Chapter 3 3

Layla's Mum

I gripped the steering wheel of my Rolls Royce car and I felt waves of disappointment flowing through me. Everything I see reminds me of my daughter. This car I am in was given to me as a birthday gift from her. Only if her father were to be alive to see how successful his daughter had become. I am sure he is proud wherever he is.

He would have also helped me talk some sense into her. Right from the time Layla was a child, she had been really close to her father and I can vividly remember the scene when he offered to take her out on a date when she turned eighteen. After he died in a plane crash, Layla suddenly became a loner and distanced herself further away from me. A little girl with no father and no siblings. Her only sister died a long time ago. Just her and her mother in the lonely world. This is one of the reasons I want her to settle down, so that she can have a companion.

There is no day that passes that I do not ask myself where I have failed as a mother. I don't even know the reason for her consistent hatred for men. She does not open up to me and I am confused as always. I do not know what to do.

I am on my way to meet the ladies, as we usually call ourselves. Although, no one among us is less than 50 years. We have a regular spot where we usually meet and come together to talk about our pains, children, business. We were five in number. Charlotte, Sophia, Freda, Jane and myself.

I got to the venue and went in to meet them. As usual, I am always the last person to arrive.

"Vera," Jane called out. She was in a long purple floral gown and her hair was made into a bun. I waved at them and took my seat close to Charlotte.

"You are late again. This time you are going to pay a fine," Freda snorted and I nodded.

"That is not a problem to me. How much is it?"

"Ohhhhh! Look at her. Who would not want to have a daughter like hers?" Jane said, pointing to me and I chuckled.

"About your daughter, Vera," Sophia started and I looked on. I called on the waiter to take our orders since they have not taken. Suddenly, my daughter has become a topic of discussion.

"What happened to Layla?" I asked, pretending not to know where she was driving.

"Money, power, fame. How do you deal with that? Don't you think that is the reason she is not getting married?" Sophia asked and I twisted my mouth, looking in another direction.

"How is my daughter's wealth a problem now?"

Charlotte and Freda looked at each other and they burst out laughing.

"Men don't like women with so much influence. Think about it, if you were that wealthy, do you think your husband would have married you?" Charlotte chopped in and I hit the table. Thank goodness, the food and drinks we ordered have not been served. If not, it would have been scattered on the floor now.

"My husband is dead. Leave him out of it."

"May his soul continue resting in peace," Charlotte said and it was as if she was mocking me. It hurts to be the only widow here. They are all enjoying their partners while I mourn mine every single day. Although, it has been up to ten years since he left. His absence is still greatly felt.

"I think that was the only reasonable example she could give. Do not be angry," Sophia said. Maybe she thought that would calm me down

"It won't hurt if she used herself as a case study. Mind you, I was not as influential as my daughter when I got married but I was not in the state of depending on a man to feed."

"Ooouuu...Bravo!" Charlotte roared and they all clapped. I felt slightly embarrassed but that was the truth. The waited brought out food and I thanked him before he left.

"We all know that you have been having a difficult time talking to your daughter about her getting married," Sophia said as I sipped from the cold soda drink and crossed my legs while they were waiting for my response.

"Actually my dear, I am tired. I have tried and tried but Nothing is working," I lamented.

"Just arrange her marriage with a man. Why are you so slow?" Charlotte advised.

Sophia nodded and said, "exactly, that's what I did and look, my daughter is happily married with two kids."

"I already set her up for a date." I disclosed and they all laughed. Jane brought out her phone and her eyes were on it.

"A date? Do you think anything is going to come out of it? Come on, you should know your daughter better now," Freda shook her head. I could tell she was disappointed but instead of saying anything, I looked on and took a bite from the pizza. I am just doing that so that I can dwell on my thoughts. I do not want to say anything that I know will hurt my daughter and at the same time, I want the best for her.

"Give her a contract to sign. Let her get married to one rich family as soon as possible," Charlotte suggested.

"Rich family? Again? Let her pick up a poor man on the street and change his life." Jane blurted out, looking away from her phone.

"What if she ends up not loving the man?" I asked. "No,no, no. I can not risk that." I continued.

Charlotte sipped from her wine and it was then I remembered we forgot to say a toast because of a mere argument.

"Who marries because of love nowadays? Babe, we are in the twenty-first century. Do not forget."

"I will reconsider." I thought aloud. That may be the only way out.