mom
Avery stood there in shock to see her mother sitting on the stool of the bar of her home. it had been over a year since her mother cleared out all bank accounts and abandoned her. She had a lot of emotions flood her all at once. Longing, anger, resentment, joy, shock, and bewilderment . Her eyes swelled up with tears. It was her mom.
" Mom your back." She squeezed her eyes shut like it was painful to see this mirage of her mom.she opened her eyes and she was still there . Avery had to touch her to make sure she wasn't losing her mind.
Avery crossed the room to hug her mom from behind like a little girl . The mirage felt real. She swore she feel asleep she she pinched her arm and it hurt. Avery then began to pinch her mom to see if she was real.
" Avery Jing , don't you dare." Scolded her mom. "You are not going to do that to me . Stop being a silly stupid girl." Said her mom as she moved away from any type of touching. Mei Jing was never one for hugs or touching. She didn't hug or comfort her children . She grew up wealthy as her family was well off . She came to this country on a exchange program because she was brilliant. But her academics left her little room for emotional attachments.
She aspired to Mary a doctor or a lawyer but she married a carpenter . Xio Jing was hard working man and he live humble and honest. When Axel and Avery was born he took care of them as Mei was still young and didn't have a touch for children. Xio Jing was responsible for most of their raising and education. When Mei wanted to go back to bejing xio did not wish to take the kids away from the opportunity of this country.
Mei always felt her husband held her back from financial security. Mei didn't want to come back ,but her parent would not support her now she had caused dishonor her family by abandoning them. Mei came home because she ran out of her families blessing and ran through her husband's life savings within a year.
Avery jumped back at the sirene voice sounding like the most beautiful musical note as it was spoken as she jumped back releasing her. She amissed her mom even though their relationship was offset.
" Mom where did you go. You left without a word. An explanation." Asked Avery as she wanted some clarification of her mother's departure and sudden return. Avery had to admit her and he mother relationship is astranged and cold. She didn't have the mother daughter relationship that most daughters had with their mother.
" You don't need to know where I went. Just know I'm am home. Where where you. Why weren't you home when I got here to greet me " snapped her mother.
"I was at work and picking up Caden from school." Said Avery feeling like she was explaining more than she needed to . Her mother just got back after a year of her disappearing. It was a hard concept to swollow that she was gone and now she was back.
" Axel where is my son?" Snipped Mei Jing . Avery felt a little hurt hearing her mom refer to Axel as her son but never hearing her as her daughter. The recognition was lost on her moms praise .
" He is on tour." Said Avery knowing where this was going with the conversation.
" If he is on tour why aren't you with him. These bills don't pay themselves." Fussed her mom as she mixed dialects half native and have English.
" I have another job ,mom . I don't fight anymore. I am a secretary." Said Avery feeling like a third degree was being made .
" You work and have no husband but have a child with no father. " Scolded her mom as Avery remembered how harsh her mother was on her about everything. Just then Avery remembered Caden was still in the car.
Avery walked around the room and held up her finger to wait to her mother as she opened the door and motioned Caden to come inside. Caden came inside now nine years old as he came to an abrupt stop as he saw his grandma
" Nainai" said Caden softly. His large grey eyes looked sad and uncertain. That was his Nainai in front of him. He hid behind Avery like he was shy. Caden remembered the morning he last saw her. He woke up super early to go surprise her and when he opened her room door all her things were gone. He looked around the room like she was playing hide and seek. The closets were bare only empty hangers remained . The draws were empty just moth balls in the corner . The pictures were all removed from the frames like memories never existed . The bed was stripped and mattress bare of hope and dreams. Even his Nainai scented oils and pearls were gone.
The little boy sat in the floor of the room tears filled eyes. Avery and Axel came to look for him and he was curled up in the floor all cried out . It took Axel weeks to get Caden to even utter a single word after his nephews discovery of his nainai abandonment.
Caden's eyes looked fierce and angry now. The year of love and trust swept away with anger and mistrust. He was angry when she left without a single goodbye or reason and now she was back and he didn't want her there. He wanted her to stay gone to prevent him from accepting she left in the middle of the night. Like a thief in the night.
" Nainai , what are you doing here ." Cried out Caden voice full of hurt. He said it with a more forceful voice that was seen to be a bit disrespectful and rude as his nainai raised her eyebrows at the time given.
" Baobéi sunzi." Said his nainai a bit louder now .
She opened her arms to beckon him to come stand beside her as his elder. Caden shook his head and stepped back. Caden didn't want to do what she said . Not after all the nights he went to her room and she was still gone.
" Caden . Go see your nainai." Avery demanded now thrown off by his disrespect .
" No!" He yelled loudly in an angry voice and Then he turned on his heels and ran to his room slamming the door shut.
Avery looked baffled at how Caden responded to his nainai.. She brought her eyes up and looked at her mom arms lowering in disappointment. She knew that her sons disrespect was unacceptable in their culture.
