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There’s always been a motive where my mother was concerned, but with Leann, it was different for her and Azzaria. She just wanted to be with her child, she wanted to love her child, and that’s why she was having a hard time passing on the news to Azzaria.
We were all gathered at the table now, eating, drinking, and engaging in very heavy conversation.
“This meal is amazing. I don’t normally know of men cooking, but this is great Dillon,” she said with a warm smile as she ate more of the food.
“My grandmother taught me everything I know about culinary arts. Thank you, I appreciate it.”
“Beautiful,” she remarked and turned her attention to Azzaria. “Did you two have fun on your trip?”
“Yes, Mom, we did. Dillon and I did everything, and I met people, and guess what, Mom?”
She was different around her mom. She was freer. There was no tension or worries. Azzaria was Azzaria, and it was beautiful to watch.
“What, baby?”
“No social anxiety,” she exclaimed, “I talked to people, and I didn’t have any anxiety. I had a breakdown when we got there, but Dillon talked me through it, and I got better.” She blushed at her mention of my name, and I blushed at the fact that she blushed.
Her mother was happy. It didn’t take rocket science to see the good bond they have, and after everything Azzaria’s faced, I’m glad she has a rocking bond with her mother.
“I’m so proud of you, honey.” She leaned over the table to place a kiss on Azzaria’s cheek and turned to face me. “I must say, Dillon.” She cleared her throat. “When I first heard about my daughter’s relationship with you, I was skeptical because the media paints you in such a terrible way. But getting to see how hard she smiles and how big her laugh is around you has cleared all that anxiety away. I truly want her to be happy. I want her to experience the best love in the world. Thank you for giving her that. Not a day goes by when she doesn’t text me to talk about how happy you make her. I was even shocked to find out that you started going to therapy because she suggested it. Not many men would do that. You’re a good person, despite whatever reality you may feel is right. I can feel it in my whole body.”
I’ve never felt sentimental at the words of many women, but when I tell you that my heart was overflowing with joy at her words, I wasn’t lying. There’s something so pure and angelic about her soul, which I couldn’t pinpoint, but it was there. Her words replayed in my brain, and I couldn’t think of anything else for the rest of the evening.
“She’s everything I didn’t know that I needed, and I promise, she’ll always be safe and loved with me.”
Leann’s main worry was Azzaria’s happiness, and now that she’d seen it for herself firsthand, she had a smile brighter than the stars.
“Good. You two are a beautiful couple. I even hear Azzaria telling me she’s planning on giving you a house full of babies in the future,” she exclaimed.
Azzaria had a look of panic when her mother mentioned children, and she probably thought it would throw my mood off. But if anything, it made the evening even more lovely. I gave her a nod of assurance that I was fine, and her expression changed for the better.
“We’ve spoken about it briefly, but a house full of babies is very new to me.” Azzaria’s cheeks grew red. I don’t think she expected her mother to say that, but I don’t mind. I’d let her give me a house full of babies, a mansion even, if that’s what she wanted.
“She has it so bad for you,” Leann mentioned, but Azzaria cut her off before she could say anything else.
“Anyway, Mom and baby, I ordered ice cream, so I’m going to get it downstairs.” I would’ve stopped her and asked her to let someone else get it up for her, but I wanted to speak with her mom, alone.
Azzaria went to put on more outside-appropriate clothes and made her way to get the ice cream.
“How are you?” I asked.
The tone I used with her hinted that I was aware of her sickness, but she played it off innocently, as expected.
“I’m good. I have—”
“I know you’re sick, Ms. Leann. How are you, actually?” Her face turned pale as if she’d just seen a ghost.
“Does she know?” She swallowed hard. “How do you know?”
“Azzaria doesn’t know, and I know because who do you think has covered all the treatment bills? But why haven’t you told her?”
She expressed gratitude but also confusion. “I appreciate that, but why would you do that?”
“I know what it’s like to lose a person you’ve loved your whole life. It’s a very heartbreaking feeling, and you’re her only parent. If she loses you, she’ll crumble, so paying for the treatment is the least I could do. Your doctor, Mr. Romano, is my best friend, so he shared the concern. It has nothing to do with leaking confidentiality, but the auditors would’ve stopped your treatments if he didn’t find a source aside from himself to pay for it,” I explained.
A single tear fell from her eyes, but she quickly wiped it. “I haven’t told her because it’s hard. I’m all she’s had all these years, and I don’t want her to worry about me. I’ve lived a long life, and she’s just starting to live. With all the pain she’s endured with her father and then Matthew, it’s too much for her, and this would break her. She’s never been as happy as she is with you and I don’t want to take it away from her.”
It triggered a normally dormant and emotive side of me hearing her speak. She was simply a mother who loved her child so much that she’d take any fall for her.
