Chapter 19
Alyson stood frozen, her gaze fixed on the money in her hands. One hundred dollars for simply showing up? It was a pleasant surprise, far preferable to the prospect of putting on a façade before these people and an even larger audience during the Beleza exhibit. The unexpected compensation provided a welcome relief from the pressure she had anticipated.
Slipping the money into her purse, Alyson gathered herself and left the premises. The growing rumble in her stomach signaled the onset of hunger. She realized she hadn't had anything to eat all morning as a result of the anxiety she felt.
Making a pit stop at a doughnut shop, she bought some snacks, grabbing a few extra for her mother. The anticipation of sharing the news with her mother fueled both excitement and longing, as she missed her dearly and couldn't wait to reveal what had transpired.
Scanning her surroundings for a place to relax and have a meal, she discovered an ideal spot behind a bookstore. Settling comfortably into a chair she found, she eagerly delved into the contents of the paper bag and took out a delectable doughnut. She took a satisfying bite, relishing its flavors. Adding to the delight, she paired the doughnut with a refreshing soda, both acquired from the nearby doughnut shop. Enjoying each sip and bite made a happy moment, like a little happy place in the middle of a long day.
Returning home earlier than planned, she found an unusual calm hanging over the house. Typically, her mom's lively singing could be heard from quite a distance, acting as a cheerful prelude to her arrival. However, today, as she paid attention, the familiar tunes were noticeably absent.
The thought crossed her mind that maybe her mother had gone out, but the destination remained a mystery. Approaching the front door, she knocked, hoping for a response, yet the silence persisted. With a hint of surprise, she discovered the door was unlocked as she stepped inside, her curiosity was piqued by the unexpected quietness inside.
"Ma?" she called out, but the lack of response heightened her concern. The lingering question now was whether her mother had left the house without bothering to lock the doors.
"Ma, are you home?" She went into the living room but there was no sign of her mother anywhere. She proceeded to the kitchen to check if she might be there but she there was no sign of her. She placed the grocery bags she had in hand on the kitchen countertop. She went to the kitchen tap to rinse her hands as they were soiled from the doughnuts she had eaten earlier.
"Ma?" Alyson called once more, growing increasingly worried as silence persisted. Perplexed, she was on the verge of heading to her room when she heard muffled sobs emanating from her parent's bedroom. A sense of urgency overcame her as she quickly redirected towards the source of the sound. "Ma, are you in there?" she called out, The thought echoed in Alyson's mind as she walked toward the bedroom – why hadn't she checked the bedroom first upon her return?
As Alyson approached and prepared to grasp the doorknob, memories of her father from the previous night flashed vividly before her eyes. Shaking her head, she attempted to dispel the haunting images, consciously trying not to dwell on the unsettling recollections.
With resolution, Alyson turned the knob and entered the room. There, she found her mother curled up on the bed, drenched in tears.
"Ma!" Alyson exclaimed as she rushed to her mother and hugged her tightly from behind. "Ma are you okay?" Alyson asked as she got up and placed her hand on her mother's cheek.
Lucy sniffed as she got up. "You're back!"
"Yes ma, I am." Alyson swiftly replied.
"Why did you take so long to come back?"
"Did you miss me, ma?" She asked as she hugged her mother again.
"Have you had something to eat yet?" Alyson asked releasing her mother from her embrace. Her genuine concern resonated in the tone of her voice as she gently took the hem of her dress and wiped her mother's tears away.
"Why is it so dark in here?" Alyson mused to herself as she got up from the bed with the intention of going to open the windows to enable sunlight to penetrate the room.
As Alyson swiftly folded the blinds, the room was flooded with light. Lucy instinctively shielded her eyes, having been immersed in the room's darkness for an extended period. Slowly, she withdrew her hand as her eyes gradually adjusted to the newfound brightness.
"Have you had anything to eat since yesterday?" Alyson questioned again.
Lucy nodded her head as she answered, "No I haven't."
"You told me you would fix yourself something to eat. Don't starve yourself okay, Ma," Alyson said as she clasped both hands into her Mother's.
Lucy stared at her daughter with deep affection in her eyes. If only Alyson knew how many times she had gone hungry just to cater to Alyson's needs and make sure Alyson Never went a day without a meal.
"Don't go anywhere!" Alyson said to her mother as she rushed back to the kitchen. She ransacked the grocery bag searching for the snacks she had gotten for her mother.
She rushed back into the bedroom and handed the paper bag to her mother. "Here, I got you this!"
Lucy collected the bag from Alyson, wearing a worried look on her face. "Oh baby, you didn't have to." She took a peek of the contents in the bag and gasped.
"You got my favorite flavor!" Lucy's face lightened up, squealing excitedly like a child as she reached for one doughnut. She uncovered the wrap as she bit into it hurriedly and finished the doughnut with the second bite. Alyson bit into the doughnut hurriedly, savoring its sweetness, and quickly finished it with the second bite. Without hesitation, she reached for a second one, repeating the routine.
"How much did it cost you?" Lucy inquired between mouthfuls, her curiosity piqued as she enjoyed the doughnuts.
"It was nothing, Ma." Alyson let out.
"Are you sure," she said as she took another bite into a doughnut when she had barely finished what she had in her mouth.
Alyson retrieved a soda from the bag, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to her mother, who eagerly gulped it all down.
"I bought some groceries too," Alyson blurted after her mother had finished her meal and was now wiping her mouth with a tissue.
The tissue fell from Lucy's has as she stared bewildered at Alyson. "You bought groceries?!" Lucy asked expressing her shock.
"Mhm mhm," Alyson affirmed, nodding her head.
"Tess has outdone herself this time," she smiled.
"It wasn't Tess, Ma," Alyson replied her.
"Then who? Or did you run into a prince charming?" Lucy jokingly said as she winked.
Alyson feigned a giggle as she decided to brief her mother about her day. "An agency gifted me a hundred dollars."
"Gifted you? What for?." She asked all at once.
"They said it was because I took out my time to go them."
"How did you end up in a Charity agency?"
"It's a beauty agency, ma," Alyson corrected.
"Well, what were you looking for in a beauty agency?" Lucy inquired.
Alyson moved closer to her mother, briefing her on how Tess had discovered an ad in the magazine but omitting details about Sky.
Lucy, somewhat displeased that Alyson had gone against her orders and went in search of a job couldn't help but be intrigued by her tale.