Chapter 7

I stepped out of the airport gate, my luggage in my hand, I took off my sunglasses and inhale the fresh breeze that runs through my face as if they were welcoming me,

I was wearing a grey shirt and a black jean, another it was different from what I wore when I first came to this airport, I looked taller than that little kid that was taken away, the appearance of this place has changed and of a truth, it looks more awesome, I could tell that 14 years wasn’t a just a year that runs by.

“Finally I am back.” A smile escaped my lips as I took out my mother’s picture and looked at the face of the woman I have always looked at before going to bed as a kid. “I will see you soon mom.” I put the picture back into my wallet and got into the cab that had come by to take me.

My phone rang as the driver started the car. I took the phone out and placed it on my ear after answering the call. “Hello, dad, I have arrived safely,” I said before he could ask as I stared out of the window to see the beautiful tall buildings.

“Feel free to come back to the state if you don’t like it there.” I heard him say from the other side of the line and I scoffed.

“You should not worry about me anymore, I decided to return to this place and I have no intention of going anywhere, I am twenty-two years old and I am no longer a kid,” I told him coldly and look at the rearview mirror to see the driver staring at me and I pointed at the road for him to focus on driving than staring at me.

“I am just saying…”

“Dad, I am going to stay with my mother now and do not call my phone anymore, I will have to contact you whenever I need you,” I said sharply, I was not going to let him rule my life just like he had done when I was a kid, I missed my mother and it was cruel of him to make me separate from her at that little age.

“You are all grown up now…” He started saying something but I was no longer in the mood to hear his voice.

“Goodbye.” I hung up and put my phone in my pocket as I looked out of the window leaning to my hands. I just hope my mother has finally quit drinking as she promised, but no matter what, I was reuniting with her and that was all that matters right now.

I have informed my mother and I was quite sure she was waiting for me, it was the first time I called her after fifteen years, I have ignored all her calls because I didn’t want her to give up on me and I also wanted to push her to keep her promise, I also did that because of me, making my father happy for fifteen years to reunite with my mother after that.

I got down from the cab and crossed over to the other side of the lane, my mother has sent me the address and all I have to do was stop a taxi and head over to the address, a taxi stopped in my front and I held the door handle to open it when other hand held it too, I looked at the lady who was frowning at me.

“I stopped this taxi first!” She said in a high pitched voice and I scoffed.

“You must be mistaken,” I told her, wondering where she came from.

“Hey,” She glared at me and looked at the taxi number. “3742,” She read it out and turned back to me. “It is the one I stopped.” She argued, one thing I hate a lot, people like this.

“Back off!” I hit her hands away and got into the taxi.

“Hey, hey…” She tried to open the door, but I told the driver to go and I could hear her shouting and calling me a son of a bi*ch at the top of her voice just like a lady who had just been released from a mental hospital.

I lean back to the seat, this was the kind of person I never want to come across with at this place, a female who has no manners.

I arrived at a mansion and looked at the address one more time to make sure I was at the right building and it was, I was surprised at first, was this a place down by my mother, my mother who looked like an addict.

I rang the doorbell and waited for a response, I didn’t wait long when I saw the door flung open and a young lady in her late thirties embraced me tightly and I who was just smiling in her arms as a kid was all grown up and a bit taller than her.

“Oh, Robin…”

“Mom,” I engulf her with my hands and sniff the light perfume omitted from her hair and body. It was different from the alcoholic smell I had to inhale when I was a kid. She had no smell of alcohol and she wasn’t as thin as she was in the past.

“Please come inside.” She told me and held my hands as we walked into the building, it was glamorous and the interior decoration was astonishing and I could tell that this was done by a professional, my father would be amazed to see the work this woman he left has accomplished.

“You turned into an adult and you are even taller than I am now.” She said softly and looked at me with glints in her eyes, she looked at me like I was someone she was laying eyes on for the first time.

Truly, I have changed greatly, I was tall on average and my hairstyle changed, I was no longer short and fat, I was now fit and muscular, perhaps because I take good care of my body and treasure it as well.

“You are not looking so bad yourself, and look what you have achieved in 15 years,” I looked around and she followed my gaze. “This big mansion,” I made a demonstration with my hands.

“I used my time very well over the years,” She beams and I look at her again. I was glad that she kept her promise, I was scared I would still see her broken and what made me happier was the fact that there were no tears in her eyes.

“When did you move to the city?” I asked curiously, there was a lot of information I have missed over the years and I would start gradually to know how my mother ended up owing all this.

We both sat down and she smiled at me. “After two years of getting myself up together, I decided to relocate to the City and then I got myself a good job and then this,” She opens up her hands with a smile, I have also noticed her easily she smiles, maybe she has given up on my father since he was the only person that makes her cry.

“I was so lonely though,” She placed her hands on my cheek and I could see the pain in her eyes, I know she has missed me. “But, I thought of you while buying this mansion and now you are here it won’t be lonely anymore.”

“Mom, I missed you,” I told her honestly, there were nights where I would have to soak my pillow with tears even when I never wanted to cry, there were days when I would be in so much rage and destroy things, but all the same I had no choice but to stay there with my father.

“You should have called, do you know how long I dreamt of hearing your voice, it made me think something bad had happened to you.” She looked at me like a rebellious child and honestly my mother has changed.

“Nothing happened to me. I wanted to call when I was sure of returning to you and mom. I am not going back now.” I assured her. “I will stay here with you and continue my education right here, next to you.”

My mother’s lips pursed, she must be thinking I have only come to stay with her for a few months, and I watched smiles spread through her lips. “I am so glad, there are a lot of things I want to do with you and the place I want to go with you.”

“You have me all for yourself mom, I am right here, you have to fill me in on your world,” I smiled and then before my mother could say something we heard the doorbell. “Mom, are you expecting someone?” I blinked when I saw her smile and get up.

“Yes, I forgot to inform you, she must be here.” My mother moved quickly to the door and I got up and waited for whoever would walk in with my mother.

“Mrs Jane Hiesten?” I heard a female voice ask and then my mother’s voice followed.

“Yes, and you must be…”

I looked around the house, no longer listening to what they were saying, my mother must have had few friends while I was away, I am really glad she has transformed, I look at the wall and could see a picture frame, it was the picture my mother showed me 15 years ago, I smile when I learnt she still has it, she must have enlarged it to always see my face and we looked so happy in this picture.

“Son?” I heard my mother call out and it was followed by footsteps and something that was wheeled in, I turned around. “Robin meets Ivana, Ivana meets Robin, my son.” My mother introduced me and I locked my gaze with the lady that had just stepped in with a suitcase.

“You!” She shouted and pointed at me with a glare and dilated eyes and I recognized her immediately, the nutcase that was shouting like a mental lady on the street.

“You!” I glared back and scoffed. “What the heck!”