54

Ashely
I looked at Elena once more in my living room, watching her chat with Emily who was helping her unpack her books and bring in her luggage. Back at the hospital, it was tiring watching my sister bleed and to worsen it, Joe watching from a distance with the woman, nowhere to be seen.
I guessed that she had left after getting the hint about what was happening. I loathed the red lipstick on her lips. It reminded me of the woman, Richard cheated with.
I was able to have a discussion with him outside the hospital when the physician told me that I should wait outside so they could clean Elena up.
“I-I am sorry. I would end it with her and focus on Elena.” I heard him say and I mashed my lips together, in rage. Did he think that an apology would cut it out?
“Don’t end it with that woman. Keep doing what you were doing and marry her, okay? Stay away from my sister and don’t act like you care. ” I warned him, watching his face dissolve into a frown. I stepped back into the clinic with him, trying to grab onto my shoulders but I turned around and hit him across the face.
“Don’t touch me. You disgust me and don’t you dare, go near my sister. Keep being with that other woman. You said you felt trapped in the marriage with my sister, do you pity her because it’s her second miscarriage?” I stated, watching him hold his agonized cheek in shock.
I turned around, not looking back for any reason. I was allowed to see Elena after three hours and for the first time, I saw her cry and sob loudly while holding her belly which had no child in it. I later told Elena about Joe and what he said.
“Don’t take him back,” I told her while touching her hand, “He only feels regret because you lost the baby.”
She shook her head in affirmation and I leaned forward, our foreheads touching. The next day, I drove her back home to take all her belongings from his house.
Joe watched, sitting on his bed as I helped her pack up. There were no words between him and Elena as she could barely look at him.
Watching her smile with Emily while they unpacked and remarked on each book made me happy and relieved. I watched as Emily rose to her feet with her hair wrapped up in a ponytail while dragging Elena’s luggage towards the spare room where Emily slept.
Poor Emily. she would have to sleep on the sofa which she had previously agreed to.
***
“I sold my wedding ring and some of my jewelry, the day after we went to her home and wired it to mother to pay up the loan, and don’t worry, she did pay it. ” Elena told me.
I whipped my head around with a frown on my face.
“Don’t tell me you’re still pissed about that day.” Elena let out a sigh.
“Why would I be pissed? She paid it off already so I don’t have to see her anymore.” I walked over to my small fridge, bringing out a fruit juice.
“She said she would like to talk to you and apologize.” Elena continued.
“I don’t need an apology. All I want is for her to stay far away from me and my life. ” I muttered.
“She said she would change, stop gambling and start afresh with her children. ” Elena persisted while holding a book.
“And you believe that?” I placed my hands into my skirt pocket, “I don’t want her in my life, Elena and I don’t care she if changes for good.”
“Ash-”
“I don’t understand how it’s so easy for you to forgive her, keep on helping her when she has nothing for us. ” The sides of my eyes crinkled up and my hands balled into a tight fist while tears threatened to fall out from my eyes.
“Because, no matter what, she’s our mother and you know that our father would have wanted her. He always said that no matter what mistakes she made, she is our mother. The one who birthed us.” Elena continued.
“So are you doing this for him?” I crossed my arms around my bust.
“Ashley, please just listen and let’s -” she was unable to complete her statement when Emily walked into the living room, her face occasionally darting toward me and Elena.
“Are you both talking about me? Is that why you stopped?” Emily asked.
“No,” Elena was the first to speak up, “We were just-” I cut her off in mid-sentence.
“We were having a heated conversation and your presence managed to reduce the heat,” I spoke while looking at my sister, “I would like to take a walk. I would be back before dinner.”
I didn’t wait for them to respond as I picked up my phone and went into my bedroom to pick it up. I wore a brown coat and pulled it over my shirt and skirt while wrapping a scarf around my neck. My eyes sighted the black umbrella and I took it swiftly. I felt a pang of guilt when I lied to Emily that morning about Nadia gifting the umbrella to me.
I didn’t say another word as I walked outside, looking at the orange sun which had begun to set. I didn’t want to start up another unhealthy argument because I was aware of what she had gone through with the miscarriage and Joe in particular.
Forgiving my mother for all the wrong she had done to me would take more than a dinner or a simple conversation and no matter how I tried to understand it, I just couldn’t.
Why was Elena still not getting the fact that she just wanted to take things away from us?
Using my name and my workplace to get a debt was the last straw between us. I was certain that Elena would have accidentally told her about where I worked.
I halted on my heels, touching the red scarf on my neck. I sighted a bench and sat on it, watching as mothers, children and men walk while vehicles prowled the road.
I heard a vibration coming from my coat pocket and I reached out to grab it.
My eyes brimmed with happiness when I noticed that it was Mason.
“I thought you’ll never call. ” I muttered to myself as I pressed the green button, placing it across my ear.
“Hi,” I heard him say, “I missed you. I was busy back at the bank and I had so many responsibilities to take care of.”
I melted at the sound of his voice while fiddling with the ends of the red scarf.
“I was scared that you lost interest in me and that you found me clingy for calling you. ” I chuckled softly.
“I never lost interest in you, Ashley. I just need to do better and be more committed to you,” he said.
“Alright, you can promise me that, ” A blush found its way to my cheeks, “Where are you?”
“At the bank. ” Mason answered.
“But it’s Saturday,” I said.
“I work every day, ” I heard him laugh, “But what about you?”
“I don’t work on Saturdays. I work from Mondays to Fridays. The bakery is always closed during the weekend. ” I explained.
“Why?” Mason asked.
I let out a deep sigh, “I don’t know. You can ask Mrs. Ping. ”
“Was that a joke, Ashely Boark?” Mason asked with a chuckle.
“Not really. ” I answered. I was delighted that he was giving me the attention I needed and all he had to do next was make me his girlfriend.
“So how have you been lately?” Mason suddenly asked.
When I heard that question, all I wanted to do was tell him everything about Elena’s miscarriage and my mother in particular.
“I have been through a lot lately, Mason and honestly my mother has played a-”
“I would call you later, Ashley. I have something to do, right now. Is that fine by you?” Mason cut in hurriedly.
“Yes, it is,” I responded and then he bade me goodbye. Still holding my phone, I felt a strange sensation rush through my body.
Was Mason really meant for me or was fate playing a trick on me?
Why was he always working when I needed him?
It was as if he was more committed to his work at the bank than making an effort in talking to me. My hands reached to caress the umbrella, remembering who gave it to me.
Leo.
A drop of water settled on my lap and before I could look up, it was beginning to rain. I rose to my feet, opening up the umbrella and holding it tightly in my grasp. I walked as I began to reason the fact that my crush on Mason was taking a turning point.
My phone vibrated in my left hand and I hurriedly clicked the green button without looking at it, slanting it on my ear while walking.
“Mason?” I muttered slowly. I was feeling cold and hot at the same time. I felt an ache somewhere in my heart.
I wasn’t prepared for the tone I heard, making all the goosebumps in my skin rise.
“Mason?” I heard him say, “W-Why can’t it be me? I don’t think I can keep my promise to stay away from you. What are you doing to do about it, Ashley?”
I mashed my lips, my eyes lifting to look at the umbrella Leo gave me. He didn’t take it along with him when he left so I took it. I found it hard to say a word as I struggled to open my mouth. When I finally did, it was too late.
“I think I might like-” I looked at my phone and noticed he had cut the phone call. I swallowed a globe of saliva, fighting the urge, not to cry.
I finally let the tears run down my cheek while the rain drizzled, and my heart bled.