Love, curves and heartbreak Chapter 67

I find myself sitting in one of the cafés in the city center, a simple one where I had wanted to bring my mom. When she agreed to visit me, I was thrilled. We have always had our differences, but my mom would do anything for me, and I would do anything for her. It was, without a doubt, the best news I had received in months.

Since arriving in this city, I have been incredibly happy, experiencing new things and being surrounded by people. Every day there is something new to discover, and I am constantly amazed. Still, hearing that she was coming and being able to hug her made me as happy as a clam. It felt like my old life and my new life were coming together for a joyful moment.

“This place is amazing, sweetie!” she says happily.

I smile as I see my mom arrive with a new coffee, which appears to be her new favorite. She looks tired and thinner, and I fear that Caroline's stress is taking its toll on her. Since yesterday, we have shared unforgettable moments, walking through the city, and she seems delighted.

“So… what's new?”

She listens to me enthusiastically talk about what I am learning and the people I am studying and working with. We laugh and catch up, but I have been waiting to discuss a particular subject. I don't want to know about my sister, but about my mom's business.

“Well, after months of joint effort, we were able to improve our numbers in the beauty salon, and we are no longer in danger,” she tells me excitedly. I figured things were better, but I wanted to know how they had achieved it.

"That's amazing, Mom! It must have been a huge effort for everyone!" I tell her.

I can't even imagine all the time, dedication, effort, and sacrifice it took to achieve this. No business is perfect, but for years my mom ran hers successfully. It would have been tragic to lose it, just because of Caroline's bad decisions, as always.

"That's right! As soon as we were sure we were safe, I started working on a plan to analyze how we could improve and avoid another problem like this," she adds.

"I think we are better for now. The debts are paid, but your sister owes a lot of money that I don't know how she's going to pay," she says, taking a sip of her coffee. "Caroline... what she did is really unforgivable," she says bitterly.

It's the first time I hear her express herself like that about my sister. It's not that Caroline doesn't deserve it, but Mom has always been softer with her. Caroline, the one I always thought was her favorite daughter, the pretty, skinny one.

"I guess she will have to work hard to pay you back," I tell her.

“Well, yes, she was also embarrassed in front of everyone, and I think she has to reflect a lot on everything she did. Especially taking money from my business. She must understand that we are a family. If one falls, we all fall. But for now, what matters is that everything is solved,” she says, still annoyed but trying to settle the issue.

"I'm grateful for that. It really is a relief, Mom. I'm sorry I didn't help you more," I tell her. She smiles and caresses my hand.

“Thank you for offering money and help. I deeply appreciate it, sweetie. But… actually, you did help… in a way,” she says mysteriously, and I don't understand.

"I don't get it, Mom. What do you mean?" I ask. I did offer my help, but she insisted on not taking it.

"I'm talking about Ethan of course... didn't he tell you?" she says, and when I shake my head, she adds, "I thought he had told you something about this."

"To be honest, we have talked, but never about serious issues. I know little about his life. Surely, you know more," I confess.

“I thought you knew at least what he did!” When I shake my head, she sighs.

"That boy! Well, since he hasn't told you anything... I'll explain," she says, and I remain expectant.

“Everyone in the salon worked hard to avoid bankruptcy. But during that time, Ethan appeared out of nowhere. I don't know how he found out, but he offered to help me with a loan,” she explains, and I am astounded.

I remember talking to him one day when he saw me worried and asked what was going on. I explained a little bit about my mom's struggles, but nothing more.

"What? Are you telling me Ethan offered to help you with money?" I ask, open-mouthed, and my mom nods.

“Yes, he said it was temporary, but I will pay him back when the business gets better. I thought he was helping me because Maggie or Lily had asked him, maybe because we've known each other for years. But no, he confessed to me after a long time that he didn't want you to worry. He didn't tell me much about what had happened between you two, just that you dated for a while. I always knew that he adored you, but I didn't think there was something between you romantically,” she adds.

“Ehh… well….”

“He just told me that he had hurt you, that it was unintentional, but that he was terribly sorry. He's always been a good guy, so I didn't think anything bad of him, and when you told me you were still friends, I figured it wasn't anything too serious. He didn't explain what he had done, no matter how much I insisted, but Ethan has made it his personal mission to ensure that we are okay. Not only that, but he always asks me about you. I have no doubt that his greatest concern was that you were happy," she tells me, and I am speechless, processing everything.

“Mom, but Ethan shouldn't have done it. I told him I was worried about you. But I mean, what happened between us, I told him I forgave him before I left,” I explain when I manage to react.

“Oh dear, he insisted. Moreover, I think he would have helped me one way or another. It seems that since you guys split, he's different,” she tells me in a low voice. “Maggie confessed to me that he has become worried and has changed a lot. For example, he left his position in Europe,” she says, looking me in the eye.

"What? He left? He quit his job? Is he no longer in Europe?" I ask, stunned, and my mom is visibly exasperated, squeezing her face with her hands.

“Really, Ethan is quite stubborn. I'd like to give him a good reprimand,” she suddenly says aloud. “He really never told you! What goes through his stubborn head?” she wonders aloud, while I am astonished, not knowing what's going on.

“Mom, Ethan and I… it was complicated, but he was going to Europe, and we kind of broke up. But now, you tell me that he left his new job. What happened? Did he come back home?” I ask, trying to understand.

"Yes, he was living in Europe, but I understand that at the time of Lily's baby shower, he had already left his position and was searching for something close to home. I suppose he found something soon."

It's true that I was surprised to see him at the baby shower, but I thought he came just to visit for the occasion. I never thought it was permanent. Why didn't he tell me? I don't react, and my mom explains further.

"I think he came back to solve some things, also for his family, but especially he came back for you," I blink, unable to hide my astonishment.

“No… I mean…”

"Dear…he literally confessed it to me," she says. I am speechless, my mouth hanging open.

“After all he's done, I'm not surprised he has feelings for you. At the end of the day, you are a wonderful woman, my Prissy,” says my mom, looking at me with love, and my heart melts.

“After helping you with the beauty salon, you mean?” I ask.

“No, silly. Not only that. Maggie and I have a theory that he went to the company where you worked to be with you, to get close to you again. He had talked to your boss and asked to get you involved in the projects. You told me that, didn't you?" she says, gently patting my hand while I try to understand everything she just said. This is just shocking.

I remember when he came to the office that first day, happy to see me, inviting me for coffee. Everything makes sense now. And I turned him down! I was walking away from him! sweet God!

I'm just dumbfounded, and I can't help but wonder now, like a fool, as if all the information is suddenly falling into place.

Ethan… why didn't he ever tell me all these things?

What else has he done for me that I don't know about?

Why didn't I know about all of this, for heaven's sake?