Chapter 6

Lander and Rachel were both astonished when they found Miranda had abandoned her husband and daughter for an unknown reason. Miranda, they believed, was not the type of person who would give up her family for selfish reasons. She began to appear stressed and apprehensive as the days passed before she left them. They always suspected that something was bothering her and tried to talk to her, but she persuaded them that everything was fine.

Lander and Rachel exchanged knowing glances and went to greet her. They were still convinced that their daughter-in-law had made such a significant decision for a good reason. They attempted to contact her after she left, but they were unable to do so.

"Hello, Miranda. It's been a very long time." Rachel was the first to speak.

Miranda was taken aback when she noticed her in-laws standing in front of her. First, it was Eric, and now it’s them. It appeared that the entire world was conspiring against her.

"What a surprise, Lander, Rachael." She got out of her seat to greet them.

"Do you mind if we sit with you?" With a smile, Lander asked.

"No, not at all. Please join me." She was still not ready to face the fact that Lander and Rachel wanted to meet her, let alone sit and talk with her, after what she had done. "How are you both doing?" She asked after they had all settled down.

"We should ask you about that." Rachel said, making her look down in shame.

"We are not here to taunt you, Miranda. Unlike my son, we believe that you did things for a reason. All we want to know is why." Lander clarified everything to her truthfully. Now was not the time to assign blame.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Eric won't like you both talking to me. I don't want to enrage him any further than I already had." Sadly, she stated.

"You already met him? It's no surprise he has been acting strangely for the past few days." Her mother-in-law asked her, dumbfounded.

"I ran into him and Lizzy. She did grow up pretty fast and beautifully." She said this with a smile on her face. "I have always known Eric would make an excellent father. I remember him almost passing out when he found out he was going to be a dad. He was so tensed and worried." She chuckled.

Miranda's affection for his son was evident to the elderly couple. However, Miranda's decision to leave Eric for a serious reason has gradually confirmed their worst fears. They just need to figure out why.

"I knew I'd run into you here." However, Miranda's train of thought was abruptly interrupted when she recognized the voice and groaned in annoyance.

"How did you find me here?" She sighed. Benji always finds her for some strange reason. He is far too intelligent for his own good.

"It was not that difficult to find you. In fact, it was quite easy, given how frequently I see you with coffee with the name of this very restaurant written on it when I go for my morning run." Miranda looked at Benji as if he had gone insane, as Benji explained.