Hey guys! I present you with another chapter! I apologize now and will tell you that this is a pre-confrontation chapter so it's mostly interaction between Santana and her mom. Not much drama just so you can get ready for the next chapter. Little taster if you may. I hope you enjoy it! And please reviews and comments always make my day :)!
The week passed quite quickly considering they haven't really been doing much apart from back and forth trips to the hospital, alternating dinner arrangements with Rosita and Janet and going to bed, and all the intricacies that come with that. But still, overall, not a busy week. They were scheduled to fly back to Lima in two days' time and Santana wasn't sure if she could leave her mother in this state but Rosita insisted the girls go back to Los Angeles as soon as possible. Her reasoning made sense, Santana had finals but amidst her mother's words, the brunette was adamant there was something else.
Santana told Brittany about what happened with her father after their meal with Janet. The blonde was genuinely happy for her girlfriend; she couldn't even find the words to express it because she knew how much it meant to Santana. Twenty one years of yearning for her father's affection and it's finally been given to her. Brittany could see the sheer joy reflecting from the brunette's eyes. There were tears of joy that trickled down her cheeks which also caused blue eyes to shed them. Everything was finally falling into place and this seemed like the last piece of the puzzle.
Or so they think.
Santana hasn't heard from Quinn since their phone conversation. She figured her friend would be right in the middle of her background check and didn't really want to disturb her flow. There was no doubt Quinn would be on this case, she's a reliable person, to everyone and especially her closest friends. Still, Santana is an impatient woman. That's her. Nothing is ever going to change that. It also doesn't help that she keeps catching her mother in the middle of aggravated phone calls and whenever she asks the older woman who it was, she'd just change the subject. At first Rosita actually bothered to make up excuses, now she simply shrugs the question off. This bothers Santana like no other and obviously, it hasn't taken Brittany long to notice it too.
"San, is your mom alright?" Brittany asks her girlfriend while they sat around the kitchen table for breakfast.
Rosita is in Antonio's office talking on the phone again. That's what she seems to be doing all the time, if she's not at the hospital. The doctors informed them that Antonio will be released tomorrow but will need personal medical care, so they needed to a hire a stay in nurse. Physical and speech therapy was also going to be vital for this recovery so the hospital scheduled appointments for him. The hospital is basically doing everything so Santana can't really think of anyone who her mother should be having such regular conversations with and it also doesn't explain her unusual behaviour.
"I don't know, Britt. I feel like she's not telling me something. She looks so stressed all the time and I can tell it's not because of my dad." Santana replied, taking a sip from her coffee. Today they're going to check up on Antonio again and explain to him what his recovery plans are going to be.
"Maybe we should stay longer?" Brittany suggested, eyeing the Latina purposely.
Santana smiled at her girlfriend. She always did put Santana first. "Britt, I already told my mom but she keeps insisting we have to go back as soon as possible because we're "missing too much of our lives"." She gestured the air quotes, revealing her opposing reaction to her mother's words. "Besides, you heard the doctor. I think they'll be fine and we'll visit."
"Well, I just hope your mom isn't trying to be strong for everyone. She doesn't have to be, we're here." Brittany reached across the table to rest her hand on top of Santana's, lightly squeezing it for re assurance.
"You're so great, B. I'll talk to her later, okay?" Santana was truly grateful for this woman. Without a doubt, Brittany is keeping her on the right track.
Her phone rang. It was the phone call she'd been waiting for the past few days. She hoped to God Quinn had something, anything, because she's so sure that her mother is keeping something from her ever since that woman showed up. She just needed to know, badly.
"You got anything, Q?" she answered immediately.
"Hello to you to Santana." Quinn rolled her eyes at the greeting. "Yes and no."
"What the hell does that mean?" Santana impatiently replied on the other end of the line.
"Calm your socks, Lespez. Okay, so I did some digging and turns out your mom's amiga, was an escolta de class alta." High class escort. Quinn simply stated.
