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“Gwen! Where have you been?!” I’m bombarded with questions immediately after entering through the hotel door. “Just around and about,” I answered Mom with a toothy grin, careful to not give any hint about the guilty thoughts in my mind. She sighed loudly before giving me a disapproving look.
“Look, I’m sorry, Mom. But I’ll make it up to you by spending the next whole day with you.” I said, hoping it would make her feel better. It did when a smile threatened to break through.
“Alright, but only if you join me for a hot drink,” At her mention, my mind started running wild, calculating how, when and where. “Who’s the guy?!” The excitement in my voice was shared when she answered. “He’s a local and he owns the inn — Frostvale — by the large lake.”
“But what’s his name?! Come on, Mom!” I pressured, and while she seemed reluctant she eventually did. “I didn’t catch his name, we just shared a light conversation, that’s all.”
She scratched her cheek, probably embarrassed but I made sure that she shouldn’t when I said. “Tomorrow we’ll go to the inn, enjoy a hot drink, and exit the place with his name! I’m so excited for you, Mom!”
I lunged at her and began embracing her, and squeezing her at the giddy feeling of Mom finally being interested again. “Why does it seem as if you’re more happy than I am?” She chuckled while she asked, and she’s probably unaware how I see her whenever I return home every time.
“Everyone needs someone that makes them happy, Mom.” I answered, my head still laying comfortably over her shoulder. Then I began to feel her tap the back of my head as she sways us slowly. “You make me happy, Gwen.”
I fought back the tears that pricked my eyes and the sudden overwhelming emotions that stirred inside me, chuckling to cover my sniffles as she took a good look at me as we pulled away. “And you spoil me too much, Mom,” I remarked. The atmosphere was warm, comforting, and safe. “On that note then, I need a massage because my legs are stiff from the freezing cold.”
“Okay, I'll take it back. You don’t spoil me enough,” I joked, rolling my eyes for added effect. “I knew I could count on you,” she said, before we had dinner at a nearby restaurant.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW8qOEDztq
“So, how did your little ‘around and about’ go?” Mom asked, taking an interest in my day touring around the place. “Well, I saw a cute white bunny, the beautiful huge lake — where your crush’s inn is just nearby — and then a cute guy-”
I sucked in my lips, my eyes wide at the slip as my mother’s eyes met mine. The wine glass in her hand was just an angle away from pouring all its contents. “I meant just a guy that I bumped into-”
“You bumped into?” She interrupted, and I cringed at the tone of her voice. “Yes! Just bumped into! That’s all!” Her eyes stared daggers at me, and I was looking everywhere else than hers.
“I’m so disappointed, Gwen. That’s all? You didn’t think to ask for the cute guy’s name at all?” I was flabbergasted, but quickly got my bearings as I leaned over the table. “Wait, you don’t mind? Hold on, that’s not it!” I said, trying to explain something that was exactly it. Before she started talking over me.
“Well, I do. But you’re at an age where it’s natural. Furthermore, it’s a first to hear you call a guy ‘cute’, Gwen.” I groaned from both embarrassment and frustration because I actually like the guy enough to have set up a meeting with him tomorrow.
“So, you don’t mind if I miraculously get into a relationship?” I said carefully, and her eyes glinted dangerously at the mention. “I won’t, if you let me meet him,” before she casually added, “If you miraculously get into a relationship.”
“It’s not my fault I don’t feel like being in a relationship!” I defended myself, but she simply laughed. “Are you saying you don’t want to be in a relationship, or you can’t get in a relationship?” She teased, and was relentless throughout the whole dinner before we finished and got up, then left.
“The skies look wonderful,” Mom commented as we exited the establishment, and she was right. “I never thought we’d be able to see them, especially this time around,” I said, looking up to the night sky. Both of us were astonished. “We should go to the lake to get a better look!” I suggested, and not long after a short walk there, we were presented with a magnificent sight.
It was serene — the spot, the moment, and the vibrant northern lights. We were fascinated as we sat by the tiny dock on its edge, our shoes swinging just above the large lake. It was silent between us, too captivated by the aurora.
Perhaps too captivated that neither of us heard the footsteps coming from behind us. “Excuse me, but it’s quite dangerous to be taking a seat there without any lights.” the voice warned, although it was soft despite being firm.
We were surprised, but fortunately not enough that it caused either of us to fall into the lake. “Sorry, but we were just enjoying the view,” Mom explained before she recognized the man. “Miss Heather, I didn’t expect to see you here,” the hulk of a man said.
“Oh, it’s you!” I looked between the both of them, and it didn’t take a genius to get the hint. “Left an impression, did I?” he bantered, and I glanced at Mom to see that she was wickedly hooked. “Hey there, you must be Gwen, yes?”
“And you must be the owner of the Frostvale inn,” I said in response, assuming that Mom probably talked about me and our whole vacation trip here, and because of that, I ought to give her a taste of her own medicine — by indirectly letting him know that she has talked about him.
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