THE LAST PROMISE

CHAPTER FIVE: PAINTED BLACK

“At least tell me why you're putting my things out of my house?”

“Since you're growing stubborn by the day… first, you killed my only grandchild—”

“Mother, I didn’t—” I tried to defend myself, and she cut me off halfway.

“Oh, you shut up! Secondly, you acted your madness drama the other day at her wake; you didn’t even accord her one respect… and thirdly, you don’t want her to be laid down?!”

Her eyes glistened as Stacey passed her some tissue. She sobbed.

“It’s obvious you have only bad intentions for this family… but I won't let you drag this family into shame further… you’ll leave this house and drop this family’s name.” She dabbed the tissue on her eyes carefully, not wanting to ruin her makeup.

I exhaled.

“I just want her killer found before I could… lay her. She deserves justice, and I’m going to give her just that,” I said, vehement in my speech.

She looked at me, disdain filling her eyes. “I see you want your daughter laid down without you… because you’ll leave my son’s house, his name, and everything… watch me.”

“I am her mother, and I’ll take her from that hospital to wherever I want. You didn’t sign anything… I did! I’m her next of kin, and I will not let you take my daughter and lay her down without her killer being found. That is final!” I roared, fire rising within me. When it comes to my poor child, I’d kill to have justice for her.

I continued, “The house? I don’t care about it. I have three houses to my name… I am not wretched! If I leave this house today, I’ll buy another in a minute!”

Both she and Stacey were in awe. I could see they felt the seriousness in my tone, but neither chose to back down.

“Brilliant!” She clapped, circling me.

“I see the cat has found its tongue again… hmm.” She came close. “Well, you wait and watch what people will say when I hold her burial without you there again!” She gave a mocking smile.

“You organized her wake and forgot… and now you’ve fixed her burial and didn’t attend? I won’t be the one to fight you—the public will.”

She continued, “Leave the house? Move into another space? I don’t even want you to leave now, but the moment I’m done with you… you’ll pack yourself and disappear.”

“What do you want?” I asked, knowing she couldn’t be doing that for nothing.

“My grandchild must be laid to rest immediately!” She said, eyes piercing deep into mine.

“Never! I will never—read my lips, mother—never! Not until her killer is found.”

“If it takes ten years?”

“I don’t care… I’ll have to find that person first,” I protested.

“You don’t care? You see why it’s easy to call you a bad mother? You don’t care that she’s been lying in the cold for weeks? You don’t care!” She let out a few tears, stifling her sobs.

I didn’t entirely agree with her, but it made me think. I really, honestly wanted to get her killer before she was laid down. But what if it takes longer than usual?

“I’m sure it won’t take that long,” I whispered, wiping the tears as they fell.

Not only that… I also needed to get used to this new reality before I never got to see her again.

“You don’t know that,” Stacey added from behind my mother-in-law. Lady Evelyn’s handbag—as I often said—was always lucky to be in her good books, and she shaded me at every opportunity she got.

“I’ll do you a favor, Vanessa. I’ll let you pick the date; it should be within the next three days. However… don’t flaunt my orders!”

I watched her, wondering how she thought she was doing me a favor. But… anyways.

“At least a month… let me find the killer of my child and grieve properly before I never get to see her again,” I sobbed.

She looked at me, her eyes half-closed. “One week… think, and that’s it! You should have thought about never seeing her again when you carelessly left her on the road and let someone run her over!”

She ordered the boys to stop taking my things out and walked away.

Her words struck me like lightning. I held my broken heart in my arms—literally.

Stacey pressed close, as usual, to blab and shade me.

“You know… that woman really hates you, gosh! I mean, look at the irony: we are both daughters-in-law of the house, but…” She let out mocking laughter.

She blew air on her nails as though she was cleaning them. “I think you should…” She paused, stifling another laugh briefly. “I think you should take some lessons from me… like how to be loved by a mother-in-law.” She laughed again.

“Stacey, darling!” Mother called from outside.

“Yes, mother-in-love,” she answered, picking up her bag and leaving.

And, as usual, the handbag walked—no, not walked, but ran—to its owner.

I walked into my room, carrying my mother-in-law’s words with me.

I needed to act fast. I needed my daughter’s murderer found. If I didn’t… that black-hearted woman would have my name in everyone’s lips.

I paced, thinking out loud. I grabbed my iPad and scrolled the internet. I wasn’t sure what I was searching for exactly—I just needed something fast, something that would lead me to her killer. I’d pay any amount for it.

Then… Cathy knocked.

“Ma’am, I know you said I shouldn’t read any mails to you… but this one is important. In fact, there are a lot.”

I stared at her, eyes red as crimson. She got the memo without me uttering a word.

She swallowed. “I’m sorry, ma’am… I just thought… I’ll… I’ll take my leave now.”

She went out and shut the door.

I scrolled the internet some more. Boom! I found something positive… something I hadn’t thought of before.

I was certain I was going to find my child’s killer, and this might lead me closer.