Sterling #3
“If you had been any type of mother before you and Dad broke up, I might have sympathy for you. But you weren’t.
I don’t have any memories of you being maternal.
No warm feelings of my childhood that center you.
I had a long stream of caretakers that would cycle in and out.
Fire the ones I got too attached to so that they wouldn’t hold more influence over me than you did.
You wouldn’t give me any affection and you refused to let anyone else do it.
” I walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water to cool myself down.
After I took a drink. I began to pull out the snacks I’d prepared for the Dineros when they got home.
I was excited because Ms. Sonya was going to help me make her traditional Christmas dinner and I couldn’t wait to try it.
“You needed to learn at an early age how life was. You were too soft and it’s clear that all my attempts failed.”
“You mean to make me as cold as you? Yes, thank God they failed. I’m not cold and I never will be.
I find joy in being domestic. In ensuring my family is well taken care of.
In turning a house into a home where everyone feels loved and welcome and cared for.
I won’t ever be shamed for taking pride in being a place of softness for the people I love.
You could’ve had a daughter that was that devoted to you, but instead you pushed her away.
Your jealousy over other people receiving love from me that you threw away. ”
“You think that man cares about you outside of what you can do for him? Outside of how you make his life easier? You’re delusional.”
“That man, as you call him, needed me. But even in his need we formed a friendship. He provided me shelter, not only for my physical being, but for my mental and emotional as well. He gave me a home that you abjectly refused and I’m not talking about a physical dwelling.
You can’t stand that I have that. I’m not the picture of perfection that you made yourself into and wanted me to copy.
And yet I have everything that you thought your physical appearance would provide you with.
And you hate me for it. You hate that I find joy in the things that you thought were beneath me because of money.
Which is why you have landed in the position that you’re in.
I’m whole, happy and loved. And the envy is eating you alive. ”
“You think I envy you? Slaving for some man who will leave you when another pretty face comes along?” She couldn’t even fake a laugh because she was just that joyless.
“Mother, my happiness isn’t dependent on Aldrich’s love.
Has it been life-changing? Sure. But he’s not the only reason I’m happy.
As amazing as he is, he could leave tomorrow and I would heal my broken heart and love our daughter all the same.
I have unconditional love from that little girl.
Something that you could’ve had from me but you ripped it up like paper, set it on fire and burned it to ash.
But of all the greatest things that Aldrich has given me, our daughter is the best and I will always love and respect him for making me her mother. ”
“Pathetic.”
I just laughed because nothing she said affected me.
“I’m glad you feel that way about me. It means I’m doing something right.
As I said, have a good holiday Mother. I hope Aunt Sherry will enjoy bailing Denise out of jail.
I could’ve put in a good word but I guess now, since I’m not family, I’ll let the family handle it how you all see fit. Goodbye, mother.”
I hung up the phone, and the sound of applause made me jump out of my skin. I looked up to see all the Dineros, even the littlest one, were all clapping for me. Ami looked so cute in her little burgundy sweater dress and little white tights.
“You did good, Ling. I’m proud of you.” Aldrich walked toward me and gave me a welcome home kiss that lingered longer than it should have with his mama and siblings standing right there. I eventually broke our kiss and turned to greet them each.
“I got everything that you said we’d need to make dinner. I’ve got just about every kind of food you guys could want so—”
Ms. Sonya reached over to take my hands. “These two are not about to work you to the bone like you’re running a bed-and-breakfast. They know how to feed themselves and they are definitely going to remember those skills while here, right?” She turned to the twins a threatening look on her face.
“Yes, ma’am.” They answered in unison while I was shaking my head that they wouldn’t have to.
She turned back to me almost catching me contradicting her.
I’d already prepped the cookie dough for us to decorate cookies with, the others to bake and eat, and had a lasagna prepared to go in the oven.
As much as this was Ami’s first Christmas it was mine too.
And I wanted to enjoy every second of it.
“Good. Now, these men can handle this luggage. Let me see how you’ve decorated. This house looks phenomenal.”