Santana's eyebrows furrowed, which meant she was in deep thought. Why the hell would her mother be friends with a high class escort? Not that she looks down on them but Rosita, the most socially conscious woman she knows, would never associate herself with an escort. "Okay that's weird. Why would my mother be friends with her?"
"S, I wish I could tell you. All I know is that she was working around Ohio way back, just before we were born probably and seems like she moved just outside the state and it says here that she's been living at her current address for almost 21 years. There were a few criminal records but they were minor charges. The woman hasn't been 'working' since." Quinn explained. She really couldn't tell where Santana was going with this information.
"Guess that's good right? You know she changed her lifestyle." That was all the brunette could say. But how in the world did this woman even end up in her parents' circle.
"Sorry, S, that's all I've got. Maybe it's time to let this one go?" Quinn suggested.
A deep sigh escaped from Santana's lips. "Yeah, I guess so. Thanks Quinn, you're still as creepy as ever."
"I'll take that as a compliment on this occasion. I'll see you in two days. Text me your flight details; Rach and I will pick you guys up."
"I will do. Thanks again." She replied in appreciation before hanging the phone up. Guess this Elena Rodriguez case should rest, she thought while heading back to the living room.
Santana offered to drive her mother to the hospital this time. It was easier than taking two cars anyway; they only needed one parking space. She also wanted to use this time to talk to her mom because the older woman would not have anywhere else to go. Santana was fully aware that she was cornering her mother but it was the last choice. She needed to talk her properly about maybe staying longer to help with her father's recovery. Brittany decided that she would meet them at the hospital later because she wanted to say bye to her mom just in case she won't be able to see her before they leave. The brunette was quite pleased with her girlfriend's decision, not because she didn't want Brittany to be there when she discussed things with her mom, it's because she knows her mother would be more comfortable talking to her alone.
"So mami, have you thought about my suggestion? You know, staying her longer to help with Papi." Santana started the conversation. She was uncomfortable with the silence that hung inside the car.
The older woman looked exhausted and drained but she forced a smile on her face, "Mija, I told you, we'll be fine. The hospital has already arranged all the help your father needs, all expenses paid. Besides, you know your father wouldn't want you to be behind college work, especially it's your final year." she explained with a soft tone.
Santana let her eyes glance at Rosita momentarily. She didn't want to leave her parents behind especially now that she has reconnected with her father. She felt that it was right for her to be there beside him while he goes through therapy. Brittany said she was willing to put dancing on hold, maybe she only said that because that's what Santana wants to hear. Maybe her mother's right after all. "I just don't want you to go through this all alone. Britt said she's willing to stay with me. I can call my Director of Studies and explain my situation."
"Santana, please, don't worry about us. We've been away from each other a long time. I'm sure we'll be used to it again." Her mother's tone was surprisingly harsh. Even the older woman seemed shocked at what just came out of her mouth.
Santana's eyes widen at her mother's words. She felt like an icicle has been stabbed through her chest. She wanted to say something, she wanted to yell but she kept her mouth shut and her eyes to the road. Less than two days, she thought. There's no need to start a fight.
The rest of the journey to the hospital went by in an uncomfortable silence. Rosita was still in disbelief she actually uttered those words to her daughter who was only trying to help but she had a reason. A reason she couldn't exactly disclose to Santana. Elena is back and the only way to keep her family intact is to send her daughter back to Los Angeles. She didn't know what Elena had in mind when she came back to Lima and Rosita certainly does not want to find out. She lost her husband once but she got him back. Then she lost her son, forever. She thought she lost Santana but now her daughter is back. So she's willing to fight; willing to do whatever the hell it takes to keep the people she loves protected and most of all, she's not going to lose her daughter. Santana is hers. This fight is not about whose blood runs through Santana's veins, it's about the sacrifice she's made for her daughter. She could have easily turned her back and sent the crying baby away but she didn't, she loved her with all her heart and therefore, Santana is hers.
So thank you for reading and I hope to upload the next chapter asap! I'm currently writing it so a little persuasion might help me upload it quicker! It's just so difficult at the moment to juggle uni, work, social life and writing! Anyway, ramble over! Thank you for reading! :)