Disclaimer: SM owns all recognizable characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The plot herein is mine. No plagiarism!
This story contains mature themes and is suitable for those eighteen and over.
Thnx beanothercullen!
EPOV
I head back out to the front in a better mood than when I had entered Emmett's office. Between the talk we had, and the call from Jasper, I'm far more relieved than I had been earlier. But Becky and Lily are still looking at me worriedly.
Becky takes the brave step forward and asks, "Are you okay?" The concern laced in her tone makes me smile. These two really cared.
"Yes," I tell her as Lily looks on. "Talking to Emmett did wonders."
They both seem to sigh in relief and return my open smile before Lily says cheerily, "I'm happy to hear it." before we get back to work.
Things flow smoothly after we got back to work. Every customer that came through the door, I smile and greet them while the girls handled their orders. We're working in unison and it feels great. Being here, has cemented my decision to stay for the sake of living my life with my friends and Jasper and I'm over the moon about that.
However, by closing time, and just as I'm about to sigh in relief that my work for the day is done and I'll get to see Jasper, I'm stunned silent and frozen in shock when she walks through the door.
"Hello, Edward." She walks up to the counter and says in that calm tone that used to make me smile.
"Hello…Mom."
She slightly smiles, though her face looks like it hurts to do it, and looks around. "This is where you work?"
"Yes."
"Well…" She sighs. Mother is pristine as usual, and looks the same since the last time I saw her. It's like she's frozen in time. Her white Dolce & Gabana coat sits on her shoulders as if it was made just for her, and her hair is as immaculate as I remembered; not a strand out of place as it flows down her shoulders.
I want to speak. I want to say something else, but for the love of me, I can't think of what.
"Well, aren't you going to say anything?" she asks snidely with a perfectly arched eyebrow while searching my eyes for God knows what.
It's a look I know all too well. It's full of expectancy. She wants an explanation. She wants to know why I'm here.
Here in New York.
This is one of those moments when you want to say what is exactly on your mind, but I decide on another route. I decide to mess with her a bit. "Welcome to On The Run, can I take your order?"
Her brows knit in anger, and she bristles at my response before she manages to hiss out, "Is that meant to be a joke, Edward?" The authority in her should scare me, but doesn't. Not anymore.
"Does it look like I'm joking?" I say harshly, the anger stirring inside me. Our eyes are locked, but I can hear Emmett behind me, joining Becky and Lily, who are also behind me, taking in the show.
"Why are you here?"
"What do you care?"
"Edward…" She sighs, rolling her eyes.
Emmett moves in closer, and my anger is bubbling to the surface. I'm trying my best not to make it get the better of me, but seeing the woman who stood by and watched my father kick me out, forcing to leave my home and head to parts unknown because their reputation mattered more than my well being, is killing me. I want to be rude. I want yell and scream at her. But Emmett's presence calms me down a little. He steps up to the counter, coming to stand beside me. He glances at me briefly and then let's his authority be known as he addresses my mother. "Do we have a problem, Ma'am?" The anger dangling in his tone almost makes me want to smile, seeing as it's directed at her.
"Yeah, I'm not defenseless this time around," I thought, and I can't help how good that feels. This would've been perfect if Tanya was here, but I'm not scared and I can handle her on my own.
Mother gives him an exasperated look and sighs. You can see the disdain at being questioned written all over her face; it's as clear as day. "No, I'm merely speaking with this young man over here."
"Edward?" Emmett says, ignoring her ridiculous answer; opting to turn his attention to me. "Are you good?"
"Yeah." I smile, my eyes solely on my mother. "We'll be done in a minute."
Giving her my full attention, because I want nothing more than for her to go away, I ask, "So since you're not going to order anything, Mom, what do you want?"
She looks a little shocked when I call her 'Mom', like I didn't just call her that a minute ago. She looks behind me, probably eyeing Becky and Lily who are standing there, and shifts uncomfortably. It's like being my mother should be a secret so I chuckle, and then let her know how things stood here. "Don't worry, Mom. This isn't Forks. Nobody knows about us here. At least, not yet."
