CONNOR
I made all the preparation for proposing to Grace while making her believe we were only going to see my mother.
I have always thought about how to propose to her in the most epic way, but ideas refused to come till I spoke to Laurel about it. She didn’t really understand much but went with the flow and helped in making everything successful.
Wanting her to meet my family was still what I had to do, but I can’t just introduce her to my mum as my child’s mother. Grace means the world to me, and I had to tell it to the world that she was more than what everyone thought of her.
I fell in love with her even before the pregnancy happened, even before I became what I was at the long run, and I wanted to make up for all the times I should have been there for her and with her but wasn’t there. All those times I thought I had lost her forever.
Our family Chauffeur, Mr. Mackintosh was already waiting at the exit of the airport for us. He came with a Limo according to my mother’s instructions, she didn’t know I would be coming with my fiancé and child as I wanted it to be a surprise.
I also called Lena to come to the house, I wanted her to meet Grace and Laurel and also for us to talk about her issue with my mother. I knew the problem was more than her moving out of the house.
The driver quickly opened the door for us as we reached where he was parked waiting for us. I placed sleepy Laurel who woke up as soon as I lie her on my laps. Grace entered after me and we headed home.
I squeezed her hands reassuringly, letting her know through my expression of affection that I was here with her and I would not allow anyone look down on her or act in a kind of way to her. As long as she is mine, anyone who disrespects her, equally disrespects me as well.
We got to the front of my father’s Castle and alighted from the Limo which drove off back to the garage. I linked my right hand in Grace’s hand, wrapped my other hand around Laurel’s back as she rested her head on my shoulders.
Grace’s hand were perspiring and I could see her inhaling deeply over again. She seemed really nervous, I wish there was a way I could make her calm down.
“My mother don’t bite.” I jokingly whispered into her ears.
She turned to look at me, a forced smile on her face. “Don’t be ridiculous, Connor,” she laughed half-heartedly and that was what I wanted from her. I wanted her to be more at ease when we got inside and she looked the part after the laugh.
“Shall we?” I asked and she nodded.
We walked into our porch hand in hand only to see my mother rushing down from the flight of stairs, literally crying with excitement. “Oh Connor!” she wailed in a manner that really wasn’t her style.
“Mother, meet my fiancé, Grace, and my daughter, Laurel.” I introduced them and to my surprise, my mother engulfed grace in a big hearty hug.
“Thank, you, thank you, thank you so much, Grace!” my mother chorused standing back and then coming to take Laurel from my hand. “I’m your grandma, Laurie,”
I couldn’t mask my confusion, neither could Grace. Why was my mother saying thank you to Grace, and why was she acting so different after telling us she would never accept Laurel as her grandchild?
“Mother, why are you thanking, Grace?” I asked her with an elevated and curious eyebrow.
“Why won’t I? She saved your life!” my mother shrieked as though she expected us to understand but we still didn’t get her point. “I should have thanked her earlier than this if I had known.” She said to me and then turned to Grace again, “I can’t thank you enough, and I’m so sorry for not reaching out sooner. Why don’t we head upstairs? I’m sure the journey must have been straining for you all. ”
“Mother what are you talking about?” I half-yelled. Her new attitude was creeping me out.
Did she find out she was terminally ill? Or did she take on a new religion? My mother was usually predictable, especially when it comes to being stubborn and adamant on her words.
Or maybe I was just overthinking this, I thought as we all went to our family sitting room upstairs. My mother gave Laurel back to Grace and called on the maids to get us wine, at the same time, ushering us to seat on the long sofa.
Laurel looked around the place like she was lost for words. My father’s house was stunning, no doubt, even though I believed mine looks better.
She sat on the single one like a queen facing Grace and I as though we were her subjects. The wide smile was still on her face. Then she dropped a brown envelop on the glass table in front of Grace and I.
“That’s what I’m talking about, Connor,” she stared at me fondly, “Why didn’t you tell me you almost died and Grace saved you even without knowing who you were! You guys are definitely destined for each other.” she laughed wryly at her own joke.
Grace and I turned to stare at each other, perplexity plastered on our faces. I leaned forward and picked up the heavy looking envelop and tore it open. Pictures of me leaning on my red Ferrari in my own pool of blood scattered all over and around me.
