Shattered

3. The Marriage Proposal

As Alec got out of his car, he saw the blue sedan standing outside the house. He rang the bell and stood on the wooden porch. The garden chairs had been moved a little from their usual positions. Someone had sat on them. Probably the guests, he thought.

"Alec! You made it!" Dressed in a light gold dress, his mother opened the teak door. His mother was a sophisticated lady and her style did tell you that about her. The gold matched her blonde hair which now has a few silver in them. He used to have hair like her when he was young, but over the years they had turned dark.

His mother hugged him. He winced as sharp pain shot in his stomach.
When she pulled back, her hand instantly moved to the band aid on his forehead. "What happened?"

"Nothing, I bumped in the cupboard." He shrugged.

"You should be careful Alec." She said solemnly.

"Yes mother, I know."

"Okay, never mind. Come on, let's meet the guests!" She pulled him inside in the hall. "Everyone, this is my son, Alec." She announced.

"Good evening." He greeted the two ladies who were sitting in front of him. "You?" He exclaimed spontaneously as he saw his doctor sitting in front of him.

"You?" She too exclaimed. "Wait you are Grace's son? Oh yeah, Alec Mason, your charts said. How could I miss that?"

"Dr. Richards, nice to meet you again." He extended his hand out. She shook it.

"Wait you both know each other?" The second lady asked. She looked as old as his mother. She looked very familiar. She was dressed in plain black dress and even though she looked tired, she beamed and spoke with great enthusiasm.

"Yes, mother." Beth answered.

"Why didn't you tell me Beth?"

"I didn't know who he was mother. For me, he was a patient, like every other who comes to hospital."

"Alec, you were her patient? What had happen?" Grace enquired again.

"Nothing, mother, I told you, I bumped into the cupboard."

"But then-"

"Grace," Beth interjected. "It was nothing much. Just a few stitches."

"But how did you-"

"Grace, these things keep happening. Now, all he now needs is to come back to hospital to get those stitches removed. It has been almost two days, right? Come and see me day after tomorrow, okay?"

"I will be there." He said and silently thanked her. If she wouldn't have interjected, his mother would have kept on asking him about his injury and eventually would have to tell her what really had happened.

Grace, like every mother, always worried about her son and even the smallest injury of his, hurt her, be it a physical one or a emotional one.

"Oh you doctors, always ruin fun!" The second lady joked. "Hello dear, I don't know if you remember me, but I am Beth's mother, No-"

"Nora. Yes ma'am I do remember you, or more appropriately the cookies you used bake." Alec smiled, remembering his childhood.

"Oh son, I wish I could bake them for you again, but my dear Beth won't let me."

"Mother, you shouldn't exert yourself."

"See, what I mean son." She laughed and Beth rolled her eyes. Alec laughed for first time he had entered the house.

He sat next to Beth, while his mother took her seat on the plush sofa beside Nora.

The chatter began and after a long time, Alec was actually enjoying a party. Alec never liked going to parties. His late wife though, use to pull him gathering she was invited in. She was the most outgoing person he had ever met and she used to balance out his introverted nature.