Chapter 13 Leo and his mother
Skylar is soaking in the evening while sipping coffee and relaxing in her garden lounger.
She turns to face Leo's car when she hears it making a background noise.
She watches him till he gets close to her.
She appears to have been watching for him.
He receives a hug and birthday wishes from her.
He gives her a deep hug and joins her in the chair.
What do you want for my birthday this year? he queries.
Do you want that Chanel purse, that diamond earring, or how about both?
Leo began presenting gifts to her mother when he turned 10 because he believes his entire existence has been a gift from his mother.
His gift is accepted by his mother because it makes Leo happy.
He frequently said that he will soon be old enough to look after his mother and grandparents.
I don't need anything, she says as she turns to face him.
To me, you are the world's most priceless gift.
Why not ask yourself what you desire this year?
After giving it some thought, he says, "Okay, but promise that you won't shed a tear."
I won't, she adds while grinning.
Do I appear that frail to you?"
Why don't you tell me more about my father except the fact that he is excellent, handsome, responsible, kind, and respectful of you and that he loves me a lot, he asks as he turns to face her.
And he'll eventually return home.
Please let me know the reason he left us.
Do you know his current location?
Is he still your love?
Skylar meets her son's gaze.
She now sees a young adult guy; he is no longer the youngster.
"Okay, I'll tell you, but tell me, do you love him," she replies with a smile.
I adore him, I miss him, and I want to talk to him about so many things, he says while nodding.
I want to know if he ever thought about you and me.
Is he still aware of me?
I still despise him.
We're going to have a lengthy conversation, she added as she turned to face him.
However, I'll mention a few topics and occasions involving your father.
If I start talking about your father, it will take forever. He grinned as he thought back to Akshara's account of her father disparaging her mother.
When Skylar sees her son grinning, she wonders what has occurred.
He responds, "My acquaintance has informed me that her father can also talk for a very long time about her mother.
Love must be a wonderful thing.
He presents an ignorance of knowledge.
He may be behaving as though he doesn't know or that he does, but he also knows that he can talk for hours about her.
"Well, I will ask you that when you had your girlfriend or wife," her mother begins.
Okay, as you may recall, your father is a handsome young guy with a commanding presence that you cannot ignore.
Though he appears icy, everybody who knows him will attest that he is the loveliest person they have ever encountered.
He's been gone for 18 years. I grew up with your father and we were pals.
Since I can remember, we have been friends.
We went to the same college.
We took business courses in college.
I don't know when the friendship-based sensation of love or romance changed to love towards him.
But it wasn't reciprocal.
Actually, I never anticipated that from him.
I was satisfied to spend the rest of my life with someone because he valued me.
At the time, I genuinely believed it was sufficient, and I was not mistaken.
We had you, and I loved him and we respected each other.
The modest, happy family's life was going as it should.
I was aware that he made an effort to provide everything within his means.
As far as I can remember, he was the ideal father. He hasn't been heard by me in around 15 years.
During his first year away from this place, he used to call every day.
He frequently asked you but never asked to give phone to you. He was scared of not being able to handle himself.
When you were four years old, he left.
He used to play with you every day before he went.
He departed because he had no other option.
"Did he have another lady and leave us for her, or is he dating someone else right now?
Leo asks, "Don't you despise him for not loving you?"
"Even before I married him, I knew that he was not going to love me ever," she adds while holding his hand.
It was my choice to get married to him.
I never looked back on our marriage.
The most priceless present he has ever given me is you.
I couldn't be happier or more delighted, and that's enough for me.
I believe that I still adore him.
I occasionally miss him as well.
He chose to live a private life, therefore I couldn't find anything about him. Even if he lived for another thousand years, in my opinion, he would never fall in love or get married.
Do you have any memories of your father's voice or face?
He responds, "I believe I recall, but I was unable to make it into a sketch.
I believe his memories in my head are fading more and more.
Why aren't his pictures available here?
Why don't we have any, I know you still adore him?
She attempts to stop the tears from falling but is unable to.
"Your grandfather and father were never on the same page; no one knows when this started," she says.
They had a fantastic connection while we were kids, but as adults, they just started fighting occasionally and later stopped communicating.
Your grandfather made the decision that he didn't want even your father's shadow to fall on the entire family after he left the house.
Because of her anxieties, your grandma cried a lot and got unwell, yet nothing changed.
We lack any pictures.
Additionally, we were unable to receive any news because your father chose to live a private life.
"Baby, don't hate your father; if you've ever met him, you'll realize he's the best and most loving person there is.
Anyone who has met him cannot help but love or respect him.
I desire for you to emulate him.
I am aware that he abandoned you when he should have been with you, and I am also aware that he despises himself for it, yet he.
She bursts into tears.
"I don't hate him mum, and if you want me to be like him, I'll be like him, so that you and dad can be proud of me," he adds while giving his mother a hug.
I'm hoping he'll visit us soon.