Amidst love and heartbreak

Oh, I know him alright...

Maggie’s POV

I woke up early today. I had this scene in my mind that I couldn't stop thinking about last night, but I could keep my eyes open. With my tea in one hand and the notebook in the other, I went to my studio. I have to put in writing all these ideas or else I will lose it. The book is at a certain point now that is making me feel a bit under the weather if rain affected me the way other people get affected. Finally, sipping my tea I put my cup on the side and start writing.

Melanie was finally feeling the happiness that she had never experienced in her life. Every day she went to the meeting place and spent all morning with Arnold. They would talk about what they liked and what they didn’t. They would cuddle while reading her current book and most of all they would kiss. Every afternoon when she returned home, Melanie would rush to her bedroom to hide from her mother because her lips were always red just like her cheeks. It was becoming harder and harder to hide this part of her. As he had told her previously, she was feeling like she wanted everyone to know about them as well. She wanted to be able to go out in the light and have an actual date for everyone in their small town to see. 

One day she decided it was time for her mum to know about Arnold. Melanie entered her house and didn’t go to her room immediately but after taking a deep breath, she went to the kitchen where she knew she would find her mother preparing lunch for everyone. She took a few steps adding another deep breath. There’s nothing to toy about. Right? She gave herself courage. Arnold was very present and she was sure about her feelings for him. Whatever her mother had to say she was sure they would have a happy ending together. She only hoped she didn’t have to fight for it.

“Hello, mother,”

“Oh, hello Mel. Could you bring me the ladle, please? Your father will be here any minute and I have to have lunch ready before he is here,” He father was a strong character and very conservative. He believed that women should be in the kitchen and raise children, while the man should be working to bring home the food. If you were a child, even though you are all grown up now, he believed that you should still listen to the father. Long story short, if you are a woman, you have no brain so you should listen to what your father says and later what your husband says.

 Melanie dreaded the moment her father would know about her and Arnold but she knew that he loved her so much and being Melanie the only child she thought that he would change for her. She gave her mother what she asked and stood there until her mother noticed something different in her. It took some time for her mother to finish everything coming and going from one side of the room to the other. Once she sat on one of the chairs near the table she raised her eyes to meet Melanie’s that had followed her all the time.

“Darling, are you ok? You seem a little flushed,” her mother stood up once more to check her front. “You don’t have a fever, do you? I told you many times not to stay all day in that field. That’s how you got sick last time,” she said, panicked that her daughter might be getting sick once more. 

“No, mum. I am fine. But… I wanted to tell you something,” Melanie said with her voice trembling. It was not fear of her mother but fear to disappoint her.

“What happened, my love? What do you have to tell me?”

“I… I think I met someone,” Melanie finally said in a  very low voice. “Mother, I think that I am in love,” she finished with her voice a little higher this time.

“You, what?” she heard her father’s voice booming behind her. Melanie was not expecting this to happen so soon. She was going to tell mum first and maybe together at a later time they would both tell him.

My eyes started to water on its own as memories came through me one more time. After so many years I can still hear that voice filled with anger and worse of all disappointment. My relationship with my parents has always been a caring one. My mother loved and supported me almost every time. The only time she would not, at least visibly, on my side was when my father was included. As per my father, I know he loved me deep down. I know for sure that everything he did for me was in my best interest, even though sometimes I did not agree with his forms of doing it. 

A deep sigh left my mouth. There have been several times these past weeks that I have sighed. There are many things going around me at the moment and I don’t know how to put my mind through all of this. Khloe, for example, is most probably having trouble at home. My mother instinct tells me this because if it was for her she would never tell me. Not that she didn’t trust me but because most probably she wouldn’t want to worry me. She keeps to herself everything until the very last moment where she explodes for something that might seem silly to other people. 

