Caden’s POV
Her bluish-grey eyes shone brightly as she smiled at us the moment Alice and I walked in.
“You are late,” she tried to chastise us but her gentle tone prevented that.
“Sorry, mom,” I apologized, embracing her. “The bus from Aberville was late.”
“Oh, well, you are here now,” she let go of me and turned to Alice. “What’s in the flower pot?”
“A few stems of chamomile,” she replied, approaching the bed. “Where should I put it?”
“On the nightstand; not that there’s much of a choice.”
I looked around mom’s new room. Ever since her last psychiatric evaluation, in which she was deemed much improved, my mother was moved to a ward for people who were not considered a risk for others or themselves; if she continued to get better, we might even be able to take her home. I was apprehensive about it since I was in Aberville and Logan was also out of town which meant it was Gavin would have to take care of her… With the help of Cillian, of course.
But for now, mom was to stay in her single room in the hospital. It was even smaller than her previous one but the large window, the colorful bed sheets and the wooden surface of the nightstand, wardrobe, square table and chair made the room appear less sterile compared to the previous one with its a tiny window and plastic chair and table.
“Just put the plants there and come give me a hug,” my mom prompted, spreading her hands towards Alice.
My girlfriend placed the pot next to my mom’s bed and embraced her.
“It’s good to see you, Rachel,” she murmured, letting go of my mother and sitting next to her.
“No, not here, my sweet,” mom got up and took Alice by the hand. “I’m allowed to go out now when there’s someone to observe me. Let’s go to the garden.”
Alice and I looked at each other in hesitation. Was it a good idea to take my mother out on our own without the nurses present?
“Oh, come on, you two,” mom whined like a child. “I want to feel the sun on my skin and the breeze on my face.”
She looked so hopeful that I nodded in agreement; I couldn’t say no to her when she was so enthusiastic and… alive. Alive, happy and calm – those were the best words to describe her now.
The hospital garden was like a park. Dirt paths split the well-kept lawns, covered here and there with colorful patches of flowers. After a brief walk, the three of us sat on one of the many wooden benches, under the shade of a large tree.
“So what is new with you two?” My mother asked. “Are you getting ready for the wedding?”
“Us?” I laughed. “It’s Flora and Will who are getting married, mom. But there’s something else that’s new.”
“Oh? What is that?”
“Skyler and Keegan are together,” Alice replied and my mom furrowed her eyebrows.
“But I thought those two already lived together?”
“Now they are dating,” my girlfriend clarified.
“Dating? But I thought… I thought they were straight. I’ve never met Skyler, but I do remember Keegan checking out the nurses each time Cade brought him along; he wasn’t even trying to be subtle.”
“It was a surprise for all of us,” I started to explain. “Except for Asher; he somehow expected that to happen one day.”
“He said it was the way they looked at each other and how they acted when they were together,” Alice put in.
“And are the boys happy? How did you react when you found out?”
“They invited us to their apartment,” I began, “and told us they’d been on a date and were now a couple. As for our reactions: Alice and I were too stunned to talk, Ash obviously already suspected and Bethany… Well, she bear hugged Sky and started squealing ‘Oh, my God! Oh, my God! I’m so happy for you! You are finally going to be in a relationship’,” I tried my best to imitate the excitement in her tone. “Then she went to Kee, hugged him and told him that if he ever hurt her baby brother she’d tie him up, strip him, cover him in honey and leave him next to a fire ants’ hill before going to watch from a safe distance while he get eaten alive, all the while munching on popcorn and reveling in his screams of pain.”
My mom laughed.
“Oh, my, such a feisty girl; I think I’ll like her,” she noted.
“They looked uneasy – they still do sometimes, especially Kee - but they seem happy together, mom. And we all support them; they said it makes this new experience less frightening.”
“Even their parents?”
“Yes. Mrs. Miller – that’s Sky’s mother – keeps telling us she should’ve known sooner, given Sky’s impeccable fashion taste and love of shopping. Keegan’s dad seemed awkward at first but he’s fine with it now.”
“That’s good; all children should feel the support of their parents.” My mom smiled, raising her hands and gently petted Alice and me on the heads. “I should probably get back to my room; I’m only allowed half an hour out for now.”
