Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
AVA
On Thursday, I stopped by my mom’s place before heading to the bakery.
“Do you want to take some with you?” She stirred the pot of chicken noodle soup.
“I’ll never say no to your chicken soup.” I smiled, taking a seat at the kitchen table. I placed my purse on the chair beside me, watching my mom scoop soup into a container.
Her light brown hair with silver mixed in had grown past her chin now. “I like your bob cut. Looks elegant.”
“I think so too.” She turned, patted her hair, and smiled, looking healthy like a polished gem.
She used to have mid-length hair that she always wore in a ponytail.
“Things are going well with you and Austin?” Mom placed the bag containing the soup on the table and sat across from me.
“Yes, we’re taking it slowly.” I explained the story of why he had to end things and how his father was old-fashioned with certain beliefs.
“What? Who still believes in arranged marriages these days? What a stubborn man!” She huffed out a breath.
“Everyone knows about the Montage family. You don’t do business with them.
Period. They’re vindictive. I heard of a wife who hired someone to crash into her husband’s mistress’s car because she knew he was still seeing her even though he told her they had broken up. ”
I missed that news. “The wife wanted the mistress dead?”
“They’d do anything to crush their enemies.” Mom sighed.
“Is the mistress okay?”
“She got some bruises and a broken leg, but she walked away with money after she sued them. The Montages paid off people to keep it out of the news, but I heard from a friend who knew the mistress personally.”
“Crazy rich people.”
“I understand now.” Mom sighed and reached across the table for my hand. “Austin wanted them to know it was over between you and him while he tried to convince his father, who was in a vulnerable condition.”
Austin had to be gentle in his request and delivery, which was why it took him a month to break off the engagement.
“Did he break it off via text?” Mom asked sarcastically.
I laughed. “No. He and his father sat down with Sierra and her father.”
Pushing the past aside, I looked at my beautiful mother. “I’ve got something for you.” I reached into my purse and pulled out the velvet box. “It’s an early Christmas gift.”
“Oh sweetie, you could’ve waited until Christmas.” She held the jewelry box, examining it. “Do you want yours now too?”
“No, mine can wait.” I gestured to the box. “Open it.”
I watched as her face transformed.
“Oh my gosh! Ava!” Her eyes brightened with tears. “I love it. This is the bracelet from the commercial!” She got up and embraced me. “Help me put it on.”
I didn’t tell her I was among the several people who had been robbed recently. It would only have worried her.
“I’m showing this off tonight when I go out with the girls for dinner. Thank you, sweetie.”
Seeing the joy on my mother’s face added a layer of peace to my heart.