Tamara POV
“I've found the person, which is you,” She pointed out, and I could feel my heart thud. “Me?” I asked in disbelief, pointing a finger to my chest, she nodded as she came closer to where I was standing. “Dear, I need you to help me with something,” She began in a tender voice, and I swallowed very hard.
“I need you to help me earn Rodney's forgiveness,” She continues, and my eyes dilated in surprise. What was she trying to say?
“I am Rodney's mother, and I've wronged him in the past few years and I know it” She paused, fighting back her tears and I felt for her immediately.
“He's very pissed at me, he doesn't want to see me anywhere close to him, he's so mad at me, but I need my son back, please” She busted out in tears as she held my hands in hers.
I snuggled her into my chest, stroking her scent filled hair. Rodney's Mom?
She finally disentangled from the hug after a while, and held my cheeks tenderly.
“I know you can do it,” She said as she sniffed the pending tears.
Can you really do this, Mara?
Remember, you don't even go along well with this person in question.
But this woman said I can do it. “Please stop crying ma'am, I will try my possible best” I assured, shooting her my best smile.
Michael Shaw POV.
“Rodney please I need to get this straight” I paused, getting on my feet “Are you trying to tell me Margaret has been coming to you for months now?” I asked with widened eyes. “Yes” He replied nonchalantly, while rising to his feet too. “What's wrong with you?!” I bellowed, but he didn't budge as he turned to face me squarely. “She f*cking left me!” He snapped, looking enrage.
“She wouldn't have left without a genuine reason,” I retorted, feeling so much anger erupting in my body system. “And what could it be Dad, tell me what could be the god-damned reason behind her disappearance for good five years?” He asked calmly with tears building up in his eyes, and my features softened a bit. “Son” I called, trying to hold his shoulder, but he cringed.
“I will never ever forgive her, Dad” He said through gritted teeth and with that, he marched out of the building. I breathe out deeply, while I sat with a slump on a couch.
“Where are you, Margaret? Just come to me already,” I muttered as I facepalm my eyes.
Tamara POV
I paced back and forth frantically in my room, awaiting Rodney's arrival. It was 10:00pm and he hasn't returned yet. “Oh dear Lord, please keep him safe,” I prayed silently.
And it was just like an answered prayer, I heard his car honked and without thinking twice, I scurried off the room.
I climbed down the stairs at the same time he stepped into the living room, looking not so okay. Was he alright?
He stood there rooted, his eyes were boring hole into my whole body and I couldn't help but gulped nervousness. After some moment, I drew in a long breath.
You can do this, Mara.
I slowly walked up to his figure, looking everywhere but him. “Hey clumsy girl” He called cheerfully, and I raised my brows. "You missed me?” He asked with a little smirk on his face, and my lips curved to a half smile.
He closed up the little space between us and without notice, he crossed his arm behind my neck and I became frozen instantly. He snuggled me into his warmth embrace and I could feel goosebumps rise in my whole system, my skin especially.
What?
Was I imagining things again?
I buried my face into his chest and he smells liquor. Damn! What on earth was wrong with Rodney?
I wanted to disengage from the hug, but he pulled me back with a little effort, stroking my hair gently. “Let's remain like this for some minutes, please” He murmured, and I could sense sadness laid in his voice.
“I miss her so much,” He said sadly as he gulped the fifth shot.
Holy Jesus!
He's drunk already, but who I was to stop him?
I sat next to him on the bar stool with my left hand on my chin, watching his drunk state unhappily.
“She used to be my everything” He says and paused. “She brightened my day with just her little smile,” He continues staring at the alcohol bottle. “You are my absolute fan, right?” He asked as he glances at me with a wry smile and I nodded.
“Then you should know I am a private person. Aside for my career, no one knows nothing about my personal life,” He says, and I nodded twice. It's weird.
“Except Johanna, though” He further says, and I grimaced. Joanna, of all people, I thought with a secret eye roll.
“I met her when I went to the US some years back, and I became her addiction. And she succeeded in becoming my only female friend after my mom left me,” He narrated with clenched teeth and I adjusted on my seat.
“Uhm, what makes you think she left you?” I asked curiously, and he looked away from my face. “I had a car accident five years ago” He said dryly, and I gasped as I quickly covered my mouth with my left palm.
“It was a brake failure and, according to investigations, someone was behind it. And till this moment, the culprit is still hidden” He filled his glass as he talks. This is serious.
“I'm so sorry to hear that,” I said with a heavy heart, and he put on a smile.
“I was unconscious for some months,” He continued as he gulped another shot.
“And when I regained consciousness, I learned my mom had left me” He stopped talking and looked into my face. “She thought I was gonna die!” He half yelled and I become frightened. “She left me when I needed her the most!” He started to sob uncontrollably,, and I could feel my tears streaming down on their own.
Oh my goodness!
He had gone through a lot.
I got down from the stool and pulled him into myself, embracing him tightly. I stroke his back as I kept whispering soothing words into his ear.
The woman looks so nice to do such thing and from my own point of view, she also loves her son so dearly.
Something was definitely fishy somewhere, and I will make sure I dig it out.