Chapter 67- Shadows and Pain
I stopped my car in front of the coffee shop as I took a deep breath, I knew my Mom was going to be asking me a lot of questions of which I knew I was going to tell her everything. I can never hide anything from her, I've tried but it never works.
I stepped out of my car as I closed the car door then I walked into the coffee shop.
Just as expected my Mom was already sitting at her favorite spot. It was like this place already knew that that was her favorite spot and specifically reserved it for her.
“ Mom," I called as soon as I reached her as she stood up and hugged me, touching my face affectionately,
“ I was so worried about you, the way you just disappeared in a hurry, please tell me what happened," she said as she sat down.
I pulled a chair as I sat down taking her hands in mine.
" Did I tell you about Anna's psychopath of an ex?” I asked,
" I think you did, I can't remember,” she said,
“ Last night he kidnapped her and we had to look everywhere for her it was a miracle we found her or else she would have died,” I said and my Mom gasped,
" Oh my God, how's she doing now?” she asked in worry,
" She's doing fine now, she's still in the hospital but she should be discharged today,” I said,
" You should have told me so I would have just come to the hospital rather than coming here, I would love to see her and know how she's doing,” she said,
" Mom she's fine,” I reassured her,
" Alright,” she said but I knew she was still worried. She just loves Anna so much and she sees her as the daughter she never had.
" Son, you know we definitely have to talk about your father,” she said and immediately my mood became sour.
He thought I was a little boy he could control just because he was my father. If he wants that perfect son he might as well go raise my brother from the dead because I refuse to let him control me.
“ Mom, please I don't want to talk about him, you should know that," I said,
“ But you know how your dad is, just talk to him, introduce Anna to him maybe he's going to change his mind," she said and I couldn't help but laugh,
“ You sound like it's not your husband we're talking about, you can remember what happened at our last dinner, things definitely didn't turn out well and the last thing I want is to have a repeat of that," I said and she sighed,
“ So what are we going to do?" My Mom asked,
" Anything that doesn't involve getting married to the woman he wants,” I said,
" Talk to him, just talk to him, he'll definitely listen you he's your father, you just have to try Cole,” my Mom said but I shook my head,
" You should know that the only person he listens to is you and it seems to me like you have talked to him and it didn't work that's why you're asking me to try,” I said but she shook her head,
" No I haven't, I just want both of you to discuss this as father and son, I want things to work between the both of you, you don't know how desperate I want that to happen,” she said, her voice sad.
“ Mom, you know it was never my fault, he started this, he started this when he decided that no matter what I do it would never be enough. Do you know what I feel? Do you know how it feels to live like you're living in the shadow of someone? Even when the person is alive and even after this person's death. William is who he truly loved and I know if he could trade us he'd take William any day, any time,” I said,
" Don't say that Cole, you're just hurting yourself, don't say that please, your father loves you as much as he loved your brother William,” she said her eyes beginning to tear up, I didn't want her to cry.
“ Mom, we both know that's a lie, the one that was close to his heart is William,” I said. William would always be close to his heart.
“ Cole, I just wish you could open up your heart to your father," she said and I couldn't help but scoff,
“ Open my heart to my father? He doesn't even want to be in a room with me and you want me to open my heart to him, you think if he has a choice he'll have anything to do with me?” I said,
" Stop this now Cole, stop saying that, what about me? Don't I care about you?" she asked and I sighed before I took her hands and squeezed,
" Mom, please it's not like that. Okay this is what would happen, I'll talk to dad about everything, how's that?" I asked and she smiled,
" Please talk to him, I know how both of you get but please don't let this separate both of you, you're all I have,” she said as she took my hand and dropped a kiss.
We had coffee and talked about less emotional things before I walked her to her car and she drove away. I released a breath before I walked to my car and got in as I drove back to the hospital.
I knocked on Anna's room door and could hear her and her best friend laughing from inside.
“ Stop teasing me Bella, are you forgetting I have something against you too?" she said from inside and her friend laughed,
I knocked on the door again to get their attention before I heard them telling me to come in.
I opened the door and walked in and they both smiled.
“ Hello brother in-law," Bella said and that made me smile especially when Anna blushed.
“ Stop it,” Anna said as she hit her friend's shoulder,
" You already introduced him to your Mom so it's official and he's my brother-in-law, I like him after all,” she said with a pout.
I handed the roses I got on my way here to Anna and she took them smiling.
" Aww, you both are so sweet,” Bella said, fanning herself.
" I was just thinking about something today,” I suddenly said what has been bothering me as they both turned to me.
" What is it?” Anna asked as she smelt the roses.
“It's about the house, what about you move in with me?"