When they got to their suite, she didn’t expect the scene she’d be seeing. It was her mom, plopped on the bed with a wineglass in hand.
‘Is she crying?’
Lemon looked at Dahlia who was seated on the loveseat with her forehead creased. “We saw your dad,” she stated, stealing a glance at Tori. “Actually, he was already there when we arrived.”
She quickly walked over to my mom and combed her hair with her fingers. “Are you okay mom?” she asked worriedly. Tori nodded before pushing herself to sit up, leaning on the headboard.
“I was surprised to see him there,” she said while sniffing. “He said he’s been looking for us for years but your Uncle Rigo and Aunt Ena won’t tell him where we were. He only found out that we’re coming back because the real estate agent is his friend. He said he just tried her luck today,” she narrated in between sobs.
Lemon could see pain, anger, and sadness in her mother’s eyes and she forced herself not to cry as well. “What did you tell him?” she asked, and Tori just shook her head.
“Your mom ignored him. He didn’t even get a sigh out of her,” Dahlia informed her with a chuckle.
“I can’t bring myself to talk to him. I can’t even think of anything to say to him. I wanted to jump at your father and scratch his face nonstop but I stopped myself from doing so,” Tori said while letting out a sigh.
Lemon hugged her and Tori returned it, “I love you, fille,” her mom whispered.
“I love you too, Mom!”
This is one of the many things she doesn’t like about her mother. She’s not sure if she’s a martyr or she’s just naturally kind.
She witnessed how her mother had a hard time coping when her dad left them. But she’s also aware of the fact that Tori can easily forgive him as soon as he starts explaining to her.
Lemon can still recall how Tori became both a workaholic and an alcoholic during their first months in France. She can’t work without a glass of wine next to her.
That’s why she can’t help but worry, not just for her mother, but for herself too. Especially thinking about the possibility of her father wanting to come back to them.
She was scared that she might take after her mother. She might easily forgive whoever will hurt her in the future.
She’s worried about Tori because after meeting her father again, after a long time, she might revert to how she was before. She might start drinking and overworking again.
She’s not asking her not to forgive him. She’s just her daughter anyway and that’s her husband, more so if she still loves him.
For Lemon, though, Tori should give herself some time to reconsider things first. She’s just hoping her mom won’t accept him back right away.
Even Lemon wasn’t sure whether she could accept the man back into her life again. No matter how they explain it to her, she won’t be able to accept the fact that he had left them for another woman.
She won’t be able to accept the fact that they were never enough for him to keep their family together. He still chose to go with someone else.
That night, Lemon slept next to her mother, hugging her tightly. She could feel her sobbing in her sleep and it was heartbreaking for her.
Lemon can’t afford to see her mother suffer just because her husband chose another woman over her. She couldn’t tell Tori, but up until now, she still couldn’t forgive her father for what he’d done.
Although Lemon stayed up late looking after her mother, she was quick to get up when Kale called her. It was only past 8 in the morning.
Yesterday, while at the pool, they talked about going to church in the morning, so she had no choice but to get up. She decided to just catch up on sleep when they came back.
Aside from church, they also need to head to the mall to buy stuff for school. They don’t even have a notebook and their classes start on Monday.
Tori and Dahlia were already up too. They’ll drop them off at the church before heading to the shop.
After the mass, they’ll just ask the driver to drop them off at the mall where they can buy their stuff for school, then they’ll head home.
‘Good morning cuz! Happy Sunday!’ Kellen texted and Lemon replied to her, ‘Thanks! Happy Sunday to you and your fam too!’
After replying to Kellen, she quickly headed for the bathroom to get ready. She donned a striped boxy tee, skinny jeans, and casual kicks.
Kale’s outfit was almost the same, though he picked a polo shirt instead. This is how he usually dresses up when going to church. According to him, it’s his semi-formal attire.
After getting dressed, they both headed downstairs. After almost an hour of eating breakfast, they all headed out.
“Good morning Lemon! Where are you off to?” Yel greeted, as he waved at her.
“Good morning!” she greeted back, smiling. “We’re going to the church.”
“Who is he, fille?” Tori asked from behind.
Lemon turned to face her as she pointed to the young man in front of them, “This is Yel, mom. Yel, this is Victoria, my mother, and Kale’s mom, Aunt Dahlia,” she introduced.
Tori nodded at Yel with a smile, but Lemon felt weird by Yel’s reaction after the introduction. He was smiling at first, but then that smile slowly faded.
His forehead was suddenly creased and Lemon noticed a glint of anger in his eyes as he looked at Tori. He also didn’t speak anymore after she introduced them to him.
After a few seconds, he just bade them farewell and, since she was a bit confused, she just nodded at him. He left them without even looking back.
‘That was strange…’