It Can't Be Over (Book 2 - Immortalfox)

Chapter 21

 Eddie POV:

I stood before the stand-up mirror in my room, adjusting and pleating down the button down I wore. I hadn’t anticipated attending any parties when I got to Cataño, so I hadn’t bothered to bring over anything remotely presentable to wear. So, my grandmother took me out shopping soon after Solé and Marisól’s sister left. The marketplace was dwindling down at that time of day, so we crossed into a small shop. They sold knick-knacks and figurines, but they did have a small section devoted to clothing. All of the shirts were hideously vibrant, some with unique patterns that I would never wear. I found a dark-colored button-down towards the back of the rack that was very simple and plain, and I knew I wouldn’t find anything better to wear besides that shirt. 


My grandmother paid, surprisingly, and we headed back home in the Jeep. 


So here I stood, trying not to get too flustered by the emotions of anger I felt. I loathed my grandmother now, more than ever. I tried to think positively, but long gone were feelings of neutrality towards her. Ever since she threatened to expose my relationship with Aleks to my mother, I knew I couldn’t dare trust her.

After my conversation with James, I couldn’t help but to feel an emotion almost foreign to me. I felt despondent, and as I thought more about this feeling, I knew it only linked to one person.

Aleks.

It felt like a certain divergence was forming between us, and delving deeper into this thought, I was angry with myself for my return. So much had happened since then. How could I be so indifferent?

I gave a long, heavy sigh. Exiting my room, I headed down the hall towards the opposite end of the house to go and see my mother.

I walked through the parlor and padded past the kitchen. I could hear my grandmother barking orders at the helpers as I make my way past unnoticed.

I had to pass outside into the hallway, and I walked by where my grandmother and Sandra had been sitting earlier. I picked up my pace. It wouldn’t be much longer until Solé and Marisól would arrive with Sandra and whomever else they decided to invite. I had to talk to my mother. I had to.

I knew now that, in order to solve the rift between Aleks and I, I had to come clean to my mother. That was step one. Step two would be going home and cherishing him endlessly to make up for the time I had lost to do so.

I knocked once on her door, and I heard her behind the door tell me to enter.

I opened the door quietly, figuring that she must be in bed still, probably even oblivious to the party we were having this evening. Instead, she sat before her dresser, applying rouge and lipstick. She wore a long tribal-themed dress, as well as a lengthy navy sweater. A beaded necklace clanked against itself as if swayed with the motion of her as she spritzed herself with perfume.

“Oh, Edwin!” she gasped. “I figured it was your grandmother knocking.”

I felt absolutely dumb-founded as I watched her rise from her makeup station. She stood with as much ease as she would on a regular day, and I was completely astounded as she made her way over to me and hugged me. I wrapped my hands around her slowly, perplexed, and embraced her petite figure.

“How was your day?” she asked me.

“M-mom…” I began, my eyes traveling her for any signs of fatigue, but she simply stood as if no illness had availed her the past few months.

“What?” she asked, snapping at me slightly.

“How-how are you standing?” I asked.

She cocked her eyebrow at me, sending me a look of confusion.