Abeyance

Chapter 4

Audrey

Luke stood up. He brought out his phone from his front pocket.

He looked at it and said, "Your mother."

He gave it to me and I turned on the loudspeaker. Sometimes private (or not) calls were never private for me and Luke. They were shared and answered with childish goals... to annoy.

"Mum. What's up?" I automatically said.

"You and Luke, dear." she said.

I was silent for a moment.

My mom had a knack of silencing teenagers and little boys with expensive tastes. She is also a successful author of TeenFic. But her main job is an interior designer.

"Funny." I grunted. I couldn't think of a friendly insult to throw at my mother. That was the ritual, I or she say something then the other insults and end the short chat.

 (A/N: I recently read parts of Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho. I didn't read the whole book because of its contents, but I like the message.)

"Sorry, it seems that I am having a writer's block. I don't think I can still make you blush." she said.

"Ugh, mom! I don't blush. Never." I said. It's a lie.

"Really? How's Luke? I can hear him." My mother ignored my statement.

"Hey, Aunt Em! I'm feeling comfy over here." Luke said with a bit of childish voice.

That's me and Luke, our friendship depends on our childishness.

"Hello there, Luke!" my mom said with obvious delight.

"Well, how is the pretty bride?" Luke said.

He looked at me and whispered, "... and of course, mother of three kids entering the teen age life."

"Oh, Luke. You never cease to flatter me and make me frown at the same time. I'm very much fine here, too." she said.

"Want us to hang out there with you? We could come down." Luke grinned at me.

I am presently envious of Luke and my mother's little chat. My mom and I were never civil when we talk on phone. I wonder when will the first civil and mother-daughter chat on phone we will have.

"No. Well, maybe. Hmm. But." my mom seemed undecided. I smirked at Luke, who rolled his eyes. Like my mother, like daughter.

"Mo-om. I think you have a daughter over here and I think she's feeling grand. If you ever notice her voice." I decided to break the nice little conversation.

My mom laughed, "Audrey, I notice you. Really. The world revolves only around you, my love. It will lose its purpose and end itself if you're gone."

And she said she has a writer's block.

"Flattery is the best apology." I said.

"Indeed. I am very proud that I have taught you a lot of good values in life" she said.

Luke and I laughed. One good thing about my author slash designer slash mother is that she never fails to give witty remarks.

"Actually, I called because I have something  to tell you." she said after Luke and I were done laughing.

"Obviously." I muttered, Luke nudged me with a serious face. 

"What is it Mrs. Edmund?" he said.