320 A Motherâs Sacrifice
Music Recommendation â Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi.
It was dinner on one of the yachtâs expensive exterior decks, Eric was not kidding at all. They were cruising into their own private paradise aboard the charter yacht. It was beautiful.
The sun has already faded long ago leaving the cool breeze to accompany them with the exceptional cuisine delivered to world-class standards while looking out across the ocean under candlelight.
It was simply romantic, if she dared to say. And special and memorable. One could see the efforts Eric put into this outing starting from the dining environment, table settings, decorations and ambience were meticulously planned and executed to theme. Natalie was more than touched. She didnât know how to pay him back for this or at least make it up to him.
âThis is...is... â Natalie sniffed, clearing the tears that escaped her eyes and Eric froze.
âPlease, donât tell me youâre crying. It makes me feel horrible then, I shouldnât have planned something that made you cry,â Eric looked really uncomfortable, as if he was in the middle of a labor room and watching a child delivery.
âNo,â Natalie laughed in the middle of the tears that seem to flow much freely now, âThey are called tears of joy for a reason.â
She told him and then reached out to place her palm over his hand that was resting on the table. A gesture that Eric noticed and glanced up at her questioningly.
âThank you, really,â She told him, squeezing his hand affectionately. Natalie then let go almost immediately before the innocent gesture turned into something else.
.....
Even though Natalie shed a few tears contrary to his intention, Eric was still gladdened by her response. That showed that he was making progress. He did the right thing by taking it slow.
They spent the next minutes tasting the quality cuisines made by the chefs till their stomach couldnât contain any of their local delicacies. Then Eric had to leave to answer a call.
Knowing that it was work-related and probably important, Natalie didnât bother him and simply leaned over the rails and looked across the ocean. Now that she was all alone, the thoughts bothering her couldnât help but return and it was all related to her daughter.
She couldnât help but wonder how Edward was doing. Natalie had made it a rule over the years never to search or ask about him â it helped her move on and for him to forget about her. Now she thought about it, he must have married already and fallen in love with his wife. That meant her daughter would have a stepmother.
Natalie felt a stab of jealousy, her daughter would give the love reserved for her to her new mother. After all, the girl doesnât even know that she exists. She had made Edward promise her never to reveal it to her.
But then, what if Edwardâs wife doesnât like her daughter? What if the woman abuses and gives her daughter a tough time at home? Her fist clenched as her maternal instinct kicked in.
But then, she must be worrying over nothing. Natalie saw her at the café today and she looked happy. And that young man must be her boyfriend, they looked cute together. Still yet, her brows couldnât help but furrow, Natalie was concerned over her daughter.
When that young man bumped into her at the café , he had a disturbing aura. It was annoying that she didnât see him properly with her glasses on. Mob activities were numerous in this city and it would really break her heart if her daughter got involved with one. She had once been involved with a mob lord and look where that got her.
In the end, she was still rescued by a crime family. If there was anything Natalie learned over the years, it was that you donât get involved with the Mafia, because once youâre in, thereâs no going out. Your whole life revolves around it.
That was why she sent her daughter away. Natalie canât be free, but her daughter could. Free from Daniel, who doesnât know of her existence â and would never. She made sure of it.
Natalie sighed, rubbing her temple where she could already feel a migraine brewing. Her past always made her feel this way. horrible.
âIf I knew my progress would be for nothing, I would not have answered this call,â Eric said from behind and she turned to see him standing there with a frown.
He walked over to her, âI brought you here Natalie so you wonât be haunted by the demons of the past,â
âI know, Eric and I really appreciate the effort,â She told him sincerely, âHowever, some denoms stay with you, with every waking hour of your life...â She breathed deeply, âWith every breath you take till the day youâre granted the mercy of death.â
Their eyes met and he could see the emotions there. It tore him apart. If there was a way he could take away the pains, he would do it without batting an eye. He just wanted to make her happy.
âYou know I can find her,â He told her.
âOh God, no!â Natalie rubbed her palm down her face, she was clearly against the idea.
âShe deserves to know,â He claimed.
âShe deserves a happier life,â She countered.
âNot when youâre dying inside, slowly,â
âItâs my cross, Eric. Itâs my sin to bear. Moreover, she thinks I donât even exist. I donât want to shatter her completely normal life, please.â She begged him.
âMy freedom was taken from me. My family, my life, my affection...â Natalie paused as if to breathe, everything was weighing down on her, suffocating her. It almost felt like she was underwater and couldnât find a way out.
âItâs my sacrifice. Thatâs what mothers do, right?â She said, her eyes brimming with tears.
Eric stood at that spot frozen, watching as the tears slipped down her face. His mouth was open but he couldnât say a word, and then without thinking of what she would say, he went over and hugged her tight while she cried on his shoulder.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He wished at that moment that he had feeling power so he could heal her soul from the inside out.
ââââ
Kind of silly, but I actually cried while writing this chapter. Kudos to all the mothers out there, and to those who didnât get to feel a motherâs love, feel this authorâs love. XoXo