06

« Just tell her that. She’ll know. »

« Okay. Got it, leave it to me ! »

« All right, then. I will hang up, bye ! »

« Bye, Grandma ! » After he put down the phone, he looked around and spotted the fridge, People leave memos on their fridge, let’s see if I have paper with me ! He walked to the kitchen, and put his bag on the counter when he realized there were memo papers at the fridge’s right side. He took one, and wrote down :

GRANDMA ASK YOU TO MEET AT HER FAVORITE CAFE. 1 PM

Arnold

He stuck it at the fridge and went out the house.

Erica came down at 8 am. She already used to the emptiness of the house, and she didn’t mind it, though. It was easier for her to live on when he wasn’t around, made her wished for his love, which would never happened forever. She sighed, and went to the kitchen, when she approached the fridge to grab some milk, she saw it, the memo. It sent shivers around her body, finally some form of communication. I know I keep telling myself to don’t mind his absent but I also know deep inside I still hope for any type of connection with him, even if he hated me, I hope he can be nice enough to treat me as friend, it will help a lot when people start asking about children.

She read again the noted, and sighed. A lot of sighing recently, can’t help it, though. Look like he refused to talk to me, but he can just text messaged me if he don’t want to call me. I just can’t stop the desire to have any sort of contact with him.

« Wait a second ! » she snapped when she finally paid attention to the note. « her favorite cafe ! Oh My God !!!! That across his company building. Oh My God ! It will be weird if I don’t stop by. What should I do ? Oh My God ! Oh. My. God !!!!!! » she paced the room, panicked. Her hands were shaking.

Ring… ring… ring…

« AHHHHHH ! » the phone ring surprised her. « Hahhh. That scared me ! » she rubbed her chest to calm herself down and approached the phone. « Hello ? »

« Hello, sweetheart ! »

« Mother ? »

« Yes, honey ! » her mother sounded cheerful.

« Is something wrong ? » she started panicking again.

« NO ! Stop panicking, will you ! » she scolded her.

« Sorry ! » she took a deep breath and let it go.

« Good ! Geez, and here I thought marrying Arnold will stop that habit of you ! Stop thinking of the worst every time people try to »

« So, why do you call ? » she cut her mother off.

« I miss you ! » her mother whimpered.

« Oh, Mother ! I miss you too ! »

« No, you don’t »

« Mother ! »

« If you have, you should be here right now ! »

Erica could see the image of her mother pouted, « Mother, I wish I could be there too. But, you must understand, we still have many things to handle. And I can’t ask Arnold to take day off just like that. We »

« Bla bla bla. The point is both of you are busy. Right ! That’s not an excuse, young lady ! »

« Mother ! We will hosting a house warming party soon. This house literally has no furniture except the bedroom when we moved in. So, I had to decorated the other part from scratch. »

« House warming party ?! When ? » her mother sounded excited.

« I guess the house is ready, but I haven’t talk to Arnold about the date yet. »

« Informed me later today. I will wait for your news ! »

« Mother ! »

« I believe you can talk to him whenever you want. You are his wife, for Mother God, it’s okay to disturb his job sometime. Stop being concern about him to much. I got to go now, we will attending a wedding ceremony, text me after you two decided the time. Love you ! »

Erica sighed, « Okay. Love you too. Say hi to Father for me. Bye. »

Put the phone down, Erica stared at it. Leave it to my mother to push people around ! Well, I guess, I have to talk to him real quick before she take the matter on her hand. Since I have to stop by his office, better make the best use of it. I should bring some snack for the employees since this will be my first time going there.

So, while eating some bread with chocolate jam, she proceed on making some cupcakes. It was noon when she finished. After put the bags in her blue BMW trunk, she went up stair to get ready.

Erica arrived at the cafe five minutes before 1 pm. When she opened the door, the bell rang and then a woman behind the cashier raised her head, her face lighted up with a smile once she saw Erica. « Erica !!!!! » she went out her desk and ran toward Erica, hugged her, almost tackled her down.

« Easy there !! You gonna make me fall. » Erica smiled warmly at her.

« Hahaha, are your newlywed period done ? » she raised one eyebrow.

Erica just rolled her eyes, « Stop that ! I will not talking about my married life with you, Jess. »

« Come on, give me something to admire. »

« Go find your own love life, Jessica ! » Erica frowned.

« I will not bothering you if I have one. It’s suck been single my whole life. »

« I believe you will find someone who will cherish you. It will make all the wait worth it. »

« Just like you did. » she nodded with a huge grin.

Erica was a little taken back by her statement, but she just gave her a small smile, while internally she was hurt.

« ERICA ! » they both turned their head to the door, the source of voice and saw Barbara running toward them. Erica prepared herself for another crushing hug and indeed it happened. Barbara’s hug almost made her couldn’t breath. She patted Barbara’s back to give her clue to let her go. When Barbara did let go, Erica coughed badly.

« Great to see you too, Grandma ! » Erica said after she could breath again.

« I miss you so much. » Barbara pressed her hand at Erica’s cheek. « You promised me, you will called me, young lady ! Why there is no single call this entire week ? » she pointed her index finger to Erica and pointed.

« Grandma, I said i will call if I need your help. Since I still can handle it, I don’t think it’s necessary to give you a call. »

Barbara just frowned at her.

Erica sighed, « Grandma, please, can we sit and talk ? »

« We have new cakes, wanna try some, Barbara ? » Jessica came to the rescue.

« Really ?! » Barbara screamed like a little girl.

Erica mouthed thank you to Jessica, and Jessica winked at her.

« Give me a piece of each ! » Barbara ordered.

Erica and Jessica gasped and rolled their eyes, Here we go again, they thought in their head while looking at each other.

« Grandma, » Erica started but Barbara cut her off.

« I will get them packed if I can’t finished them all. Now, let’s head to our table. » she said, leading the way.