More Than A Favor

Chapter 37

RILEY

Flashback
September 4, 2023
Labor Day

"I'm heading back out there." Cole said, his helmet was on his head while we were on FaceTime.

I looked from his reddened cheeks then to the road in front of me. "Okay, I'm pulling onto our street. Wish me luck."

"Good luck even though you don't need it. I'll be able to reach out soon." Cole added and I knew he meant it.

"Yeah, yeah. Okay. Cool." I was grinning when I hung up and parked my car outside.

And God, I was dreading going inside our house.

I was back where I never felt like I could eat whatever I wanted... to have dinner with my mother.

I shifted the car off and killed the engine. My binder sat on the passenger seat filled with notes of dates and eras from long lectures with my art history professor. Mid-terms were coming up and I didn't want to cram and skim. I was studying one month before which was why I was taking my materials with me.

I got out of the car with my binder in one arm and my keys in the other. I exhaled deeply when I stared up at my mother's red brick house. All my childhood memories were held within its walls. The exterior was withstanding snow throughout all the years and so were my feelings. It stood out from the other homes in our neighborhood even though most of them were brick homes as well. The colors were a contrast to the green grass and trees that were in the area.

I opened the front door and stepped inside. The first thing I saw was a picture of my mother and her new husband Fernando. She was smiling bright in a simple yet elegant white dress. Fernando wasn't smiling, he just looked emotionless, at least to me. The background of the photo exposed the beautiful stonework and grand stairway that I bet was taken at the courthouse. I wasn't there and neither was Cole. Mom wanted it to be just her and Fernando.

"Riley?" My mother's voice called.

"Yeah, it's me."I closed the front door and ventured further into the house. It was hard to identify a specific scent. "Why did you leave the door unlocked? Anyone could've walked in."

"You're probably right. I knew you were coming so I did. I'm in the kitchen!"She yelled.

I stopped in the living room and there he was. Fernando. Seated in the arm chair that was near the Van Gogh painting of Starry Night. His legs were crossed, his salt and pepper beard caught my attention as brushed his fingers through. He wore the same expression on the photograph I just saw. Flat. Emotionless.

My mother walked in before I could say anything and she didn't look at me. She went straight to Fernando and caressed his face. They exchanged words and she left the room. When she returned, she was holding a short glass in her right hand and she handed it over to him. "Just the way you like it." The way she spoke made me want to throw up. All small.

My stomach twisted. I couldn't believe I was being a witness of this with another husband of hers.

I noticed that Fernando didn't say thank you. I noticed that he didn't smile at her. He took the drink and kept his attention on the television. It frustrated me. I didn't know how long the honeymoon stage lasted or what it was like for newlyweds but I assumed this wasn't it. I felt like I walked in on a loveless marriage.

"How was the traffic?" Mom had finally noticed me and I shifted my attention from her husband to her big green eyes.

"Not too bad."I answered, my grip tightened around my binder. "I'm right here."