Song of the Firebird

Twenty five

Natasha excused herself from the counter and passed the duties to Iqbal. She looked over at Drew, who was openly flirting with one of the customers. That man alone was responsible for half of the female customers who frequent her café in the mornings. Since that he was born with exquisite charming traits and it improved her sales, she had no say in his matters. She was okay as long as it didn't need interference from the cops or the females' jealous partners. Drew was happily chatting away with a blond woman in a chic formal outfit.

As Natasha moved to her locker inside the staff room, she heard someone clear their throat. Without looking, she asked, 'What is it, Zoya?'

Zoya pulled her hair up in a ponytail and that meant business. 'What is happening with you? Or is it me who is seeing more than the usual emotions? A big fight with that Indian guy?'

'No. What makes you say that?'

'He stopped showing up for morning coffees recently and a stranger in a dirty car is always following you around.'

'Damn Zoya! I am not what you think you are!'

'Tch. I am only looking out for you. If it were to happen back in my country, I would not live to see the next day.'

'Well, thank you.'

Zoya sighed. 'I will take care of your shifts and you need some rest. It's not even an hour and look at you! Famished and pale.' Zoya pushed a plate of blueberry cheesecake onto her hands. She turned her back to Natasha and said, 'Cake's on me.'

Natasha dragged her legs to one of the plastic chairs and leaned on to its back. Silently thanking Zoya for the cake, she dug her fork to feed her drooling mouth. It tasted good when she had to dump all her contents in her stomach to her toilet bowl for three consecutive times that morning. She was completely at the mercy of her baby, who had other tastes in food that was entirely new to her. Between the bites, a troubled Maggie flickered from her memories.

...

'Mother? What are you doing here? A-at this hour?'

Natasha lowered the ceramic mug and unlocked the door, letting her mother in. Maggie followed Natasha inside and locked the door behind her. She looked a long look at her daughter and asked, 'I don't have enough time. Let me get this straight. What did you take from Kirk?'

'From Kirk? You must be joking, mother. I wish I didn't have anything to do with that man.' With Natasha's serene tone, Maggie was almost convinced that Natasha wasn't lying. However, she looked bothered. She knew that her daughter couldn't handle more questions. Her mask of patience will tear up in less than a minute. Maggie studied the mug with a brown liquid in her daughter's hands. Since when did Natasha develop a soft heart to tea? A black one at that?, she thought. Her change in preferences can wait.

Maggie walked to the refrigerator and got herself a bottle of cold water. After finishing the entire bottle, she threw the plastic in the sink with such force that the bottle bounced back and hit one of the cupboards. 'You all are driving me CRAZY! I am praying every single day to live.'

'We all are, mother.' There was no hint of anger but annoyance.

'Don't you dare take that tone on me, young lady. Now, tell me, what is this thing between you and Kirk that makes you hunt or hide from that man? Tell me, Tasha. Let's figure this out. That man threatened to kill you if you don't turn up at my place for dinner, the next weekend. And I don't want to lose my only family to that monster. You don't have to come, just let me help and let's get rid of that a**hole, once and for all! I am not young enough to run as fast as you do. I am exhausted. I want to see you get married to the man you love and I want to retire just for the sake of my grandchildren. I will be happy when you find someone who would love you, protect you and cherish you. Tell me, sweetie, what do you owe that monster? Don't tell me you're doing drugs? Or you have stolen anything from him or his friends-'