Chapter 33

 

 

 

Royal greeted his mother with a hug.

“What brings you by in the middle of the day, son?” she asked as he stepped inside.

“I needed to speak to you about something.”

“Okay. It must be serious, then.”

“It is. Why don’t you have a seat, mother?”

Bernadette sat down on the living room sofa, then glanced up at her tall son – her youngest – who looked perplexed. “You look like you have something heavy on your mind.”

“I do. I need to ask you something.”

“Okay.”

“How you feel about Gemma?”

Bernadette frowned. “How do I feel about Gemma?”

“Yes, mother.”

“I think Gemma’s a good girl. She’s kind. Respectful.”

“But?”

Bernadette sighed. “I’ve noticed that you two have been spending a lot of time together lately and while she’s a sweet girl, I don’t think she’s right for you, Royal.”

“Why not? Because of her diagnosis?”

“Yes, son. She has cancer.”

“No, Mom. She had cancer. She’s cancer-free, and—”

“Yeah, but whose to say it ain’t coming back,” she said.

“And who’s to say I won’t get into another car accident tomorrow, except this time, I won’t be so fortunate.”

Bernadette placed a hand over her heart. She felt faint recalling how Royal was hospitalized after the car accident five years ago. “I guess you’re right about that.”

“Mother,” Royal said, sitting next to her, “I love you dearly,” he said holding her hands. “You and dad saw me through some of the most tumultuous times of my life. I love you for it, and I have the utmost respect for you. But I love Gemma, and I know in my heart that I can’t be without her. I can’t, mother.”

Bernadette smiled, then gave her son a warm embrace. “I’m your mother and I’ll always be your mother. It’s my job to worry about you, son.”

“I know, and I appreciate that. Some people don’t have a mother to show the same loving concern you’ve always shown to us. Gemma doesn’t have that, and neither does Gianna. That’s why your words hit me so hard because I need you to be that mother figure for her in the absence of her real mother, and I’m hoping once you see how much I truly love Gemma, you’ll fill that void in her life.”

“I will certainly do my best.” Bernadette smiled warmly at her son. “You really do love her, don’t you?”

A smile brightened his face. “Yes. I do.”