Chapter 78 - You can`t blame her
When Andre had convinced Della to see her beloved mother; Marcela the next day. Della had no idea that it was Mother's Day. She always dreaded that day ever since she was a little girl, watching her cards and crafts being shredded and destroyed by her unappreciative mother. The day became less dreadful when Leo came into her life. He always made the day eventful even with the smallest of things. She really appreciated it.
"Guyyyys—" Della blushed, still in the blankets; they covered her lower half. She couldn't help but smile broadly at Leo and Lyle standing there with a metallic tray of English breakfast and roses. She had been sleeping in a lot lately. She had taken maternity leave way early, she didn't plan on just quitting her job immediately because she was now with Andre.
"Happy Mother's Day! I love you 3000." Leo said with a huge smile. Della immediately turned to look at Andre curiously.
"The boys wanted to watch End game so... did I." He shrugged.
Leo immediately hugged his mom and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Lyle awkwardly stood there.. he felt—
sad..
"Come here Lyle!" Della called for her brother to join the king size bed party. He immediately grinned, jumping onto the bed, giving Della a hug as well. Andre was already dressed in casual shorts and a plain gray adidas sleeveless T-shirt. It seemed he had just came from his morning run. The veins on his hands and his arms made her have very indecent thoughts. He just looked so... edible.
"Lyle made the toast also the bacon and eggs, I poured the juice." Leo said proudly.
"Wow great team work!" Della said taking a bite. It tasted really... well the bread was a bit over toasted like rock hard with black quads here and there. She smiled at them giving them, a big thumbs up. Atleast the eggs where well done. Della hadn't realized that Andre was gone until she heard the shower running.
"Thank you, I really enjoyed this but I will finish later.."
"You liked it right?" Lyle questioned.
"Loved it! It's just that I have been having a migraine since yesterday." She told them which wasn't exactly a lie.
"Sweetie, can you put this in the microwave for me? Please and thank you!" She told Leo. Who frowned at first but the took the tray.. "Only because you're my mom." Leo muttered.. "Plus it's Mother's Day."
"Your father called right?" Della changed the subject turning to Lyle.
"Yeah.. he said mom is awake."
"Aren't you happy? I'm going to see her today.. we should go together." She suggested. "Then we can pick up a cute card."
"Uhm.. she doesn't like cards.."
Della knew that all too well but she assumed Marcela had been different with Lyle.
"I can't afford the things she wants, that's why I never buy her anything even on her birthday." He groaned. "Also I'm really mad at her.."
"Why?"
"Because she wanted to die! I know she is useless and nothing would have changed but she didn't hesitate wanting to die.. you know Della.." He scoffed. "At school they speak to us about suicide awareness and.. I should be the one being that childish blaming it on being a teen not my own mom. If she had died? I would have to tell people for the rest of my life that 'my mother died when I was thirteen' 'or how? She killed herself'" Lyle sounded so bitter saying these things. He stared at the white sheets intently. "For reasons I don't know but if I had to guess it was probably for something that wasn't worth it."
"I'm sorry Lyle.."
"It's okay! Atleast I have you now. My family isn't all that crazy after all. Except for Leo who cries whenever he loses."
This made both of them laugh, hysterically.
"I love him, it's like having a little brother. I always wanted a sibling also people think it's really weird that you're my sister and we are that far apart in years.."
"I don't blame them.." She smiled. "Can I tell you a secret?"
"Yes!"
"I'm having another baby so I guess you will be an uncle to two.."
"Woaaah! Really? well not an uncle, I think I would rather call myself a cousin. That just sounds off.." Lyle laughed.
Della giggled at his response.
"What is it?" He questioned.
"Does Leo know?"
"Wait but I don't see anything??"
"I don't know yet, I'm really excited. Leo doesn't know and I'm not showing yet." She quickly answered.
"When will you tell him?"
Truthfully, she hadn't thought that far. Leo tends to be jealous, whenever any other child was near his mom or if Della held another child so this would be an interesting phase. Hopefully Leo wouldn't throw any tantrums.
"When I start showing?" She reasoned.
"I wish, I could stay here and be with the baby and you guys but since my mom is now awake—"
"You know you're always welcome here, Lyle!"
"I hope so.. because you have shown me what it feels like to have a mother and a family. Plus I will really miss your cooking.."
"I will always be here, when ever you need me. I promise!"
—
Andre had been thinking about his own mother as well. He decided that Della was right, he didn't need to hold this grudge forever. It wasn't worth it also he should be grateful.. Della forgave him, he should do the same with his mom. When Della was asleep when he drove over to his mother's place to wish her a happy Mother's Day. She only lived thirty minutes away. Ben had allowed her to keep their family home. It got very lonely especially since it was used to having two loud boys around and a husband.
Jeanine was surprised when her butler told her that she had a guest. Could it be Gladys? She wasn't sure since Gladys was still being a grandmother and all that. Jeanine was steaming her face since the boys had made her look like a clown the day before. She adored her skin, she didn't want it breaking out. She grabbed her morning gown and went downstairs.
She was a bit flabbergasted when she saw Andre switching the channels in the living room. He hadn't seen her come in. A sage of happiness was what she felt.
