20 Days To Fall In Love

#17 - Good Enough

Chapter 17 - Good Enough
published: Saturday, 9 May 2020

"Never thought I'd see the day."

Matthew glanced over his shoulder to see his mother standing in the doorway. She was wearing a floral-print summer dress today, make-up done to perfection and the usual distant smile plastered across her face.

"It's about time I grew up," Matthew said quietly, adding a bottle of whiskey to the carton he was planning to move downstairs. Within it was all the hidden alcohol in his bedroom.

It was easier to be around the bottles now, mere days after his decision to quit drinking. Matthew was glad to admit that his life had taken a good turn following that.

"In hindsight," he said slowly. "Maybe it was a good thing I overdosed."

His mother frowned. "Anything that puts your life at risk is never a good thing."

Matthew sighed. "Well, I'd do it again if it means that I'd be here today."

"You'd rather die than go back to that?"

He shrugged, closing the box. "It wasn't a very good life." Matthew sat down on his bed. "You can come in, you know."

His mother offered a small smile as she tentatively stepped inside, scanning the room as if seeing it for the first time. "I can't help thinking that the overdose wasn't the only thing that got you here."

Matthew clasped his hands together. "It was painful having James see me like that."

"Aside from that," his mother hinted. When his confusion remained, she continued, "The girl you're seeing?"

Feeling the blood rush to his face, Matthew ducked his head to hide the uncontrollable smile. "She might have something to do with it." Matthew glanced up warily at her.

His mother never pressured him like his father did. She was much more open to him making his own decisions - good or bad. He didn't know if that vouched for motherly love or not. Maybe she simply didn't care what he did.

"I'm glad that you've found someone," she admitted, to Matthew's disbelief.

"She's not from any famous family. She wouldn't bring the company any prestige," Matthew told her.

"She makes you a better person," his mother corrected. "None of that matters when it comes to a relationship."

"You're telling me that you and Dad are in love?" Matthew said sarcastically.

"We were," she sighed. "A long time ago." His mother sank into the foot of his bed. "Time changes you. You don't realise it yet but you will soon. We have a professional relationship and marriage that allows us to keep benefitting each other."

"She makes you a better person," his mother repeated. "Even if you two drift apart, that won't change."

Matthew frowned. "That's a very," he stopped. "Pessimistic view on love."

"It's reality," she corrected. His mother allowed for a smile. "Maybe it'll be different for you. I like to think that you'll have better luck with your wife than your father and I ever did."

Matthew hesitated. Was he really going to talk to his mother about this? "I-I haven't proposed yet."

"I know."

He blinked. "You do?"

"This girl sounds..." she trailed off. "Real. You have a real relationship. Not based on necessity or money. It's been 17 days, Matthew, of course, you haven't proposed yet."