Chapter 44

**Bella-Rose POV**

[mail from Bella to James]

To: james.aonal@gmail.com
From: iamfifibel@gmail.com

Subject: thank you

James,

I couldn't thank you enough for what you did to Nana. Not only have you brought one of the top doctors to her but also paid the bill.

I wouldn't say anything about the doctor because it saved her life, but the bill ... I would like to refund you, please. I don't want the money to come between us.

P.s- why did you leave?

Bella.

[end of the mail]

[mail from James to Bella]

To: iamfifibel@gmail.com
From: james.aonal@gmail.com

Subject: don't mention it

Little red,

There will be many issues between us in the future but money shouldn't be one of them. Consider this as a gift from me for what you had done to Agatha. And yes, before you ask she is doing well. She is well taken care of and will return soon.

Would you have met me have I stayed? Thought so. Take your time, Bella Moi. But not too much because it's too precious to waste on these doubts you like to carry. Think about what else we could do with this time instead. Till then...

James.

[end of the mail]

It's been a week since the turmoil happened. They discharged Nana two days ago and as promised mom took Nana and Mathew to her home. It didn't take a long time for them to adjust to this new routine.

Mom hadn't reduced her shower of sweet words towards Nana. In fact, she started mothering her so much that dad took a back seat in her thoughts now. Dad who was renowned for grabbing mom and kissing the daylights out of her is often seen sulking now because of it.

Nana who became totally aware of her semblance on the first day looked confused and lost like Alice in the wonderland, only this is Nana in the Motherland. But after a day she started lapping up the pampering like a Cheshire cat that got the cream. She completely melted before Mom's magic.

Before- we couldn't separate them fast enough; now- they are thick as thieves. Poor dad, he is confused about whether he should be happy about this new twist or be cautious. In short, he tends to avoid them both when they sit to discuss something.

And they do discuss...a lot. They start the day chatting about a decade-old matter and laugh over it. In other words, they are deciphering the techniques they have used on each other and patting their backs on how well it has gone.

Not only Dad, but we all also tend to walk around the perimeter when they start to conspire. It's as if there is an invisible yellow tape circling them.

That doesn't deter them much. They have another victim in their clutches- Mathew. As he was unaware of the dynamics between Mom and Nana before this incident, he sits among them blissfully ignorant. It's like he is sitting on a ticking time bomb and sipping tea relaxedly.

We unanimously voted to not confide in him. As being caught in the middle of these two women has become a sort of rite of passage to this family, we thought Mathew earned that test by marrying Nana.

Yup, we are evil. But then why should it be only us who has all the fun? He doesn't know he is a lamb waiting for its slaughter, poor guy.

Though he must have sensed something from us as he occasionally asks, "why are they giving me pitiful looks?"

To which both mom and Nana glared at us and replied in unison, "they are just jealous of you".

"Jealous?" he asked suspiciously.

"Yes!" Again, twinning their thoughts.

"How?", Mathew asked unrelentingly.

"You got to sit with two beautiful women. Isn't that reason enough?", Nana posed.

"Yes...yes...I believe it is", Mathew compiled half-heartedly. Though, doubt still lingered on his face. In my opinion, he must be wondering who exactly those beautiful women are that Nana is hinting at?

As for us, we are fine with grabbing our popcorn and enjoying the show from afar. Except, another week passed with us tiptoeing around them, and yet there were no shouting matches... no swords were drawn... no pulling hair happened...no eruption of a mini volcano...nothing. Nada. Zilch. Finally, fed up with our antics, Mom and Nana gave us a dressing down.

We all were at Mom's place which is becoming our new normal sitting in the living room or in my case sprawled over the couch when Nana and mom turned towards us in unison.

"We are not about to go for each other's throats as you all are hoping we do", Nana said. She is still weak from her surgery and gets tired easily.

"Actually-", I tried to come up with a good excuse as I clumsily righted my position.

However, Scott beat me to it. "Yes. We all are hoping it happens soon. At least then we get to relax", he said while chewing on some garbage only he could eat.

Scott and his big mouth. "Scott!", I gasped, hoping there was a filter for his mouth.

"It's what everyone is thinking about! Ask dad if you want", Scott pointed to dad who was silently tiptoeing towards the door.

"William!", Nana and mom accused in unison. Ya, this is the new family trend now. If they keep this up, they could easily get the post of a cheerleader. Once Nana gets well, of course.

Dad looking flustered started to stammer, "well, you guys are behaving oddly. I don't know when the other shoe is going to drop".

"They are?" Mathew who has been a babe in the deep woods till now gasped at this grain of wisdom.

"Seriously William, how can you think like that about us? Particularly in light of the recent events. You should have known better", Mom reprimanded dad as if he had made some serious offense.

"I should?" Dad was confused with Mom's logic.

"We have buried the hatchet. We realized life is too short to pass it with silly trifles. You all should feel happy that we are not at odds. Now you don't have to contemplate which side you must take. We have decided not to argue about trivial things", Nana said as she held Mom's hand. And mom... sigh, started Niagara Falls from her eyes.

"I don't know about you two, but I feel relieved", Scott added.

"What am I missing?" Mathew prompted still stuck on this new-found knowledge.

"Am I dreaming? Is the day really here where you hug each other?" Dad asked, dazed.

"Oh William, we are sorry we both made you go through a lot", Mom said, hugging him.

"Not only him. Two more victims are standing behind him", I reminded her.

She made a shoo-ing gesture to my remark and said, "of course. Anyways, now that everything is forgotten, let's celebrate", Mom steered us to the dining table.

"I hope this pact lasts", I don't think it will but I don't have a death wish to speak that out loud.

"I'm still unable to comprehend what they are discussing?" Mathew asked whoever was listening. Hint -no one.

"Shall we tell him?" I whispered to dad.

"Don't. He shouldn't perceive that he was sitting inside the crocodile's mouth", dad whispered back.

The next day I got a message from the girls (Amanda and Sarah) for a girls' night out at Sarah's place.

You must be wondering what we will do on girls' night out? Well, we wear tight black leather and saunter on streets with a whip in hand. Not.

We paint nails, apply face masks that basically look like green goop, binge watch Netflix until our eyes become drier than Sahara, and do some weird hairdos.

Thus, I embarked on the journey of our greatest adventure of the night with all my tools packed.
Once we covered the basics of night out- applying face masks and rolls on hair, we each grabbed a chips packet filled with carbs and sprawled all over Sarah's bedroom.

"So... what’s the news?" Sarah started.

Amanda looked at me and raised her eyebrows.

"What?"

"A little birdie said you got fired. Is it true? How could your Nana do that? Now, what will you do? Sometimes, I pity you. Look at your family history. Your great-great-...something nana was so modern in her times she opened a bakery by herself. And here you are alone, jobless on Saturday night", Amanda spoke as normal tactless.

"Who told you...dad? Ughhh...I swear those men are more horrible than us girls. To answer your question, I was fired. Not anymore. Now that Nana is recovering and needs rest, I'm back to my old job again", I clarified. As always, her harsh words are not taking to heart.

"How is your Nana now?"

"She is doing better. Thanks to James she got the best help in the state"

"Who?" Amanda asked, scrunching her brows in confusion.

"James?" Sarah inquired as to if she heard that name from somewhere before but unable to pinpoint it.
They both asked at the same time. Oops...me and my big mouth.