Jack's Girl

44: New Family?!

A warm cup of coffee always cleared your head. You had just finished your college midterms and wanted to take a break from everything.

Sydney was already packing to head to her aunt's house back in America for Christmas. Sean offered to go to Starbucks with you but you honestly wanted some alone time.

The place was awfully busy this morning so you picked a simple item off the menu and waited for it to be made. As you waited, you could see out of the corner of your eye some lady watching you who was ordering. The lady finishes her order and stands next to you waiting on the drink to be fixed.

Now she was definitely watching you. You finally got your drink and took a sip. Just right. You thanked the guy that handed it to you and turned to head out the door.

You left the store and started back to the dorms when you heard someone shout, "Miss!"

You turned and saw that it was the lady. She was holding two drinks and grinning like she just stubbed her toe and didn't want anyone to think it hurt.

You wait for her to walk up to you. When she does she won't shut up.

"Sorry about me being creepy back there in the shop. I was just trying to get a good look at your face. You're very beautiful. I thought you where someone I knew. Might I ask your name?" The lady rambled. She seemed out of breath but for what reason you had no idea.

You gave the lady your name and her smile went from silly to like she just saw a ghost.

Then she asked for your last name. You gave it to her.

The lady's body language changed. Her shoulders relaxed and where pushed back. She loosened her jaw and extended her neck. Showing off how beautiful the woman really was.

Then it hit you. This wasn't just a random lady that you met at a coffee shop. This woman was your mother.

Your mouth opened wide and you made a really stupid gasping noise. Like a lightbulb that slowly turned on in your head.

The woman smiled and looked back up at you. "My, how you've grown." She said.

A thousand questions where buzzing in your head. And for a split second you thought about giving her a hug. But all the memories came back.

This woman had left you as a child. Never to be seen or heard from again. At one point, you thought she would come back for you. She never did.

Now she was here, standing in front of you, with the cool Irish air blowing through your jacket.

You didn't smile or even speak. The woman turned and walked. You followed.

She eventually stopped at a bookstore. You where hesitant on entering but the woman was already wandering inside.

You entered and saw that she was looking in the magazine section. Not your first destination for a bookstore.

She looked intensely at the stacks and racks of magazines, pulling a few out and handing them to you.

You looked at the covers. They where photos of Victorian buildings from all around the world. You flipped one open to the article about the building, the writer had your mother's name but the last name was different.

You look up at her confused. "What? You wrote these?"

"Every one of them. I'm a journalist now. I've traveled most of the world for my work. That's why I never got in touch with you as you grew up. Or at least one of the reasons." She flipped through one of the magazines.

"Okay. I know bumping into you wasn't an accident. What are you doing here?" You ask.

Your mother sighs and loosens her jaw. "Come and sit with me." She points at a table and chair in the corner of the store, made up of two glass walls that met in the corner.