Top Note

Chapter 31

Eriantha

"Mom?"
I almost  jumped  out of sheer shock, my voice echoing in this vacant powder room along the terrace.
It couldn't  be her? Could it?
My mom.
She had never once tried to reach out to us, once she had left with the love of her life, mom had completely forgotten about us.

"Eri" I heard her calling me in the same loving manner she used to when I was a child, the same fake love which always made me feel loved  and happy.
I closed my eyes, and didn't dare to turn to look at her directly, I re-focussed on re-applying my lipstick with trembling hands.

You don't know what she wants Eri, or why she's here.

"Sweety" Mom called me again. An old, and much forgotten feeling crept into my heart and clutched my throat.

Get a grip Eri.

I warned myself blinking away the appending tears. I dabbed my lips and took a final look at myself. Mom stood there as if she had all the time in the world, determined to wait until I would stop ignoring her. My mother was a stubborn person, Anders often said that, I had got it from her, but then why she gave up on us so easily? And why is she here today? I wanted to ask, but I won't, for  my insides were surging with emotions I didn't want to give away, not in front of her, right she was my mother, but right now I don't even know what are her real intentions.
"Mrs.Reux? Or perhaps not anymore, what's it again? You have me at a disadvantage ma'am." I spoke to her with the most cynical to with a tight smile, which didn't reflect on my eyes.
Mom bit her lips, every bit of pain evident on her countenance, and yet she smiled, "Eri... Sweety.I know  you are hurt. But, don't you think that we need to talk. There are things we need to..."

"Clear out?" I snapped, while giving out a dry laugh, "No mom, I am absolutely disinterested. Not after so many years. I know why you gave up on us. You left because  you chose your own happiness. As a woman I have nothing against you, so let's just remain strangers like we have been for all these years.You can't just appear out of the blue and act like my mom."
I hurried past her, I didn't have it in me to speak with her at least not now, not today.
I had never cared much about what others said, especially  people like Harley, who didn't have any idea about  what my life was like.  When I married  Darcel I had already apprehended what the people bare going  to talk about  this marriage. What rattled me today was how they had brought  up mom and Anders.

My father was a gambler and a trash of a husband, and ,whenever  I had tried to reason things  out it was always in favour of mom, it wasn't  her fault to choose her love. And, yet when I looked at the ten year old Eriantha  I felt betrayed, hurt and abandoned. The way  girls like Harley had always looked down upon me saying that I grew up without my mom, they way they called  her a slut, and now me too, drove me insane...
Then Mom appeared here suddenly, acting as if it was the most normal thing under the sun. She not only left my father, but left me and Anders too.
Did the sight of us made things unbearable  for  her?
I took in the night wind at the terrace, it helped to calm down some of my rage.
Slowly, she approached  to stand beside me, her countenance was mixed with elation, love and yet there was fear and despair in her eyes.
"Eriantha I know probably you hate me, and that's what you should do. But there are things you should know. I am not here to ask for forgiveness or anything like that, but there are things you should know."
I wanted to ask her, but something inside me, told me to let her speak.
"I don't live in this city anymore, my situations kept me away from you and Anders. But, that story should be for another day, that's if you want to meet me after today." She sighed not letting go off her smile, "Just know that I haven't forgotten about you or Anders for even a day. I know everything about what's going on in your lives. Eri, honey. You should have never got involved with the Karwitz, it's very complicated sweety." She grabbed my hand by surprise, "They aren't what they appear to be, and your dad..."