Marriage First, Love Second

AMANDA

I was just finishing cleaning the house when I sat down in front of the TV in the living room, I was not paying attention to whatever sitcom that was playing in the background, instead, I lay there with my eyes closed ready to catch a nap but my phone ringtone pulled me away from doing just that. Picking up the phone I was shocked to see the number calling me, it was such a surprise that I didn't even have a chance to answer the call.

Sitting there I was staring at the phone wondering why the hell would my mother be calling me?, don't get me wrong I love my parents but they could never return the love in the way that I wanted it or any children. They haven't even called for my birthday since I left home but that didn't stop me from calling them for the holidays or their birthday.

So to say that I was shocked that my mother was calling was an understatement before I could crack my mind any further the phone rang and it was my mother again, ruthlessly I answered but before I could say anything my mother was already going at it.

" Child you need to come home your father is in the hospital"

I turned her off as soon as she said that my father was in the hospital, oh God! They may not have been great parents, but I still didn't want anything bad to happen to them.

"Mother, what happened?"

" What happened? You would've known if you hadn't moved away? She bitterly says.

I know what she was doing, trying to make me feel guilty for leaving home as soon as I graduated, I had a whole plan after graduation I would worked at their company and forget about my own dream when I realized that all my parents wanted was to parade me around in front of their business partners.

I didn't want to be used in that way for my parent's benefit, so I decided the day after my college graduation I would get on a plane to France without letting them know until I was settled and made a life for myself

" Yes mother, I understand. How is he doing?" I wasn't in the mood to argue with her.

" They don't know if he is going to make it through the night"

I wasn't paying attention to my mother babbling about how it was so humiliating to have an ambulance come and pick up my father in the office in front of everyone. Is She serious right now? The man had a heart attack. Who cares if he was being pulled out by his feet, as long as he got the help that he needs?

"Mother let..." I didn't get to finish what I was going to say because my mother cut me off by saying "So you see I need you to come home"

I couldn't believe my ears, I had to go back home It was not something that I had ever thought about since I got on the plane that day and left home, it only made sense that I would go back home to see my father one last time " Mom, I don't know" I told her honestly.

" WHAT? you don't know, it's your FATHER! you need to come" she says before hanging up the phone.

Walking in the kitchen I went to grab a glass of wine to calm myself down a little, this is not how I wanted my day to end. Picking up my phone I called my best friend Alexander, the one person that took me under his wings when I made my rude decision to move here. When I came with the clothes on my back and a carry-on that I only packed minutes before I walked out of the house.

When I came here Alexander give me a job at one of his hotels and a place to stay, if it wasn't for that I know my ass would have been out on the streets, where I would've been forced to go back to my parents and that's something I didn't want to happen, so you can say I am grateful for him.

" Mon Ange, are you calling about tonight?"

Oh crap, I forgot about tonight we were supposed to go to this new club that just opened downtown.

" Oh no, I'm not calling about tonight," I say before I tell him about the phone call I received from my mother about my father and how I'm going to need a plane ticket, in the hopes that I could get there before anything happened.

" Don't worry about anything, mon Ange I'll be over there in no time"

" Oh, you do.." he didn't let me finish before he hung up the phone, sighing with relief I should've known that he would want to come over.

Finishing my glass of wine, I poured myself another one and went upstairs to get my stuff together for this trip that I knew I didn't want to take. When I left my parents I promised myself that I wasn't coming back, guess life has a different plan for me. It didn't take long for Alexander to come over rushing downstairs. I found him standing in front of the door with the most delicious chocolate cake and coconut frosting on it.

" Please tell me that's what I think it is?" I asked with my mouth watering. I can't wait to sink my teeth into that cake.

" Is there a better way to send my best friend away"

"No there isn't," I told him when we got to the kitchen, we each got a slice with a glass of wine and went into the living room.

" How are you holding up?" he asked

" Honestly, I don't know, i-i" I couldn't even put my feelings into words so I shoved a piece of cake in my mouth instead.

" Alright, you might have to take the cake with you because your flight is leaving in minutes"

" WHAT?!, why didn't you say that" leaving my piece of heaven I rush up to my room to grab my carry-on and a suitcase just in case my three days turn into weeks. With Alexander's help, I made it to the airport in the nick of time. I was the last person to walk inside the plane. Imagine my surprise when the flight attendant took me to the first class, this means I'm going to give him a piece of my mind.

It was eight hours later when I was standing at the airport looking for the driver that this boy requested for me to drop me at the hotel that I'm saying since my parents didn't know when I was coming I thought I'd surprise them.

It wasn't long before I reached the hotel I checked in my room and quickly grabbed a shower to wash away the tiredness I was feeling, I needed a little nap but I knew I wouldn't get any since it was morning here I thought I could just grab some breakfast, snapping my fingers I decided to call for room service instead of going outside.

Afterward, I'm going to check on my mother before we go see my father in the hospital, so we can know what's happening to his health.

As soon as I finished getting dressed there was a knock on the door. I'm hoping it's room service because I'm starving. Luckily it was them pushing the door open and I let him in the room where he was pushing the table that had my delicious food.

" Thanks," I said as I closed the door behind him.

Finishing my breakfast of eggs, pancakes, and some sausage with coffee only makes me miss my home more and more, and I'm not even here for a full day, imagine how the rest of my days would be. Not wasting any more time I grab my purse and make my way to get to my uber. I need to get this over with.

In less than thirty minutes I got to the house, and now here I am standing in front of my childhood home, knowing that my mother didn't know that I was coming so instead of knocking I used my old keys knowing that my parents wouldn't change the locks. Which was a good thing because I wanted to surprise her, little did I know that I was the one who was in for the surprise.

Walking inside the house I couldn't believe my eyes at what I saw, my parents, having breakfast, laughing and joking with each other.

I couldn't help myself " WHAT THE FUDGE?!"