A Mile In My Shoes

EIGHTEEN

Dellen

"Hello, children." The goddess of a woman spoke to us in the most intriguing accent ever. She's a replica of Capri, except older. If I didn't know any better, I'd think they were twins.

Brandyn abruptly scooted his chair back forcefully, causing an annoying screeching sound to fill my ears as he stomped out of the room. The woman sighed, looking over at Martin with pleading eyes.

"I'll go talk to him." He voiced, following behind the wimp. I sat in my seat, never acknowledging her because I'm not sure if I should say anything being that Capri is quiet as a mouse.

Sitting in Martin's previous seat, she kept her eyes glued on me, her lips curled upward into a tiny smile making the atmosphere awkward. "I didn't expect to be welcomed back with open arms, but I also didn't expect your brother to run away and the silent treatment from you. I thought you'd at least curse me out for popping up out of the blue. As sick as it sounds, I'd prefer that over nothing at all."

"Hey?" I said in more of a more questionable tone. Capri wasn't giving me any assistance and I didn't want to indulge in a conversation with this woman, selling her any dreams.

"Is that all you have to say?" She queried, hope in her eyes that I would say more. "Talk to me, sweetheart. Ask me anything you want. I'll answer truthfully."

"Why are you here?" I heard Capri abruptly say in my ear.

"You're here, why?" I repeated, leaning forward, and propping my elbows up on the table.

"Wow." Her eyes widened the harshness of my question took her by surprise. "You're straight to the point, I see. But, to answer your question, I'm here because I wanted to, if possible, mend my relationship with you and Brandyn. I want my family back."

"You think you can just come back into our lives when you get ready? What kind of mother abandons her children and never speaks to them again? No phone calls. No birthday cards. No graduation gifts. Nothing. You'd have been better off staying where you were." The harshness in Capri's tone had me grateful I'm relaying the message instead of her.

"There are things that happened between your father and me that resulted in me doing what's best for my safety a-"

"What about your defenseless children's safety, huh?" I queried before Capri told me to do so. "Or did you not care enough?"

"That's not fair. Regardless of what you think, I have always, always cared about you and Brandyn. I thought about you guys every day."

"But it wasn't enough to get you back home." Capri sniffed, alerting me of her current state. She's crying, I thought to myself. "Why are you really here, Camille?"

"Sweetheart, I told you, I want to right my wrongs. I want us to be one again." Camille reached out and grabbed my hand. "Your father has already forgiven me for my mistakes as I've forgiven him for his. I want you and your brother to forgive me as well."

"Dellen, move my hand away from that filthy woman, this instance!" Capri seethed, causing chills to travel down my spine. Without hesitation, I snatched my hand back, laying it in my lap for safekeeping. "Ask her how long she's been back in the picture."

"How long have you and pops been secretly talking to each other?"

"December third will make a year."

Although Capri stayed quiet after, I felt the need to dig deeper into this situation as I had a gut feeling Camille wasn't being completely honest. "Why'd you leave? What did he do for you to not come back home?"

Her body language was now tense, and Camille broke eye contact with me just as Martin and Brandyn returned, saving the day.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Camille asked Brandyn in a soft voice.