ONE NIGHT STAND

Chapter five

Reaching her small apartment, Blaire paused outside the door, bungled with her keys, her mind still on Damien. He seemed different from the men she was used to and there was a gentleness in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before in her previous relationships.

“ Stop dreaming. Get a grip, Blaire,” she whispered to herself, finally opening the door.

The familiar scent of her favourite meal greeted her, but the warmth felt distant.

She dropped her bag onto the table and rushed to the kitchen.

“ Mom, I'm home.” For the first time, she had a comforting smile. Her mom was excited she was home, ushering her to have a seat as she served the meal.

As her mother served the meal, she ate without mincing.

“ I was worried about you last night. You stumbled out without hesitation. I know that I didn't believe you when you told me about Bob, your stepfather, but I regret it and I'm here to make things work between us”. Her mother said, with a sober look for redemption.

Blaire dropped her fork, the clash against the plate echoing in the small kitchen.

Her heart skipped as her mother’s words hung in the air. She didn't expect such honesty, such vulnerability. “Mom, it’s… it’s hard for me,” she stammered, her voice trembling slightly.

“I understand,” her mother replied softly, her eyes filled with regret. “I should've believed you. I should have been there for you. I see now how hard it’s been for you since you left.”

Blaire felt a rush of emotions, sadness, and a flicker of hope. “You married him, hoping our lives got better,” she said, her tone sharp. “You got carried away, Mom. You should've been there for me.”

“I didn't know what to do.” her mother admitted, her voice breaking.

“I wanted to believe you. At the same time I didn't want to lose him. Marrying him gave us stability, a chance at a normal life. But I see he's a coward now. I’m sorry for everything honey!”

Blaire stared at her mother, the words stirring inside her.

The dinner she had longed for felt clouded by the weight of their past. “I wish things were different,” she said quietly, picking at her food. “But I can’t just forget what he did.”

“I don’t expect you to,” her mother said, reaching across the table, her hand lingering over Blaire's. “I just want a chance to make things right. I guess we start over?”

Blaire wanted to believe her mother’s intentions, but trust was a breakable thing, easily destroyed and hard to rebuild. “ You want us to start over?” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” her mother prompted, her eyes pleading. “I’m not the best, but I’m here now. I want to support you, to help you. Let’s try to be a family again.”

Blaire took a deep breath, feeling a flicker of warmth at her mother’s sincerity, but doubt still loomed large. “ Well, It’s going to take time, Mom. You can’t come here after so many years and just say you’re sorry and expect everything to be okay.”

“I understand, I'm ready to take a chance,” her mother said, her voice steady. “ I promise to work hard for your trust. Let’s take it one day at a time.”

Blaire considered her mother’s words, “Okay,” she finally said, a smile breaking through her uncertainty. “One day at a time.”

As they continued their meal, a sense of optimism filled the air, the void between them slowly starting to close. Blaire felt the warmth of her mother’s presence, the intimacy of home wrapping around her like a comforting blanket.

****************†**********†*******

Blaire awoke the next morning with a persisting sense of longing.

Her conversation with Damien played over in her mind, a moment that refused to diminish. She missed the warmth of his presence, the way he made her feel and understood.

The excitement of their meeting had quickly turned into a quiet throb of desire. As she prepared for the day, a hasty thought crossed her mind, she thought of going back to the bar where they had met.

It felt silly to chase after something that might not even exist, but the idea of seeing Damien again sent a spark of hope within her.

“Why not? I mean what's the worst that could happen, but I have to avoid Mark's nagging today by going early.” she whispered to herself, getting hold of her jacket and heading out the door to the coffee shop.

Damien sat in his room, his phone warm from his conversation with Gina.

They had discussed everything about her return to the city and his father's desire to see them married that seemed to weigh heavily on his mind.

“Gina, I really want you back here for the engagement party,” he said, running a hand through his hair, feeling a blend of love and frustration. “My sister has specific ideas for the wedding. This is important for our families.”

“I know, Damien,” Gina replied, her voice soft but firm. “But you know I’m working on my career here. I want to be there, but I also have commitments. It has been really busy for me.”

“I understand Gina,” he said, trying to hide the disappointment in his tone. “I just wish it could be easier. You’re all I think about, and I want to share this part of my life with you. What happened to us?”

Their conversation continued, filled with both warmth and hidden tension.

Damien felt comforted by her words, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.