He was on air.
His head was empty, his face set in a wide grin as he passed the empty side walk of the quiet neighborhood, all that was left of him was the memory of her and his hasty proposal.
It was the best thing he had ever done.And it seemed so right to have it said where it all began.
He drove off making his way back home, intending to break the news to his mother as soon as possible. He turned alleys, swished past elegant drivers, he looked every bit the menace he was once reported to be, the wolfish laugh that echoed from inside his vehicle seemed to only confirm it.He blasted his stereo speakers, a song he did not know sounded and he hummed to it anyhow.
Finally!!
Was the word that went on and on in his head, it was the only word he could think of that described his situation completely.
He parked his car in its designated space, strolled out into the courtyard of his family home and inside to where his mother preferred to be seated, he saw her soon enough, her spectacles a bit crooked, a cup of red tea in her hand, her eyes glanced from him then back to the tv set, possibly still miffed at him for ignoring her plea's about his smoking state.
"'Evening."He greeted, the grin still on his face as he closeted the gap, kissing both her cheeks fondly.
"To you to."She replied in a bored tone.
"Where is everyone?"He asked looking about the small yet fashionable sitting room.
"Your sister is studying for an exam, the twins are asleep." She replied, it was never an easy time for his mother, especially after his father passed as a child, most of all it was this time of the evening she was most melancholy, her world was silenced and her children were taken upon they're own lifes and interests to share the night time with her.
She always sat up late watching old movies, sometimes he wondered if she had watched them with his father too.
"Mom."He started to say, sitting down on his knee's by the recliner, "I have news to tell…Oh! How you will like what I'm up to."
She removed her spectacles and looked at him fully, her interest very much perked at his starter announcement. "What is going on?"
"I decided I'm getting married!" He said a masculine chuckle followed his words, it was so joyful to have his thoughts mouthed.
His mother's eyes glazed, her hands clasped on her lap, her tea rested on the side table forgotten, and then she touched his cheek, as if to make sure he was there saying the holy words every mother dreamed to hear from her son.
"You really mean that?" She whispered enchanted.
"Mhmm."
"You devil! Who is she?" She asked in an instant coming back to her usual chirpy self."You already know her."Came his reply, his eyes guarded now when he spoke her name.
His mother sucked in a breath, looked away then turned back to him once more."I can't believe this!"
"Why?" His voice was patient but his mood was turning sour fast, he did not want to hear any objections anymore. He was so damned sick of it.
"She's divorced, a widow! I don't know what she is exactly, but she is not the kind of women society pictures you to choose!"
"Damn society, Mother. Do you want me to be happy or not?"
"Of course, I do!" She replied aghast.
"I already asked the lady, I'm a grown man, I can choose who I want to be with, I don't need you going off choosing for me."
Her lips thined, and then she glanced away in silence, he swore he saw her eyes go wet, but his masculine mind did not choose to go down that path to ponder, he could not weaken now.
She seemed to find her voice once again after a moment.
"So this is it, then."
"Yes."
"She'll take you even with out my consent?"
"I hope so."
"So you choose her over me?"
It was those words, damn those words.
It was the words that no mother should say to her son, it made him soften on his resolve, his eyes saw only her pain, and he realized for the first time how much hurt he would inflict to get what he wanted.
He felt low, selfish.
"Its not like that." he argued, though he heard his voice crumble now.
"I can find you a better bride, I know I can, there are so many beautiful girls out there, love. Untried, with no excess baggage and no expectations."
"I love her." he said, his shoulders straightening, like a soldier about to go into a sure battle.
"I know you did at one point, she broke your heart once, don't handed it over so easily again."
"Its too late."
"Darling…the woman is at her wits end, a certified divorcee and a widow at that would jump at the chance of marrying you…any girl would."
"Its not like that with us."
"Us? You spoke to her before now?"
"We met in Paris, she was still married, we renewed our acquaintance and she realized early on that she was going to ask for a divorce and come back home."
He hated how he summed up those memories of her, how her eyes had glowed when she looked up at him, that little detail she did when she scratched her thumb into her palm, how she had looked that night under the stars, it seemed pitiful of him to tell his mother in such a way, but he wasn't going to share those intimate details about her with anyone.
