5

Susan's POV

Mum is doing better than before, although she still looks a bit restless due to stress and grief.

"You are up!" She exclaims coming into the kitchen.

She yawns, cupping her hands over her mouth and then proceeds to stretch her limbs. I could see faint dark circles under her eyes and a few visible wrinkles.

She looks tired.

"Yes," I responded. "Did you sleep well?" I asked.

"Yeah," she replied half-heartedly. She walked a bit to the counter, "The weather is changing though." She said as she gazed at the bright sunny sky through the window.

I follow her gaze and hum with a little nod, "It is getting a little less chilly," I announced just as a soft breeze swept by and the trees danced in its direction. "Did you take your medicine?," I turn to her asking.

"Don't worry about me honey, I'm fine!" She says with a smile, though her eyes held a little sadness.

"I can see through you Mum," I declared. "And no, that doesn't mean that I can't ask you to take care of yourself." I state.

"You can, and yes, I took my medicine."

"Good." I said with a smile.

"I have been meaning to ask you something," she said hesitantly.

I raised a brow at her and asked, "what is it?" 

Her face squished together in concentration, "Umm. . . It is about Michael." She states.

My close friend, "Micheal"? Why is she bringing him up?

"Why, what about him?" I ask in return, a little confusion hinting in my voice.

"He seems like a nice boy." She replied vaguely, which made me narrow my eyes at her.

"Yeah! He is!" I said.

"So have you given him any thought yet?" There was a wide grin plastered on her face.

I asked, "What thought?"

"You know. . . He seems interested in you." She nods in my direction.

A pink colour tints my cheeks, and I stutter a bit, "Umm. . . I guess he does, yeah." I shrug.

"So, what are you two? Like boyfriend-girlfriend?" She chuckles as she asks.

"MUM!," I yell, looking at her with widened eyes, "it's not like that."

"You know you don't have to hide anything from me, right?" She asked her tone becoming motherly.

"Firstly, I know that. Secondly, let's not have this conversation right now." I grimace.

"Okay," she shrugs, "whatever you say."

"Thanks Mum." I acknowledged.

"Are you hungry?" She asked.

"A little." I respond.

"Food is almost ready. And by the way, Conner will be joining us for lunch too." She grimaced.

"Why?" The question flew out of my mouth.

"He wanted to come by, it's been a few days now and he hasn't had the chance to visit us." She explained.

"Uh huh," I responded nodding slowly.

"What's going on with you two?" She queries. "You were best of friends for so long, and--,"

I interrupt, "Time has changed Mum! We haven't seen each other in a long time." I explained.

"So?" She raises a brow.

I rolled my eyes, dragging the o I said, "So, it's not the same." I said.

She hums, "Are you sure that's the only reason?" She stares at me

"Yes mum," I agreed.

She shakes her head twice before rambling, "I don't think so– I remember when you moved away few years back, and he—"

"Mum, relax. You are over thinking this." I state cutting off her next words.

She shakes her head again, "Something must have happened between you two, because you guys were inseparable, but then all of a sudden it changed." She said with a thoughtful look on her face.

"If there is a problem between you two, figure it out and deal with it like an ADULT, ok?" She requests. "You have avoided this topic for so many years now— for as long as you are here, I want you to be happy." She adds.

"I am here mum, and I am happy with you." I said in a reassuring tone. "Don't think too much about it." I say dismissing the subject.

"As you say. I will drop it for now." She responds easily. A little too easy.

"I know you better." I state. "I will try to make amends." I added.

"But I'm not saying anything anymore." She laughed.

I growled, "let me help you set up the table." I volunteered standing just to end the conversation.

"Okay." She nodded getting up on her feet too.

As I moved and started setting the dining table, the ringtone of my phone could be heard in the living room singing. I walked over to the center table where it was and picked it up.

"Oh It's Mike!," I said to myself. I consider Mike a best friend, and he has also been my colleague for the last two years. He is from New York.

But before I could answer the call, the line got cut off. I then received a text from him.

Mike—"Hey you busy?"

Me—"A little."

Mike—"Oh!"

Me—"Sorry, but I will call you back."

Mike—"Sounds good."

Me—"Thanks."

Mike—"I'll be waiting!"

Me—"Ok."

Mike—"TTYL! P. S. I miss you."

Me—"Miss you too."

After half an hour went by, the sound of the doorbell was heard.

"I think Conner is here." Mum announced.

Conner stepped inside the house with another girl that I didn't recognize. She was wearing a baby blue dress with her blonde hair in French braids, and a radiating smile on her fair skinned face.





"Oh. . . Hey Valerie, you finally came!" Mum exclaimed hugging her in the process.

"Yes, I have been meaning to come sooner, Abby. How are you holding up?" She asked within the embrace.

"I am alright sweety." Mum said and gave a sad smile.

"I am so sorry for your loss." Valerie commented.

"Thank you!" Mum replied as the corners of her lips form a small smile.

"Won't you welcome me?" Conner asked with a pout.

Mum rolled her eyes, "This is YOUR home," she stated. "You don't need any welcome."

He laughs showing his perfectly white teeth, "that's right."

"Come Valerie, join us for lunch please," mum proposed.

"Thank you." She replied with a warm smile.

My mum pointed them towards the dining area. It was a rectangular table with eight chairs, three vertically opposite each other and one horizontally opposite the other. It had a nice flower vase with a flower at the center.



"Hi." I said turning towards Conner.

"Hey Susan, how are you doing?" He came forward to give me a hug and I hugged him back.

"I am okay. You?" I smiled.

"I'm good." He replied.

"Conner?!," My mum gasped, "introduction please!" She scolded.

He cleared his throat, "yes, of course," he said. "Valerie, this is Susan, she is. . . Umm," he paused looking at me for the right words, "my childhood friend." He said finally.

"I figured." She smiled.

"Susan this is Valerie, she is my partner." He said to me.

What?? Pat-t-ner??

My eyes must be as wide as saucers right now. Collecting myself I spoke up,

"Uh hi, nice to meet you!" I said with an outstretched hand stuttering a bit.

"Pleasure meeting you too." She replied shaking my hand, "oh and by the way, he means business partner— we work together." She adds letting go of my hand.

"Oh. . . Okay!" I said. Inwardly I let out a relieved sigh. For a second there I thought she was his girlfriend.

"Conner you clearly don't know how to introduce people, do you?" Valerie asks with a little laugh.

"I-- guess not." He replied cheekily.

But it shouldn't bother me.

"Valerie and I work together, we run our studio." Conner explains.

"That's great." I commented.

"Settle everyone, let's eat." Mum announced.

There was a seat beside Valerie and one beside Conner, I moved and sat next to Conner and he flashed me a smile.

"The food will get cold," mum laughed as she entered the dining room, "why don't you kids start?" She suggested, her face showing amusement.

Conner hummed, "Sure."

"Please, come and sit with us." Valerie said.

"Alright, I am here now," my mum replied pulling her seat back and settling in till she was comfortable.

Having Valerie and Conner for lunch definitely works out since my mum seemed happy having some company at home.