4. Chapter 4 #4
“Don’t you mother me! I did my best to raise you, so don’t treat me like I don’t know what I’m doing.” She groans, yet again trying to prove to someone she was a parent, but the bad news is, I didn’t care anymore.
“Oh, really? Is parading your child around the world with zero stability and introducing him to strange new men every other month, your take on great parenting?” I growl.
I can feel my resolve weakening. Although at this point it didn’t even make a dent in her self-esteem, because after all, Mother’s actions were always justified; she couldn’t do wrong.
She glares at me, knowing it had no effect, but she had to at least give it her best shot.
“And I suppose you’re so much better than I am, are you?
” She fights back. “You’re quick to point out my so-called flaws but find it completely fine to parade your harem around Theo once a week,” she bites with no remorse.
I struggle to keep my anger in check, taking a step towards her with my fists shaking.
How dare she throw that in my face when she’s the reason I’m the way I am?
“That’s different,” I growl, clenching my teeth, towering over her despite her sitting down.
“How so?” she laughs, tilting her head to return my gaze.
“I didn’t drop my kid on someone’s doorstep.” I jab each word, dripping with venom. She tries to turn away, no longer wanting to listen, but I wasn’t done, so I took hold of her shoulders to make sure she was looking right at me.
“If you want to see Theo again, don’t ever say shit like that to me again.
I mean it. You have no idea what sacrifices I’ve had to make for that little boy in there, so consider this a warning.
” I declared firmly, making sure she took in every word, because I could put up with her usual shit, but coming for me wasn’t an option.
Then I let go of her shoulders.
The two of us remained silent for a while, letting all the tension and anger fizzle out. I soon reverted to showing little emotion as I pointed towards the game she brought.
“Now, please. Just for once, listen to me. I’m not even asking for much, but you know how much he looks forward to your gifts, and you don’t know how hard it is to keep explaining to him why he can’t have it.” I plead.
Begging wasn’t a part of my nature, but I’d gladly try it out for Theo’s sake. My mother didn’t say anything for a few seconds and just stared at me. Then groans in defeat, like a teenager who wasn’t getting her way.
“Fine! I’ll check with you next time I buy something,” she mumbles in defeat, ready to act like nothing just happened, and she slips into small talk.
My favourite.
“So what’s new?” she asks.
“Well, I was named Junior partner and still have an impeccable case-won record.” I start, but stop the moment I see her tapping on her phone, checking her views and new followers on TikTok.
I know she only asked for pleasantries’ sake, but she doesn’t even try to look interested in me or anything that I do. I don’t even know why I bother to try.
“So, how’s Darrell?” I ask, watching the way her ears perked up, and her phone was thrown into her bag. Because, of course, the attention was back on her.
The only way she liked it.
“Darrell? Oh, Ollie, Darrell and I broke up months ago; he had this foolish idea that I wanted to meet his children.” She grimaced, making a big frown and letting a shiver pass through her body; her actions always resembled a child.
“I’ve gotta catch you up; there have been a few since him. First, there was Fabio. Beautiful man, great in bed too, but way too clingy,” she starts. Having no filter was also a repetitive trait of hers, but I pretend like I’m listening and let her ramble away.
“Then, there was Gunter. He was a few years younger but was terrible in bed, so I had to move on when he didn’t get any better.
Then there was Igor. Fabulous in bed but way too possessive, and before my pit-stop here, I spent a magical month and a half in bed with a beautiful Portuguese man whose name I can’t remember for the life of me, but things got far too awkward after his daughter walked in on us.
She’d apparently not seen him with anyone since her mother passed, and he lied, saying it was serious and that I was his girlfriend. ” Another shiver passed through her.
“So, of course, I had to get out of there, and now I’m on my way to Paris,” she beamed with a smile. Every word left her lips effortlessly, like she hadn’t just outed her sex life with multiple men over the past few months with her very own son, and all I did was offer a nod in response.
No use in remembering any of those men’s names as they were already a part of her never-ending history.
I’d only ever known Mother to be serious with one man in life.
But we never spoke of him. Every time I’d tried, even as a child, it resulted in getting screamed at, something she rarely did, but the mere mention of his name and my carefree nomadic mother had a whole other side to her, so I learned when and where to pick my battles.
“JJ! I found it; you can come in now!” Theo calls from the living room; I silently thank him for saving me from conversing with her any longer.
I’m sure my mother was grateful for it too, as she hides her scowl and smiles brightly, much like she does on camera and jogs to the living room for her best performance yet, reacting to Theo’s success with pure happiness.
At least that made one of us.