Distrust

"If anything, the two of you should have known better, especially you Ernest, you should have been sure and have no doubt in your mind that Natasha was innocent." said Margaret in the tone of a scolding mother.

"But you didn't, one little misunderstanding like this and everything you knew about her, everything you believed about her was no more." said Margaret, if anything these two were the biggest idiots, especially her husband.

She had been waiting years to have this conversation with the both of them and now was the perfect time. Everything was cleared up, they could not dare refute her, all they could do was sit and listen like the immature men that they were.

"I am so disappointed in you both, but especially in you Ernest, you were supposed to be a good role model, a good guide and a voice of maturity and reason as an adviser to your son and yet you failed at that." said Margaret in reproach.

"Instead of calming him down and making him see reason, you threw up and only aggravated the situation even more." said Margaret.

"If anything, grandfather was much more mature than you in this situation, once you heard what happened you didn't even call Natasha to ask for her side of the story, you instantly sided with your son instead of searching for evidence." said Margaret.

"And when I tried to make you see reason you shunned me off every single time and just because I wanted to keep the peace in our household I kept silent, but that's not going to happen anymore." said Margaret as Dom grimaced.

He didn't mean for his father to end up being scolded like he was, if anything he was the one to blame and scold and not his father.

"Mom, I think you're being a bit too hard on dad, after all he didn't really do anything, it was me, I'm the one that neglected Natasha all these years, I didn't believe her and I ruined things." said Dom.

"As true as that may be Dominic, your actions were influenced by the advice of your elders whether you were aware of it or not." said Margaret.

"You were angry, I understand, you had every right to be. The problem is that you stayed to long in your anger, you refused to see reason and your father encouraged you by telling you to stand your ground, he was being a hypocrite and too overly critical." said Margaret as Ernest Jr kept his mouth shut.

It was best he didn't say anything or else he was sure he would have to spend the night over at his father's house.

"Your father advised you to do something he would never dare do." said Margaret as Dom was confused.

"He did?" asked Dom as he didn't get what his mother was saying.

"Yes he did." replied Margaret.

"I'm going to tell you a secret Dom, the reason why your father and I are still happily married together after all these years." said Margaret.

"Let me start by saying that your father would never dare accuse me or kick me out of the house if what happened between you and Natasha happened between us." said Margaret.

"When he told you to stand your ground and demand justice, all those words were lies from his hypocrisy, he would never dare slander me, not if he knows what's good for him, and do you know why?" asked Margaret.

"Why?" asked Dom.

"Because before I married him I asked him to promise me two thing." said Margaret.

"First, he would never ever dare lie to me, which he has been able to do commendably for these many years." said Margaret as she knew that she couldn't only scold him without pointing out his good sides as well, but still, she was scolding him.

"And secondly, that he would never ever doubt me, he will always trust me, no matter what, if he has any doubts, he takes it up with me and not with anyone else, whatever happens between us stays between us, because he knows who I was before he married me and he married me that way, there is no chance that I will stand for injustice." said Margaret.

"That's the who basis of marriage, trust, if there's no trust between the two of you then what's the point of staying together?" asked Margaret in exasperation.

"Your father knows fully well that if he dare try what he advised you to do with Natasha, I would walk out of him, because what's the point of being with someone who doesn't trust you? who doesn't believe you?" asked Margaret.

"That's exactly what you did to Natasha, you were the one that defaulted first, everything that came else was as a result of your distrust in her." said Margaret.

"She was in pain because of you, she forced herself to be loved by you, because of you, she suffered so much because of you, because of your one singular act of distrust." said Margaret.

"Your father can say many, many things, but the truth remains that between us, there is nothing but absolute trusts, even if there is doubt, because doubts always arise in relationships, we speak like adults and not like children." said Margaret.

"You behaved like a child Dom, like a child, and I know you want to fix things I know, but if you want to make any attempts to make things better you need to full understand your faults, what you did wrong." said Margaret.

"You need to correct your faults and make sure not to repeat them again." said Margaret as she took a deep breath, she had said a lot, she was tired, today had been a long day and it was late.

"Yes mom, I know... thank you for telling me all that." said Dom softly as Margaret sighed.

"You know I love you Dom, you're my son, and that's why I cannot stand back any longer and not guide you on your mistakes, I don't want either you or Natasha to get hurt again, so please do what you feel is best." said Margaret.

"I will mom, I will." he replied.

"Well it's late, goodnight." said Margaret as she took her phone from Ernest Jr as she ended the call.

"Dom is no longer a child, you need to be more transparent with him, tell him the truth, tell him your faults and mistakes, tell him things that you wished you could have done better because there are many things you could have done better." said Margaret as all Ernest Jr did was nod.

"Is that all you can say?" asked Margaret as he looked at her.

"I don't want you to be more upset with me than you already are." he replied as she chuckled, how could she stay upset with him when he behaved like a child.

"You think you're so smart Ernest." said Margaret as she chuckled and shook her head.

...

Dom sighed, his mother had said a lot of things and they were all true. He could feel all the tiredness of the day weighing on him.

He was about to leave the kitchen when his phone rang and he saw that it was Lulu, he closed his eyes and groaned he couldn't get a break now could he?

"What is it Lulu?" asked Dom as he answered her call.

"Oh you have a lot of nerve Dominic, how could you even dare think you can use that tone with me after what you have done? You are lucky that I am staying here for one more day or else you are going to hear a earful from me!" came Lulu's loud voice as Dom sighed.

"You should be on your knees begging for forgiveness from Natasha, do you know how much you made her suffer? You always accused her, you didn't believe her, you're so unbelievable." said Lulu.

"I know..." replied Dom in a soft tone.

"You made everyone take your side and I even thought she was so dubious and I started to hate her as well, but that was until I got to know her myself and I saw that she was actually a very cool person, you're such a jerk Dominic, you need to say that to yourself every hour of every day." said Lulu.

"I'm such a jerk." he said softly.

"Yeah that's right, the biggest of all the jerks, what do you have to say for yourself?" asked Lulu.

"I messed up big time, you're right... if only Natasha would say all those things to me instead, I would take it because I deserve it." said Dom as Lulu blinked and narrowed her eyes.

"No fair, how do you expect me to scold you properly when you're already so sombre?" asked Lulu with a whine.

"I don't know Lulu... what do you think I should do to make Natasha forgive me?" asked Dom.

"Honestly if you ask me, you don't deserve forgiveness, but... I know you feel bad, so figure it out yourself, the two of you used to be close, if anything you should know how best to show her how sorry you truly are." said Lulu, all anger gone from her tone, replaced with a soft warmness.

"Look I am sure you will figure something out, I am done talking to you before you infect me with your sadness, goodnight." said Lulu as she ended the call as Dom sighed.

He felt even worse than before, nothing could explain how guilty and stupid he felt, nothing.