"How could you?! Have a deliance with a married woman! That poor man! I can't blame him for throwing her out! What a nightmare…Oh god. I need my tea."
It seemed comical to him now, his mothers reaction, it was exactly the embodiment of all the gossip that would soon come out of them, he did not care a fig what people thought about him, he never had the best reputation when it came to women, but he worried about her, all alone now, she would be easy prey to the wolfs.
"I'm sorry, mother. I didn't do anything wrong, I did not touch the lady, we merely met, she was uncomfortable in her marriage. Nothing more, quit with the allegations."
"Fine, I'll forget I heard anything, but I propose a compromise."
He listened, did not show any emotions of interest because if he did his mother would swoop in and make him take what she offered by default.
"If I have any place in your heart, as your mother I beseech you, there are three young ladies that I had always envisioned you with, -perfect backgrounds, beautiful, and conservative- Take this last wish, meet them and decide for yourself if you truly found the woman for you, see what the world has to offer, if you come out sure that you still want the lady then I will give you my full approval and welcome her with open arms."
His eyes flashed in anger, but he repressed the fumes for now, he had known enough women to know which one mattered, his mother did not know how far he had gone in numbers of women, she did not want him to regret his choice, but what was there to regret?
A beautiful young woman, who knew him well enough, who he had known well enough, who mystified him with her voice and grace, he was like a deer in her headlights unable to look away, but when he spoke again he did not say those thoughts, he voiced something else entirely.
"I'll give you one week, starting tomorrow. I'll meet them."
His mother broke into a grin, then clasped her hands together charmed by his agreement to her plan, and she told him in a sing song voice, that he would not regret it.
all signs of tears in her eyes dried in an instant.
*********************
Sorry for the long wait, but here it is, I apologize if it's shorter than usual, promise the next part would be longer.
Thanks for reading again. :)
Comments and critique greatly appreciated.
His head was empty, his face set in a wide grin as he passed the empty side walk of the quiet neighborhood, all that was left of him was the memory of her and his hasty proposal.
It was the best thing he had ever done.And it seemed so right to have it said where it all began.
He drove off making his way back home, intending to break the news to his mother as soon as possible. He turned alleys, swished past elegant drivers, he looked every bit the menace he was once reported to be, the wolfish laugh that echoed from inside his vehicle seemed to only confirm it.He blasted his stereo speakers, a song he did not know sounded and he hummed to it anyhow.
Finally!!
Was the word that went on and on in his head, it was the only word he could think of that described his situation completely.
He parked his car in its designated space, strolled out into the courtyard of his family home and inside to where his mother preferred to be seated, he saw her soon enough, her spectacles a bit crooked, a cup of red tea in her hand, her eyes glanced from him then back to the tv set, possibly still miffed at him for ignoring her plea's about his smoking state.
"'Evening."He greeted, the grin still on his face as he closeted the gap, kissing both her cheeks fondly.
"To you to."She replied in a bored tone.
"Where is everyone?"He asked looking about the small yet fashionable sitting room.
"Your sister is studying for an exam, the twins are asleep." She replied, it was never an easy time for his mother, especially after his father passed as a child, most of all it was this time of the evening she was most melancholy, her world was silenced and her children were taken upon they're own lifes and interests to share the night time with her.
She always sat up late watching old movies, sometimes he wondered if she had watched them with his father too.
"Mom."He started to say, sitting down on his knee's by the recliner, "I have news to tell…Oh! How you will like what I'm up to."
She removed her spectacles and looked at him fully, her interest very much perked at his starter announcement. "What is going on?"
"I decided I'm getting married!" He said a masculine chuckle followed his words, it was so joyful to have his thoughts mouthed.
His mother's eyes glazed, her hands clasped on her lap, her tea rested on the side table forgotten, and then she touched his cheek, as if to make sure he was there saying the holy words every mother dreamed to hear from her son.
"You really mean that?" She whispered enchanted.
"Mhmm."
"You devil! Who is she?" She asked in an instant coming back to her usual chirpy self."You already know her."Came his reply, his eyes guarded now when he spoke her name.
His mother sucked in a breath, looked away then turned back to him once more."I can't believe this!"
