She looks at me with pride.
“Are you okay, Mamá?”I ask again, because I’m aware of how this must have looked, and how hard it must have been to confront the man who assaulted her.To meet him face to face unexpectedly.“It must’ve been such a shock.”
“It was a shock,” she admits.“But you were here.”She cups my cheek.“A mother’s first instinct is to save her child.”
“Like a mama bear,” I say, my voice cracking, because this woman has always put me first.She’s the reason I’ve worked crazy hours at Stella, and why I’ve been at Katherine’s beck and call, so I could put more money aside and give some to her, to make her life easier.
“I’ve always been a mama bear, precious child.Always.You are the light of my life.”
“Mamá,” I say, tears flowing down my face.Then I remember something, and walk over to my cell phone, relieved to see it’s still recording.“I have something,” I say slowly.“I have something that will vindicate us.”I hold out my phone to her.She stares at it, not understanding.
“I recorded it all, Mamá.”
“You have it on tape?”
“No tape exactly, but I have it.All of it.”
She exhales slowly.“But what is the point of going to the police now?”
“The police won’t help,” I say.“But his sons need to know what this man is really like.”
“I think his sons do know.”
“His sons don’t care about him, but Zach does.”I decide in that moment that Zach should know.I’m going to tell him everything about his father.Because Paul Knight took it a step too far this time, walking into my apartment, like he owned it, and expecting me to walk away from his son.Expecting to pay me off.
My mom turns toward the kitchen.“I’m going to make dinner,” she announces.“You look like you need good, hearty food.”
“Oh, Mamá,” I cry happily.
Chapter 36
MAYA
The apartment fills with the scent of garlic, onions, and herbs sizzling in oil, the unmistakable beginning of one of my mom’s comfort meals.
After the drama of earlier today, what comforts me more than mom being here is her cooking.Fleur texts me to say she’ll be late tonight, but it’s so vague.I have no idea what she’s up to, but in a way I’m happy just to have the apartment for me and Mom.
I’m so happy that she’s staying for a few days.Just having her with me brings me the peace and quiet that has eluded me recently.It also helps to dampen the shock of seeing Paul Knight.
I don’t want to go to work tomorrow, and am seriously thinking of taking the rest of the week off, so that I can spend it with my mom.I send Zach and Katherine an email, asking for two days off because my mom has surprised me with a visit.
I start to set the table for me and mom, when there’s a knock on the door.I freeze.My mom and I stare at one another, wondering if Paul Knight has come back.
He wouldn’t.
Would he?
I open the door with caution, and relax when I see Cari.Words fail me, but she hands me a bunch of flowers and a small paper bag.“Pastries from the coffee shop, and flowers from my little store.”
I’m touched, once again, by the kindness and thoughtfulness of this woman.I pull her in, before taking any of her gifts, giving her a hug.“Thank you,” I whisper, because her visit means so much to me.
“Here, they’re yours, take them,” she says, handing me her gifts.
“You really didn’t have to.”
“Zach mentioned that you’ve not been at work,” she says casually, walking in and setting down her handbag.
“He’s in Boston,” I tell her.
