Chapter 3 Mum

"Paying off the cab driver and walking to the front door I unzipped my bag to grab my keys. Once I found the keys my hand kept fumbling with the metals before I finally opened the door and hurriedly slammed the door shut behind me.

"I had a bad feeling that someone was watching me and I had to get inside as fast as I could. It could be Mrs. Bergen stalking me.

"I strolled into the sitting room and quietly found my way past the kitchen and over to the staircase to avoid disturbing Mum and partly because I was too exhausted to talk.

"Rin, is that you? I heard Mum holler from the kitchen.

"Yes mum I'm the one, " I replied feeling dazed, hazed, and lazed to the core.

"I wanna speak to you, " she said, coming out of the kitchen covered in flour.

"Okay, go on," I said leaning on the rails of the staircase.

"So uh, I was thinking we could go out to the cinema tomorrow evening and have some mother-and-daughter time, so what do you think? She said, rubbing her palms together.

"Well, I think that it is a great idea. I said grinning from ear to ear.

"Great, so you go up there and have a nice hot bath, dress up, and come back down because we have some shopping to do, she said, dancing her way to the kitchen.

"Mum, why are we shopping? I shouted running up the stairs.

"Oh, I forgot to add something. She shouted back.

"What is it? I shouted back, stopping once I got to the top of the stairs.

"I'd be hosting a little welcoming party for myself and I'd be inviting a few of my colleagues. I hope you don't mind, she yelled.

"No no Mum I don't mind at all. It's been a while since you've been around friends. I think it's a great start. I said, faking a laugh.

"Even if I did mind it wouldn't change anything, after all, she didn't tell me anything before making her decision, I think it is a risky step to take now that Mrs. Bergen knows about Dad although her intentions are not clear to me. Plus I didn't want her to feel bad.

"Walking to my room and turning the knob before pushing the door open, I walked in dropping my bag on my bed before striping off all my clothes and making my way over to the bathroom, filling my tub with hot water, I released my hair from the ponytail before sinking my sore muscles into the steaming water.

" After relaxing my sore for a while I decided to scrub myself before I catch a cold.

"Getting out of the tub and wrapping my robe around me I headed for my wardrobe, picking out an easy outfit accompanied by my coat.

"I was already dressed and heading downstairs ready to head out.

"Mum, mind if I grab some snacks before we head out? I asked in the kitchen.

"Yeah, go on, I made some meatballs, here have some," she said, sliding the plate to me and nudging me to sit on the stool.

"Thanks, ma'am, " I said, walking over to the fridge to fill my glass with some milk.

"You are welcome honey and be fast, " she said, walking out of the kitchen.

"Sure mum, I said, stuffing my mouth with the meatball.

"Mum, I'm ready," I said, dropping the dirty dishes into the sink and wiping my mouth with the napkin.

"Meet me outside, she yelled.

"Slamming the front door shut and walking over to meet Mum.

"Our ride is here," she said, walking to the black Camry.

"The ride to the mall was awkward, to say the least. The driver was a total weirdo. He kept asking questions that he wasn't supposed to. It almost seemed like he knew us.

"At the mall, Mum kept making me try out different dresses. This is reckless spending. I already have enough clothes to last me a decade and I can not keep quiet and watch her make us go bankrupt.

"Mum, I'm worried you'd spend all your life savings on these things. The stocks here are quite pricey and they won't cut us a deal, I said, greasing my forehead as a result of my worry.

"Uuhhh baby, you don't need to get angry about that, " she said, smiling at me.

"Well if you say so," I said, faking a smile.

"We were done shopping and now at the ice cream place, I had one chocolate ice cream and Mum got one strawberry ice cream.

"Mum, I think we should get going. We have to go get ready for the party. I said, drumming my nails on the table.

"Don't worry about that Rin I've ordered food from the closest restaurant she said scrolling through her phone looking unperturbed.

"Mum, is this all from your savings? I don't want to seem nosey but I'm worried we've been spending too much lately and I have to wait till the second year for my internship and you have way too many bills to settle already I said panicking.

