The Hopeful Mother
The smoke from the cigarettes of the women who were chattering like ravens made Astrid cough. Though a lot of guests had already left the grand party, those who loved to socialize until dawn remained. It's still 8:47 in the evening, the grayish black clouds cover the alluring moonlight, and it'll probably rain anytime soon.
If it wasn't for her precious daughter. She would've left and ditched this party. Everyone was acting all nice and courteous. But Astrid isn't daft nor was she thick skinned to not notice how fake they were. Plus, Matthew mentioned that they'll be leaving soon, hence she stayed, and while she's at it, she tolerates the disgusting and awful smell which comes from the cigarettes.
Astrid decided to order some coffee, black, to keep herself awake until Matthew stands up and tells her they need to go.
She hasn't been able to sleep after all, thankfully her eye bags weren't as big and dark as a panda's yet.
So, she limped towards the bar, sat on the counter. Astrid noticed that there's no one at the back of the bar counter, so she looked everywhere and found the service bell. She reached over and slammed her palm against it. The cheery sound of the tiny bell was heard. Instantly a man in his early thirties prompts her from his seat, a small brightens up his handsome features, and Astrid reciprocates the action with a soft, lingering smile.
"Good morning, beautiful lady." The handsome man greeted, the smile never leaving his warm and welcoming features.
Astrid nods, and then leaned forward to whisper her order. "Coffee please. Espresso de kaldi, if you have."
She ignores the startled gasps of a few people, and she also ignores the soft murmurs of her name which came from a few socialites and D list celebrities who are stuffed in a small, rounded table.
She's Astrid Starling after all. She used to be a celebrity in her own right and shared her experience with the limelight. This kind of attention isn't new. But then she heard another murmur from the left side of the bar.
"She killed one of the Rose's, right?" A woman spoke as a hand covers her moving lips from sideways. Astrid ignores them, but she still peeks at them from the side of her eyes from time to time.
"Oh God… Then why is she invited here?! Shouldn't we call the police?" The young maiden who's wearing a red turtleneck spoke. Disbelief in her features and her nose and forehead creased in disgust.
"I know right? Oh well, it's the Cullin's decision to bring her here. I can't believe that she still can go out in public after what she did." The one in black spoke right after she drinks from her the rock glass filled with Bourbon, and her hand gestures continue as she speaks.
By this time Astrid's fingers were curled into a tight fist, her blunt nails digging in her palm. Her breathing's rigid by the time the woman from before spoke. "I believe that the hearing for her case lasted for a few months. Then her husband, Matthew threw her inside this shabby and horrible hospital for crazy people…" The woman laughed and whirled her fingers against her head. "Oh, I hope she got what she deserves. I feel especially bad for her daughter. I hope she doesn't end up crazy and delusional like her mother…"
The other one gasped. "No! What if she ends up killing people too?!"
"Hush! she might hear you." The woman wearing a corporate uniform whispered harshly. She points with her lips to Astrid, and she begins to notice her reddened ears and cheeks. "See…. I told you guys to be…."
The five women all flinched and jumped in their seats after Astrid slammed the palm of her hands against their table, causing their drinks to spill a little. She then looks at the women, particularly at the one who badmouthed her angel. The woman wearing a turtleneck looked down, then silently gulped. She's the one who started the conversation, and all the eyes of the guest who were sitting near the bar are diverted to her.
She looks at her with apologetic eyes, and her friends hang their heads low while the other one looks at her with a sheepish, yielding expression. "So---sorry…. This…. My friends are so sorry… I'm sorry." The woman apologized, but her words were cut off when Astrid left their table with an irritated scowl.
The woman who apologized looks at her friends, disappointment visible in her still soft features. "Look at what you did!" Her eyes narrow while yells at them in dismay. "You are all assholes!" And with that, the woman crossed her arms, with the decision to ignore her friends all day.
"And I wanted to get her autograph too…" She whispers while she looks at Astrid who is now going back to her table.
Turns out, the party did not last until dawn. The birthday celebrant got tired before the clock struck midnight, and so the remaining guests began to take their leave. Astrid took the sleepy Acashia to their car. She was escorted by one of Matthew's guards. And as they entered the car, Matthew gave a signal to the driver to wait for him.
When the two girls were safely seated inside the car, Genevieve approached her son with an unreadable look on her face. "Why did you ask for me?"
"Mother, I have something to tell you."
Genevieve was taken back by the seriousness in Matthew's voice. It's as if she was talking to a stranger rather than her own blood. His tone was as cold as ice and his guard was up. There are times when the middle-aged woman wished her son never grew up. Because now, she could only see his sweet smiles when she looked at his pictures.
Genevieve hummed then said, "Is this about the conversation we had over dinner? The one about Blaire Cynclaire being Acashia's teacher?"
Matthew's jaw clenched upon hearing that woman's name. "No."
"Then what is it?"
Matthew tilted his head to the side then breathed out. The air outside was chilly, making a fog form from his breath. "Come with me."
The two walked to the side where no one was standing. When the two of them settled, Genevieve was the one who broke the silence. "My son… I know this isn't a good place to talk about this. But… why is that woman back?"
"I took her out. My daughter needs her bone marrow. That's all."
A rush of relief flowed around Genevieve. Her face brightened up and she took a deep breath. "Then what happened back then —"
Before she could finish speaking, Matthew lets out a displeased growl, sounding like a lethal prowler about to attack a defenseless animal. His eyes flashed with danger, sending a warning to his overbearing mother.
Genevieve cleared her throat, understanding her son's displeasure. She let out a forced laughter and quickly said, "Don't get me wrong, honey. I don't want to invade your privacy and tell you what to do. You're a grown up after all… But you see, I'm still your mother. And as your mother, I worry for you. I worry for my granddaughter as well."
Seeing that Matthew was keeping his silence, the middle-aged woman continued. "You need to have someone to take care of you. Not only you, but your daughter as well. She needs a good role model."
All mothers wish the best for their children. And in her heart, Genevieve was merely looking out for her son. So she smiled and said, "And that role model isn't the woman who is now roaming freely inside your home."
The man didn't answer just yet. Matthew merely let out a sigh as he leaned against the pillar beside him, his sharp face as smooth as a marble, as if he was sculpted by gods.
"I'm not stupid. I know."
For the nth time that night, Genevieve smiled longingly at her son. "That's good. Now go home and tuck my granddaughter to sleep. We'll be entertaining guests tomorrow, don't forget about the Cullin's Export, understand?" She smiled kindly. And as Matthew walks towards the car, she could imagine Blaire Cynclaire standing by his side.
She believed wholeheartedly that a woman such as Blaire Cynclaire Rose could impress her son. Not only was she beautiful, but she had that extravagant and extroverted personality that would balance out the inner demons her son had been holding onto.
"What do I need to do to get those two alone…" Her words came out as a sigh as she walked back to the mansion. "...that boy needs a good wife."