She huffed angrily, "I've lost a child alright. That stupid girl! How can she put me in this condition!? A girl that loves her mother will never put her through the condition Mina is putting me through!"
Her husband sighed and took a seat opposite her. "What did she do this time around? Apart from running away, of course?"
Doreen sprang up from the bed, throwing her hands in the air. "Didn't you hear my call with the Billionaire Baron? Our son has refused to give me money for my hair! Not only that, you should see the way he shouted at me!"
As she fumed angrily, Mathew just stared at her without talking.
"I don't understand why that silly girl would run away from her matrimonial home! Her husband gave her everything! She had everything she could ever want! Why wouldn't she grow up! No matter what it is, she's supposed to endure! That's what married women do, we endure!"
Matthew couldn't help himself. "Well, that wasn't exactly what you did when we were poor. Or have you forgotten? You left me countless times."
Doreen's cheeks flushed instantly because she knew it was true. "Well, you were very poor and we were starving to death! My baby and I!"
"That was a lie and you know it. I was a farmer, and we never starved for one day." Mathew reminded his wife.
Silence. And then, "Well, not for food, anyway. We were starving for things that money could buy. Hell, I couldn't even afford new clothes!"
Mathew held his tongue even though swift anger coursed through him. He made sure to give his wife and child everything he could have given. Yes, he was poor, but he worked hard and he made sure Doreen never lacked the basics, even if he had to borrow the money. Her hurtful words stung, but he knew his wife more than anybody. Nothing good would come out of pointing out that she had hurt him.
Doreen grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at the wall with a scream. "Ah! That stupid girl! She is ruining everything! Everything!"
5. A NEW STAR IN THE SKY.
XAZIX
As I made my way down to the bus station on Third Avenue, my mind was a flurry of emotions. I had just seen my brother, after what felt like an eternity. It was a bittersweet reunion, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing and nostalgia as I reminisced about the old Tanner.
The Tanner I knew was jovial, always flashing a smile, especially when Suzy was around. He was the life of the party, always ready to cook up a storm and goof around. But Suzy's death had changed him profoundly. He became a shell of his former self, using alcohol as a coping mechanism to numb the pain.
But then Jasamina and her baby entered his life, and it seemed as if everything had changed again. At least, he hoped it had.
Tanner seem ready to stop drinking and commit himself to being there for them. It was as though they had breathed new life into him, chipping away at the dark crust around his heart, bit by bit. He was present, engaged, and genuinely happy around Jamie. I remember the way he smiled at her-a smile that had been absent for the past two years.
As I crossed the road to find a rental, lost in thought, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that Tanner had found something worth living for. It gave me hope that he would find a way to heal and move on from Suzy's death.
The anticipation of going back home with Tanner filled me with excitement. I couldn't wait to see our parents' faces when they saw Tanner again.
Hours later, I heard Mark Python's footsteps as he made his way to the door, and I couldn't help but grin. It had been too long since I last saw him. We used to be inseparable, but life had gotten in the way, as it often does. As soon as the door opened, I greeted Mark with a hearty embrace.
"Mark-man! The Python-man!" I exclaimed with a smile.
"X-man! Come on in!" Mark replied, opening the door wider to let me in. I took in the familiar surroundings of his cottage as I entered. It was homely and quiet, just like I remembered.
"Fuck! It's been ages, X-man. You just woke up one day and took to the hills!" Mark said as we walked deeper into the house.
I looked around, taking in every detail. "Your cottage is nice; so homely and quiet. I won't mind getting one of these homely cottages for myself one of these days," I remarked.
"Why haven't you?" Mark asked curiously.
"Had to go back home. Family emergency," I left it that way.
Mark offered me a seat on his quilted couch, and I accepted. "What can I get you? Food, Drink, Water? Beer? I know you love a good booze," he teased.
"If you can take me to the best bar in town, I'd be happy to spend a few bucks on quality booze," I replied with a grin.