Feather After

Chapter 40

Feather After // Chapter 40 // Makeup And Mom Talks

Aria's POV

After walking five hours straight, and changing thousands of dresses, night gowns, evening gowns, dresses, whatever there was to wear my mother realized that she had a dress at home. When she said that, I wanted to burst out crying: tears of happiness, anger and hurt. After drinking the chai tea suggested by Mariam, my mother and Nanna got so energized that even if you would have told them to run to California, they would have done it. When my mother announced the great news, the bodyguards who were following us around, wanted to shoot her with the guns they were carrying for our protection.

"I want you to look the best there!" Mother exclaimed and my smile dropped. When she saw my reaction, she frowned and narrowed her eyes at me. My legs were killing me and my head was pounding. I really wanted to faint then. I wanted to just lay somewhere and sleep.

"We have to get your hair and makeup done," she said and held my hand. She started pulling me towards a salon and I wanted to run in the opposite direction don't get me wrong, I had nothing against makeup, I could wear some eyeliner myself but with my legs that were hurting as ten tractors had driven over them, I wanted to cut them off and offer them to someone in the name of charity.

"Mom, if I take another step, I'll die," I tried to mumble but all in vain. It was as if, her ears were immune to my voice. She continued dragging me until we were standing in front of a salon. Before I could launch another protest she pulled me inside along with her.

"It's so nice to finally have you back! Look who we have here, baby Arial is a big girl now!" A guy said and ran towards us. He stood up from his seat and smiled. He wore a purple shirt and a black pair of trousers with red suspenders. He looked so cool. I mean I couldn't pull off a red and purple combination without looking like a giant eggplant with blisters.

He came towards my mother and pulled her for a hug, my mother did not protest. "It's so good to see you too," she said and rubbed his back. That was a big surprise for me. She was not much of a 'give me a hug,' kind of person, she was more like 'touch me not'. She repelled touch and stuck to a handshake along with the word 'pleasure' when she met someone.

"How have you been? You have not changed a bit. Just the same old handsome young man," she smiled and patted his chest. "No, bulging tummy, I see," he smiled and looked at her with the same adoring eyes that any girl would receive from her father.

"You're still the same, I wouldn't be surprised if there are still people falling for you," she smiled at his comment. I wouldn't be surprised either. She was everything that I dreamt of being. She was beautiful. She was poise and most of all she was successful in what she did.

"Well, I would like you to meet my daughter Aria," she put a gentle hand on my back and pushed me forward towards him. When his eyes fell on me, his smile broadened. He was shocked. His eyes twinkled with happiness. He put his hand on his mouth and mumbled a quick, "come here," and pulled me in a hug.

"You know, she is as beautiful as you. When your mom with 16, she had loads of guys asking her out," he smiled and looked at me. "I bet you face the same problem."

"Well, I need your help. Aria is going to make a public appearance today. Today she'll be introduced to the Royal Society, and you know how complicated that can be, I just don't want something to happen today, you know how this works," she messaged her left shoulder.

"I know you're stressed, but your mom trusted me with you, and you should trust me with your daughter, history repeats itself yeh?" He moved his fingers and looked at me. "Come on," he wiggled his eyebrows and then clapped his hands, "we have to do a lot in a very short time."