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I close my eyes for a moment, savoring the comfort of her embrace before pulling away.
“Tea’s ready in the living room.” I guide her towards the plush sofa where we’ve shared countless conversations over countless cups of tea.
As we sit, she studies my face, her sharp green eyes missing nothing.
“All right, Lily. What’s going on?” she says, cutting straight to the chase as always.
I hesitate for a moment, searching for the right words. “Felix and I… we broke up.”
I can’t quite bring myself to meet her eyes as I say it, staring instead at the steaming teapot between us.
“Really?” She sounds surprised and concerned, and I finally look up at her. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. What happened?”
“It’s complicated.” I take a deep breath. “But I couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine when it wasn’t.”
“Come here,” she says, her voice soft and comforting as she pulls me into another hug. Her arms wrap around me like a shield, protecting me from the world outside, and I let myself lean into her embrace.
“Do you want to tell me more about it?” she asks, her voice gentle but probing.
“Maybe later,” I murmur, not yet ready to reveal the secret I’ve been carrying inside of me.
One step at a time, I remind myself. I’ll get to the pregnancy eventually.
“Certainly.” She pulls back to look at me. “But you know you can always talk to me, right?”
“Of course, Mom.” I’m not sure that’s entirely true, but I appreciate her sentiment.
“Good.” She nods, taking a deep breath before continuing. “I just want you to know that I’m partially to blame for this situation.”
“What? No, Mom, you’re not?—”
“Let me finish,” she interrupts gently. “I know I’ve pushed you towards marriage, and maybe that push has caused the breakdowns in your relationships with Rick and now Felix.”
“Mom, it’s not your fault,” I insist, reaching out to take her hand. “You only wanted what’s best for me.”
“Maybe so,” she concedes. “But sometimes our best intentions can lead us down the wrong path. The important thing is that we learn from our mistakes and move forward.”
I lift my gaze to the window, trying to find the clarity, the words.
“Mom… I just want you to know that it’s okay. I do want to be married. I do want a family.” I pause, taking a sip of the fragrant tea before continuing. “But I’m discovering that maybe things should happen on their own time.”
My mother leans forward, placing her cup on the small table between us. Her eyes hold a mix of concern and understanding. “What do you mean?”
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “I’m starting to realize that happiness isn’t found in meeting expectations or following predetermined paths. It’s about finding out who I am and what I want. And… following that.”
“Life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it?” she muses. “We can plan and strategize all we want, but sometimes the universe has other ideas.”
“Exactly,” I agree, relieved at her response. “And I think I need to trust that things will work out the way they’re meant to, even if it’s not how I originally imagined.”
“Sometimes the best things in life come from unexpected detours,” my mother adds, offering me a warm smile.
“Mom, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think you’re right.” I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in weeks.
“Believe it or not, I’ve learned a thing or two over the years.” She chuckles, reaching for her teacup once more.
We sit there, sipping our tea and sharing stories, my heart growing lighter by the minute. And though uncertainty still lingers in the back of my mind, I’m grateful for this moment — for the love and understanding of my mother and for the chance to chart my own course, whatever that may be.
CHAPTER 26
