Six

"Father Ryland said you did excellently well in today's class, Hailey."

I nodded, still frowning at grandma. She had yet to tell me where she had gone this morning.

"Why the frown honey? You did not enjoy yourself?" She asked me worriedly.

My excuse of a friend scoffed, "There's nothing to enjoy in that boring place."

Granny turned her piercing eyes to Susie, "Indeed. I was told what an excellent orator you were today."

Susie grinned, "You know you can always count on me granny to make you proud."

I rolled my eyes. Soon she would realize that granny was making a mockery of her.

"Yes," Granny nodded, a glint in her eyes, "Proud enough to have been excluded from all conversations."

Right, grandma did it.

"Granny, I wasn't excluded, they just didn't want to talk to me," Susie sulked.

Granny turned to me ignoring her, "What is the problem, sweetie?"

"Where did you go to that was so important, granny?" I inquired curiously.

I saw something flash across her face then it disappeared immediately. Was it pain or anger? I don't know but her reply gave me a clue.

"I went to your mother's grave."

I stilled for a moment. She had gone to see mom because—

"Yesterday was my mom's anniversary!" I covered my face in shame as tears spewed out of my eyes dribbling down my cheeks.

How could I have forgotten my own mother's death anniversary? I felt so ashamed of myself. Yesterday, I was with Duncan while granny was in tears yesterday and I hadn't known I had been upset with her.

"It's not your fault," Susie said soothingly, hugging me. One of the reasons I love her so much, she was always there for me.

"Yes," Granny nodded genuinely in agreement with Susie, "You are getting married soon and you've got a lot of things on your mind, that's one of the reasons why I didn't tell you."

I shook my head. I was furious at myself, "I should have known."

Then granny said something that scared and surprised me. "Don't beat yourself up, you barely know her."

I was shocked but I knew it was true. But that doesn't change the fact that she's my mother.

A mother you've never seen. A tiny voice said in my mind.

It doesn't matter! I yelled at the unseen voice.

Oh darling, you and I both know that it matters. You've been visiting someone whom you had no idea existed. What if she's fake?

"Leave me alone!" I yelled loudly. I didn't mean to shout but I was just irritated and the voice was annoying.

Granny queried her brow at me, "Go and rest, come out when you're well-rested."

I walked into my room with Susie hot on my heels only to get stopped by Grandma, "Leave her, she needs to be alone right now."

I smiled inwardly. Granny knows how I feel. Sitting down on my bunk bed in my room. I examined the pink painting on the wall and saw that it was now faded and some side of the wall was already losing its paint. I made a mental note to repaint my room whenever I had the chance.

My thoughts drifted to my early childhood days. I was raised by my grandma and I haven't seen much of my relations either from my mom's or dad.

The only person I knew was my granny but it didn't stop my first word from being "mama" and "papa". Granny had been delighted when I made those words and with time, I had pronounced "granny" also.

I didn't know anything about my mother and my father was a different case also. Granny had said that my parents had died before I could utter my first word and we've been visiting their graves ever since then.

The more I mulled over these things, then I realized I wasn't at fault, I can't mourn someone I never had a connection with and I decided to let bygones be.

My door creaked open and Susie poked her head in.

"Sup?"

I smiled at her. "Come in, doll face."

Rolling her eyes, Susie strutted into my room. A look of concern was visible on her face despite her playful attitude. "Hey, are you alright?"

I smirked at her, "Will I be let out of the deal, tonight?" I gave her a hopeful smile and a pout.

She laughed, "No way, bitch. Tonight is the night you rebel!"

I glared at her, talking about making a deal with the devil. "You're supposed to cut me some slack!"

"I'll leave you now to think about how you're gonna pull it off," she winked at me, "I'll meet you outside by 10 pm. Don't be late."

Fuck you was at the tip of my tongue instead I settled for, "May the devil awaits your soul in hell!"

My stupid ass friend grinned, "If the devil is as hot as Mr. Lowell then I'd willingly spend eternity with him."

Gasping at her word, I watched as she strutted out of my room, her heels clicking on the tile floor.

But the mention of Lowell, had me thinking—what does he want from me and Duncan?