January
“I thought I would never hear your voice again, Emma,” Roland said on the other line.
“You know you can reach me thru mom,” I told my brother as my eyes pooled with tears, “How are you? What food did you cook for tonight?”
“We’re getting ready to go to Uncle Theo,” Roland continued, “Mom and I decided to celebrate New Year’s eve with his family.”
“I’m glad to hear that!” I exclaimed, “Say hi to all of our cousins there, for me.”
“I’m sorry, Emma,” Roland said suddenly, “I’m so sorry for making your life miserable.”
“Roland, that’s not true,” I said to him.
“I would never forget the look in Bram’s eyes on the night of the fire,” Roland added, “When you were in the hospital he was so mad that he needed to leave you because of me. I would have been in jail if Bram did not interfere. I lost count on how many times you have saved my life. Even if I’m not your real brother.”
“Roland…” I uttered.
“I would never see Milan in person,” Roland continued. I heard mom called Roland in the background and told him that they were going, “I’ll call you when I can, Emma.”
“Okay, take care,” I told him and we hung up.
February 1
We turned my old room into Milan’s nursery room. And tonight we watched him sleep in his new place. We were naked under the covers because we just made love again for the first time to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. I got a go signal from my OB-GYN and she also told me that I should be the one to decide if I was comfortable doing it.
“What did you drink that night?” I asked Bram as I recalled that he smelled of liquor on our first night last year.
“I was nervous as hell that night,” Bram commented, “I can’t even recall what I drank then.”
“I do remember the morning after,” I giggled. I wanted to make him remember.
“Oh God! Don’t remind me,” Bram buried his face on my neck. He was hugging me from the back. And we were facing Milan’s crib on the right, “I was such an arse! I’m so glad that you’re still here after that.”
“Well, I did sign a contract so I am required to deal with an arse,” I told Bram with a laugh.
Bram pulled me closer to him, “I’m sorry for being an idiot Emma.”
I laughed then quickly stopped and glanced at Milan, “I did not know that I had to deal with a lot of idiots in my life.”
Bram hugged me tighter, “Who’s the other idiot?”
“Roland?” I reminded Bram.
“Well, I could not argue with that,” Bram commented.
The next day Maria woke us up and told us that Mama Credence called and said that she wants us to visit her at the ancestral house with Milan.
“I’ll call her later, Maria,” Bram told her, “Please don’t bother us until lunch.”
“Certainly, sir!” Maria closed our door and Bram and I went back to sleep.
Saturday
We picked up Mama Credence from the ancestral house after its reopening celebration. We brought her to the Glass House. She stayed in Milan’s room the whole time she was with us. We told her that she could sleep with us during weekends so she could spend some time with Milan.
The following day Bram got a phone call from his friend in racing and they asked him to go for a road trip. Mama Credence, the nanny and I stayed in the nursery room while Bram got ready. He bid us goodbye and he left the house after lunch. When Milan fell asleep we told the nanny to go down so she could take her break. Mama Credence and I sat on the new sofa-bed while we stared at Milan’s crib.
“Bram mentioned to me that he wanted a proper wedding for you?” Mama Credence started our conversation.
“I told him it wasn’t necessary,” I tried to explain myself to her.
Mama Credence nodded then she stared at my lap, “I see that he gave you the ring?”
I frowned for a moment because I did not get it at first. Then I looked where Mama Credence was staring at. I lifted my left hand, “Oh this?” I commented while I touched my ruby ring, “He didn’t have to give me an engagement ring.”
Mama Credence crossed her leg and met my eyes, “Bram wants you to have the best things because he knows you deserve it, Emma. You have to accept the fact that you are getting these things because you deserve them and that you are meant to receive them. If my son wants to give you more, let him. It would make him happy.” Then she smiled at me.
I bit my lower lip and stared at the floor, “I never got the courage to ask you about this before. I need to know, how do you feel about all of this?”
“I’m glad you have the courage now, dear,” Mama Credence leaned to me, “You see, I lost my husband and that was a very sad chapter of my life. But then my son got married and had a son. So God has taken my husband and given me a daughter and a grandson. What do you think I should feel?”
I released a long breath and smiled at her, “I guess…overwhelmed? And happy?” I answered nervously.
Mama Credence nodded and grinned at me, “My heart is filled with joy and happiness. I am very grateful to the one above for blessing my life.”
I smiled at her and remembered my mom. My smile suddenly disappeared, I was wondering how mom was doing. I blinked fast so my eyes would not tear up.
“Something wrong dear?” Mama Credence asked worriedly.
I shook my head, “I just remembered my mom.”
Mama Credence sighed and stood up, “It’s two o’clock in the afternoon, let’s visit her then?”
My jaw dropped but I closed it quickly and stood up. Mama Credence called Maria and the nanny on the intercom and told them to get ready. She also called Aunt Calla and instructed her to meet us at my mom’s house. Mama Credence told Maria that the nanny and Chantal would come with us. Chantal will drive my SUV because Jonas drove for Bram.
Mom teared up when she saw me and Milan again. The last time that she saw us was on Christmas day last year. I was shocked that Roland was not at home.
“He volunteered to go back to rehab, Emma,” mom said as she cradled Milan in her arms. The three of us looked up to mom as she shared the news about Roland, “For me, it was the bravest thing that he ever did in his life.”
“It sure is,” Mama Credence nodded in agreement.
“Alicia was bad for him, Minerva,” Aunt Calla commented, “How I wished that those things did not happen. But I guess everyone learned something from it.”
My mom shook her head, “Roland was vulnerable. She influenced and manipulated my son to do things that he would not do. What happened to her by the way?” mom asked.
Mama Credence and Aunt Calla looked at each other. Then Aunt Calla opened her mouth, “Our lawyers met with hers because Roland said she was the mastermind. On the other hand Alicia was incriminating Roland. Bram gave the lawyers the direct order to protect Roland.”
I covered my hands to my mouth because this was the first time that I was hearing all of this, “Bram did all of that for Roland?” I asked them.
Mama Credence and Aunt Calla shook their heads. Then Mama Credence answered, “Bram did it for you, dear.”
Chantal and the nanny stayed with me at mom’s house. While mom gave Mama Credence and Aunt Calla a tour of her restaurant and her newly acquired plants shop. Chantal stayed in the living room while the nanny was with me as I fed Milan on the bed. It felt so good to be back in my old room again after so long. I felt so relaxed that I fell asleep.
I was startled when mom woke me up, “It’s dinner time dear and Bram called Credence, he was not happy that you are here. Come, let’s have dinner before you leave.”