Chapter Four
Lydia knocked on the door and waited for her mom to open it. After a few seconds, she heard footsteps from the inside running to get the door. That definitely wasn't her mother, the sick woman would never run for someone knocking the front door.
Finally, a young lady, probably a couple of years younger than Lydia, was the one who opened.
"Welcome home, Ms. Martin".
There was a polite smile on the woman's face. Her white teeth came in contrast to her deep brown skin. She had a lean body and was a few inches taller than Lydia. What struck the strawberry blonde about her appearance, though, were her blonde-dyed hair. They made her look really funny and Lydia thought that probably something had gone wrong with the hair dye.
"I'm Zoey, your mom's caretaker".
"Hi, I'm Lydia" the strawberry blonde replied, shaking hands with the girl.
"I know. Your mother talks a lot about you. Anyway, she just fell asleep, so why don't you go let your things on your room, while I make you something to eat? It's already past noon, you should be hungry".
"Actually, I'm starving" Lydia answered laughing. "Thanks".
She was tired from the trip and the meeting with Stiles, but her stomach growled like it hadn't had food for days.
Lydia walked up the stairs slowly. Suddenly, memories from the time she lived there came rushing to her mind. Memories of her childhood, when her dad was still living with her and her mom, before her parent's divorce, memories of Stiles following her to her room while holding her bag and memories of Allison and herself singing, laughing and talking about boys…
**** flashback ****
"I'M WALKING ON SUNSHINE, OH OH!"
'Walking on sunshine' was blasting from the stereo on one corner of Lydia's bedroom. Allison was sitting on the king-size bed, while the strawberry blonde was looking at her closet for something to wear on her date that night.
"I bet Aiden will not give a damn about what you are wearing, Lyds. It's not like you will be wearing clothes for a long time" Allison said to her best friend, in between singing.
"Probably, but I still wanna look good. So, which one is better?" Lydia was pointing to the two dresses she was holding. One of them was a plain black knee-length dress, while the other one was deep red, shorter than the first.
"The red one, definitely" Allison said and then grabbed the magazine lying next to the bed.
"Ali, how do you feel with this whole Scott-Kira thing?" the strawberry blonde asked after a while.
Allison let out a big sigh and answered.
"I don't know. I mean, it's kind of confusing. I'm happy for Scott, I really am. And I like Kira, it's just that I will always have feelings for him. He was my first love, you know".
Lydia knew. Or kind of. She knew how strong Allison's feelings for the young Alpha were, but she never experienced herself such strong feelings for someone. Sure there had been Jackson, a couple of other guys, and now Aiden, but never had she felt in love. She didn't even know what love was, since her mother wasn't a very affectionate person and she was always out with friends and her father rarely called.
"But it's time to move on. And I have Isaac now" continued her best friend and smiled when she said the Beta's name.
"Isaac is a good guy, Ali" Lydia said and she meant it.
The girls smiled to each other and then Lydia turned to put on her red dress, while Allison resumed with her singing 'Walking on Sunshine'.
**** end of flashback ****
Lydia was about to open her old bedroom door, when a voice called her name.
"Lydia?" her mother's voice was barely audible.
The strawberry blonde walked hesitantly towards her mom's bedroom. She turned the doorknob and stepped inside.
The room was dark inside; the curtains didn't let any light in. In the dim light, Lydia could see a figure lying on a dark shape, which the girl knew wasthe bed.
"It's nice to see you again, honey" her mom said with a tired voice.
"Hi, mom" was the only answer she could give.
"Come. Sit here, beside me" Mrs. Martin motioned for her daughter to come closer.
Lydia was hesitant at first, but then she found the courage and sat beside her mother. She didn't know what to say, she hadn't talked to the older woman for a very long time and she couldn't think of anything to say.
"I missed you, Lydia" her mom reached to take her hand and she let her, not pulling away.
It was difficult, she realized. Difficult to be here in this town again, but even more difficult to be in the current condition; knowing her mother was now a breast cancer patient and there was nothing she could do about it.
Then it hit her. She had missed her mom. They may have never been close, but she was still the woman who gave birth to her. What would happen if she died? Could Lydia endure it? She had already lost Allison, Aiden. Could she lose another person she loved?
"Lydia, are you okay?" her mom asked after a while.
"Yeah, I'm fine" she managed. "I missed you, too, mom".
That was all it took. Suddenly, tears were falling from both of the women's eyes. The older woman opened her shaking arms and her daughter crashed into them. It felt good for both of them to be that close to each other.
After a few more moments, the hug finally ended, but Lydia didn't let go of her mother's hand.
"How are you feeling, mom?" the strawberry blonde asked seriously.
"I've been better" the older woman smiled weakly. "But, I'm so happy to see you. You've made my day".
"I'm sorry I haven't been here for so long, it's just that…"
"It was hard for you, I know. You shouldn't be the one to apologize, though. I should have been there for you, when everything happened. I'm so sorry, sweetheart" a new round of tears started falling from her mother's eyes, but this time they weren't tears of joy.
"You couldn't have known, mom" Lydia replied with a low voice.
For so many years, the young woman had been blaming her mother for always being away and leaving her daughter behind to an empty big house. To some people living alone in a mansion sounded like paradise, but not to her. She had felt alone, abandoned. So, when the sad events happened, one reason for her leaving Beacon Hills, was the fact that only empty house walls would be waiting for her and the grief would take the best of her.
But, now, as her mother apologized for not being with her daughter when she needed her, Lydia let go of her feelings of abandonment and forgave her mother immediately. She didn't know why she did forgive her, though. Maybe she really believed her mother when she said she was sorry or maybe she just wanted to feel close to someone again. Which of them were true, the strawberry blonde didn't know.
Mrs. Martin let out a small yawn and Lydia, after squeezing her hand, slowly stood up from the bed.
"Have some sleep, mom. It looks like you need it".
"Can you promise me something, Lydia?"
"It depends" came quickly out of her mouth.
God, she needed to start trusting people again. Taking a deep breath she corrected "Okay".
"Can you please not leave?"
"Don't worry, mom. I'll be here when you wake up" Lydia smiled.
After that, she turned on her heels and walked to her own bedroom. She was taking off her clothes, to have a shower, when a voice spoke from behind her and Lydia froze.
"Nice tattoo, you got there".
Lydia turned and exclaimed:
"Allison?"
A/N: Cliffhanger? I'm a terrible person mouahahahaha :P Anyway, I'm so so so sorry for not updating sooner, I really am! I hope you're not too mad.! So, did you like this chapter? It's longer than the previous ones and wait did Lydia say… Allison? A penny for your thoughts; review.!
