Collision

Chapter 14

'I really didn't know Mave was in Miami! Wouldn't I have told you to keep an eye on him if I had known?'
Rick's mother explained to him over the phone.

'Keep an eye? Yeah! Like he would have let me do that!'
Rick rolled his eyes, moving to stand at his bedroom window, phone at his ear.

'He's always been like that. Living his own life, the way he likes it.'
He could picture his mother shrugging her small shoulders in a resigned way.
'Neither your father, and neither I, have ever had a say.'

'That's why he has become so spoilt! He gets away with anything!'
There was a tone of derision in his words.

'Do you regret your life, Rick?'

His mother's question startled him.
'What?'

'Do you regret having had to take over the family business at such a young age? You deserved to travel, see the world, enjoy your life..maybe have had a serious relationship by now?'

Rick was stunned by his mother's observation.
He had never told anyone how he had expected Mave to take over the running of Malone Holdings, because that's what was expected of the elder son.
Mave was the older twin, born three minutes earlier than Rick. That might sound ridiculous, but it was the truth.
'Mom! You watch too many movies!'
Rick tried to divert his mother's attention, by putting in quickly.

'Ha, ha! Funny!'
Anna Malone said with sarcasm.

'It's true! You named your sons' names after your favourite character! Thank God I got the latter half of it!'
He teased her, and was glad when his mother laughed.

'You are right about that! I always loved Tom Cruise, and his character in Top Gun, Maverick, was my favourite. Every young woman went crazy over him then..'

'Well..you still go crazy over him, Mom!'
Rick was glad the topic had been changed.

'Indeed! But what do you mean? I'm still young..'
His mother made a whining noise.

'Ofcourse! Evergreen..'
He heard his mother sigh out loud.

'Jokes apart, Rick. I'm not so young anymore. My sixtieth birthday is just around the corner..'

Damn! How did that slip my mind?
Rick realised his mother was still speaking.

'..married..'

'What?'
He frowned.

'Yes! It's high time you got a wife..'

He realised where this was leading.
'Mom! Where did this come from?'

'It didn't come from anywhere. It's been there for some time now!'
His mom went on, while Rick tried stopping her.

'Come on, Mom! I'm not past the age yet! I'm just thirty one..'

'Yes, yes..I know that very well.'
His mom sighed, like she was talking to a young child.
'It's just that your father and I are not getting any younger..'

'That's too much! You are both as fit as a horse..'
Rick interrupted, but Anna went on as if he hadn't.

'Mave..well, he's a wanderer, and we really have no hopes of him settling down any time soon..whereas you..you are a successful businessman, owning several businesses. And you have a beautiful home on the South Beach. What more could any woman want?'