64 The Birthday
The day for Grandma Stella's birthday party had arrived. She was turning eighty years old but she still had the appearance and energy of a woman much younger.
Her entire family gathered for the event. Even those she didn't expect.
Robert had rented a dining room in one of the finest hotels in Beijing. He and Anna, Calvin and Amy, Gordon and Charlotte, as well as Sara and Bella were attendance. Calvin's two sons, Anthony and Richard came as well. They rarely came back home but for their grandmother they would. Cora and Andrew also came. This would prove a tricky gathering indeed.
Charlotte took everything in and hoped everyone would get along well.
Charlotte felt someone grip her hand and turned to see Sara.
"I see Auntie Anna headed this way. Stay beside me, please!" Whispered Sara. Charlotte nodded her agreement.
"Charlotte, I'm glad to see you! How are you and my grandson doing?" Anna asked.
Charlotte smiled brightly. "We are well, Mother."
Anna then turned to Sara and smiled tentatively.
"Sara." She whispered.
"Auntie." Sara replied nervously.
"Sara, I should have had you call me mother back then. I—I have gone over it again and again how I would greet you if I had the chance again, but I find myself without those words now. Mother can only tell you how deeply sorry I am. I wronged many times over back then. I hope one day you can forgive me and father." Anna said as her tears fell. She truly regretted how she had failed this young woman who should've been her daughter-in-law.
Sara said nothing for awhile but her tears spoke of her pain. Charlotte pulled her arms around Sara.
"What do you want to say, Sara? I'll support you. Just speak your heart." Charlotte told her softly.
"I wanted to say how angry I still am. How James and I might have had a lifetime together if things were different. I wanted to say how I resent this family living so well while I wandered on the outside as a single mother; how I couldn't tell you about her because I feared rejection on her behalf , or worse, that the family might fight for custody against me.
But now, it all seems so pointless. All the anger and regret won't bring James back or give Bella a complete family. Why should I hate you for his death when it was only a tragic accident? But even if I forgive, it doesn't take the pain of losing James away.
Nonetheless, I forgive you and your family for Bella's sake. James loved all of us and would've wanted Bella to know all of you." Sara sobbed.
Anna stretches her hands out.
"Can I hug you, Sara?" Anna asked thru her own tears. Sara nodded.
"Nothing takes away the pain. Not even time really. But we can bare that pain together."
All of a sudden, Sara felt that this must be what a mother's hug felt like; warm and comforting. She had been raised in an orphanage and after losing James, all she had in the world was her daughter. Now she felt, strangely, that she was at home.
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Amy wanted to run and hide. Everyone had seemed truly kind to her...except for her new "stepsons."
In a way, she couldn't blame them. Having your dad marry someone your own age would obviously be awkward but she had hoped if she was kind, then perhaps they would be kind in return. That was very naive of her, she now realized.
The two of them stood off to the side, talking loudly enough that she could hear. And it was obvious that they wanted her to hear.
"Women are really shameless these days, don't you think so, brother" Richard asked.
"Some are just gold-digging mistress's looking to become a Phoenix." Anthony said mockingly.
"Who ever heard of a stepmom two months older than her stepson? I keep waiting for someone to tell us this is all a big joke." Richard said.
"At least our mother was a woman from a noble family. It wasn't her fault that father is a womanizer." Anthony sneered.
"I wonder how long they dated before dad decided he wanted to divorce mom for that slut?" Richard asked in an arrogant tone.
Alright, that was it! She had enough character assassination for one day. They thought she was a slut?! Fine, she'd give them something to remember.
"Do you men really want to know why your dad married me?" She asked as she approached proudly.
"No, but I'm sure you'll tell us." Anthony growled.
"He married me because he said I'm the best in bed he's ever had. Every night, he screams my name because I know how to give him what he wants. I also know how to treat him right, unlike your termagant mother. The only screaming he hears from me is when he makes me come over and over again; but never because of something negative he did.
You want to call me a slut? Fine! Just remember I'm Calvin's slut and no one else's." She walked off leaving both of them speechless.
"Holy crap, sister! Remind me to never get in a fight with you! I was coming to rescue you, but you schooled them!" Charlotte said as she hooked her arm in Amy's.
Amy was shaking. She was so angry, but she was also afraid. What if Calvin heard about her scolding his sons and became angry with her? perhaps she had gone too far.
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Stella looked around the room and thought to herself that eighty years really was a short time. It had passed so quickly
The people gathered here were the most precious in the world to her. She hoped she would live long enough to watch her great-grandchildren grow up as well.
She knew there were some complex emotions today among some of her family, but she knew all of them were filial to her and wanted to honor her today. She was truly blessed.
