Chapter 50

Home sweet home! There is indeed no place like home! Getting home that afternoon was very tiring, yet enjoyable. Tiring because as Jack drove mom and I home, we were delayed on the road by traffic congestion. Also tiring because we asked too many questions from each other-- Mom and I. Mom was wearing long socks even in summer( Well, summer was almost gone), but still, I was curious as to why she wore socks, on only one of her legs. She told me she wanted to be crazy, for once, but I didn't laugh, because it wasn't funny to me.

First and last thing mom would ask me was, "My baby, did you get a special treatment at an hospital there, like a surgery, maybe?" , because she was surprised at my tears. Tears that flowed freely and sincerely. Tears that didn't appear artificial at all. It excited her more than it unnerved her, I could tell, because she was grinning from ear to ear, and poking me with a very blunt pin in my thighs so I could feel the pain and cry, but it was not painful at all, just very ticklish

"I want to see those tears, come on" I laughed instead, because it was so hilarious. Mom looked like a child when she did that. She looked so dreamy, like a long abandoned jewel that was now found and treated right.

"By the way, mom, who is he?" And just like that, I soured the childlike mood in the car with my dumb question. No it wasn't exactly dumb because I actually didn't know, and wanted to know. I didn't know this young man who came with my mom to pick me up at the airport. He didn't look like my father. Whoever he was, he sure had a good rapport with my mom, because it seemed he was all over her, or was she the one all over him? Either ways, they looked like best friends, or more. When I looked at his face faintly as I ran into mom's arms, while still at the airport, I faintly remembered that I had once met him. He looked familiar but I couldn't place my hand on where I got to know him, or who he was.

So, I asked mom, "who is he?" And she looked at me as though I were a ghost. Her eyes looked dead when she stared at me, unblinking. After a while, she looked from me to him, as if trying to be sure he did not hear my 'blasphemy'.

"What are you talking about?" She whispered. "Don't be silly". I just looked on, morosely. Was mom calling me dumb now? She kept touching her leg with the sock, but I pretended to not notice.

"Leave the pretty girl alone, Ruby. I think I must have really changed" The man at the wheel said, and half laughed, and I couldn't be so sure if he was being sarcastic or sincere. That wasn't even my concern. What struck me the most was this man even called mom's first name with so much admiration in his eyes and voice.

"What do you mean, Jack? You didn't change at all. Whose appearance changes in only seven days?" She punched him in the stomach playfully and smiled. Jack slowed down to the red lights and turned to me in the back seat.

"Hey, look at me well, did I really change?" He smiled and made some funny faces while he stared at me carefully. His expression changed from surprise to shock to "what's going on with her?" Mom too, looked at me, desperately waiting for an answer, but I really couldn't decipher who he was.

"I can't remember you" I finally said. Mom put a finger on her forehead and breathed out a rush of air. She was trying to not go crazy, I could tell.

"You don't know Jack?" She asked, more like yelled.

"His face looks familiar, mom"

"Did you lose your brain in seven days?" Mom said and immediately covered her mouth because she regretted talking that way to someone who was her daughter. She embraced me and rubbed my head. "We'll soon be home, darling". She kept rubbing my hair , without uttering a word, but not without letting out one or two deep sighs. The man at the wheel was silent throughout the rest of our journey home. I had indeed created a fuss. Because for real, it was baffling. You would think I was playing a prank on you, but since I wasn't laughing or owning up to anything, then, you would realize that, indeed, I was serious.

That was not the first time I'd shock mom with my words, upon my return from the States.

The first time was at the airport, when after the whole embraces and tears of nostalgia and joy, I asked mom, "Where is Cameron? Why is he not here with you?" I mean, that question was a bit understandable. It was expected of a father to care about his daughter's homecoming. And Mom understandably took it to mean, "he still hasn't changed, mom? He still won't love me, not even come to welcome me back home?" So, she shook her head and said, "He is busy. Well, that's what he said when I said I was coming to the airport to fetch you" and I replied with, "Why would dad do that?"

