chapter 9

Adien POV

"Bye." I smile at his retrieving figure, trying to pretend that what just happened didn't just happen. Sad for the lost opportunity.

I search for my keys, fumbling for ages, fingers numb from the relentless cold, trying to get the key into the keyhole. I shiver, thankful for the warmth.

"Adien, I'm in the kitchen," mum calls out sounding excited, I drop my sodden bag at the door, wanting to collapse from fatigue. I walk forward to be hit with spicy, sweet smell, for a moment I felt like a cartoon floating in the air, being guided by hunger.

"Hi sweetheart, I thought I'd cook your favourite Thai curry, because this is a special evening."

"Why is it a special evening?" I ask half listening, mostly concentration on the sweet smell blessing in my nostrils.

"I'll tell you after dinner and there's dessert, go wash up and sit at the table, dinner is ready" I do as she says suspicion rising though I decided to ignore it.

I get into the dining room surprised to see how lovely our table looks considering no one is coming over, in front of me is our good cutlery, champaign and our nice glasses. I frown trying to figure what is going on, she's up to something.

"Dinner is served" mum comes in carrying both plates setting the biggest portion in front of me "Let's say grace, dear lord thank you for this food and shelter you have blessed us with, I thank you for my beautiful, baby boy Adien and I ask him to consider my proposal and not get too mad... amen"

I had opened my eyes the moment she uttered the word 'consider', I narrow my eyes at her but she doesn't look my way, she digs in barely touching the food only swerving it around her plate. Her eating is better than before, but it's not good enough.

"What might I get mad at," I ask twitching to shake her shoulders, she was worrying me.

"Honey, eat your food first," she says firmly. The rest of the dinner is spent with endless questions of school, the same repetitive answers. After I finish my food savoring every last piece, mum brings out dessert, also my favourite.

This is serious now, I look away from the plate and cross my arms resisting the temptation to eat the dessert.

"Spill," I say firmly, watching her gulp and the colour drain from her face.

"I want to adopt," she hesitates, searching my face intensely. "Honey, you know I love you so much, it's just I always wanted loads of children and the fact that I won't ever trust a man again makes it worst, because once you leave for University I need someone to keep me company or I need someone to keep you company. I got a new job offer, but it means I will not be home as often and I can't stand leaving you alone so long. If you really hate the idea I'll cancel it completely..."

I cut her off before she finishes, excitement exploding inside me.

"Mum, are you serious? I've always wanted a sibling" I say enthusiastically jumping from my seat and pulling her up before whirling her around the room. She laughs throwing her head back and hugging me before continuing seriously.

"You're completely sure?" she asks, pausing to see my reaction, I nod like a bobble head on drugs "I am going to see a foster home on Monday after work. I'll tell you if I have my eye on anyone, do you have a gender or age preference?"

"No, not really as long as I'm getting a sibling anyone will do," I say quickly, mum's smile widens.

"Hurry up and eat your dessert before it gets cold," she says pretending to be stern but I know she's not, she never shouts at me, she never gets angry or loses her temper, sometimes I wish she could ground me just to show she's getting better, if only she could get better...

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I wake to the beeping of the phone, begrudgingly I get up and walk into the landing. I'm surprised to see mum has got to the phone faster than me. She's already dressed about to leave for work.

"Hello...oh hi...yes I am Miss Lester... I'll get him now," seeing me before whispering "It's someone called Nick, do you want me to tell him you can't come to the phone-" before she could continue, I'm already snatching the phone from her hands.

"Hi, nick...why you calling?" I inquired trying to hide my excitement with a layer of fake annoyance.

"Well if you don't mind, I'd like to have that movie night," he said casually as if we've been friends for ages and we hang out all the time.

"Urm.." I look at mum who is standing close trying to listen, nodding and smiling like a manic "Oh yeah, I completely forgot"

"I had to check just to you make sure you didn't change your mind, so I'll bring food and the movie, which is a surprise, and you provide a DVD player...deal?"

"Deal! 5:00 sharp" I say smiling as we wait in silence for a bit.

"Hi it's me again, I couldn't help but overhear ....hold on, Adien," mum spoke fighting back at me as I tried to snatch it back, before giving up and hiding behind my hands, hoping it would help rid my embarrassment. "Would you like to come over for a sleepover as well as a movie with Adien? I promise I won't be here till very, very late so get whatever you need, do whatever you want, trash the house for all I care just agree to come please!" mum pleaded looking somewhat exhausted after, like she'd been waiting for this moment all her life. I couldn't hear what was being said but whatever Nick was saying it made her smile widen, though I thought that was impossible, if it gets any bigger I think her face with fall off, that or DC would cast her as the next joker.

"Okay, bye sweetheart," she said before cutting the phone. I smile through my glare "Cheer up love, I just got you a sleepover and how come you didn't tell me about this Nick guy?"

"Well, I didn't think it was important"

"Not important, what do you mean not important? This is the first friend you've introduced me to," she said sounding amused.

"Shouldn't you be off to work? You'll be late" I say trying to get of her before she starts interrogating me. You'd think I'd won the lottery from her excitement.

"Oh shit, you're right. Bye honey I'll be home late. I might be a bit drunk, as they are throwing me a leaving party HA. They thought I wouldn't find out" she says on her way out, I shake my head in humour.

I love my mom.