Page 47 of Legally Yours

I look up and across the foyer I see Liam bolt from an elevator and run out the turnstile doors. I see his head jerk left and right. He stands outside the building for a time, then returns and takes an elevator back up to the executive floor.

I don’t tell Leslie what I just witnessed. Pictures are better than words.

38

LIAM

The elevator doors open. I barely have enough energy to walk through the doors.She didn’t give me time to explain or to beg her to stay.I feel like a failure.Why didn’t I see this coming?

I enter my office. I see my mother and Eunice still sitting there, upbeat and chatting like happy birds.How dare they act like this?The anger roils up inside, and I explode.

“You two don’t get it, do you? Eunice, you made me eat your dust at our wedding. Why would I take a second look at you? And Mother, you’ve been forcing this thing between us. It doesn’t matter one iota if your son is happy or not. You two should be ashamed of yourselves.”

“Honey, no…” says Eunice leaning forward, her eyes panicky and pleading.

“Dear, you have the wrong –”

“No, it’s both of you who are wrong. Give me one reason not to kick you both out of my office?” I demand.

“Hear me out, dear, at least. I’m your mother.”

I slam down in my chair, and I let it swing towards the window. I don’t have the guts to throw these two women out of my office, but I don’t have to face them, either.

“Okay, talk. No manipulation. No tactics, Mother. Just the facts.”

“Me and Eunice’s mother were the best of friends, dear. You two grew up together from when you both took your first steps. Eunice’s dear mother and I always dreamed of you two getting married. We had watched you both play and have so much fun as kiddies and never did you fight. Marriage seemed the natural course.”

“Mother. Eunice and I tried, remember? She left me eating her dust. Since then, I fell in love with Cassandra. You’d have to be blind not to see that, Mother. I will never attempt to marry Eunice again.”

I hear a gasp from Eunice and quiet sobbing. I don’t turn my chair. I have no time for crocodile tears.

“But dear one, ever since Eunice’s mother passed, I’ve felt responsible for her daughter. I’ve even thought it should be me who gets you two together again. You know, to fulfill that dream we both had as young mothers. I don’t have many more years left, Liam. Before I go, I’d like to think you and Eunice would be together, taking care of one another. Eunice’s mother and I could better rest in our graves knowing that.”

I weigh my mother’s words. My gut tells me it’s half truths mixing with half lies, and a bucket load of guilt dolloped in. I finally swing my chair around. I see Eunice’s chair is empty. Thankfully, she left.

I leave my chair and sit beside my mother. I take her hands in mine and look into her pleading eyes. “Mother, I say this with the utmost respect, but you have to back off. I can sympathize with your needs for me, your responsibilities to the dead, but you can’t manipulate my love life like this anymore.”

“Manipulate? I wasn’t –”

“Come on, Mother, it’s just you and me. You know you’ve been doing exactly that. I’ve made billions on assessing the right visuals. You think I missed your matrimonial games here? I’ll make this crystal clear. I do not want Eunice Solace. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. And although you gave birth to me, this is my life.”

“Oh, Liam.”

“And listen, Mother. Things are not all doom and gloom with your condition. You know there’s a chance you’ll still get better. You’re digging your own grave. You’re giving up too soon. My guess is you’ll be kicking around a long while yet. You won’t be leaving me alone. You know what the doctors said. They can still help with your treatment. Not all is lost. Not with your future and not with my own.”

My mother breaks down crying. In her sobbing, I see the pressure release, and I realize it’s not been a game by her. She genuinely wants to see my future planned out before she dies.

I reach over and hug her tightly. Love makes people do crazy things.

Mother lifts her head. I offer my handkerchief to dry her eyes.

“Dear one, you’re right. I guess in my panic I tried to settle things which really weren’t in my control. I am deeply sorry for that.”

“So, does this mean you’ll be more hopeful and less defeatist where your health and my love life are concerned?”

Mother smiles and grasps my arms tightly. “Yes, dear, I will. I’ll let go to make you happy.”

“No, Mother. Let go to make yourself happy. You’ll feel free once you do.”