"Edward…I…" Again, she tries to give me one of her fake smiles and it pisses me off. Does she remember that I'm her son? That I grew up with them and I know them inside and out; right down to when they're being fake.
What the fuck is wrong with her?
"I, what?"
"Edward, I would like to talk to you," she says, trying to sound like the caring, loving mother I wish I'd had.
"About what?" My tone is bitter, but I don't give a damn. I've earned the right to be angry.
She looks astonished by my harsh reply, yet, it doesn't deter her bullshit. "About you being here."
"I work here," I say smugly; even though I know what she means.
"Edward, don't patronize me."
"Don't tell me what to do!" My fist slams down on the counter, making the girls gasp and Emmett places a hand on my shoulder while my mother stares on in shock.
My anger is no longer stirring. It's risen to the peak and its getting out of control.
"Edward, how dare you?!" she whisper-yells.
"What do you want?" I repeat, trying to rein in my temper as Emmett keeps a tight grip on my shoulder in support.
"What are you doing here?" she asks; she's giving me a migraine.
"I live and work here in New York," I say through clenched teeth. "What's it to you?"
She looks positively horrified by response. "I-I-I thought..." I don't think I've ever heard my mother stutter. She clears her throat, gathering her wits about her and looks at me with a stern expression. "I thought you would've gone farther than this. We travel to New York a lot, don't you know that?" Her pathetic attempt at a giggle grates my brain.
"Good for you, but this wasn't exactly a planned trip, now was it, Mom?" My tone reeks of the loathing I feel for her and the scowl on my face is unmoving.
"Still..." she continues with a slight chirpiness to her tone that makes me want to do bad things. What? I'm not about to be the good little idiot they raised and listen to whatever crap she'll say next and obey. To hell with that.
"Still nothing," I'm quick to say, my voice raising. Becky and Lily are etching closer, but they maintain a good distance all the same. They're all here for me. I can feel it.
"Edward..." Mother gasps quietly, feigning embarrassment.
"What?"
"I know," she whispers.
What the hell does she mean she knows?"Know what?" I ask irritably.
She seems reluctant to say it and I have no time for this. I want to leave. I want to get home before Jasper gets there. We have to talk.
Sighing in frustration, I say, "Just say what you want and go." She's still silent so I go on, "Listen, it's closing time and my boss wants to lock up. Say what you came here to say."
"Well, I wanted to say that…" she pauses again and I want to scream.
"Why are you here in the first place?" I ask in a commanding tone. "Is it just me or did you forget that you and dad kicked me out? Didn't you two say that I'm no longer family and for what, Mom? For wanting to be me? For wanting to be true to myself and fucking happy?" I feel the tears welling up in my eyes at the frustration of her standing before me after all this time, and still, nothing has changed. She's still cold hearted and selfish.
She has the audacity to look saddened by my remarks. But what she says next, nearly gives me a heart attack. "Let's forget about the past for a moment."
What the fuck?
How easy it is for her to say some shit like that. But unfortunately, I can't forget. She isn't the one that was kicked out, forced to live on the streets in a city that she didn't know, and she definitely wasn't the one who had to fuck men for money.
"Let's forget about that?" I repeat, wanting to grab her but Emmett's grip got impossibly tighter. "If only you knew, Mother." I'm so tempted to say it; to tell her what I used to be. To say that I was a prostitute. To let her know exactly what I had to do.
"Well, what concerns me," she continues, not even remotely aware of what I want to say to her. "Is this…relationship you have with Heidi's son, Jasper. Edward, please stop this…foolishness. You have embarrassed the family enough. Why are you dragging Heidi's son into it? Didn't the last…" She moves closer as if Becky and Lily still can't hear her in the quiet coffeehouse since we are the only ones there. "…boy suffer enough for the sake of your experiments?" I want to kick Seth's ass. "Edward, stop this."
