Skinny Love

FOUR

The following morning, Camila slowly made her was down the interior stairs of her home, her brow furrowing in question when she smelled the unmistakable aroma of a fresh pot of coffee percolating in the carafe. She knew she hadn't set the automatic timer the night before and, thinking Vero had changed her mind and come to her senses, Camila smiled as she crossed the threshold leading into the kitchen.

Not seeing the woman she had been expecting, Camila stopped short, sighing at the sight of her mother seated at a high barstool around the kitchen island, the Seattle Times spread out before her and a steaming mug of coffee held in one hand.

"Mami?" Camila questioned surprised to see her mother in her homes early in the morning. "What are you doing here?"

Turning from the paper, Sinu Cabello momentarily regarded her daughter, concern evident in her every feature. "Vero called me," she simply stated, her eyes and tone of voice full of question and care. "What the hell happened?"

Camila momentarily held her mother's gaze but, as guilt and apprehension bubbled up inside her soul, threatening to consume her, she was forced to look away, her eyes landing anywhere but the elder Cabellos. She just couldn't do it; she couldn't admit to her mother that she'd done what she had.

"Well, are you gonna tell me?" the older woman quickly urged when Camila remained silent for way too long. "Or are you going to make me guess?"

Camila didn't even bother to hide the annoyance she felt upon hearing her mother's tangential questions; the other woman knew her better than just about anyone else in the entire world, unsure of what to say, she stalked toward the coffee pot, grabbing a mug from the cabinet above and filling it with steaming hot liquid.

Meticulously folding the newspaper and laying it in front of her, Sinu knowingly studied her daughter, watching as she continued to move about the kitchen, shoulders slightly slouched, but her caramel face somehow appearing lighter than it had in years. It didn't take a genius to figure out something had definitely changed for her daughter; it wasn't difficult to notice the frosty chill that seemed to have thawed in the absence of her daughter's girlfriend.

"Come on Mija," the older woman urged. "You know you can tell me anything."

Taking sip from her cup, Camila then hopped up on her own stool; her eyes never once meeting the identical brown ones of her mother. Sliding the newspaper from where it rested on the countertop in front of the other woman, the brunette still remained silent as she too began to peruse the periodical.

Camila could, once again, feel her mother's penetrating gaze boring a hole into the side of her head, but she held strong. She didn't want to have this conversation ever, but definitely not this early in the morning.

"Camila..."

"She's gone, okay?" Camila quickly snipped, unwanted tears beginning to sting her eyes. "She left. End of story."

Remaining silent, Sinu took a sip from her cup, momentarily staring out ahead of her before once again turning to regard her daughter. "Yes, clearly. I gathered as much. But, you're going to have to give me more than that, sweetheart. Otherwise, I'm not going to be bale to help."

Unable to tolerate her mother's piercing scrutiny for a moment longer, the younger woman sighed and, shaking her head, she finally glanced up from the paper, a single trail of moisture escaping her left eye as she looked at her mum. "Vero said she was tired of playing second fiddle to...Lucy. She- umm- she said i don't love her like she needs me to- that i only feel obligated to love her."