That was when the shock on mom's face grew. You should have seen her face. It was like, "Have I fetched a Ariana's lookalike? Why's she talking gibberish?" But she comported herself, touched my shoulder and said, "It's okay baby. Let's take you home". I knew she was shocked to hear me call Cameron 'dad'. I never did.

She knew I never did. As a matter of fact, I had told her I would never call him "dad".

As soon as we got home, mom carried me on her shoulder and alighted from the car. The car belonged to her, I sure knew this beautiful car, but the man at the wheel remained there, like it was his car. Like we had paid him to transport us home with his 'taxi' and now he was waiting for his dues.

I wanted to ask mom where the twins were. I was sure she must have been dying to hear me ask, but I was still thinking about why Cameron, my father, would not come with mom to fetch me at the airport, and why it'd be a strange man driving us home in my own mom's car. So, I said the most insanely hilarious thing ever, "Sorry sir, but that's my mom's car" I said to Jack, since he was not making any effort to come out.

Mom , who had walked farther into the compound, turned back and asked if everything was all right. Jack waved and laughed. "Go on in, dear. We are just talking" . So, mom shook her head and went in.

The estate was silent. I wondered where the others went. I wanted badly to see Mike Tony and jump on his thighs and rub his fine hair and tell him how much I missed him.

Surprisingly, while I was still waiting for Jack to respond to my words, he pulled me into a hug and said, "Ariana, do you really not remember me?" His voice sounded hurt, and because I didn't want to hurt him any further, I said, "You look familiar, Jack. Even your name sounds familiar but each time I try to remember, I can't. I'm sorry

How much do you know my mom? Are you her childhood friend or something?"

He sighed and looked away. I could swear I saw a tear fall, but I couldn't be too sure if it wasn't just sweat that he wiped off his brow.

"Go get some rest. Come on, hurry in" he forced a smile. I hugged him first, and then ran inside the house. He was still smiling and waiting there when I looked back.

Immediately I got in, I started to jump around because I could smell some baby food. I immediately remembered my twin sisters. Mom was in my bedroom, unpacking my bags.

"Mom!"

She turned back. "Oh dear. You scared me"

"Were you doing something wrong?" I laughed

"Of course not, just checking my daughter's bags"

"Mom, where are Jamie and Pamela?" I asked gleefully. I wanted to play with them, and poke their chubby cheeks.

"So now you know you have sisters? I thought you forgot about them as well" she said with a serious look. I went on to sit on her thighs. "Mom, it's not my fault that I can't remember Jack. It really isn't. Maybe you could remind me who he is"

"Let me ask, did you fall at the camp, and hit your head on the wall or something? Were you hospitalized?"

"No mom. I didn't fall" I said.

"Oh okay. Your sisters are being babysitted at the daycare somewhere around. I'll collect them later today" she said and walked towards the door. "I laid your bed already, get some rest while I Lprepare supper, okay?"

"Okay mom, thank you!" I said and fell into my gorgeous well-cushioned bed. It was so good to be back. At last!

Later that evening, Jack came in to join us for supper. I still hadn't seen Cameron, but I did not ask mom where he was, because she seemed to be in a sour mood all of a sudden. She kept throwing me creepy glances when she thought I wasn't looking.

After supper, Jack left abruptly and so mom could talk to me. We both drove to the daycare and fetched the twins. They looked so clean and cute. Mom let me carry Jamie on my chest, but not without her supporting her back while I moved around. They looked excited to see me, you could tell. I couldn't wait for them to walk and follow me to places.

"Mom, I don't like you taking Jamie and Pamela to the daycare. I don't know why, but I don't like it" I complained as soon as we got home

"It's stressful. I need help" she said and I could swear she was sobbing or muffling some tears.

"Ask dad for help then. They are his babies too" I said sincerely. Mom went silent after then. It was until late at night when I was sure 'dad' was not returning that Day, that mom started a conversation with me.

"What is this new development?" She asked me. I started to wonder if my memory about my father had been cleared by Robin. Yes, Robin, even now that I think of him, I miss him. So much . I don't have any of his memories in physical form. No cell number, no pictures, nothing. He wasn't anywhere near either. Enchanting Promises High School was closed for the term already, and even so, he was going to be busy fighting a war I knew almost nothing about, it was what they called "The Contention", and he had returned to the castle in Supernatural land--the Were-castle. He might not remember to visit earth again. I started to grow so nostalgic I wanted to cry. I missed the way he protected me. I missed the three beautiful maids, and to think I might never see them again hurt. So much.

