“Reina, Cody’s son and sister are only here temporarily. Once summer’s over, they’ll leave, and I’ll get your things back in here.”
“I just haven’t had a chance to clean up since you came home so suddenly…”
I managed a reassuring smile, trying to stay positive.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m fine sleeping in the study.”
I grabbed my suitcase and headed toward the study, but Mom hesitated and tried to reach out to me. I had already pushed open the door to the study.
Among the three rooms, the study was the smallest, with just a tiny sofa bed and no wardrobe.
As soon as I opened the door, I noticed the crude crayon drawing on the bedside table.
It was a Mother’s Day gift I’d made for Mom back in preschool.
The rest of the room was familiar too. It was filled with Mom’s belongings.
I pointed at the single pillow on the bed, struggling to believe it.
“Mom, is this your room? You and Cody are sleeping in separate rooms?”
Mom started twisting her fingers nervously.
“Cody thinks the bed is too small for two people, so we’re in separate rooms. This room is fine for me. It’s enough for one person…”
“Enough about me. How’s work going for you lately?”
Watching Mom put on a brave face, I felt a pang of sadness.
No wonder she had retracted the message she sent in the early hours.
She must have been struggling, unable to sleep, and wanted to reach out but didn’t want to disturb me.
I couldn’t ask her directly what was wrong, because, with Mom’s reserved nature, she’d likely avoid revealing the full truth.
I’d have to figure things out on my own.
When I was young, my father passed away.
To spare me from the pain, my mom never remarried and raised me on her own.
After college, I made my first real money and wanted to bring her to live with me so she could finally relax. But then she told me she was getting remarried.
The man she married, Cody Dalton, was a few years younger than her.
Cody didn’t have much to his name, but he seemed decent and honest. I supported her decision wholeheartedly. She’d given up so much for me, and it was her turn to find happiness.
Knowing how much Mom had sacrificed and how much she longed for companionship,
I quickly stepped in when I learned Cody didn’t have a car or a home. I used my savings to buy Mom a bigger house, hoping that if Cody treated her well, they could make a comfortable life together there.