CHAPTER 5 - MOTHER AND DAUGHTER BONDING

It was a sunny morning, Nuala was still lying down on her bed with drapes covering her face from the sunlight that shines through her window. Although the thick windows are tightly shut, you can still hear the birds chirping.

She lazily opened her eyes when she heard a knock on the door, “Babe, wake up..” it was her mother. “Hi, Mother, good morning.” Nuala replied with a smile. “Nana’s here. She wanted to see you.” her mother added.

Nuala sprung up to sit down, “Let me guess, she already knew what happened yesterday?” she asked with an assumptive look on her face.

Her mother smiled sheepishly, “It was your Father, not me.”

“Oh, Mum..” she groaned and frustratedly lay back on her bed again and covered her face with the soft blanket. Her mother patted her thigh underneath the covers and said, “Come on, up, up, up! You said you wanted to spend time with your loved ones. Come on, sweetheart!” Then her mother stood up and walked out of her room.

She opened her eyes again, said her short prayers, and stretched her body, and before she got off her bed, she took her phone and searched for a name again. “Enoch Smith.” but yet again, she got nothing. “Who are you, really? Why can’t I find anything about you?”

But her questions will never be answered until she meets him again.

Soon after doing her morning routine, she went down the stairs and followed the voices outside the garden. “Hello, Nana! How are you?” she politely asked as she lowered her face and kissed her grandmother's left cheek. “Where’s Father?” she added.

Her mother put down the coffee cup and answered, “He left for work just now.”

“Hi, sweetie. How are you? Everyone was so scared when we heard about the hijacking incident yesterday.” her grandmother worriedly replied.

She sat down right next to her grandmother, “I’m okay, Nana.” Nuala said as she looked at the servant who put the breakfast in front of her, “Thank you.” she said to the maid and turned to her grandmother again. “I wasn’t hurt, besides there was a brave man who helped to stop the attack.” But a small smile showed on her face when she remembered that brave man.

Her reaction is something suspicious so her mother and grandmother exchanged glances. “So, does this “brave man” had a name?” Her grandmother asked, stressing the word ‘brave man’ as she slowly put the teacup to her lips to take a sip.

Dumbfounded, Nuala choked on her coffee and looked at the two women in front of her. “Well, yeah?”

Enya, her mother leaned on the table and gave Nuala a scrutinizing gaze, “And his name is?”

The two elders are looking intently at her, as this was the first time she smiled while talking about a man. Nuala has always been aloof and romance has always been the last on her list.

Panic-stricken, Nuala quickly said his name, “Enoch Smith.” Then put a piece of Egg Katori in her mouth as if she’s a child caught red-handed. Well, she’s caught red-handed by smiling when talking about Enoch.

Meredith, Nuala’s grandmother slowly turned to Enya and nodded her head, “Ooh, Enoch Smith..” before turning her head to Nuala again, “Is this Enoch Smith handsome?” she added.

With a scrunched eyebrows, Nuala asked, “What? Why do you ask?”

Ignoring the expression written on Nuala’s face and ignorance, her mother answered, “Nothing sweetie, just wondering why this brave man, Enoch Smith made you smile.”

Confused, Nuala rebutted, “I did not smile.” She pretended to be calm as she took a sip of her coffee. Realizing that the women don’t believe her, she refuted. “I did not.” with a faint smile, she sipped her coffee again.

She denied the truth although she knows that her mother and grandmother will never believe her because they can see right through her.

After their breakfast, Meredith insisted on having a mother and daughter bonding with Enya and Nuala and the mother-daughter duo agreed.

They first visited a bookstore. Meredith took a closer look at one particular book. After looking at the name of the author, she smiled proudly and bought it for her husband as he loves literature.

Then they went shopping for the men of the family. Enya bought a necktie for Lindon, her husband, perfume for her father, and a pair of suits for her brothers. 

Nuala just scanned all the items displayed, thinking of which of these will suit Enoch’s taste. She then saw a leather jacket in moss green color with chest and side pockets. Just as when she was about to take it, she remembered that she doesn't know his number or where to find him.

As she’s having a disagreement inside her head, the older woman behind her is observing her. “Look at your daughter, she’s trying to figure out whether to buy that coat or not.”

Enya smiled at the thought and said, “Mother, let her be.” Then she walked towards her daughter, “I think this is nice.”

Startled, Nuala jolted. “Mother..” She grunted. “Do you think so?”

“Yes.” Meredith answered her question. “But why are you hesitating?”

She lowered her head and answered them honestly, “Because I don’t know where to find him.”

Dispirited, Meredith put her palm on her forehead. “Silly girl.” Then she turned her back on Enya and Nuala and went back looking around.

Enya smiled at her daughter, thinking that her baby is all grown up and might already have someone special to her. “Do you think he’ll like it though?”

Without a second thought, she replied, “Yes.” Staring at the jacket she’s holding.

“Seems like you know him a lot, huh?” it’s more like a tease but sounded like a question.

She thought for a moment before answering her mother, “Well, I guess. He’s in the army.”

Now, Enya is certain that her daughter took a fancy to this man because she paid attention to him. But her train of thoughts was brushed off, “Hey, I know what you’re thinking. He’s in uniform that day, that’s why I know that detail.” Nuala said.

With astonishment at what her daughter said, Enya just smiled. “What? Didn’t say anything. But why not buy it now, and give it to him later?”

“Okay. I’ll buy it. But, Mother, this is just to show my gratitude for helping me yesterday.” Nuala said while pointing her finger to the coat before going to the cashier.

Her daughter's denial is cute and amusing at the same time. She’s really an adult now.

After hours of shopping, they decided to have some coffee at the nearest shop. There, the trio talked about a lot of things including Enya’s first love. Meredith is the one to open the topic.

“Enya, I bought a book about literature. And guess who the author is.”

With a confused look, Enya answered. “Who?”

Her mother took out the book and showed the back cover to her. There was a black and white photo of the author. The handsomeness is still there even though he’s already aged.

A sweet smile slipped Enya’s lips as she slowly reached for the book and gently caressed the back cover. She stayed silent for a while staring at the man in the picture.

“Who is it?” Nuala whispered to her grandmother, not wanting to break off her mother’s smile.

Her grandmother looked at her and casually said, “Her first love.”

“Who?” Discombobulated, she asked again. “First love?” Curiosity got the best of her.

Enya looked at her with a gentle smile, “Henry Smith, my childhood and first love.” she said, putting the book to her chest to show the photo of the man to her daughter.