Loving You Too Long

They stood in the passenger arrival area. Haisley seemed unwilling to stray far from Gilbert. The petite girl didn’t mind being in Gilbert’s embrace, occasionally looking up and smiling at her younger brother, but she didn’t even glance at Nathan. This only served to infuriate him further.

Why did he feel like an ignored airport pillar to her several times over?

Nathan was still gazing at the girl when he heard a familiar loud voice, and a tall, slim, beautiful woman with long hair dyed dark brown and ombre with golden strands enveloping Haisley’s small frame almost caused her to fall backward if Gilbert hadn’t quickly steadied her by the waist. The woman’s scolding was ear-piercing.

Nathan averted his gaze and saw his father approaching, pulling two suitcases with both hands. The nearly sixty-year-old man came closer, and Nathan greeted him with a hug, patting his back gently.

“How are you, Pa?” he said.

“Good, very good,” his father replied softly, in stark contrast to his wife’s loud voice, which almost drowned out the airport speaker. “How about you?”

“Very well,” Nathan replied flatly.

“Who is this beautiful girl?” his father asked Loretta. A shy smile appeared on her lovely face. Loretta extended her hand, which his father shook.

“I’m Loretta, Sir,” she said.

“Samuel Chayton,” his father replied, shaking Loretta’s hand.

“What are you doing here?” the question Gilbert had asked earlier was now posed by his mother. Nathan could only roll his eyes. But then the woman grabbed Nathan and whispered, “Mom is waiting for your explanation, Nath.” Her words left Nathan momentarily bewildered. Quickly, she released her embrace and then looked at Loretta. “And who is this beautiful young lady?” she asked with a kindness Nathan knew was nothing but feigned.

“Loretta,” Loretta replied shyly.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Nathan couldn’t do anything as his mother merely extended her hand and shook Loretta’s, not showing the warmth she displayed when embracing Haisley.

“Dad goes with Nathan, Mom goes with Haisley.” The words plainly explained that his mother favored Haisley over getting to know Loretta better.

Again, Nathan couldn’t force his mother’s will. Just like his father, who could only resign himself and accept his wife’s decision.

They walked towards the car while Gilbert already had his father’s suitcases and placed them in the car. “Forgive your mom; she still can’t accept your decision to marry Loretta,” his father whispered when Loretta had entered the car.

“We all know Mom is very hard to please,” Nathan replied flatly. He then got behind the wheel and waited for Gilbert’s car to move first.

After driving for a while, Gilbert’s car finally turned on its side lights, and they entered the parking lot of the pasta restaurant his mother loved so much. She visited every time she came to England. Nathan could see his mother getting out of the back seat, followed by Haisley. The middle-aged woman then wrapped her arm around Haisley as if she didn’t want to lose the petite girl. Any stranger seeing them would probably assume that Haisley was her biological daughter, not her friend’s child.

His mother spoke to the male host, who immediately led them to a table near a large window offering a view of the city. They were promptly handed menus. His mother seemed to give Haisley undivided attention, making it difficult for her to order as if she couldn’t choose her food on her own. And indeed, the girl couldn’t pick her menu, so Gilbert chose for her. Ugh, spoiled brat. Nathan thought as he placed his own order.

“You know, your youth should be spent enjoying delicious foods. While there’s still a chance,” his mother’s statement was another way of saying, ‘Shouldn’t you be dieting? Isn’t your body already too small to keep dieting?’ That’s roughly what Nathan gathered from his mother’s gaze at Loretta. Even though Loretta had given reasons why she had to diet, his mother continued to mock her without uttering a single word.

His mother refocused on Haisley. Nathan hadn’t lived in America for six years, so he didn’t know how close their relationship was. But seeing his mother comfortably conversing with Haisley, even though the girl only responded minimally, for some reason made Nathan angry. Why couldn’t his mother look at Loretta and appreciate her presence there?

“Do you like your new friends?” The question interrupted his business conversation with his father. Now was the time for Nathan to make his mother realize that Haisley wasn’t the good girl she imagined.

“Until you’re torn between studying and casting spells,” she said curtly. She was still angry with the girl for openly being involved with Dean and also Gilbert, yet also playing with Steven. Nathan didn’t know which man she was intentionally approaching, with or without the knowledge of her younger brother and cousin.

“What’s the problem if Haisley charms people?” His mother’s response clearly left Nathan incredulous. Hello, he was trying to remind his mother that Haisley wasn’t a good girl, but his mother was supporting her instead?

“She’s a beautiful girl, she’s single and not tied down. It’s only natural at her young age to have many acquaintances. If she can and if she’s capable, it’s even better if she dates. And let me advise you too, Haisley. Don’t just date one boy. That will only make you bored. Date three to five people at the same time, so your life won’t be too dull,” the woman replied to her eldest son.

“What kind of advice is that?” Nathan asked, growing increasingly incredulous. He knew his mother could be described as democratic and leaning towards eccentricity. But not like this, right?

“Life is too boring if you only love one man, Nath.” Her statement was clearly a jab at him. Nathan couldn’t tell if his mother was mocking him for loving Crystal or if she was mocking Haisley for loving him. Only his mother understood the meaning behind her words. “You should aim for the best among the good. And let go of the bad among the good.” So, according to his mother, he was the bad part that Haisley needed to let go of? “Don’t waste your time obsessing over a man who might not be your destiny, Haisley.” So, Haisley’s desire to forget him stemmed from his mother’s advice? Now he knew why Haisley dared to be so bold around him.

“At least, she can be a good kisser.” The woman’s final words after her lengthy advice made Nathan irritated.