" Mom I'm so sorry. I've never seen him act like that. I'll go talk to him." Reassured Avery .
" No! " She demanded louder in her small soft voice." That boy needs to be taught respect. You didn't teach him how to do that?" Avery opened her mouth to protest then shut it immediately.knowimg the blame was placed on her for not parenting her so. To be respectful.
" Where is Axel. He will make that boy respectful since you can not." She snipped as Avery lowered her head in knowing she preferred axel instead of her.
Avery stood there head held low in a subordinate position . She knew better than to talk disrespectful to her elders. All the hurt in the world couldn't fix the fact she was her elder. Avery had questions but wasn't given the opportunity to ask them after Caden showed such disrespect.
" Mom. He didn't mean it ." She said in a small lowered voice not to cause disrespect.
" Yes he did. " Snipped back her mom." Don't defend that boy for bad behavior. " Avery wanted to do something to distract her mom from scolding her over her son . Usually Axel could calm her down, but he was on tour and couldn't rescue her from her mom .
" Mom can I offer you some tea or food with your " she hesitated not knowing what it was a visit, or a stay." Um.ha.um. your visit." She said making a choice .
" I am home. " She said simply. " One can not visit its own home ,stupid girl." Scolded her mom. Avery eyes tilted away knowing the miscalculation of her weighted words.
" Yes , you are home,and once again I am very sorry. If you will excuse me ." She said careful to back away not turning her back on her mom as she retreated the room to show her mom some respect. She had to get away from her mom before she ended up showing her more disrespect now Caden had offended her .
Avery reached her room and sat on her bed. She rubbed her face and took in all that happened. Her mom was home. She wanted to call Axel but halted. Her mom had been offended once already. She didn't need to repeat with Axel. Axel was a male and held a rank as the head of the household after their father's passing. His disrespect would be seen as honorable as he was head of the family. But if Avery did it it was disrespectful.
Avery curled up like a little girl on her bed and rocked holding her knees to her. Just then her phone rang. She picked up with our looking at the caller .
" Hello." She answered as professional as she could. Avery was on the brink.of tears as she was overwhelmed by her moms interactions earlier.
" Ah miss Jing this is Mr. Savior. The paperwork has been completed . I have it sitting on my desk if you want to pick up your copy and look over it to sign before we arrange it to be dispatched for delivery to your brother." Said the lawyer on the other line.
Shit Avery thought . Mom had to show up in the middle of the open war she started about the house. She was anticipating her mom never coming back so it would go smooth . If her mom found out she was fighting Axel for the house she would never hear the end of it. She had to hurry up and handle this business before axel or her mom found out anything and made her stop her motion to claim the house. Avery always thought the house was more hers anyways . She saw the potential of generations living here as Axel wanted to sell it and just move in with Bethany the hell with anyone else in the house.
This was mr. Jings house . Avery couldn't let it go . It was to remember her father to keep his home in the family.
" Of course give me a moment I just got off of work and my." She paused trying to rethink her words." House guest just arrived from out of town so I'll be down in one moment to collect those papers. " Said Avery as she watched her tone not to raise suspicion.
" well I am going to be here for another two hours and closing up for the day .you can come by in the morning when we open" He suggested . Avery knew she had to work in the morning and didn't have time to get it now her mom was back home . She couldn't be late dropping Caden off and to work or she wouldn't be able to pay the bills for the house.
" give me a minute . I'm leaving now." She said now annoyed that she had to go back out there knowing her mom would have more questions and she didn't have time for it.
" Ok I will see you in a bit , Miss Jing." He said hanging up the call.
Avery fixed her face and grabbed her purse . She instantly went to Caden's room and collected him. She was about to leave as her mom eyes bore into her.
" Where are you going?" Demanded her mom.
Avery winced as she knew better than to address her mother walking away from her . She turned to face her.
" I had a business call I have to see too. I will be back shortly. " She said waiting to be dismissed. Caden pulled on her hand wanting to hurry his mom. Avery stood still for permission.
" Go. Be back before dinner ." Said her mom unapologetically. Avery didn't have to be told twice as she moved with Caden through the house as they left the Jing home.
Avery grabbed Caden and left the house. Caden sat in the back seat not happy. His hands crossed .
" Why is she here?" He demanded.
" Caden this is her home too." Retorted Avery .
" She left us. We cried and mourned her loss. She left me." He stated more angry .
" I understand you are upset. But she is home that's all that matters now." She tried a passive approach. She need to get Caden in line before they returned or she will never hear the end of it about his disrespect.
" It's not her home. She ran away. No goodbyes no reasons. " He said sounding like Axel now. Avery hated how blunt he had become.
Caden crossed his arms as to signal the end of their discussion. Avery looked at her son in her rear view mirror as they drove in silence to the law office .