A Step Closer to Love

“Hana Arabella Bishop,” Ava screamed.

“Mom!” Arabella screamed back. She had told Kieran that getting a private room instead of a shared one was a waste of money, but now that she was about to go head-to-head with her mom, she was convinced that he had spent his money wisely.

“Listen,” Ava said, trying to stop her shaky voice.

“Mom, me being with you and not getting hurt was not because I was with you; it was just the way life was, and now that I was away and this happened, it is because life happens. How much longer do I need to stay with you?”

“I don’t mean you should stay with me; I mean you should come home, where protection is,” Ava said confidently, like she had taken extra measures to ensure that the place was fortified.

“Home or abroad, this,” Arabella said, pointing to her bruised face and injured arm. “This would have happened and can happen anywhere. And I told you already that I want to put myself out there as well.”

“I am not saying you shouldn’t put yourself out there. I am just saying that you can put yourself out there while you are at home.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Mom!” Arabella said, trying to catch her breath.

“Hana, I just want what is best for you,” Ava said.

“Mom, you want me to get married, right?” Arabella knew that her mom had always been for her getting married and having her own family. Maybe she could use this opportunity to convince her mom to allow her to remain here.

“Of course,” Ava said and then clapped her hand in the air. “Do you have someone?” she whispered, trying to get closer to her.

“Yes Mom”

“Why hasn’t he come?” Ava looked around as if that was what was going to make him appear in the room.

“I am going to introduce him to you as soon as I get discharged.” Arabella smiled because she was able to successfully divert the attention of her mom from talking about her going home to talking about her wedding.

“Have you spoken about the wedding? You have not been here for long but you already have someone? Are you happy?” Ava asked the questions pouring out of her mouth.

“Mom, please calm down. You are going to have a chance to meet him, and maybe you can ask him all those questions,” Arabella said, and the door opened with Seraphina and Kieran walking in.

“Sera, did you know this? Ara has a boyfriend,” Ava said, turning to Seraphina as she walked in.

“She does?” Seraphina asked, trying to conceal her sister’s secret. Kieran had told her that they wanted to wait till she was discharged before they told their family about it and Arabella had agreed because there was nothing wrong with that. It was better for them to take it one thing at a time.

“You don’t know?” Ava asked shocked. She had expected that Seraphina would know something about it because of how close they were.

“That is strange news to me. Have you eaten?” Seraphina asked.

“Not yet”

“Then come over here and eat. Everly made this for us to eat,” Seraphina said, taking her mom from the bed to the couch.

“How are you feeling today?” Kieran said, standing at the foot of the bed. Arabella smiled as she could not stop the smile from overtaking her face.

“I am doing well,” she said; her tone was very low and shy.

TWO WEEK LATER

Arabella was diagnosed and was asked to take it easy. She had told Kieran that they were going to tell their parents about their relationship today. They had spent two weeks together; it was difficult for them to be together because Ava was over her daughter like a hawk and never left her side.

It was even difficult for them to be on the phone because Ava wanted to know. Knowing that her daughter had a man in her life, she was curious who it was and wanted to know. She was trying her best to act nonchalant about it when curiosity was killing her.

“I do hope I get to meet this mystery guy who is hiding from me before I go back in a week,” Ava said as they sat in the car. Everyone had come to take her back from the hospital, making it a big deal that she was kind of embarrassed at the fuss they were making.

“What mystery, man?” Everly asked, turning to her friend.

“Her boyfriend, the one I told you about,” Ava replied, and Everly nodded.

“I also cannot wait to meet him as well. I am so happy for you; you came to this city and found love.” Everly said it exactly. She was happy to be involved in this kind of gossip; her son always gave her nothing to work with as he was married to making good money and then, in turn, having nobody to spend the money on. “Unlike some people who cannot find a decent girl,” Everly added, throwing shade at her son.

“Wait till they hear…” Seraphina whispered into her sister’s ears. She was unable to finish the sentence anyway because Arabella drove her finger into her side.

“Don’t do that,” Arabella whispered, and her sister nodded. Arabella looked at Kieran, who was driving the car with Ethan beside him. Their eyes caught in the mirror, and he cast her a small smile. He was glad that the hide-and-seek was over now and that they were going to finally date out in the open.

“But tell me, Ara, is it not the doctor? Who can it be? Have I met him? Where did you meet him?” Everly asked, throwing all the questions her way.

“Mom, you are bombarding her with a lot of questions,” Kieran said.

“Because I am curious,” Everly said as she looked from place to place, hoping that Ava and Seraphina would back her up.

“I am also curious; I just hope he is a nice guy who is a perfect fit for my little girl,” Ava replied.

Ethan opened his mouth to speak and then turned to his son, who had a pleading expression on his face. He had told his father to wait till Arabella was okay before they brought up their dating to the family. He happened to find out and Ethan agreed to help his son. After all, the important thing was that Arabella got well first.

“All your worries and questions will be answered today when you finally meet him, so don’t worry,” Arabella said, leaning into her sister’s arm as she caught Kieran’s eyes in the mirror again.

“We are meeting him today?”