I'm speechless for a minute. I can't believe her. This is incredible. This woman actually birthed me? What is wrong with her? I don't to feel it, but the only emotion coursing through me right now after what she just said, is hate. God…I hate her. I hate my own mother.
She's here to tell me to break up with Jasper. She's not even happy that she's looking into my eyes and not at a headstone. She's only here for her and my father's own selfish reasons.
Turning to Emmett, I realize that I have to leave, and leave now. If I stay, it won't be pretty. "Listen, thanks for what you said. I really needed it." I move on to Becky and Lily. "I'll see you two tomorrow."
"Okay," they say in unison; their eyes holding nothing but sadness.
"See you tomorrow, Edward," Emmett says with a small smile.
Nodding, I move pass him, and head for my locker to retrieve my backpack.
"Edward?" My mother beckons, but I don't answer. Instead, I throw my backpack over my shoulder and breeze pass her, heading for the door.
"Edward, you need to leave!" she says as soon as I open it.
"I am leaving, Mom," I counter, taking a step over the threshold, "I'm heading home."
"Stop it!" She shrieks. "Edward, people will start to figure things out."
Letting go of the door, I stomp over to her, and Emmett moves from behind the counter swiftly, heading toward me. His intent is to block me from my mother, but I'm before her in three long strides and towering over her. "And what exactly does that have to do with me?!"
"Everything!" She yells back, her eyes blazing. "This is your damn fault!"
"No!" I shout back, fuming. "It's yours. You're the selfish, cold hearted ones!"
"Well, we couldn't very well stand by and let you disgrace the Masen name!"
"And putting me on a plane to disappear, while you two lie to people about my whereabouts was the best solution?!"
"Edward," Emmett says calmly. "It's okay, man. Calm down."
"Yes." She breathes, making what Emmett just said fly right out the window. "Calm down, Edward."
Calm down? How can I do that with this woman standing in front of me?
"Calm down? You and my father are fucking nuts! How can I stay calm when I know that half of what happened to me was because of you two idiots!" She stares at me long and hard, fury raging in her gray eyes, before she moves to slap me, but I grab her hand midair.
"Don't you dare," I hiss through gritted teeth and a shocked gasp leaves her.
"Edward…" Emmett tries and I quickly let go of my mother's hand as if it burnt me. I don't even want to touch her. Becky and Lily's faces both hold grim expressions, but it's my mother who has my attention. My cold stare is been countered by her disgusted one. But I'm through. This time I am walking away before I do anything I'll end up regretting.
I turn to leave again, but Mother's voice stops me.
"Why couldn't you have gone somewhere else?" she asks bitterly. I say nothing, and she goes on, "You should've found somewhere else to go. They are 50 states in this country, for heaven's sake!"
"Excuse me?" I sneer, stepping closer to her again, only to have Emmett block my path, but I move around him. She backs up into the counter upon my approach.
"Let it go," he whispers encouragingly. "Don't let her get to you."
I want to hear him. I want to use Becky and Lily's pleading looks for me to calm down and take heed, but I can't. "You expect me to get up, pack up my life, and move away because you think people will start to see you and Dad for the lying, manipulative, self-centered assholes you both are? I don't fucking think so!"
"How dare you?" she shouts back. "We gave you everything!"
"Really?" I laugh manically. "Everything? How about a home? How about that since you're so embarrassed by me and my 'gayness'? Huh, Mom?" I say snidely. "Why didn't you send me to my aunt Esme?"
A strange look comes over my mother's face at the mention of her estranged sister. "That wouldn't have worked, Edward."
"Why's that?"
Her eyes start flying all over the place; she looks at everything but me. A tell I knew all too well. She's about to tell a lie.
"Esme is wild, and unapologetic. She's not welcome in our home much less, our family affairs. So how could I have sent you to someone I didn't even talk to?"
