The Prodigal Mother

Modena Andrei puts down the magazine she is browsing. She goes to the receiving room. Seeing a familiar woman clutching the hands of a man that looks like the same generation as her and her husband Bitor, she straightaway asks upon entering, "Why are you here?"

The woman flustered with Modena's sudden appearance sits up straight and raises her chin. She responds, "I am here to get Athena."

Modena settles herself in the high-back chair. She stares at the woman lifting her left eyebrow. She reminds her, "It has been like ten years since you left her."

"Because you are not taking good care of her," the woman retorts.

"Why would we not take good care of her? She is the Andrei's granddaughter!" Modena starts to get agitated. She takes a deep breath.

The woman argues, "She was kidnapped under your care!"

Modena calmly speaks, "Let me correct my word. You did not leave your daughter in our care. You abandoned her. The nerve of you to tell us we are not taking good care of Athena. Accidents happen sometimes. Nobody wants the kidnapping to happen. All we could do are to take extra precautions of everyone's safety in our family."

Sounds of heavy footsteps interrupt them. Bitor Andrei walks in. "Maybe you should ask Athena first if she wants to come with you."

Senator Graysen and Rosa find Modena and a younger woman glaring at each other when they arrive home. An unfamiliar man sits beside the woman. Bitor sits upright in a high-back chair with his eyes close.

The woman sees Athena holding on to Rosa's hand. She quickly runs to Athena and hugs her. The little girl remains stoic. Her face did not show any reactions or emotions. She remains like an unmovable stone.

The woman keeps crying. Athena gets irritated with the noise. She twists her body to get out from the uncomfortable tight hug.

The woman lifts Athena. Athena loosens her grasp of Rosa's hand. She makes a ruckus when the woman takes her away from Rosa. Nana Amor comes in to get Athena. Rosa follows her to the kitchen to pacify Athena.

Senator Graysen eyes follow his wife and daughter. When Athena's crying stops, he turns his attention to the visitors. He stands beside his mother before uttering, "When did you come back Miss Crina Spataru?"

"I came for my daughter," the woman declares boldly.

The senator responds, "Do you think your daughter knows you?"

The woman states, "Athena might not recognize me right now but I know she will eventually remembers her mother."

"Are you aware of Athena's health conditions?"

"Is she sick due to the kidnapping? Did she get PTSD?"

"I'm talking of her condition since she was a baby."

"She was a healthy baby when I gave birth to her."

"After giving birth to her, where were you?"

Crina looks down on the floor.

The man beside Crina breaks the silence. "Forgive me for not properly introducing myself earlier. It would be disrespectful of me to disrupt your conversation. I am Frode Osmond."

"Are you her uncle?" Modena asks.

"No. I am Crina's fiancee."

Modena nods and says, "Oh."