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“Look, this is obviously a shock and a lot for her to take in. If you are her mother, you have shown up completely out of the blue after twenty-five years. You can’t expect her to just believe you and want to pretend like nothing happened,” Charlie said in my defense.
“And I don’t expect that. I honestly don't. I know this is a lot. All I am asking is for the chance for us to speak. Even over dinner and if you don’t like what I say, then you can leave. Please,” she pleaded.
“We’ll discuss it,” Charlie said, but I could tell he was just saying what she wanted to hear so she could leave.
“I’m staying at the motel, room eight. If you wish to meet, just call the room. I’ll be there,” she said as she stood and with one last look at me, she was gone.
“I know this was a shock,” Charlie started.
“Understatement. I don’t know what game she is playing, but she had to be playing one.”
“Agreed. I think the best course of action would be to meet her for dinner. Hear her out, and then make sure she leaves town.”
“You want to actually have dinner with her?” I asked completely taken aback.
“I want her gone and not hurting you. If that means we have to sit down and let her tell us her story, then so be it. She might not have an agenda; she could genuinely believe you are her long-lost daughter. She could just be confused or misguided. Talking to her would be the easiest way to resolve this.”
Fuck, that was the last thing I wanted to do. I had spent my whole childhood waiting for my mother or father to swoop in and save me. Only no one came. I had told myself they were dead and now this Hellen woman wanted to show up out of nowhere and tell me she was my mother. It was bullshit, and I was going to get down to the bottom of it, no matter what it took.
Charlie
“Thisisaterribleidea,” Maya said as I held the door open for her to the restaurant.
We had both agreed that meeting with Hellen was the fastest way to get rid of her. I had picked a more casual restaurant in town that was known for amazing burgers. We had eaten here before so we both knew the layout, and I knew we could sit outside; it would make for a quicker getaway. I was also hoping it might help to ease some of Maya’s anxiety if she was outside in the fresh air.
“I know, but by the end of the night she should be gone, and we can go back to our lives.”
We headed in, and I scanned the area to see if Hellen was here or not. I couldn’t see her so either we got here first, or she was out on the back patio. We walked over to the hostess, and she gave us a bright smile.
“Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, it’s lovely to see you again. Your guest for this evening had already arrived and is waiting for you. Shall I show you to your seats?” she asked as she picked up two menus.
“That would be great. Thank you Candice,” I said with a warm smile.
She guided us both out to the back patio where Hellen was sitting at a table at the far end. It wasn’t very busy, but that was to be expected. As we approached the table I could see that Hellen was just as anxious about this as we were. I held out the chair for Maya as Candice placed the menus down. Once we were alone Hellen spoke.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I know this has all been a shock for you. I hope you don’t mind sitting outside. I find the view to be gorgeous, and the fresh air helps calm my nerves,” she said with a slightly awkward smile.
It took everything in me not to point out that we were planning on doing the same due to Maya’s anxiety.
“Look, I don’t really want to dance around this all night. We don’t believe you. Either you are lying about your intentions, and you are looking for a quick payday. Or you truly are looking for your daughter, and you have mistaken me for her. So which one is it?” Maya asked with an edge to her voice. Her whole body was rigid, and I knew she was fighting her desire to get up and flee.
I placed my hand on her knee with the hopes of providing support and comfort to her. I had no idea if it was going to work, but if nothing else I could try and keep her in her seat.
“You have every right to be skeptical. I would be as well. I assure you I am not looking for money. Money I have, more than I could ever spend in my lifetime. What I don’t have is my daughter in my life. I’m truly not asking anything from you Amarya. I just wanted the chance to meet with you and tell you what happened. If nothing else you will at least be able to have some answers.”
“I go by Maya,” she countered instantly, and I knew it was hard for her to hear her full name.
“I’m sorry, Maya. As for how I know you are my daughter. One day when you have a child you will know what I mean, but there is this feeling you get. The second your eyes land on your child, you know them. Every fiber in your body knows them. I’ll never forget that feeling, and there is no way for me to forget those eyes,” Hellen said with a loving smile.
I knew what she meant. When I held Zoey for the first time I felt like our souls were connected. I can pick her out of a crowd that all looked like her without any trouble. You just know your child. The waitress came over, and we all put in our drink orders before I spoke.
“What happened? To our knowledge Maya was placed within the foster care system from infancy.” We needed to know, and the more information she gave us the easier it would be for Lucas to verify who she was.
“I was young and dumb,” she answered before she continued making sure to give Maya her full attention. “I met your father when I was fifteen, and he was twenty. I didn't have much growing up. My parents were in and out of jail for various charges. I was raised by my grandparents, but they were older and couldn’t keep up with me. I was often sneaking out at night and going to parties. I got in with the wrong crowd.”
“I’m assuming the father was in that crowd.” I was careful to not call him Maya’s father because I suspected she wasn’t ready to hear those words come from my mouth. We also didn’t have concrete proof that Hellen was her mother.
“He ran it. Complete definition of a bad boy, and I was a sucker. Within six months of being with him, I had dropped out of school and ran away. For about four years I did it all with him. We stole, beat people up, sold drugs, and used ‘em. Every night was a party, and I never wanted it to stop. When I was nineteen we had gotten arrested in a raid. They got us on drug trafficking. The police knew I was just another runner, no one special. They wanted your father, Max Russell. They knew he was in charge, and they wanted him so he would hopefully flip on his suppliers.”