"Andre?"
"Bonne fête des mères.." He replied 'happy Mother's Day' in their home language, standing up to give her a hug. Jeanine was so overwhelmed she immediately started crying heavily.
"je pensais que tu me détestais.." I thought you hated me, Jeanine hiccuped. Andre hugged his mother as she continued to cry. Jeanine felt all alone and ashamed of herself but this had just made her glad gladdened with so much joy. She felt light-hearted knowing Andre still considered her.
"I could never hate you, mama."
At the sound of yet, Andre calling her mother. Jeanine balled her eyes. Her heart did somersaults, she wanted nothing more than to fix her relationship with her sons and this was a good start. She also wished to find closure with her parting with Ben and maybe end in good terms.
"Merci beaucoup.." she finally pulled away, thanking him for this. "I'm really sorry, from the bottom of my heart. I don't even—"
"It's okay mama, we're all in a better place now." Andre reasoned.
"Have you heard breakfast?" Andre questioned. "Please don't tell me about calories, let me cook something for you.."
Jeanine smiled.
"I don't think there is even any groceries, I'm never here.."
"It's okay, I always tell the maids to stock up the cupboards and refrigerator.. I know how you can be."
Jeanine was surprised, this made her feel very emotional. Her son cared about her even from afar, even when he couldn't stand her. She didn't deserve this.
"You should be making Della breakfast, this is your first Mother's Day with her isn't it?" Jeanine said concerned. She didn't want to ruin her son's happiness, she didn't want Della to think she was stealing him away again.. to spite her or anything of some sort.
"The boys are making her breakfast, they told me a week before that I shouldn't steal their idea.." He chuckled go over to the kitchen which was sparkles clean, it had not been touched at all. Jeanine followed taking a seat on one of the island stools as Andre took out some ingredients for pancakes.
"How sweet!" Jeanine replied. "What do you have planned?"
"I don't know..." he sighed.
"Andre?!" Jeanine barked at her son, clearly not pleased.
"I do have something planned tonight but I just don't know if I should.. but I really want to."
"You're going to propose?"
"Yes, I know it's too soon but I want to. I love her and she loves me so why shouldn't we?"
"The last time, I spoke to her... she didn't seem very keen on.." Jeanine said the last part a little lowly not wanting to hurt her sons feelings.
"She constantly says 'this might not work out' or 'Incase it doesn't work out' she has absolutely no idea that I'm not going to let her go. I will literally listen to everything she has to say or wants because I want this to work."
"You can't blame her, I suppose she is leaving space for disappointment."
"I know but what hurts is that she doesn't want to be with me officially.." He said taking the flour and other necessities.
"And you think proposing tonight will work out?"
"I don't know, maybe she will say yes.. I hope she does because I want to claim her as mine. You know she could be getting proposals from other men and because we don't have a label. She will be allowed to cheat, I know she won't but it makes me feel uneasy. Della is a beautiful woman and she just attracts so many scumbags everywhere we go there is just always some guy looking at her in a manor that makes me very uncomfortable.." He paused. "Wait till she starts showing.." he grinned.
Jeanine laughed at how absurd her son was being.
"Woman still get approached even when pregnant.. some men have no boundaries what so ever; also have you thought about the fact that she feels the same way. You also attract a lot of gold diggers.."
"You're probably right but still what do you think? Should I give it a try?"
"Della is literally scared of marriage or some permanent commitment. I don't know maybe she might have a change of heart." Jeanine reasoned. "Have you thought about counseling maybe premarital counseling?"
"I don't know.."
"You should, you and Della have a lot to talk about.."
"I don't know.." Andre repeated childishly. This was something he used to do as a child that he knew absolutely annoyed his mother but she just shrugged laughing it off.
"What about you.. are you going for therapy?"
"Yes otherwise I would have gone mad."
Andre nodded then there was silence.
"I'm sorry, things turned out this way.." he felt guilty, was it his fault that his parents got divorced maybe he shouldn't have texted his father.
"It wasn't your fault Andre, our marriage was already hanging by a loose thread. This was just the pinnacle of it all." Jeanine smiled. "Are you excited about the baby?"
"Yeah.." Andre grinned. "A lot actually. It's just so weird, I never thought I could be this happy. I just feel so at peace with my life. Della agreeing to marry me again would be the second best thing. This time you won't intervene in any wedding plans. I want it to be her wedding.. everything I want it to be her plans and ideas."
"I highly respect that.. considering that wedding I made all the plans and didn't take any of her opinions into consideration but.." Jeanine sighed. "That's when I knew this girl loved you, she took everything I threw at her just so she could make you happy. Not once did she badmouth me or turn you against me."
"I will totally understand if she turns me down but at least I tried."
"What ring did you get her?"
"Uhm.. when I was reading her manuscript I read a part where she mentioned a ring and described it in detail and how she thought it was very beautiful. I had a copy of that whole paragraph drawn and custom made with her name on it."
"Aw Andre.. that's so thoughtful."
"I hope she likes it."
"Just know that if she does say no. It's okay, she has been through so much and that's a big step for her. Be patient with her.."
"Thanks Mama, I will."
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