DRUNKEN VOWS

Chapter 23

Harvey

Back at Bella's, they had organized a small party and invited all our neighbors and some kids.
They had decorated the house beautifully and made lots of food.
Ashton was enjoying being the centre of attention. He was soaking it all up.
Bella was rounding up everyone to gather for us to cut the cake.
As she is getting the cake, there is a knock on the door and I hand Ashton over to Jake. As I go to open it, I shout to Bella,

"Were you expecting a visitor at this time?" I ask her

"No Harvey!" She shouts back

I shrug and go open the door and find a uniformed driver.

"Uh hello, how may I help you? I ask

" Mr. Andrate, if you don't mind, someone would like to talk to you " he says

"Who?" I ask looking around

" In the car over there" he points across the road and I see the car I noticed at the court house.

"I don't know!"  I say uncertainly and hesitating

"Its a person you know sir" he says

"After you" I say

I wasn't going to turn my back to this fellow. I follow behind him and we cross the road. We reach the car and he raps on the window.
The door opens and I am shocked and surprised to see....
Damien's mother? What is Sophia Andrate doing here?

"Good evening" she says to me

"Good evening Mrs Andrate, whatever brings you here?" I ask

"I'll tell you as soon as we find somewhere to talk" She says

"Let's go inside" I tell her.
We go to the house and the guests have cut the cake and they are occupied. Jake notices me and I indicate for him to be quiet.
I lead Sophia to my room in Bella's house and I indicate a chair for her to sit in as I sit on the bed cross legged. I clear my throat

"Will you tell me the reason why you are here?" I ask

I knew why she was here! Probably to rub it in my face that I was having issues with her son! She was probably celebrating.

"How is Ashton? She asks
I look at her open mouthed!

She was asking about Ashton? Why?
What is she up to?

"He's fine" I tell her unbelievingly

"I came to talk about Damien" She say

"Look, I know you probably heard about our issues and you are here to insult me or something, but I assure you there is no need, as you can see, I am not even in our home" I tell her

"Harvey, that's not why I am here. I came to ask you to please listen to Damien and don't make rash decisions" she says

"What?" I say completely confused

"I know I have given you no reason to trust or believe me, i have behaved outrageously, but my son is very important to me. He is my only child, I know he loves you now and that should have been enough for me to accept you" she says

"I thought you hated me and the fact that your son married a guy" I exclaim

"No, not all, I never had an issue with Damien's sexuality. I was just taking out my bitterness on you, Antonio and others.
Ever since Philipe cheated on me after all we had built together, I changed, I felt I had sacrificed so much for us and he still cheated on me, our marriage became a night mare and we lived separate lives till he died" she says