*****
Alice’s POV
The visit to Rachel had gone better than I could hope. But that wasn’t the only visit we’d planned for today. This second one, I dreaded: it was the first time Cade and Elanor would meet after she’d promised to give him a chance. Nerves had waken me up early today and I’d spend the morning lying in bed and thinking of all the possible ways a talk between my mother and my boyfriend could go wrong and trust me, those were many.
“You ready to go in?” Cade asked. The taxi that drove to my home had left a few minutes ago, but we were still in the front garden.
I took a deep breath and nodded. Caden grasped my hand in his and we walked inside the house.
“There you are,” the beaming face of Aunt Flora was the first thing we saw once we stepped in the hallway. “Girls, the kids are here,” she announced through a shout. “You two go into the living room and I’ll get us some tea,” she added, heading for the kitchen.
Something soft brushed my bare legs and I leaned down to embrace the purring fur ball.
“Hello, my love, I’ve missed you,” I said, kissing Chess on the top of his head.
“‘My love’”? Cade repeated.
“You are not jealous, are you, Caden?” Aunt Azalea teased, coming down the stairs, followed by her sister Rose. “Your mother is already in the living room,” she added and we all walked in.
My mother’s eyes narrowed and I realized all too late that I was wearing shorts she’d consider too skimpy. Her gaze moved to my boyfriend and she took a deep breath before greeting him almost friendly:
“Hello Caden; welcome to our home.”
Oh, well, at least she’s trying!
I discreetly squeezed his hand, prompting him to reply.
“Thank you, Elanor,” he replied coolly.
“I’ll go make some tea,” Rose and Azalea commented at the same time.
“But Aunt Flora is already making it,” I notified them.
“We’ll go help her,” Rose said.
“Three people making tea…” I began. Neither of them paid attention to me as they exited the room.
“Where are you…” Flora’s voice came from the hallway and we heard one of her sisters shush her. “Why are you pushing me towards the kitchen? I just came from there. Be careful! You’ll spill the tea…”
Her last words sounded quieter as if she was now further away.
“My sisters are very subtle, aren’t they?” Elanor asked, sliding into an armchair.
“They want us to talk,” Cade slumped down on the couch and I sat next to him.
“You promised, mom,” I reminded her and she pursed her lips.
“How is drawing going for you, Caden?” She asked after a moment of silence.
“Great; I’m told I’m very talented,” his voice was even as he gave her a reply.
“I suppose I should be happy that you have talents that won’t lend you in jail.”
“Mom!”
“I can always go in for forgery, Elanor.”
“Caden!”
“She started it,” he commented, pointing at my parent.
“I was trying to be nice,” she insisted.
“By reminding me of my past in juvie?”
“If it’s all in the past, then you have no reason to be worried, do you, Caden?” She asked with a haughty smirk.
“I suppose I don’t.” He leaned back on the couch and gave her a stiff smile.
“Will you to quit it?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You both promised to try.”
“How’s hunting for a husband going, Elanor?”
He cried out as I slapped him on the shoulder.
“Alice, I… Fine.” He turned his attention back to my mother. “Sorry.”
“That must’ve hurt to say,” she noted through her sophisticated snort.
“It was excruciating,” he replied and my mom’s lips curled up for just a moment.
That was an improvement; yes, she tried to hide her smile, but at least he made her smile.
“A friend of ours – Galya, was recently offered a job in an Art Gallery. She says she’d like to exhibit Cade’s work there one day,” I notified my mother.
“Isn’t it a bit too soon for her to decide that?” She questioned. “It’s only his first year in the Academy.”
“See for yourself,” I offered, taking my phone out of my purse. I opened a folder with the photos I’d taken of Caden’s work and handed her the device.
“Slide to the left to see the rest of them,” I advised.
I watched my mom’s face change a myriad of expressions. At first she was skeptical, then she was surprised, then admiring and at last – approving.
Perhaps, I’d found a way to make her warm up to Caden; I was sure I’ve already changed her mind that artist can’t feed a family.
“I’ll go tell my aunts we are ready to have our tea now,” I said with a smile and left the two of them on their own.
*****
A/N: Yes, yes, I made another reference to Here We Go Again’s Epilogue, mentioning Galya and her job in the Art Gallery.
If you’ve gotten two notifications that I’ve uploaded a new chapter today – it was not a mistake; earlier, I updated Hunt Me Down.
Are you glad that Rachel has improved?
Do you think Elanor is trully warming up to Cade?
Hope you enjoyed the chapter and have a great time wattpading, everyone!
xo,
~'*'CatMint5'*'~