"Ary" mom's voice jerked me forcefully out of my reverie. "Did you not hear me?"

"Mom, I'm sorry. I have a headache" I said and turned to the other side of the bed. I was avoiding her questions because I myself thought I was crazy. I practically had no explanations to give her. She left my room swiftly after my reaction, and it seemed she was actually upset with me, but at that moment, I had to not care. I just wanted to cry and call Robin. He had told me many things, he had said I shouldn't talk to Miranda anymore. He had said I could not go with him to the castle, he had said I needed to withdraw from some set of people. Everything he told me to do was hard.

Just then, my phone beeped. And I hurriedly checked who sent me a text. It was Miranda. "Hey, what's up? How is home?" The question was harmless, so I replied, "Home is fine, and there?" The next thing I saw was, "You didn't meet Mash" and I replied with, "I got busy"

"Anyways, he's coming over tomorrow, can we both arrange a meeting place with him? Three of us together". I sighed. This was what Robinson didn't want me doing. I didn't need Mash. I started to wonder why I even considered seeing him in the first place. I sure didn't need to.

I picked up my phone and started to text but it fell to the floor all of a sudden. My phone was on my table, well balanced, and my hands didn't shiver when I held it. So, its fall was really disturbing. When I retrieved it, the screen guard was slightly broken, and it had gone off. So, I just threw it on the bed and gave up texting her.

"Well, Miranda, I'm sorry but I don't want to meet Mash. You keep persuading me. There you go, I can't reply you now" I was trying to make the phone come on again, when mom came into my room with a tray on a stool. There was some desserts there, plus two cups of tea. She set it on the floor and relaxed on my bed.

"How is Jack, mom?" My sisters were at the corner of the room, laughing and playing in their cribs. Mom's eyes were on them but I could see she wanted to focus on me as well. I asked how Jack was, so as to make her feel better about me not knowing Jack.

She didn't reply me, instead, she dropped the bombshell: "I am divorcing Cameron officially, next month" I turned from my chair to look at her because the news shocked me. I had in fact forgotten that I had once been excited about this. Did Robin really do me a favour by clearing my head? I was looking crazy! Thanks to him.

"Come sit with me here, baby" she said, tapping a portion of the bed, right beside her.

I hurriedly joined her there. "What are you talking about, mom?"

"I don't know what is going on with you. You were once excited about this. You know Cameron and I are not in good terms, don't you?" She folded her arms across her breasts and stared me in disbelief.

"There's nothing to hide anymore. I got an apartment somewhere outside Scotland. It's a new house and I own it now. And all the expenses were fully paid by me, I declined Jack adding a penny to it, despite that he badly wanted to assist me. I feel proud about it. I feel happy that I could do something on my own. You know, since I was a kid, everything I've ever achieved, the little wins, were always sponsored. I never had a say, I was usually controlled. So, it feels so good now, that I am not" she smiled. She must be really pleased with herself. In order not to disappoint her, I embraced her tightly and said, "Congratulations, mom" of course with a hint of pleasure in my voice. She was impressed.

"That is the good news I wanted to give you. I bought a house! We have a house now and nobody is going to trouble us, when we leave here" she smiled again, and I wanted badly to ask, "Mom, why did you buy a house when we have the whole estate to ourselves?" But I shut my mouth. There must have been a reason, but I couldn't remember what.

Mom touched her leg with the sock slightly and stretched it.

"Mom, you're still wearing this socks?" I laughed that moment. The laughter was not real. It was to hide the awkwardness of the moment.

"Errr... Ariana, it's actually not socks" she said and pulled some part of it apart, showing me an injury which looked like it had once been a deep cut. "I had an accident" she said. "It's the main reason I'm totally ready to leave Scotland" My laughter froze, and a frown replaced it.

"An accident?"

"Yes. Cameron threw a dagger onto my leg"