Raymond immediately walked up to Lina, hugging her shoulders, understanding that she might be going through mixed emotions at the mention of her mother. He still finds it unbelievable that his mother, and his deceased mother-in-law knows each other
Catherine’s hand flew to her mouth, trying to control her sobs. “Your mother is Laura Thompson?” Catherine stepped forward with tears in her eyes. She grabbed Lina limp hands with hers, her eyes staring at Lina, who looks so much like her friend, Laura, when she was Lina’s age.
Lina nodded, her body still trembling. “Yes, Laura Thompson is my mom. What’s your relationship with her?” Lina asked with a shaky voice, still finding it surprising that someone definitely knew her mother. Since her father has told her a decade ago never to ever ask about any of her mother’s relationship, she had given up, and never thought she would meet someone who knows her mother.
Raymond patted Lina’s shoulder, trying to comfort her as much as possible. She could feel how she was trembling so much in his arms.
“Mom, let’s go and take a seat, so you can tell Lina whatever you know about her mother.” Raymond suggested, while everyone nodded.
“Catherine, my good daughter-in-law, listen to your son. It’s a good thing you are an acquaintance with our in-laws. This will even make it easier to ask for Lina’s hands in marriage.” Grandpa Walton grinned mischievously, not knowing that Lina’s mother had already passed away.
Catherine and the others went to sit on the sofa. Grandpa Walton and Annabelle occupied a two seater sofa, Raymond and Lina sat together, with Raymond’s left hand still hugging her shoulders.
Catherine sat on a single seater sofa, where she was able to face everyone, as they all looked at her with curiosity, not wanting to wait any longer.
Catherine’s index finger moved to her eyes, taking away the single teardrop away from her left eyes as she sniffled. “Laura was my childhood friend. We were neighbors since we were staying in the same estate. She was the only one I have had as a playmate, since I was antisocial, but your mother…,” Catherine eyes fell on Lina again, whose eyes were staring at Catherine, never wanting to miss anything about her mother.
The twelve years she had spent with her mother was almost like a blur, but she still remembered how caring her mother was towards her.
“Your mother was the opposite. She was cheerful, and easily made friends, getting along with people well. It was your mother who finally helped me out of my antisocial self. I started getting along with people, and before I knew it, I became a normal person, who shares her worries and interacts well with people.”
Catherine finished her narration in one breath, still finding it unbelievable that her friend and her became in-laws. She can’t wait to see her friend. Since she left London years ago to come and study in the United States, she had never seen her friend again.
What made her even more distant from her was when she met her husband, who proposed marriage to her, making her permanently become a citizen of the USA through marriage. She had tried contacting Laura, but all her efforts were futile.
The worst of it was that the Thompson family wouldn’t speak a word to her about her whereabouts. She had hope she would find her someday. Who knew her good friend’s daughter would become her daughter-in-law.
“Now tell me, girl, what’s your name? And how can I meet your mother?”
Lina gaze fell on her lap. From what Catherine narrated, she could feel and see how important her mother was to her. How would she take the news of her mother’s death? Seeing that Lina wasn’t in the right mood to speak, Raymond speaks up for her.
“Mother,” Catherine’s eyes shifted to her son, while Raymond held her gaze.
“My wife’s name is Lina Robert. And about her mother, I’m sorry to say this. She is no more. She died a decade ago.” Raymond’s words left Catherine shocked and trembling. Grandpa Walton and Annabelle eyes widened in shock, their eyes looking at Lina in pity.
Raymond held Lina’s body close to his, hugging her waist, while resting her head on his shoulder. He patted her back, trying to stop her tears.
Catherine slumped on the sofa she was seated on, still not believing the news of her friend’s death. “How could this be? Why didn’t I get any news about this? Why would Laura die so young? Poor Laura.” Catherine cried at her friend’s fate, her lips trembling.
