Chapter 0629

Nina

With a deep breath, I made my way up the grand staircase and down the hall toward my mother's room. The sounds of my footsteps were muffled by the intricate carpet that lined the hallway, and the house was oddly quiet. It seemed as though the major preparations for the party had finished for the day, or perhaps it just felt quieter because of my own anxiety. When I stopped in front of the large wooden door, I hesitated for a moment, biting my lip.

My mother and I had always had a strained relationship growing up. It wasn't until recently, when the truth finally came out about my biological family, that it started to make sense. We were always trying to reconcile it, trying to get to know each other better, but sometimes it felt like we would take two steps forward and one step back.

But finally, I steeled my nerves and raised my hand.

I knocked gently on the door, the sound echoing softly in the hallway. A moment later, my mother's voice called out from inside, "Come in."

Pushing open the door, I found my mother sitting in the plush armchair by the window, her gaze fixed on the outside world. The setting sun cast the room in an amber glow,

illuminating her blonde hair. She looked lost in her thoughts, and I hesitated in the doorway for a moment before stepping inside.

"Hey, mom," I said cautiously.

She turned her head to look at me, her expression still filled with frustration. "Nina," she said, her voice still carrying a note of disappointment from earlier. "Do you need something?"

I approached her slowly, choosing my words carefully. "...I wanted to talk about earlier,"I said softly.

My mother sighed, her gaze returning to the view through the window. "Talk, then," she replied, her tone subdued.

I took a deep breath. "I really arm sorry," I began. "I should have been more careful with Tyler. You're right, I shouldn't have taken such a risk. I.. forget sometimes that he's still not one hundred percent better."

My mother didn't respond immediately, and I watched in silence as her shoulders tensed. It was clear that she was still upset, and I couldn't blame her. Tyler had been through so much with his illness, and I really should have known better.

Finally, my mother got up from her chair and walked over to me, pulling me into a tight hug. I could feel the tension in her body slowly melt away as she held me close.

"I just worry so much about your brother," she whispered, her voice barely more than a whisper. "He was so sick for so long, and it's not easy for me to look at him and not see that sick little boy anymore, but rather a young, strong man."

I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes. "I guess I never thought about it that way," I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt for not seeing things from her perspective sooner. "I was just trying to make him feel better since his girlfriend broke up with him."Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"I know," she said gently. "I know you were just trying to help, honey. I'm sorry for yelling at you the way I did."

We stood there in silence for a moment, holding each other, and I realized just how much had missed moments like these with my mother. Our relationship had always been strained, and it was going to take a lot of work to repair the damage that had been done over the years. But at the end of the day, she was the only mother I ever had, and I loved her.

"Do you really think I'll be a bad mom?" I suddenly asked, my voice trembling. The words poured out like an avalanche, and even I was surprised when they came out.

My mother pulled away slightly and looked into my eyes, her gaze softening. "Oh, honey," she said, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. "No, I don't really think that. I shouldn't have said that. I'm so sorry."

I sighed, sinking down onto the edge of the bed. "But I think it's true," I muttered. "... I don't feel ready for this."

"Nina..." My mother sat down beside me and draped her arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. I laid my head down on her shoulder and let the tears spill out.

"I just feel so lost sometimes," I whispered. "I feel like I'm never in control, even when I really want to be. And I feel crazy, and reckless, and-"

"Nina, it's the pregnancy hormones," my mother interrupted with a soft smile. "You're not crazy, and it's normal to feel lost and out of control. God knows I felt that way when I was pregnant with Tyler."

I sniffled, locking up at her. "You did?"

She nodded. "Oh, yes. I was a nightmare when I was pregnant with him. One moment I was crying, the next I was angry, and the next I was eating a whole pint of ice cream and a jar of pickles."

I couldn't help but chuckle through my tears. "I hope I don't have those cravings." I paused, cringing at the thought of pickles and ice cream. "But... I've definitely been feeling a little out of sorts recently," I confessed, placing a hand over my belly. "It does feel like my emotions are all over the place."

My mother nodded, brushing another stray strand of tear-soaked hair away from my face. Just remember, sweetie, it's okay to feel this way," she said gently. "And it's okay to ask for help when you need it. We're here for you."

"Thanks, mom," I whispered, wiping my tears away with the back of my hand. "I'll try to remember."

There was a silence between us, I sat up, looking away as I wiped away my tears. It was still strange to cry in front of my mother.

"You know.." My mother suddenly broke the silence and stood, crossing over to her vanity. I watched as she grabbed a soft hairbrush and walked back over to me, where she sat cross- legged behind me on the bed and began to run the brush through my hair. "When you were little, you used to always want your hair brushed when you were upset."

I closed my eyes and leaned into her touch, reveling in the familiar sensation. "I remember," I

said softly. "It always made me feel better."

My mother chuckled as she continued to brush, We sat like that for a while, just lost in our own little world. And in those moments, I started to feel better.

"I know our relationship hasn't been the best," she finally said, "but I'm glad you're still a part of my life, Nina. And I hope you know that despite everything, you're still my daughter. Maybe not by blood, but that doesn't change anything."

I nodded, feeling more tears begin to prick at the backs of my eyes. "I know," I murmured." And you'll always be my mom."

*Just so long as I brush your hair when you're upset, right?" she teased, wrapping her arms around me and resting her chin on my shoulder.

I laughed as I patted her hand, leaning my head against her.

"Yeah," I said softly. "Just so long as you brush my hair when I'm upset."