After having a sumptuous dinner, the three friends sat in the living room, talking about just random things, as if they never went to the award function.
While they were busy discussing random things, Flora entered and sat beside her daughter. Lily knew that Flora wanted to talk something to her, she has been observing her the entire evening and there was something that was bugging her mother's mind. Hence, she spoke, "Mother, what is it? Tell me! I know there's something going on inside my lovely mother's head!"
Flora looked at her daughter, and smiled. That's lily, her daughter, that's how she has always been with her. Her daughter was more like a friend to her, who would know what's going on in her head and she rarely could hide anything from her. But today, she wasn't going to hide it. She wanted to say this to her for a long time and today the right time came.
But before Flora could speak, Noah thought of leaving both mother and daughter to talk and he was about to stood up when flora spoke, "Noah, there's no need for you to go. You both are no less than to me than Lily and you know it. There's nothing I want to hide from you"
Before Noah could retort or say anything, Flora continued, "Infact, there's something I want to talk to all three of you. So be good and listen to me. Okay?"
"Okay", three kids sounded in unison, and Noah smiled and sat back. Those three really behaved liked spoiled kids infront of Flora.
Lily took her mother's hands in her own and patted them, "Tell us mom, what is it?"
There has been so much that flora wanted to tell her, but she didn't know where to start, so she looked at her daughter and said "I am proud of you"
"I have always been proud of you, no matter what you did. I knew you would soar to great heights and today you stand at the pinnacle. You have no idea how proud you made your mother", Flora smiled brightly but her eyes were red.
Same was with Lily, she felt so happy yet her eyes were stinging, "Thank you mom".
Lily said and hugged her mother.
Her mother hugged her back and patted her head and continued, "Everyone see the invincible business woman but I know, what lies beneath her hard exterior. There lies my daughter, sweet, caring with a warm heart and today I want her back lily"
Lily stiffened in her mother's embrace. Even she didn't knew how to respond to this request of her mother's. She doesn't even remember how be that Lily again anymore.
Noah and Amelia, were as surprised as Lily, but they knew it's time when they should tak about this.
"Lily, I know you've been through a lot, suffered a lot and being your mother I couldn't do anything to save my little child", Flora sobbed.
"No mom, please. I've told you numerous times, not to blame yourself. If I've suffered, you've suffered too. And you've suffered much more than me." Lily retorted almost instantly.
"Aunt, do you really think you failed to protect her? Huh? If you did fail then we all did.."Amelia retorted too.
" Aunt, we know how you feel, but you shouldn't blame yourself. It was never your fault and you know that. She could come back to us, she is such strong willed girl to achieve all this single handedly, is all because of you "
Noah said.
"Mom, you know I wouldn't be born if not for you. We've had problems from starting and we tackled all of them, together. So stop blaming yourself, please"
"Yes, we are a team and we will only be able to tackle all the problems if we stop blaming ourselves.
Aunt, we did our best to save us and each other. We've had our shortcomings but we got over it together. It's been years and now you should stop blaming yourself "
Amelia said, while wrapping both of them in her arms.
" Okay, I will do that. I sure am blessed with the best children."Flora smiled, looking at all three and then looked at lily and continued,
" Yes, it's been years since that, but I can only stop blaming myself if I see you happy my child"