A few minutes of silence passed in the living room, everyone with their own thoughts. Raymond continued patting Lina’s back, who had stopped crying at the moment. “Everything will be fine.” Raymond had whispered these words many times to her, reassuring her like he was reassuring himself.
Catherine also stopped crying. She wiped her tears with some tissues, her expression going back to normal. She can’t change what has happened. Her only regret was that she wasn’t able to meet Laura for the last time.
Grandpa Walton cleared his throat, trying to shake off the awkward silence. “I’m so sorry to hear that, dear Lina. Don’t be so sad. We are all here for you.”
Annabelle nodded as she also said, “sister-in-law, I know it’s not easy not to miss your mother, but don’t find it difficult to ask us for anything you wanted. We are all here for you.” Annabell repeated her grandfather’s words, while everyone nodded.
“How have you been faring so far, Lina? What about your father? Can I meet up with grandpa Thompson?” Catherine asked, wanting to know more about the man her friend got married to. She also wanted to meet Grandpa Thompson so badly, trying to ask him some things.
Lina shook her head as her lips parted. “I don’t know anyone from my maternal family. My father, he…he is the only family I have, but…,” Lina held her chest, trying to soothe the ache she felt. She doesn’t know why she wanted to say all that she had held in her chest for so long to the people seated by her sides.
Raymond was the only person she was close to in the room, but she felt comfortable with the others also. The family bond she had been trying to get since her mothers demise came back rushing to her at the moment. She felt like opening up to these people and telling them all her mothers struggles before her death, and also the cause of her sudden death.
“My father brought in a mistress after two weeks my mother died.”
“What?” Everyone was shocked as they judged Jason for being cruel. He didn’t even wait for his wife’s cold corpse to rest before bringing in another woman.
“I learned later that my father and his mistress colluded with each other. They had been feeding my mother some poison behind her back, trying to kill her and take over all her properties, which they succeeded in doing.
My mother not only died a painful death, they also plotted against me after I knew about their crimes. They took me to an institute and erased all my memories about my findings. I just got them back a few days ago. I would make sure they pay for all they did to my mother.”
Lina broke down in tears after saying everything. She felt her chest was lighter after sharing her worries. Raymond held her close to him, patting her shoulder. He remembered when Lina had gone into a coma for two days, after mentioning her father coming for her. It turned out that she had regained all her memories at that time. He wasn’t angry that Lina hid all this from him, instead, he felt sorry for her.
Catherine was frozen from all Lina said. Grandpa Walton’s hold on his stick became tightened, while Annabelle was sobbing quietly, feeling emotional.
Grandpa Walton stood up from his seat. He walked up to Lina, and sat beside her. He rested his palm on her shoulder, trying to pass some little comfort to her.
“It’s okay my child. You are not alone anymore. And for your shameless father and his shameless mistress, I will make sure I get them punished for all their crimes. They wouldn’t get away with all they did to you and your mother.”
Lina nodded, feeling grateful for finally getting support. She knew she can’t win her battles alone, and to get her mother’s killer punished, she needed a powerful backing like the Walton’s behind her.
“And for your maternal family, Catherine would arrange how you would meet with them. They need to know about your existence too.”
“Thank you, grandpa. I don’t know how to thank you enough.”
“Silly,” grandpa Walton patted Lina’s head. “We are all family. We don’t need to be formal with each other. You are one of the Waltons now. And we the Walton’s protect what is ours.” Grandpa Walton patted his chest proudly, proving his point.
“Lina dear, don’t think about not having a mother anymore. If you don’t mind, you can take me as a mother figure. I know I can’t take your mother’s place in your heart, but no matter what you need, and when you have to share your worries with someone, I will always be here for you.” Catherine was standing in front of Lina, looking down at her, noticing how thin she was.
What a poor little thing. She must have gone through a lot from those two monsters. Catherine thought, her eyes filled with pity, at the same time with love for Lina.
Who knew that getting to meet her in-laws would not only gain Lina a family, it also made her find someone that can relate with her, just like her mother would.