....He pierced the ground with cold blooded steel sword and kneeled on top of a person he called his father once: "You think you can demand forgiveness? Good times wont come back, neither my brother, who went 6 feet under, and it was your and yours only fault. Stop demanding that i return to be your son, you were a horrible father, so why should i become a great son?!" Crimson drops coloured his face, and the person beneath him took his last breath.
Phone buzzed 2 times before Ray could pick it up, "Hi mom, i'm in my car right now, is everything alright?" Hand on the steering wheel stopped, as he faced red light In-front of him. "No, no! I just wanted to ask how far are you dear. You are so busy that you don't visit so often, and your....Bio-chem researcher profession, was it? Takes all your time away!"
Ray stumbled for words for a while, lying about his work wasn't a thing he planned to do, but tomorrow he wont need to do it no more. "Ray? Are you there?", mom's sweet voice destroyed the silence, "I'm around the corner, are you with your book club today or its just you and aunt Aubrey?". That wasn't curiosity, but his mums book club friends avoidment.
He didn't hate them, it just was uncomfortable to stand still while middle aged women gush around you, saying: "How grown up he is!" ,"He doesn't have a wife yet?", "My cousin has a daughter that is 2 years younger than you and is a great cook!".....it was better to avoid them in a nice way, if possible.
"Sadly its just me, everyone had either family emergencies or went on a vacation, either way I have stuff to do and Aubrey is nearby so not that lonely! Will see you soon, be careful!" mom ended the call and Ray tossed the phone on the nearby seat and continued his ride. The journey wasn't too long so after 5 minutes Ray stopped the engine near a small bookshop.
Area around the shop was cosy and warm, across the street you could see a bakery shop and near it some thrift shops with teenagers finding "gold". Ray grabbed his jacket and phone, and went towards the bookshop, before that locking the car. Small bell near the door dinged and someone started to go towards the main counter. From the back of the ancient literature section a woman in her almost 50's stepped out and checked who came in, after realising that it was Ray she quickly strolled towards him and hugged him tightly. "Oh, my baby! How long ago was it since the last time I saw you?"
Ray awkwardly hugged her back and rested his hands on her shoulders. "You know it was really busy, but I didn't want you to wait till the Thanksgiving so I got a day off to visit you" Ray soothingly answered. He then started to walk towards small single tables, where people could sit down and check out the books before buying or just study in silence. Ray sat down and his mom followed. "Well, now that you're here, you could tell me about what's happening in your life!" With enthusiasm Beatrice, his mom, added.
Ray sighted and slowly started building a story about past few weeks " Well... there wasn't much that happened, just some testing and stuff." Ray wasn't looking directly in his mom's eyes, mostly because he wasn't telling the truth fully. "How are you though? Usually you're the one who asks about my life, but i don't hear anything from you," Ray finally breaks eye contact with wooden floor and looks at his mom.
She looked flustered for a moment, cheeks flushing with red under simple make-up she applied this morning. "..I am a little embarrassed to talk about this but I don't want to keep anything from you, especially when Aubrey knows, I'm just wondering how will you react," Beatrice covers her lips with her palm and stares out of the window, not knowing how to get the words out of her mouth. Ray straightens out and places one of his hands on hers, "Mum, you know you can tell me anything now, no one restricts you... like couple years ago..".
She returns her gaze on Ray when hears the last line. After a deep sigh, she began to slowly speak "You know, after everything that happened 16 years ago I didn't think I would trust or give myself permission to love anyone other than family...," Beatrice's hand squeezed his hand lightly "but..I met a man, he works in government army and security institution. He's really sweet and doesn't take private stuff beyond the marked line and..." she went quiet. "I'm just glad that I finally met someone who cares about me.. but I didn't know what would you and other people think."
"Mom..," Ray suddenly exclaimed "you know you don't need other people permission for anything in your private life," he said "if you want any advice I will give it when needed, but the thing I want you to remember - your life is yours and only yours, don't let people interfere". Beatrice starred into his amber eyes for couple seconds before genuinely smiling and lightly letting go of his hand. "Thank you, I was just worried about your reaction to this, knowing how your dad was...okay lets not recall that!" She abruptly ended what she wanted to say. Bookstores bell rang and the same looking woman in her almost 50's came in. "Sorry for being late, the line in the bakery was extra long today," aunt Aubrey exclaimed.
"Hi Aubrey, Ray is finally here!" Beatrice turned towards Aubrey and called her over. "Oh hii!! Finally I see your face, once thought you disappeared" she sat down at the table where Ray and Beatrice were sitting. "Soo, you already told Ray about him?" Aubrey asked Beatrice. She nodded but then added - "I didn't tell him why I called in the first place though" shyly whispered Beatrice. Ray, in confusion, turned his gaze towards his aunt and mom "Uh...should I know??"
Aubrey patted Beatrice on the shoulder and smilingly looked at him. "She wanted to invite you for dinner so you could meet him, I think it was today, wasn't it?" Beatrice shook her head in another approval and glanced at Ray. He fixed couple hair strands that got in front of his eyes and folded his hands together. "First of all," started Ray "it feels too soon.. and second of all if I would want to come I couldn't because of work, especially today". Aubrey sighted and his mom smiled warmly. "Alrighty, first part is understandable, but work again? Looks like you get hamster wheeled everyday!" laughingly but with a small drop of disappointment exclaimed Aubrey.
Her laugh got interrupted by Rays phone ringing, he glanced at it and dropped the call, afterwards he stood up and fixed his jacket. "Sorry, need to go, I forgot about...meeting a friend after planning to visit you here, I will try to give a visit tomorrow". Before leaving he hugged both his aunt and mom and strolled out of the shop. After getting in the car, starting it and driving off he dialled the number that called him before and placed on the phone stand in the car.
Couple beeps in someone picked up, "You were busy before, hm?" voice in the phone curiously asked. "Met with my mom and aunt, is there something important you wanted to tell me?" Ray quickly cut the response waiting time "if not we will meet later today".
Voice in the phone sighted "You're so cold most of the time ,chuckles , nothing important on my end, wanted to complain about Diogee, he's acting like a kid but is older than you, Jesus Christ!" could hear the person on the line grunt with a bit of tiredness. "We can do it at the event this evening, before or after the conference, you choose" Ray neutrally said. "Better be as soon as possible," the words were followed with a long silence before the person on the other side spoke again "okay, beep me when you're almost at the main hall, get your speech memorized" the line went silent and the call ended. Ray's car followed the path to his house, knowing that today everyone would see him in different light .