Chapter 4

Tara thanked the gods for the dinner being not too fancy. With Naomi, she had expected that, but Naomi was more considerate of her daughter's preferences than she was given credit for. Naomi knew her daughter loved Italian cuisine and had asked the cook to make spaghetti. It immensely pleased her that her daughter was not too fussy about food.

As soon as she saw that Tara was enjoying her meal, Naomi decided to bombard her with questions. It is not everyday that she gets to talk to her daughter, and so, she was going to make the most of it.

"How is Dan?" asked Naomi.

There was a silence from Tara's end as it took her a minute to understand about whom her mother was talking about. Blood rushed to her face and quickly left it, leaving her face cold and pale. She knew her mother would ask about him, but she thought she would have time to defend herself. But no. Attack always suited Naomi and Tara had underestimated her mother. She should have known that her mother would have asked this question at the first chance she got. But Tara was preoccupied with a lot of things that she forgot how her Mom's mind worked.

She knew she has to give a reply before her mother repeated herself. Because there was no way Naomi would take no for an answer. Tara said the first thing that came to her mind.

"I'm sure he is going well."

It was a vague answer, but Tara hoped her Mom would take a hint and won't ask anymore. Out of the corner of her eyes, Tara could see her mother looking at her and she could also see the cogs in Naomi's brain turning.

"I had hoped you would bring him along with you. It would have been his last chance to see the house in which you grew up. I.. had even hoped that you guys might decide to live there later on you know.....so that we won't have to sell the place."

Naomi's voice was a bit sad and it surprised Tara because, her mother would never let things like that show. But Tara wouldn't think of her mother's voice but instead concentrated on her words. Tara seldom became angry but when she did it had always something to do with Naomi. And now she was really angry.