"Why?" His voice was patient but his mood was turning sour fast, he did not want to hear any objections anymore. He was so damned sick of it.
"She's divorced, a widow! I don't know what she is exactly, but she is not the kind of women society pictures you to choose!"
"Damn society, Mother. Do you want me to be happy or not?"
"Of course, I do!" She replied aghast.
"I already asked the lady, I'm a grown man, I can choose who I want to be with, I don't need you going off choosing for me."
Her lips thined, and then she glanced away in silence, he swore he saw her eyes go wet, but his masculine mind did not choose to go down that path to ponder, he could not weaken now.
She seemed to find her voice once again after a moment.
"So this is it, then."
"Yes."
"She'll take you even with out my consent?"
"I hope so."
"So you choose her over me?"
It was those words, damn those words.
It was the words that no mother should say to her son, it made him soften on his resolve, his eyes saw only her pain, and he realized for the first time how much hurt he would inflict to get what he wanted.
He felt low, selfish.
"Its not like that." he argued, though he heard his voice crumble now.
"I can find you a better bride, I know I can, there are so many beautiful girls out there, love. Untried, with no excess baggage and no expectations."
"I love her." he said, his shoulders straightening, like a soldier about to go into a sure battle.
"I know you did at one point, she broke your heart once, don't handed it over so easily again."
"Its too late."
"Darling…the woman is at her wits end, a certified divorcee and a widow at that would jump at the chance of marrying you…any girl would."
"Its not like that with us."
"Us? You spoke to her before now?"
"We met in Paris, she was still married, we renewed our acquaintance and she realized early on that she was going to ask for a divorce and come back home."
He hated how he summed up those memories of her, how her eyes had glowed when she looked up at him, that little detail she did when she scratched her thumb into her palm, how she had looked that night under the stars, it seemed pitiful of him to tell his mother in such a way, but he wasn't going to share those intimate details about her with anyone.
"How could you?! Have a deliance with a married woman! That poor man! I can't blame him for throwing her out! What a nightmare…Oh god. I need my tea."
It seemed comical to him now, his mothers reaction, it was exactly the embodiment of all the gossip that would soon come out of them, he did not care a fig what people thought about him, he never had the best reputation when it came to women, but he worried about her, all alone now, she would be easy prey to the wolfs.
"I'm sorry, mother. I didn't do anything wrong, I did not touch the lady, we merely met, she was uncomfortable in her marriage. Nothing more, quit with the allegations."
"Fine, I'll forget I heard anything, but I propose a compromise."
He listened, did not show any emotions of interest because if he did his mother would swoop in and make him take what she offered by default.
"If I have any place in your heart, as your mother I beseech you, there are three young ladies that I had always envisioned you with, -perfect backgrounds, beautiful, and conservative- Take this last wish, meet them and decide for yourself if you truly found the woman for you, see what the world has to offer, if you come out sure that you still want the lady then I will give you my full approval and welcome her with open arms."
His eyes flashed in anger, but he repressed the fumes for now, he had known enough women to know which one mattered, his mother did not know how far he had gone in numbers of women, she did not want him to regret his choice, but what was there to regret?
A beautiful young woman, who knew him well enough, who he had known well enough, who mystified him with her voice and grace, he was like a deer in her headlights unable to look away, but when he spoke again he did not say those thoughts, he voiced something else entirely.
"I'll give you one week, starting tomorrow. I'll meet them."
His mother broke into a grin, then clasped her hands together charmed by his agreement to her plan, and she told him in a sing song voice, that he would not regret it.
all signs of tears in her eyes dried in an instant.
*********************
Sorry for the long wait, but here it is, I apologize if it's shorter than usual, promise the next part would be longer.
Thanks for reading again. :)
Comments and critique greatly appreciated.
Mashallah. No matter how many times we re-read your story we still manage to be amazed. Utterly magical.
ReplyDeleteLots of Love
Xxxxx
Dearest Lady M,
DeleteWhat a pleasure to have you pop in again! Thank you so so much for your comment of good cheer!
The story is progressing in a way, even I- the writer had not anticipated, what started out as just a simple short POV turned into posts and posts of continuation.
I'm so happy writing it! :)
And naturally lots of love to you too, my lady!
xoxo!!