"Yes Victoria! I did! Yes, I did! Oh no!" Maa yelled on the phone. "Victoria, I'm really not in the mood right now. Victoria please understand. Listen, I own the company. Not you"
She was red now. Mom was always stressed now. We were still in Milan, but she worked constantly. She returned to the hotel at late hours of the night and left before dawn. Her eyes had bags and her body looked fragile. Her face was drained of all the colour and Jude and I were so worried about her.
Three days were up and Victoria was demanding mom to stay there for a week and do more business work which was beyond my understanding.
"Mom, why can't you just be satisfied with what I am doing right now?" Her voice cracked. "Bye."
That was all, she cut the call and entered the car which was going to take us back to the airport.
The flight was delayed, so our wait was long. She had yet to speak to either of us. Jude had tried to talk to her a couple of times, but she was always successful in ignoring us. She worked and then she worked some more. Throughout the plane ride, she was on her laptop, matching colours or scheduling appointments. She laid out the magazine cover and decided the new banners of the website. She sketched some and then sent more emails. Not once did she even take a coffee break.
My mom looked different. She wasn't my mom anymore. I didn't know what to do.
Just as we entered our Tree Hill home again, her phone rang.
"Yes Victoria," she answered rubbing her aching temples. "I sent you the final cover and the new banners are posted. The IT Team already uploaded all the new designs on the website and production is on in full swing as we speak. They start shipping tomorrow." She explained as she collapsed on the couch.
I don't know how or why, but Victoria started yelling at mom in full blow. She was so loud that I could hear screeches although I was on the other side of the room.
"That is it Victoria! I am done. Do hell with the company and the designs or whatever God damn thing you are yelling about now. But I am done. Have fun with the company. I quit." And with that she threw the phone against the door. The phone instantly cracked and fell on the floor with a thud, followed by a loud growl from my mom. She bounded up the stairs and slammed her door, bolting it up.
I didn't hear from her that day. Not even a muffle or a sob. There wasn't a sound.
Jude knocked on her door a couple of times, but there was nothing. Just silence.
"Jude, I called Aunt Haley. She made dinner for us. She is coming to talk to mom once we eat." I told him after entering his room. He was at his table, studying.
He just nodded his head and went to put on his sneakers. We entered through the back gate that connected our two villas.
"Hi Uncle Nate." I said as he came to hug me.
"Hey Sophie. Go on to the dining room. Haley and James are just getting dinner. And don't worry, Brooke will be just fine. We will talk to her. I know Brookie better than anyone. Don't worry." He assured.
I just nodded my head as a single tear poured down.
"So how was Milan?" Aunt Haley asked as she put in yet another serving of risotto on our plate.
"Thats it Aunt Hales! I will explode!" I exclaimed. But of course, she didn't listen.
After another twenty minutes, they came home with us to get my mom out.
Just like we predicted, she was still locked away in her room.
"Brooke open the door or I will tear it down!" Uncle Nathan yelled after persistent knocks, bangs and calls.
"Come on Tigger! We are here for you. Let us in!" Aunt Haley said in her motherly voice.
"Mom, you really need to come out. Victoria isn't worth it. Just drop her." Jude tried.
But yet, we were only met with deafening silence.
"Mom, please. I am so sorry. I really am. I won't do it again. Please just come out!" I cried.
Still Nothing. Absolutely Nothing.
Another volley of protest followed. Aunt Peyton came. Jamie tried. Still, the result was deadly silence. Aunt Peyton tried calling Uncle Lucas, but he didn't answer.
Now it was time. The water had reached beyond our nostrils. Uncle Nathan, Jamie and Jude attacked the door and broke it down.
And then we were met with the most horrifying sight.
My mom was on the floor, unconscious. Lifeless. I didn't know whether she was dead or alive. Her eyes were firmly shut and her hands lay around like a corpse. There wasn't any movement. There was stillness.
Or so I thought, because the next time I blinked, we were in the hospital waiting for a doctor to come check her.