump piñata." Jeremiah led her inside with excitement.

Turns out, Lisa's mother did stay, along with her husband and Lisa's sister. But the woman and her family kept their distance from her. She was okay with just her mother's presence though. She just wanted her to be there.