My eyes trailed to the road in front of me. I love the view my studio gives me. I can see the whole neighbourhood form up here. It gives me the opportunity to witness all their interactions and get inspiration from them. It’s barely six-thirty in the morning now and the street is empty apart from the occasional runner or dog walker. Suddenly, my heartbeat increased, my eyes widened and my breath got caught in my throat. What is he doing out so early? Is he going to the market? I noticed that he was the same man he used to be. Tall and lean. Wide shoulders that would make you feel safe. Same expression on his face that could make every lady melt at his feet. Probably the same womanizer.

I took another sip from my tea and decided to continue writing my scene before inspiration left me for the day.

“Father, you are home,” Melanie said in a half-voice. She was hoping her father didn’t hear her confession but deep down just by looking at his face she knew he had heard everything. 

“Care to explain, Melanie. What is this... thing... I am hearing about it?” her father asked, trying to calm himself down.

“Father, I think I am in love and I wanted you and mother to know about it,” she said in one breath as if she didn’t say it all together she wouldn’t be able to say it anymore.

“And who is the lucky lad, if I may ask?” he said in a sarcastic tone.

“We met in the field where I go to read. He was just there one day and we’ve been… seeing each other,” she said avoiding the most embarrassing details of their relationship. She wouldn’t have the courage to say them out loud anyway. Her cheeks were flushed just by thinking about him.

Her father looked at his wife as if blaming her.

“See, what all this reading brings us? She is ‘in love’ now. We’ve given her too much freedom,” he said and took a glass from the cupboard. He poured himself a drink and sat on the chair next to his wife. Melanie’s mother lowered her head probably thinking the same her husband just blamed her for. 

“Melanie, sit here, please. Let’s talk this through,” her father said in a softer tone and Melanie thought that for once her father would take into consideration her feelings and show her that he really cared for her. “What is this boy called?” he asked.

“A-Arnold,” she stuttered a bit. 

“Is he tall? Does he have dark features, brown eyes?” her father asked once more and she just nodded with surprise.

“Father, do you know him?” Melanie asked feeling hopeful.

“Oh, I know him alright,” he said with frustration showing in his speech once more. “You are not to meet the boy anymore,” he said and raised from his chair leaving the room.

“What? Both Melanie and her mum asked in unison but there was no response from him. He had given her the verdict and it seemed like nothing could change his mind.

“But, mother,” Melanie started crying.

“Shhh… my darling. Your father probably has a good reason to say that. You should probably listen to him,” her mother said this while hugging Melanie trying to calm her down.

The doorbell made me stop my writing. I was so dipped into this scene that I couldn’t take the feeling of it out of me even while going downstairs. When I opened the front door, my heart sank some more and the feeling I had from the scene just got real for another reason. 

Right there, at my front door, stood Khloe and a sleepy Emma. She had a suitcase and Emma’s small travel bag with her. This means that whatever has been going on lately is pretty serious.

“Good morning, girls,” I said in a hopefully cheering voice.

“Morning, mum. Whether it’s going to be a good or a bad one is still to be seen,” she said while entering the house dragging my niece after her. Poor baby. She seems like she hasn’t slept enough.

“Mummy, I want to sleep,” Emma complained while rubbing her eyes.

“You can go get some more sleep in the guest room, baby girl. Mummy will be there in a few minutes. Ok?”  Khloe said to her and Emma went stumbling up the stairs. As soon as she left I turned to my daughter and was expecting an explanation from her.

“Don’t ask,” she spat but then regretted it immediately. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. I promise I will talk to you soon, mum,” she then explained and I just nodded. 

Many years ago, when I was her age, I was given orders that I had to follow. I hated feeling so incapable to live my own life as it pleased me. That’s why with my children I had decided, together with my husband, that we didn’t want our children to fear us, but respect us just like we respected their decisions. Now, I was only hoping that whatever had happened was not affecting my little princess. Emma doesn’t deserve it one bit.

 Khloe left to go upstairs leaving me by the front door. What do I do now? I am not in the mood to write anymore. Too many feelings at the moment. My head is not in the right place to be creative.