Anastasia

Chapter (32): Sweet and Sour

Adrienne stopped the car and killed off the engine as she sighed heavily. She looked to her right side through the window, spotting her mom and Hanna standing at her doorstep. She opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle and walked towards the two women, but she didn't greet her mom. She ignored her mother while unlocking the door and Hanna gave their mother a small smile to keep her patient.

"Where's Freya?" Amelia asked Adrienne who opened the door for them but averting her eyes from her mother with a blank expression on her face.

"I dropped her off at school."

Adrienne walked past them to the couch, but didn't sit, she just stood with her arms crossed over her chest defensively whilst her mother and Hanna took a seat in the couch across from where she stood.

"So why are you here?" asked Adrienne with a stern face.

Amelia looked down at her heels in shame, swallowing the lump of guilt in her throat and then looked up at her older daughter.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, honey. I didn't know your father would do such thing to the woman you're dating."

"We're together. Girlfriends. And I love her." Adrienne said in a monotonic voice, but when expressed her love for Sage, Hanna looked at Adrienne in shock to hear that her big sister is in love again. Adrienne inhaled softly and exhaled her words. "You're telling me that you didn't take part in what dad did?"

"Yes, honey, I'm telling you the truth. I like Sage, she might be someone different than all the girls you've ever dated, but she's genuine and her heart is pure as gold." Amelia got up and her heels clicked on the floorboard as she walked over to Adrienne who had her face staring down. "Look at me Adrienne, please."

She reached out with her hand and framed Adrienne's face and met her daughter's sad eyes. "I'm a mother and I would never hurt you the way your father did. I argued with your father because he tried to bribe your girlfriend, he shouldn't have done that. He should've respected your wishes by letting you be happy with another person other than Amber. He should've given Sage a chance like I did and welcome her to our family, but he committed the biggest mistake of his life. And the fact that she refused his offer means she's the perfect one for you, darling." Her mother gave her a smile and Adrienne stared deeply into her eyes then leaned into her mother's touch and smiled with a sigh of relief.

"I always knew that no matter how much you and dad always looked for powerful people with money and high standards, you're the one who doesn't care much about these things. But you were tough on Amber, mom... I never knew why."

Amelia grinned widely at her daughter, stroking her cheek. "Because Sage and Amber are different yet the same. Amber was a tough woman and I wanted to see how long she can keep up with us, our family. So I tested her and she succeeded, I knew she will. But Sage... She's as innocent as a fairy, Adrienne. Over dinner, I saw how she looks at you whenever you spoke. The one thing Amber and Sage have in common is they both love you so dearly and you don't even realize it. Please darling I'm asking for your forgiveness. Forgive me and forgive your father for me. And I'm willing to apologize to Sage myself for your father's mistake."

Hanna grinned at both women and stood up and walked over to them. "Come on now, Aid." She nudged her shoulder. "Mom wasn't part of what happened last night. You can do it." Hanna winked playfully at her sister and Adrienne and Amelia chuckled at her clumsiness.

Adrienne smiled at her mother and gave her a nod and then Amelia opened her arms widely to welcome her back in her arms. Adrienne kissed her mother's forehead and whispered "I forgive you."

"Yay!" said Hanna dancing around. "Phew! You guys are so dramatic but what's a family without a sprinkle of drama, right?"

They pulled away from the hug and Adrienne took Hanna under her arm and ruffled her hair, leading the younger sister to groan and stomp her feet on the ground while the mother laughed at her funny children.