Chuckling darkly, I choose to address her beady eyes, instead of her bullshit answer. "You looked weird when I mentioned her. Why?"
"That's none of your business," she's too quick to say, fueling my suspicion. "My sister and I don't speak and I wish to keep it that way. So sending you there was not an option. You're the one who started this ridiculousness, so you were the best person to deal with it."
That makes my temper boil over. "Deal with it? You're sick. By doing what? Coming to a strange city alone?!"
"Well…" she starts.
I can't stand it. I have to go. If I continue to stand here, I'm definitely going to get in trouble. I stalk off to the door again, yanking it open, and with my back to her, I seethe, "Don't ever come back here again, you hear me? If you came back, I'll have you arrested for harassment. As of now, I don't know you, and you don't know me. Goodbye, Mother."
A tear falls from my eyes when I walked out and I wipe it away. I quickly hail a cab, and the entire ride home, my cell rings, but I don't get it. Maybe it's Jasper. Maybe it's Tanya, but I don't care. I'll deal with it when I get there. Jasper and I have to talk but I don't want to take out my anger on him because of what just happened with my mother. I want to be calm when I talk to him.
Mostly though, seeing how nervous my so called mother got when I mentioned Esme, makes me want to find her. Mrs. Masen fears her sister and I want to know why.
When the guy pulls up to my building and I pay him and get out. My aunt Esme stays on my mind all the way to the elevator and even when I get on it and press the button to my floor. I have no way of knowing where Esme lives or works, but maybe if I ask Jasper, explaining the situation, he'll help me. I hate that I'll have to pull him into this bullshit, but I'm too curious to let it go. Something is wrong here. Something is up, and I want the truth from someone.
The clearest memory I have of Esme is when I was ten years old and at my grandmother's wake. I'd spotted her at the burial. She was crying and a blond haired man was comforting her. I found so beautiful, how caring he was to her because I had never seen my own parents act so affectionately toward each other.
But something else was strange.
My father was looking at Esme and the man in fury. He was angry and I didn't know why. He couldn't stop staring at them.
Anyways, I didn't see Esme up close until we were back at the house. She approached me with a kind smile and said…
"Hi, sweetie," The caramel haired lady said, bending down to my level.
"I'm your Aunt Esme," she said, holding out for me to shake.
I took it, it was warm and inviting. It was like when I would shake my father's dad's hand. My granddad was always kind to me too. Even when he wasn't being kind to my dad. I felt that same warmth and love in Esme's grip.
"I'm your nephew, Edward Masen."
"Well, hello, Edward." She smiled brightly.
"Hi, Aunt Esme." I smiled back.
"Wow…" she whispered as she took me. It was strange, because all I could think of was that Esme and I had the same color eyes; the same jade eyes. "You're so big, but then again, I haven't seen you in a long while." She looked almost sad when she said that.
But before I could've answered her, Mom had stormed over and they got into a heated argument. The blond haired man had to pull my aunt away after she tried to punch my mom in the face for whatever she said to her. Esme yelled as he hoisted her in the air, trying his best to hold her back. Mother looked horrified.
Whatever it is that my mother had said Esme, it angered her a lot.
The funny thing is, I could've sworn I heard a bit of what was being said, I just can't remember it. But I'll speak to Jasper. I'll ask for his help.
The elevator dings on my floor and I get off, heading to my door. I move to take out my keys, but when I try the door, it's unlocked. Tanya must be awake. Good, because I want to talk to her. I want to tell her about my mother being in town.
"Tanya?" I call out, moving to the living room while my phone rings, and Tanya's face flashes on the screen.
I answer it. "T, why are you…" My words die out in my throat when I see her sitting there on our couch. I don't have to ask who it is. The air about her says it all.
"Hello, Edward," she says in a deadly calm tone. "I'm Heidi Whitlock, and I have a proposition for you."
Next: Heidi comes to visit.
