Chapter 3

Katie woke up the next day with red swollen eyes, her pillow drenched in her tears and a terrible headache. She didn't feel like going to church, everyone was already getting ready.

Her mom decided to stop by at her room to check if she is ready yet. 'Katie, may I come in, are you ready yet.' She said gently knocking on the door.

Eveleigh respected her daughter's privacy more than anything, because while growing up she never had any. She lived with her parents and her four siblings; two sisters and two brothers, she was the middle child. Her eldest sibling was now a supermodel, married to an actor. She was always a fashionista. The second born was a pilot, he is divorced with three beautiful children, one girl and two boys. Maggie who is the forth born is a pediatrician; she has always been fond of babies. She has four of her own. The last born is in the military. Even though everyone had rooms, her siblings and her parents used to budge into her room whenever they wanted. Sometimes they could just budge in at inconvenient times like when she is dressing and she could never have visitors over in her room. When she brought her girl friends over they could always come with the lamest excuses to come to her room and disturb her. So from this experience she told herself that she would give her children the privacy they need, the privacy she never got to have while growing up.

'The door is not locked mom, you may come in.' 'You are not ready yet?' she said almost scolding her but as Katie turned up to face her, the anger she felt due to the fact that her daughter wasn't ready on this big day instantly melted. 'Oh my god Katie, are you okay?' she sympathized as she sat close to her and placed her hand on her forehead to check her temperature. 'No mom, I am not feeling well.' 'You have high fever! Let me go get some water and a thermometer.' 'Okay.' 'I asked your father to leave with the baby; I am staying behind with you.' She stated as she came back with a bowl filled with water and the thermometer. 'That wasn't needed mom; it's just a fever it will pass. Don't miss church because of me, please go. You have been looking forward for this day.'

Her church choir will be receiving an award for the best choir in their church ministries. Every year all church choirs in their ministry come together and compete as a way of raising funds. The winner is then chosen and a day is also set to officially hand them the award at their church. Eveleigh was also in the church choir and for days she couldn't stop talking about this day.

'Your health is more important right now honey.' Looking at how determined her mother was about staying behind to look after her she gave in. She took the warm towel and placed it on her forehead and the thermometer in her mouth. 'It's forty degrees. You are burning; I think I might as well take you to the hospital. 'Mom its just fever I will be fine.' She thought her mom was being ridiculous, it was just fever. 'But your eyes are swollen and look at how red they are, maybe it's an infection, are they painful.' She said with her hand under Katie's chin lifting it up for close inspection.' 'Mom, there is nothing wrong with my eyes.' 'Then why are they like this?' Katie instantly looked down. Her mom lifted her chin up again so she can face her. 'Wait a second, have you been crying?' Katie looked down again. 'Look at me Katie, have you been crying?' As she lifted her head up to face her mom, a tear escaped her eyes. 'What's up sweetie, you know you can always talk to me. What's bothering you? Did someone say something upsetting to you?' She said with her now sobbing daughter's face cupped in her hands.

'I can't do this anymore mom, I can't_' tears succumbed her, her mom embraced her. 'It's okay baby, its okay. Everything is gonna be okay. 'No mom, nothing is gonna be okay. I'm tired of having to lie to Aunty E for Jess all the time; I am tired of her treating me like I am nonexistent.'

'She will surely come around, I promise.' she consoled her.

'When mom? It seems as if I am losing her every single day that pass. Is that what love does? Does it make you forget about your loved ones once you get into a relationship? 'No honey_' 'Then why is she doing this to me?' She continued sobbing and it broke Eveleigh's heart into pieces. Her daughter really doesn't deserve this; in fact no one deserves this. She just held her close as she continued to cry. Suddenly her phone started ringing; she looked at the screen to see who was calling.

'It's Erica, I need to take this.' She said getting up breaking their embrace. 'Hi Erica, what a lovely surprise, I wasn't expecting your call. How are you?'

'I am doing great, you? How are the girls? Are you guys going to church?

'No, Katie is not feeling well so I stayed behind but Nick went to church with Xavier.' 'Oh, how is she?' 'She has a high fever but she will be alright.' 'Okay, can I speak to Jess? Her phone is unreachable, I wanted to ask her if she has took my sweater; I can't seem to find it.' 'She is not here Erica.' She muttered in vexation. 'What do you mean she is not there? Did she go to church with Nick?'

'No she never came here, she lied about being here for the weekend; she went to spend the weekend with her boyfriend.' 'Jess has a boyfriend! What are you saying?' she couldn't believe it. 'It's true Erica.' 'Can I speak to Katie please?' 'Sure, hold up.' She said going inside handing the phone to Katie.

'Here, Aunty E wants to speak to you.' 'Hi Aunty E, how are you? I am sorry for not calling you as promised; I was exhausted that I went straight to sleep when I arrived.' 'It's okay your mom told me you aren't feeling well. I am going to ask you something, please be honest with me.' Katie immediately looked at her mom with the 'what have you done' look. 'I had to tell her honey.' Eveleigh inaudibly mouthed making her way out of the room. 'For all this time when Jess said she was going over to your place for a sleepover, did she really come to your place?' She stood there unsure whether to tell her or what. After a long pause she finally replied with a no.

'So you are basically saying Jess never came over to your house, how long has this been going on? Why didn't you tell me?' 'I wanted to but Jess made me promise that I don't tell you, she will tell you herself when the time is right. I am really sorry.' 'Where does this guy live? What's his name?' She was so furious that Katie could also sense her fury on the other side of the call.

'His name is Matthew, that's all I know. Jess never tells me anything much about him.' 'Okay I will speak to you as soon as she gets home.' She immediately hung up.

'Oh God what have I done? Jess is gonna hate me for this.' She buried her face on the pillow. Her mom who happened to be entering the room when Erica hung up sat next to her and brushed her back her fingers.

'You did the right thing sweetie, Erica deserved to know. Here, I brought you some pancakes and some eggs; half cooked just like how you like your eggs.' She instantly sat up straight at the mention of eggs. The food did look tangy but she just didn't have the appetite. 'Thanks mom, but I am really not hungry.' Erica looked disappointed. 'But you haven't tried them honey, just one bite. I will feed you.'

'But mom_' 'Open your mouth_' she said putting a handful of food in her mouth. She watched with delight as Katie chewed the food, a feeling of nostalgia hit her as she recalled how Katie loved being fed by her when she was a little baby and here she is all grown up but still allows her to feed her. 'Open your mouth, there you go,' she said putting another handful of food in her mouth. 'But mom you said one bite.' She finally said after chewing in what seemed like forever. 'Okay, one last bite.' That's what she kept saying till all the food finished.

'Mom what if Jess hates me for telling her mom, maybe I shouldn't have told her.' The guilt started kicking in again as she drank the last sip of orange juice. 'Not this again Katie, you shouldn't think about it too much.'