Her Chef (18+)

Chapter 9

"Not that I don't want to spend time with you," Mom let out looking over the menu as she lifted the sunglasses to her head, "But I thought you were supposed to be going out with Arsenio and we would meet later on."

After exiting Arsenio's car, I sent a quick text to my mom asking if she could meet with me sooner rather than later. Most of the reason was not wanting to be with him but most of it was just needing my mom.

"Plans changed," I clipped out harshly sipping my water before catching my mothers look, "I'm sorry, it just hasn't been that good of a day."

Finding out that I was only to be granted a temporary restraining order, due to not having enough evidence, made me feel sick. Even more so knowing they had 21 days to allow Jackson to be served before issuing a hearing. It made me nervous, anxious to think about getting an attorney and facing Jack if he dared show his face.

And that wasn't even the worst part of the day. I had an interview lined up and was prepared for it. Although over qualified and not something I would enjoy doing in the long run, it was a career in which paid well and kept Jackson off my radar. Yet, once walking into the room and hearing the way the man spoke to me, his attempts at making a pass at me, I knew it was something that wouldn't work.

"What happened?" Mom asked, sensing the distress pouring out of my body.

"Life, I thought everything was supposed to be easier when going out on my own. I thought I would be more in control and have more of an understanding of what the world has to offer," I sigh out, running a hand through my hair, "Everything seems to have become more complicated."

"You're talking in riddles, just tell me... was it something with Arsenio?"

A waiter came by cutting into our discussion to quickly take our orders, he then took the menus making his way to the kitchen as my mom turned back awaiting my response. I guess she was right in a way, I was talking in riddles. But also right about everything, things with arsenio, the baby, and my own life.

"Arsenio and I had gotten into a disagreement about different things. One being how he had taken time off to be with me, I was upset at his decision to make changes in his life because of me. He has a career, a life outside of me that he suddenly adjusted to fit my baggage in."

My mother nodded truly listening as the waiter sat her mimosa in front of her and a tea in front of me. Maria's nose wrinkled, her daughter would always love a more awakening drink like a mimosa or a cocktail, but chose a green tea instead. She watched as her daughter took a long sip for the drink before placing it down.

"It's not that I don't want him around but things are different now. I'm different. I am not that girl he used to know. That naive girl who had a silly crush on him, that girl that was his best friend."

My mother nodded while sipping her mimosa, listening intently, "Did he say some things that hurt you?"

"In a way..."

She places her hand over mine, stopping it from grabbing the mug, "Oh my sweet girl, both of you are different people now and that is going to be difficult to navigate. It's normal to have these problems, or disagreements when getting to understand each other again but that doesn't excuse the things he may have said that hurt you. Arsenio has been a part of your life for its entirety and this won't be the first or last time you both disagree. My advice, take it if you will, get to know each other again. Let him apologize, truly being sorry, or you apologize, truly being sorry. Starting from the beginning instead of trying to start from what you used to be."

Although I've had some strains when it comes to my relationship with my parents, the one thing I knew I could always count on was their words of wisdom. When it came to things such as my discovery of self or independence they were always on guard, yet when I needed advice it was always something I had to hear.