Misinterpreting Fate (Book 2)

16. The Mystery Woman

Chapter 16: The Mystery Woman

Sam

Since Dad had left this morning to spend the week out of town to work with his other branch of his company, Poppa made me come to the store with him to go grocery shopping. I wasn't particularly looking forward to it, but honestly, it was better than sitting home alone trying not to think about what happened last night at Ryan's.

I was barely able to look at him after that kiss. It helped that we watched a couple movies, so interacting with him directly thankfully didn't happen very often. But then when it came time for us to sleep, Courtney claimed one of the air mattresses as the 'girls' bed, leaving the other air mattress for Ryan and I to share. When I told him I'd take the couch, he basically made me share the bed with him. I didn't want to think about how I woke up laying on him this morning.

Poppa pulled into the parking lot and I reluctantly followed him out of the car. I've never really liked going shopping with him. He always made me run around the store looking for random items, then I would have to track him down to put everything in the cart before he had me go get something else. Honestly, it was exhausting.

Just as expected, as soon as we got inside, Poppa sent me to grab some boxes of pasta. I headed towards the back of the store, where I knew they were, already thinking about which type I'd want. When I had grabbed enough boxes to the point where I wouldn't be able to hold anymore - because you could never have too much pasta - I turned around, ready to start tracking Poppa down, except I almost bumped right into someone.

"Sorry," I said, stepping around her. When she looked at me, I realized it was that weird woman from yesterday.

She obviously recognized me too. "Sammy! What a surprise! You've gotten so tall, I can't believe it. How old are you now? You must be... what? Sixteen? Unbelievable."

I shook my head. The more she talked - and actually got right - the more I was getting creeped out. I had the strangest feeling she was following me. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I don't think my parents would like me talking to strangers."

"Parents? You have two parents?"

"Yes, and I need to get back before my poppa starts wondering where I am."

Her eyes lit up, which worried me. I needed to stop talking to her, but I didn't know how to get away without being too rude.

"Oh, I know your poppa," she said. "I'd love to say hi. It's been so long."

I took a step backward. "I need to go..." I took another couple steps backward before turning and heading out the other end of the aisle. I hoped she wouldn't follow me, but then again, if she followed me back to Poppa, he'd make sure she left me alone. Unless she was actually someone he knew, which didn't seem likely, if she didn't know I had his last name too. Unless she was referring to Dad, which just confused me even more.

I finally found Poppa in the fruits and vegetable section. I walked over to the cart and dumped the boxes in.

"You get enough there?" he asked me.

I shrugged. "Can never have too much."

"That is a lot..."

"Please?"

He sighed. "Put two back. We also need a loaf of bread. And grab some milk too, while you're down that way."

I groaned. That wasn't fair. But I wasn't going to argue. Now I had to go all the way back to where I just was. But that woman was probably still there. I didn't want to end up seeing her again.

"Poppa, do I have to?" I asked. "There was this woman that was really creeping me out and I don't want to run into her again."

He stopped in the middle of reaching for a red pepper. "What woman?"

"I don't know who she is, but she knows me. And she said she knew you? Or Dad? I don't know..."

Poppa was quiet for a moment, grabbing two peppers and putting them in a plastic bag. "Yeah. Stick with me. If you see her again, point her out."

It didn't take too long before we saw her. I was really hoping we didn't run into her again, but at least this way I might get some sort of answer.

She was coming out of an aisle just as Poppa and I were turning into it. I didn't even have to say anything to Poppa. The glare the two of them were giving each other made it obvious that they recognized each other. But whatever relationship they had was definitely not a good one.

"He fucking married you, didn't he?" the woman practically growled.

"Leave my family the hell alone," Poppa said back, sounding just as angry. "And don't ever talk to my son again."

Before the woman could respond, Poppa grabbed my arm and led me away from her, leaving the cart right where it was. I stumbled after him, extremely confused.

"Poppa? What's going on?"

"We're leaving."

"Without the food?"

"Yes."

It wasn't until we got to the parking lot that Poppa let go of my arm. I still hurried after him, desperate for answers.

When we climbed into his car, I asked, "Who was that woman?"

He sighed, turning on the car. Then he looked at me. "Don't tell your father."

"What? Why? Poppa, who was that?"

"Your mother."

I stared at him, wide-eyed. That wasn't possible. "You told me she had died."

He slowly shook his head. "We thought she did."

I felt like I was in shock. I've always wondered about who she was. When I was ten, my parents showed me pictures of her. They were old, mostly from when she and Dad were still dating each other. The woman in the store looked nothing like the woman in those pictures, but it had been almost twenty years ago by now, so that wasn't too surprising, compared to everything else. Dad had also told me stories of when they had been together, but I never knew why Poppa didn't like her too much. I always figured it was a jealousy thing or something. But right now, it seemed a lot bigger than jealousy.

"Why can't Dad know?" I asked as Poppa pulled out of the store's parking lot. "Why can't I talk to her? She's my mom! What if I want to get to know her?"

"Sam..." He sighed. "She's... she's mentally unstable. The last time you and her were in the same room together, she tried to kill you. Telling your father that she's back will only make him worry and he doesn't need that, at least not when he's out of town this week."

I leaned back in the seat, unable to form a solid thought. This day was turning out to be a lot more eventful than I ever expected it to be.