Friday afternoon
“Using a wheelchair will not tarnish your image, dearest,” Mama Credence said to Bram as Jonas loaded the wheelchair at the back of the Land Cruiser.
“It won’t,” Bram responded, “It makes me feel weak, that’s my concern.”
Bram and I were standing near the door of the Land Cruiser. I decided to wear a white buttoned up dress so I could easily remove it at the studio. Then I matched it with my brown and gold flat sandals. Bram was wearing dark blue garterized shorts, a plain white V-necked shirt, and his walking boots. He was also wearing his sports sunglasses which made him look really handsome and aristocratic. He crossed his arms to his chest and watched Jonas load the rest of our stuff to the SUV.
Sometimes Bram had this certain air about him that I found very intimidating. We only met officially at the signing of our contract. But before that, I thought that he was a snobbish guy. Someone who was far away from me, like someone who was beyond my reach. I also felt this when we were at the Batangas Racing Circuit. When he filmed an advertisement video for the Youtube channel of his former F1 team. He looked like a celebrity; powerful and expensive.
Bram and I started to get ready thirty minutes after our lunch. It was probably past one in the afternoon now. I suddenly felt hot and dizzy. I gripped the handle of my tote bag for support then I momentarily closed my eyes. I swallowed and slowly climbed the steps back to the house. Maria looked startled when I walked past her. I felt really parched. I walked straight to the kitchen and placed my tote bag on the kitchen counter. I got a glass and filled it with water from the dispenser. I drank the water straight up and filled it up again.
“What’s wrong?” Bram said as he held on the door frame for support. Jonas was behind him holding his sports eyewear.
“I’m feeling dizzy,” I answered Bram. Then I placed the glass near the dispenser. I sat on the bar stool and held both sides of my head.
“Take it easy dear,” Mama Credence said then she touched my forehead and cheeks, “I’ll call Divina.”
Divina was the first name of my OB-GYN. She took her bag from her secretary and got her phone. Bram limped closer to me then he wrapped his arms around me. I closed my eyes as I rested my head on his right chest. Then he placed his chin at the top of my head.
“Can you walk?” Bram said to me, “The living room sofa is more comfortable.”
“Divina said she wants to see you,” Mama Credence told us when she walked back to the kitchen, “Bram and I will go to the induction party. I will call your mom and tell her what happened. Will that be okay with you Emma?”
I nodded, “Yes, I also want to check if the baby is okay.” Bram let me go then he kissed my forehead. Maria carried my tote bag then we all walked out of the kitchen.
Maria and Chantal came with me to the hospital. My mom said she would follow after us here after she closed the restaurant because Roland went out of town with Alicia. I did a lot of laboratory work and an ultrasound as requested by my OB-GYN. Everything came out normal but Dr. Delgado wanted me to have a 3-day bedrest. She said it might be possible that I was exhausted. She reminded me again to drink a lot of water so this would not happen again. Mom never came, so we went home after five o’clock.
“I’ll take care of you, dear,” Aunt Calla whispered softly as she fixed my blanket. Mama Credence called Aunt Calla and asked her to watch over me since they could not contact my mom.
“Thank you, Aunt Calla,” I told her then I closed my eyes. I heard her fading footsteps and the closing of our room door.
Monday
Chantal, Aunt Calla and I were on our way to mom’s house because mom wanted to see me. I already told her last Saturday that I was fine and I just needed to stay in bed for three days. I asked Aunt Calla and Chantal to accompany me today because I badly wanted to get out of the room. Aunt Calla disagreed with me at first. Because she did not like the idea of me visiting my mom when it should be the other way around.
Aunt Calla came with us anyway. Bram allowed me to go because he had a lot of Zoom meetings today. And we already spent 3 days together. We just watched F1 and Netflix. Mom already gave me a warning that Roland and Alicia were at the restaurant. So we went straight to her house.
Mom and Aunt Calla were chatting in the living room and I was just listening to them. They were talking about how mom and dad started the restaurant. I put my feet up, grabbed a throw pillow, and leaned on the sofa. Then after a while we heard a clanging sound, which meant someone was opening our gate. Mom looked out the window to check who it was.
“Oh, it’s Roland and Alicia,” mom said without looking at us. Aunt Calla and I looked at each other for a moment. Then she shook her head.
The sofa that I was sitting on was facing our main door, so when Roland and Alicia walked in they immediately saw me. The last time that I saw her was at Bram’s induction. She caught me off-guard and it was not very pleasant. I knew better now. So when she glared at me I answered it with a nasty stare. If she tried anything here, I would not hesitate to throw her out. She eventually rolled her eyes at me then she turned to Aunt Calla with an irritating smile.
“How’s your favorite model?” she asked Aunt Calla with a smirk. My lips parted with Alicia’s lack of respect. I would understand it if she was rude to me, but Bram’s Aunt? Even if she knew Brandon, why brought him up?
Aunt Calla answered her with a wry grin. She opened her bag while she stared at Alicia. Then she brought out a neatly stacked paper then stood up. Then she threw them all in front of Alicia. The pictures scattered to the floor.
Mom and I both gasped and covered our mouths in shock. My eyes darted at the picture that fell down my feet. I picked it up and looked at it. It was a picture of Alicia in a very skimpy bikini while she was kissing an unfamiliar guy near the beach.
“The question is: how is the L. A. actor that you’ve been sleeping with for two years, when you were still in a relationship with my nephew?” Then Aunt Calla crossed her arms to her chest.
Roland’s mouth hung open. He was switching glances between Aunt Calla and the scattered pictures on the floor. I watched Alicia’s chest rise and fall as she stared at Aunt Calla with contempt.. Alicia ended up walking out of our house then Roland followed her. Mom stared at the photos on the floor then she picked them up one by one.
“Sorry about this Minerva,” Aunt Calla said to mom, “But I’ve had it. Why are you letting that woman have a relationship with your son when you know it will hurt your daughter! I am not like Credence who takes her time and observes people’s stupidity and hypocrisy. Shame on you for not protecting Emma!”
I sat down carefully, my knees suddenly turned wobbly. I could not believe that Aunt Calla said those words to my mom. I looked at my mom and her eyes pooled with tears, “I had no choice, Calla. They are both my children. I hope you can understand that.”
Aunt Calla shook her head then picked her bag from the sofa, “Come on, Emma. I am done with bullshit.”
I stood up and faced my mom. I opened my mouth to say something but Aunt Calla paused at the entrance, “Don’t worry Minerva. Those pictures are your copies. If your stepson, Roland, needs more, just call me. I can print more for him.” Then she walked out of the house.