"And about that Rin, I got a gift from a male friend of mine she said blushing

"A friend? What friend the last time I checked knew all your friends and you didn't keep any male friends. So what's the gift about? I inquired about turning cold.

"He is a new friend and he gave me a credit card we met at the hospital and he owns a company," Mum said dreamily.

"Mum, you need to be careful. I mean you just met him today and he has given you a credit card already? Did he forget about the universal rule that said never give a lady your credit card? I know you are a hot girl but Isn't it suspicious? How sure are you that he is not like Dad? I said with a scrunched face.

"I know I made a grave mistake bringing Dad up but we were gonna have this conversation, eventually and there is no better time than now.

"Rin I'm an adult, I know what I'm doing besides he is only a friend and I wouldn't let things get out of hand. You need to understand that I would never want to put you in harm's way, and he might just be our destiny helper Mum said calmly.

"Mum don't get me wrong, I want you out on dates and whatever but I don't want you to get hurt. I just think it is too early for romance, I said, nodding my head sideways.

"I understand but I don't want you to live in fear all your life, that is why we moved here, I did it for you," she said, stretching out her hand to hold my hands.

"No Mum I think you did it for yourself I said through gritted teeth.

"Come off it kid, I'm an adult and I can do what I want with my life. She said yelling and the chattering in the mall stopped, everyone had turned their attention to us. I know I was supposed to feel embarrassed but I felt anger.

"Do what you want with your life but not to my detriment, be reckless but not to my detriment. I yelled looking at her in pure rage.

"Look baby, you need to trust me, " she said, trying to calm the storm.

"No, I get it now, I said, nodding my head.

"Let's go home, she said, scratching the back of her neck, something she always did when she was nervous.

"The ride back home was quite awkward. I kept ignoring Mum. I wasn't in the mood to talk. I just needed my space to figure it out.

>>>>>>

"Slamming the front door shut with my leg proceeding for the stairs, reaching the top of the stairs I walked straight to my room dumping the shopping bags on my bed but something feels out of place in my room the window was open and snowy footprints were leading from the window to my side drawers I never left my window open whoever was in here left not long ago.

"Why would anyone other than Mrs. Bergen want to sneak into my room? Brushing the thought off and heading for my bathroom to clean up.

"After I was done dressing I headed to Mum's room.

"Hey, mum you in? I said softly knocking on the door.

"Come in, she said, flinging the door open.

"Uh, mum I just wanted to apologize. My behavior was totally out of character. I shouldn't have yelled at you, I said, rubbing my palms together.

"You know what I got you Rin and it is fine she said tapping my chicks.

"Thanks, Mum, can I borrow your makeup? I muttered changing the topic.

"No, you can't, she said, putting her hand below her chin.

"Why can't I? I asked, pouting my lips.

"Because I'll be doing the Magic on your face, now sit," she said pulling out a chair to back the mirror.

"Did you know? I asked with teary eyes.

"I always made sure to check on you before I went to work, so yes I knew that you always covered the mirror, now tell me why you always covered your mirror? she asked, opening her makeup box.

"I had constant nightmares when dad was imprisoned, anytime I looked in the mirror I always saw him. I looked so much like him at that point I wanted nothing more than to change my face.

"I'm sorry that you had to go through all that alone, why didn't you think of telling me? She said, raising her well-carved brow at me.

"You were never at home," I said, in a hushed tone.

"I'm gonna make up for that, I promise honey," she said, squeezing my shoulders.

"About 40 minutes later we were done with the makeup and we were ready for the night

"The doorbell rang, it is gonna be a long night, " I said to Mum as I headed for the door.

Unknown location

"Yes boss, you asked me to come to your office, " the ginger head man said standing at the door post.

"Yeah yeah, I know Vincent so sit and tell me what Brian is up to the boss said drumming," his pen on the table.

"Well turns out that there is going to be a party tonight and I could get in for you," Vincent said smiling.

"That's a good one there Vin but I'm afraid you won't be able to continue, " the boss said smiling.

"I didn't say I was resigning," Vin said anxiously.

"You are too sloppy kid and I can't risk it," the boss said, cocking his gun and pointing at Vincent.