Secret: A country romance

Seven

"Elaine, won't you be going to the library today?" Elaine heard her mom's voice coming from downstairs and she groaned. She had fallen asleep early in the morning and it felt like she had just closed her eyes before her mom's voice woke her up. She covered her ears with the pillow and tried to sleep more "Elaine Jackson, you need to be punctual with your work. Get your lazy ass off that bed now" Amelia didn't give up.

A low groan left Elaine's lips once more as she opened her eyes, she knew her mom won't stop shouting until she sees her so she got out of bed and left her room. She grabbed the stairs handrails and glared at her mom who was standing at the foot of the stairs "I'm up, now what?"

"Won't you be opening the library today?"

Elaine rolled her eyes and went back to her room. As much as she doesn't want to listen to her mom now, she knew she was right so she entered the bathroom and took a bath with the water there. She dressed up after the bath and it was when she reached to pick up her purse did it come to her, Tom is in town.

She heaved a deep sigh and sat on her bed, she buried her face in her palms as she let reality set in. It will be difficult to avoid him and she knows that. It might have been easier when he went to Countryside but now that he was back, it will be very hard. She was dying to see him but she knew it was not right. She wiped her face with her palm and sighed.

"You done? Come down for breakfast and I will drop you off on my way to the shop" Amelia watched her from the doorway.

"Thanks mom" Elaine stood up and they both left the room to have breakfast downstairs.

When they got to the library, Elaine got down from the truck and intended to walk away when Amelia called her back "just want to ask if you are coming home tonight?"

"Yes, why?"

"It's strange. I can't remember the last time you spent two nights straight at home since you got your own house."

"Is it wrong now that I decided to do it?"

"Not really. Only that it got me thinking. Now Tom came back from Countryside last night and you came home and planning to spend tonight too which leads me to believe that something happened." 

"Everything is fine between Tom and I. I just came home because I wanted to spend time with you."

"And yet you didn't have dinner with me last night."

"But I had breakfast with you this morning and I let you drop me off. When was the last time I let you do that?"

"That's right but it still didn't change the fact that you are not in your home. As much as you don't want to admit it, I know you are avoiding Tom which is why I'm asking again, did something happen?"

"No mom and please stop with your assumptions. Things are great between us."

"Elaine, I know we are not close but I want you to know that I'm still your mom and I worry about you. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Since when do you care?" Elaine asked and turned to walk away before she could answer.

Amelia watched her leave but couldn't say anything. She really wants to be close with her daughter but Elaine is the one that doesn't want to be with her. She heaved a deep sigh and started her truck before droving off.

Elaine turned then and watched the truck leave till it was out of her sight before she entered the library. She dropped her bag on the desk and dusted the books as well as her other morning routine.

She settled on her chair to begin the day as she picked up the book she was reading on Saturday or was pretending to read since her mind was occupied with Tom. With that remembered, she zoned out into thinking about him again. How did he react when he didn't see her at home last night? Was he worried? Or did he just lay down and sleep?