Chapter 29 — Plan to Put On a Show
1075 Words
I shot up, eyes wide in panic.
“Rosie?” Lena called. “Are you there?”
“I am.”
“Okay… I'm listening.”
“Well…” I drawled, scratching my neck softly.
“Don't even think about lying to me.” Lena cut in. “I swear I'll come to your house and annoy the s**t out of you till you talk.”
“Don't you think that's a bit dramatic?” I muttered dryly.
“Talk, Rosie.”
I climbed down from the bed and began pacing through my bedroom.
“I don't know how to put this, Lena.”
“Put it anyway… trust me, I'll understand.”
I bit down on my lip, feet tapping the floor.
“A few weeks ago, my mother introduced Henry to me… as her fiancé.”
“What?” Lena screamed.
Her voice was so loud that I had to pull the phone away from my ear, wincing slightly.
“Her fiancé?” She echoed.
“Yeah…” I mumbled, leaning on the door.
“Damn… so Henry will soon be your stepfather?”
“I guess…”
“Wow… now I understand why you were sneaky and protective.”
That definitely isn't the case… but oh well.
“I'm so sorry about what our classmates said—”
“Trust me, it's fine.” I cut in.
The silence carried on.
I walked to my window, glancing down at the garage.
“When's the wedding held?” Lena asked, cutting into the silence.
“I don't know.” I replied honestly.
And I didn't even want to know.
“I feel like there's still something troubling you… something linked to this whole situation.”
My gaze trailed to Henry as he loaded boxes into Mum's car.
“Rosie…”
He was wearing shorts and a fitting black singlet that did a fine job of showcasing his veiny arms and muscles that flexed as he carried the boxes.
“Are you still there?” Lena asked, softly.
“Yeah…” I mumbled, absentmindedly.
Mum stepped out a few minutes later, clad in a pair of shorts and T-shirt.
They interacted for a few moments, quiet smiles passing between them before Henry suddenly pulled her closer and kissed her intensely.
My fingers tightened painfully around the phone.
Fucking bastard.
They pulled back slightly.
Then mum hooked her fingers around his neck while he circled his arms around her waist, staring deep into each other's eyes.
Hatred.
Anger.
Jealousy.
All these feelings began swirling inside of me, threatening to burst…
And sadly they had nowhere to land.
Henry frowned, pulling away from Mum slightly, then his gaze began roaming around.
Searching.
Till—
They landed on mine.
My breath hitched—but only for a moment, as something flickered in his eyes.
“Rosie?”
“What?” I growled, slamming the window shut.
“Christ, what's with the sudden mood swing?” Lena asked, shocked.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
I turned towards the door.
“We'll see tomorrow, Lena. I gotta go.”
I didn't wait for her to reply, I ended the call.
The knock came again.
“Coming!” I shouted, walking to the door.
I twisted the doorknob, pulling it open.
“Mum?” I called, blinking in surprise.
“Hey…” she grinned, waving slightly.
“Come in,” I urged, opening the door wider.
She stepped in and I closed the door.
“Was that Lena?” Mum asked, sitting on my bed.
“Yeah,” I said, picking at the seams of my dress.
“Look—”
“I—”
We both said at the same time.
I grinned and she did too.
“Come here,” Mum said, opening her arms wide.
I rushed forward, wrapping my arms around her.
“I'm so sorry…” I mumbled, squeezing her tightly.
“I'm sorry too, baby. God, I'm such a shitty mum,” she said, sniffling.
“Maybe I'm the shitty daughter—”
“You're definitely not,” she said, pulling away slightly.
Her fingers curled under my chin, bringing my face up.
“I should be here for you all the time, but all I do is run away from my responsibilities as a mother—”
“Mum—”
She shook her head, lips quivering slightly.
“I just… I just don't know what to do. I don't think I'm strong enough—”
I pulled her back in as she sobbed loudly.
All the bitterness from earlier faded away, replaced by sadness and pain.
We stood like that for a while.
Me holding her, while she cried her heart out.
After a while, we pulled away from each other, sniffling quietly.
“God, that was a total mess.” Mum croaked.
I giggled, wiping my eyes.
“The Goldwells are having a family dinner tonight, and we've been invited. I was hoping we could all attend as a family, before I leave tomorrow.”
I nodded in agreement.
“You have thirty minutes to take your bath and head downstairs, okay?”
“Aye, aye, captain.” I mock-saluted.
She scoffed, walking away.
Just as she pulled open the door…
She stopped, and turned around.
“Wear your sexist dress, Rosie. I intend to pitch you to every nice guy we meet.”
“Mum!” I echoed, as a blush rose up on my face.
“What? You need to get yourself a nice guy, Rosie. Don't you want to get married and have kids?”
“I'm only twenty, Mum,” I replied, dryly.
“You came of age as soon as you turned eighteen.”
I rolled my eyes, folding my arms over my chest. “That is a rotten mentality—”
She clicked her tongue, teasingly.
“Remember young lady, I want sexy.”
With that, she closed the door, leaving me to the quietness of my room.
Henry's face flashed through my mind, and I smirked.
I walked to my wardrobe, pulling it open as I began rummaging through it.
“I mean she did say sexy, so…” I drawled, settling on a red dress.
I was so going to give him a show tonight.
One that he wouldn't be able to resist.
Maybe this would make him reconsider f*****g me.
Oh Henry…
You have no idea what kind of storm is coming your way.
- Writer
