Diamond

Mama Credence's Residence

After our lunch Mama Credence took us to another private room inside her house. This room was bigger than the one that I had been to before. The maid brought us a pitcher of water. The pitcher was intricately designed with grape vines and it matches the design of its glasses.

"I am assuming that you know why the three of us are here?" Mama Credence directed the question to my mom.

Mom and I were seated on a chair facing my mother-in-law's office table. The room felt extra cold all of a sudden. It felt like a barrier was placed between us and Mama Credence. She was warm and friendly during our lunch. But it was all gone now.

"Yes," my mom answered carefully.

"Is there something you can do about it?" Mama Credence asked again without blinking. I turned to my mom and waited for her answer. She was at my right side.

"I'll see what I can do," my mom answered with a blank expression, "Alicia is a very smart and charming woman. No wonder Bram liked her."

"Are you insulting your daughter in front of me?" Mama Credence's eyes narrowed at my mom. I looked down at the floor and bit my lower lip.

"I didn't mean it that way Emma dear," I heard my mom say, "What I'm trying to say is Alicia knows how to play her cards well. If you know what I mean."

Mama Credence shook her head, "The thing is, if you allow Alicia to win. Your son will end up in jail and your daughter will be left heartbroken."

Mom and I stared at each other meaningfully. I was the one who averted my eyes from my mom and looked at Mama Credence again. Her statement hung in the air and left my mom speechless.

Because of my mom's silence, Mama Credence spoke again, "I want you to handle the situation with your son and Alicia. If not, there will be repercussions. How much time do you need?"

I turned to my mom again. To be honest I felt bad for my mom. Actually, I felt bad for the whole situation. And my anger with my brother resurfaced again.

"Is your son aware that Alicia was my son's ex-girlfriend?" Mama Credence leaned back to her brown leather swivel chair and clasped her fingers.

"I'm not sure," my mom answered.

Mama Credence nodded and said, "Will two months be enough for you to separate Alicia and your son?"

I closed my eyes because I was getting dizzy as I heard these things. My head started to hurt.

"I'll do my best," I heard my mom say.

"It's settled then, I'll give you two months." I heard Mama Credence say so I opened my eyes.

She stood up and walked towards my mom. My mom stood up too and they shook hands. I walked towards them and crossed my arms to my chest. I was shivering because I was scared for my mom. I felt like I was going to get sick with a fever.

"I will have my driver take you home because I still need to talk to Emma," Mama Credence said as they both stared at me.

After my mom left Mama Credence and I returned to the same room that we used. This time Mama Credence was seated on my chair and I was seated on my mom's chair.

Mama Credence crossed her legs before she spoke, "Your brother was the reason why you are in this situation. And I will understand if you are mad at him. But, until we know the truth we can not judge him. He is a vulnerable prey and Alicia is a predator."

I gulped, "Seems like you know Alicia really well," I commented and gave her a small smile.

"Of course dear. She and Bram were together for, I think, two years?" Mama Credence explained, "So we hired a private investigator to follow her."

My lips parted when I heard what Mama Credence just said. It dawned on me that if they had Alicia followed there was a huge possibility that they had me followed too.

Mama Credence grinned at my shocked expression and continued, "Alicia was sleeping with an actor in Los Angeles while she was with Bram. That was the reason why she couldn't travel and support my son on his races."

I hugged myself again and felt the goosebumps on my lower arms. I rubbed my arms with my hands so I could create warmth on my body. I looked up to my mother-in-law again, "Does that mean that you hired someone to follow me too?"

Mama Credence's grin widened, "It was not hard for the investigator to follow you because you work for us."

I cupped my face and shook my head, "I just don't know what to feel with the things that you just told me."

"I hope that you keep this information to yourself." Then she winked at me. We both turned to the door when we heard a knock.

Mama Credence stood up and opened the locked door. I looked down at my nails and gave out a heavy sigh.

"What are you doing here?" Mama Credence exclaimed. I glanced up and met Bram's gaze. He smiled at my confused face.

"I'm here to bring the cavalry," Bram said and winked at me. I stood up and straightened out my below the knee floral dress.

"Where is the cavalry then?" Mama Credence asked. She was patronizing Bram.

"I am the cavalry, mom," Bram answered proudly as he entered the room and closed the door, "I am a one man army."

Mama Credence just shook her head, "Oh, please!"

Bram told his mom that he came here to pick me up so we could go straight to the racing circuit. Mama Credence walked with us towards the parking lot. Bram walked ahead of us because of his big strides. Then I recalled something that I needed to ask Mama Credence.

"At the party you mentioned that I was a…diamond? My birth month was March, and I checked my birthstone on-line. It says that aquamarine is my birthstone."

"Oh that," Mama Credence responded with a smile, "I apologized for the confusion. What I meant was you are diamond-like. Have you heard of that phrase?"

"Yes, I heard of it," I answered her. We were now standing near the garage, "But I don't know what it means."

Mama Credence hugged me and held my upper arms, "You'll figure it out soon, dear."