Grace gasped in shock and covered Laurel’s eyes, I could feel rage burning inside me. I knew my mother was up to no good, why aren’t I even surprised?
I picked up all the gross pictures so Laurel wouldn’t have to see then and threw in on the table in front of my mother.
“What is the meaning of this, mother?” I half-yelled, but was trying to control my temper because my child was watching everything I was doing right now.
“Why didn’t you tell me that something like this happened, Connor?” she asked icily, the smile on her face replaced with a stoic expression. “You would have died, my only son would have died, and you didn’t tell me so I could at least appreciate what she did.”
Appreciate indeed, I scoffed mentally at her lies.
“What difference does it makes? Why do you have these picture?”
“I told you, didn’t I?” she crossed her leg and took a swig of wine the maids laid on the table beside her chair. “You are being watched at every single point in your life, so whatever you do, and the people you have around you matters a lot. I won’t dare dream of coming close to someone like you if I was an ordinary girl like her.” she spat out spitefully.
I turned to see Grace closing Laurel’s ears with her both hands, and tears welling up in her eyes.
“What’s your point mother? Can’t you even try to be nice to a person who saved your son’s life?” I was fidgeting on my seat. I want to break something so bad. “If she had only taken pictures and left like the person who gave you this pictures, you wouldn’t have son you would be trying to control today.”
“Connor, it’s okay…” Grace forced out, her voice was strained and faltering.
“Oh, I’m being nice to her,” My mother looked completely unfazed by all I had been saying. “Like this.” she dropped a white envelop in front of Grace this time around. “That’s the house my husband, Connor’s father bought from you. The only property your parents left for you. I’ll give it back to you if you’ll disappear from my son’s life.”
Grace stood up, letting the envelop fall on the floor as she hurled Laurel into her arms. “I think I have to go.” she excused herself and walked out of the sitting room.
“Tell yourself the truth, Jones, you don’t fit into my son’s life.” My mother called after her, increasing my rage.
I glared at my mother murderously before getting up and running after Grace. I stopped her half-way down the stairs, hugged her and Laurel before saying anything else. “I don’t even know where to start apologizing from, Grace, I’m so sorry.”
I knew she was trying so hard to hold in her tears because of our child, but I wish she wouldn’t have to hold it in or even have to hear something so heartrending. I don’t think I would ever forgive my mother for this.
“I should wait outside, Connor, please let me.” she whispered, and dropped Laurel on the floor, then held her hand.
I squatted down and kissed my child on her forehead, patting her on the head. It didn’t make her smile, I guess she noticed her mother’s mood as well.
“I’ll tell Mackintosh to get the Limo, wait for me inside. I’ll be with you shortly.” I told her and her left hand in hand with Laurel.
I went back to the sitting room to see my mother sitting comfortably on the seat as though she didn’t juts ruin someone’s day.
“How could you be so heartless, Mother!” Lena yelled, standing in front of my mother. “You never ever change, you don’t even have a single sense of remorse or conscience.” then she turned to face me, “Why did you call me here, Connor?”
I didn’t know Lena had already arrived, she probably used the other entrance and must have heard everything my mother was saying to Grace.
“Lena,” I walked to where she stood, “I wanted us to talk as a family, mother told me you left home and I wanted to know why and what was happening with you. I also wanted you to meet my fiancé.”
“I’m not family with her anymore, brother,” she muttered coldly pointing at my unfazed mother, “I’ll come to Central London to see your fiancé and child, and then, we’ll talk.” she concluded and strode out of the room the same way she came in.
I raked my hand through my hair, feeling beyond frustrated.
“Losing a child to death is not the only way you lose a child, mother.” I stated, “You don’t even care about us, really, all you care about is our image.”
“You have no idea, Connor, how can I stand a daughter than wants to marry her fellow woman?”
I scoffed, finally I’ve heard the real reason behind their feud.
“Its her choice mother, same as me. Being with Grace is my choice and you have no right to choose for us.” with that I walked out of the house, ignoring her as she kept calling my name.
I don’t think I would ever want to come back here again.