With Shauna’s assurance that she’d drive mom and me home later, dad drove to the university to continue working on his own project there, while I headed to the clinic. Mom and Shauna were going to continue the tour and get mom introduced to all the staff. They’d come around to visit the clinic at the end of my shift.
Sisters Clara, Olivia and Amelia were overjoyed to find out that mom had been rescued and were delighted to show her around. Shauna drove us home right afterwards and I headed off for Kung Fu, where Sifu Zhang and Uncle Magnum were so excited about my return that they gave me extra push-ups during plank.
It felt good to be back. Bobby wasn’t in class today, but Mark, Tyler and Maggie were. I would have liked to work a little with them, but Sifu Zhang had other plans for me and between him and Charlie, I paid for my week of indulgence. Thirty minutes of warm up, thirty minutes of non-stop stamina exercises and thirty minutes of sparring. I didn’t usually go for a mid-day nap, but after that class, I seriously considered it.
Home and showered, I helped mom with preparations for the dinner party with Harry, Jake and Mark. While she worked, she asked me about Mark and Jake and how I’d met them. I kept the details to a minimum and explained about the fire and saving Mark and how I’d gotten to know his family afterwards. That led to telling her about finding the rubies and about the auction and how that led to being able to open the foundation years ahead of schedule and in a much bigger way.
Mentioning the foundation sent mom into another round of praise for what I’d created there. I tried to pass it off with an ‘aw shucks, ma’am, twerent nothin to it’, but mom wasn’t having any of it. She told me what a wonderful place it was and how she’d met a few survivors already and listened to them explain how the foundation was helping them take back control of their lives. She was really excited to start working there.
Mark and Jake were the first to arrive. I’d worked it out with mom that she should only come out once everyone was there. I was going for maximum effect. Jake handed me a bottle of wine as he walked in, but Mark held back a bit at the entryway, looking around warily.
“Mark? Are you ok?”
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“I’m just wondering if there are any giant flying pudding bowls around.” I heard dad and Jake have a chuckle at that.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him in. “You’re safe for now. I told them to come around later in case I need them. Hopefully, you’ve learned your lesson and won’t tease a lady about her weight this time.”
“Oh, I’d never tease a lady. I was raised better than that.”
“Are you implying that I’m not a lady?”
Jake spoke up before I could lash out at Mark. “Mark, come in here and have a seat before Abby decides to show us how many ways she knows to make your butt hit the ground.”
Mark broke out a sheepish grin, bowed slightly at the waist and said, “Hello Abby. Thank you inviting us to join you for dinner tonight. It’s an absolute pleasure to be here.”
Mollified, I played hostess and offered drinks to our guests. Soon Mark had us all laughing at his stories of the tortures he was enduring at the hands of Sifu’s Paul and Zhang. “When Abby is the gentlest person in the room, you know you’re in trouble.” Having faced similar tortures, I really couldn’t disagree with his views.
Harry arrived and I brought him in to the Parlor to join the others. I let him get settled and have a bit of time to chit-chat before I excused myself for a moment and went to get mom. Mom looked amazing in her new outfit. The style was the same as the one that Danielle had set up for her, turtleneck sweater and slacks, but mom made a few subtle changes, such as a chunkier cable-nit and wider pant leg, that really added to the casual elegance of the look. As we passed my room, I suddenly stopped and brought her back. I’d completely forgotten that I still had her jewelry box.
Mom’s eyes lit up with joy at seeing her old jewelry and I helped her pick out a pair of diamond studded earrings and a gold link bracelet to add to her ensemble. With these final touches, I led mom to the Parlor.
Mark noticed us first and a crease furrowed his brow. He was curious to know who I was with, but he waited for me to make the introduction. When dad turned towards us, Jake and Harry followed his gaze. Jake’s and Harry’s expressions mirrored Mark’s, but Harry eyes quickly changed to recognition.
“It can’t be…” Harry struggled for a bit, trying to get his legs to work and get up. The hand holding his drink as shaking a bit and dad quickly relieved him of the glass. Harry continued staring at mom, like he was seeing a ghost and mom smiled at him, her own eyes going all shiny.
Harry walked up to mom on leaden feet. I think he was afraid that she’d simply vanish if he moved too quickly. Mom opened her arms out to him and he caught her up in hug and we could all hear the relieved laughter that bubbled out of him as he held her and said, “You’re alive! I can’t believe it.”
“Jake, Mark. I’d like you both to meet my mother, Hannah.”