CHAPTER 16

The next day passed uneventfully, which only made it feel longer to Melody. She hadn't spoken nor seen Eric since the event at CARE Center. She wanted to but she was afraid. It wasn't completely unexpected, since she knew there was nothing to talk about. They have already polished the preparation of her wedding and the only thing to do was to wait for the wedding day itself. However, more than once she found herself wandering out of her shop, feeling vaguely disappointed when she didn't see him.

It was enough to squash the illusion that she has moved on from their past to the point that she was ready for the marriage to happen immediately. She has only realized recently when they haven't talked with each other that, by the almost teenage-like longing she felt at the prospect of seeing him again, even if she knew that it wasn't right. She held on the initiative that he made of burying their past and moving on from it with their conversation at the shop where he saw Clayton and Keith.

"Ma, what are you doing here?" Melody asked Elizabeth who unexpectedly visited her at the shop.

"Can I not be here?" Elizabeth rebutted.

"It's not what you think. I'm sorry! I was just thinking a lot of things lately." Melody forced a smile. "Is there something you want to eat or drink?"

"Americano," Elizabeth demanded as she sat on the corner and place a book on the table.

"Ma, you know you can't have too much coffee. You should be drinking non-caffeine beverages like juice or tea."

"Just this one. Can you just make this day an exemption?"

Elizabeth pleaded. "It's not as if I would die immediately if I did," she reasoned out.

Melody just nodded. She couldn't reject her mother's request. It's been awhile since the last time Elizabeth requested something from her. Whenever she would ask for something, Melody recognized that there's something wrong.

Elizabeth was not the type of a mother who would ask much from her daughter. Ever since, she has projected a strong image to Melody. Strong enough that she has acted more of a father than a mother to Melody. A provider. A pillar of strength. Elizabeth, however, knew that whatever she does, she would never replace the fatherly figure that Melody should see. Too bad, Elizabeth's father died early leaving both Nana and Elizabeth raising Melody into a fine young lady. Despite all the efforts that she tried to do, she understood that she could never fill in the shoes of a father. No one can other than Melody's father, Mr. Clements.

There were times when Elizabeth felt the severity of the consequences of her action. She wanted to give up but every time she sees Melody smiling at her, she couldn't. There was no way she would actually let go of her own daughter. Her pride persisted until the end. There was actually no remorse in her, saying only the half-truths to Mr. Clements.

After a while, Melody returned with a cup of coffee and a slice of banana cake. She placed it on the table and sat on the chair facing Elizabeth. Melody was neither a good cook nor a good barista. She was plainly a good businesswoman.

Melody smiled and pointed at the banana cake. "Ma, try this cake. It's the latest pastry that we have," she suggested.

Instead of tasting the cake, Elizabeth took a sip of coffee and made a disgusted look. "You own a coffee shop but you don't know how to make one," she teased Melody knowing that she was the one who made it.

Melody has expected such comment from her. She had heard it several times. She didn't look at it as an insult but an encouragement to become better. Afterwards, Elizabeth took another sip and complained no more.

"I'm just the owner. I'm not really the barista here. If you don't like it, you could always buy." Melody smiled knowing well that Elizabeth lacks no criticism to her for improvement. She glanced at the book. It was the first time that she saw her mother holding a book going to her shop. Her instinct was telling her that something was really off beam--Elizabeth's sudden visit at the shop. Elizabeth's request for coffee. And Elizabeth's hand-carrying a book after years of not reading any.

The last time that odd things happened in connection with Elizabeth was when she returned home after the Texas seminar. The moment she arrived, she embraced Melody tightly and cried loudly. Melody knew that Elizabeth was not a vocal person. She even read Melody a book before she slept that night. Melody couldn't forget it as such vivid memory came to her again.

"Ma, is there a problem?" Melody worriedly asked.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you if you're still okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look at your face on a mirror. You look like trash. Should you not be taking a rest before your wedding? Believe on your staff. You're actually useless now. Look at them, they seem to be doing alright."

"But…"

Before Melody could even reason out, Elizabeth slipped the book on Melody's hands on the table. It was an old book with a dust jacket. It has also a letter clipped as a bookmark. The book was actually the one given to her by Eric.

Elizabeth didn't immediately give the book and the letter to Melody after the event. She wanted to give it the day after the event before Eric leaves. However, Eric called her and requested that if possible, he would like to give her a letter instead of the note he had originally left. After some reflection, it may also be wise to let Melody have her moment alone and just give it when she deemed her as prepared.

Melody accepted the book but didn't open or browse it instantaneously. "What is this?"

Elizabeth sipped on her coffee and said, "It's a great book which contained the answers that you have sought for a long time." Elizabeth's eyes started to be watery yet she tried to control her emotion. "By the way, I was wrong about Eric," she added with no further explanation.

Elizabeth didn't wait on Melody to say or ask a thing. She stood up and slowly went out. She believed that she doesn't have to say anything at all. The letters were sufficient in answering all that Melody wanted to know.

It took long minutes before Melody started to scan the book. She came across the page where the letter was clipped. It was on the page of the letter of Mr. Clements. She took out the attached letter and started reading first the letter of Mr. Clements. She read the simple greeting, "Yam." Then paused. She realized immediately who made the letter. She knew the name used by Elizabeth as a cover-up to her dad while they were in Texas. She had no doubt that it was the letter of her dad.

At a snail's pace, she read the content of the letter quietly. She tried to be composed as much as possible since there were few customers around. Yet as she was nearing the end of the letter, tears started to fall from her eyes. She didn't notice it as she was out of touch of her senses while being engrossed with the letter of her dad.

She read the letter twice and clinched the book subsequently on her heart as tears continued to fall. The customers and the staff noticed her crying. Yet, no one dared to ask her why. Melody wasn't even aware that one of her staff brought and placed a glass of water on the table for her. No one and nothing existed anymore to her. Customers. Staff. Coffee. It was just the book and she.

Melody had agreed with Elizabeth on what her mother did in Texas. At the same time, she silently remained hopeful that one day her dad would show up and hug her tightly. Even before her wedding, such hope persisted. She even wished that her dad could accompany her walking down the aisle. Conversely, she had already promised herself that she wouldn't take any action for them to meet as father and daughter. It has to come from him. He has to show him that he could win over his weakness for her daughter.

Melody only wiped her tears when someone shouted, "Mom! Mom!" She glanced at the front door. It was Clayton. She was brought in by Nana. Clayton was with Nana buying some groceries when they thought of stopping by at the shop. Clayton ran towards Melody and showed her his new airplane toy. "Look mom! Nana bought me an airplane," he excitedly said.

Nana silently sat facing Melody. She just stared at her. She didn't need to speak since she already knew why Melody was in tears. Elizabeth had approached Nana moments after Eric gave the letter. She narrated what Eric had told her after the event and the day after it. If there was a person who's first to know all that was happening to both Elizabeth and Melody, it was Nana. She has been their wisdom whenever problems come their way. She doesn't say much but every time she speaks, she speaks from the harmony of her heart and her mind.

Abruptly Melody hugged Clayton firmly that he felt uncomfortable with it. "Mom, you're crushing me," he complained but she didn't release him.