One
The infuriating noise doesn't stop. It's like the world is determined to make you suffer just because it can.
Your hangover is killing you and tat stupid and noisy phone doesn't stops to ring. Since almost thirty minutes ago. You just hoped if you continued ignore it that damn device from hell will shut out. But no.
Of course not.
Your going to kill whoever is calling at this ungodly hour in a Sunday morning.
"What?"
"Carmilla Karnstein?"
"Uhm. Who is it?"
"Miss Karnstein, I'm the chief Wright. I'm afraid I have bad news for you. It's about your brother Will Luce"
"Shit. What about that dimwit? What have he done now? Look he's older than me, he should be responsable now. If he's in trouble he should know that I'm just a fucking student I can't pay for his bail"
"It's not something like that Miss Karnstein. Please, stay calm. I'm afraid he and his wife Sarah Jane had an accident this morning. One Saturday drunk driver hit their car and they couldn't make it"
...
"Miss Karnstein?"
...
"Miss stay calm, please. We know this is hard for you but we need you to be at the St. Patrick's Hospital as soon as you can. Joshua was in the car too and he's in surgery now. We need you here. According to your brother's insurance papers you're his legal representation"
...
"Miss Karnstein? Hello?"
"FUCK!"
______
"Mom, could you please hurry up?"
"Coming, Josh! Everything is going to be alright. Stop fidgeting. It's not your wedding day."
"I know that, mom, but I want to make a good impression. I mean, I know Jane's mother is great and she also approves our relationship but this is a big day. Our mothers are going to met each other. I want you two be friends... Could you at least don't cut her head out or be rude with her. Please?"
Imbecilic puppy eyes.
Joshua William Luce born the 11th of July nintheen years ago. His father, your brother Will, half brother actually because her father died and then your mother married your father and the he died, weird, uh?, and her mother Sarah Jane died eighteen years ago in a tragic Sunday morning.
They decided, because you were close to Will, that you should be his legal guardian 'if something come off' Yeah. That stamen sucks because you always thought nothing could happen. But it did.
You were his age when you had to leave college and be responsible for a little guy. Something that never were part of your life plan but you just had to.
Best, decision, ever.
Josh's complete your life. He gave you a reason for wake up in the morning and to be at home as soon as you could.
The first years were so hard for you. Your mother's support were so little. Almost non-existent.
You gave up college and started to work at the family enterprises. Of course, mother was always mother and she doesn't even give you a good position in it. You had to start from the bottom. Not so soon enough but you could do your way to the CEO floor in the next few years.
You had to learn how to change his diapers without gag in the process and that one years old doesn't eat microwave pre cooking pizza. That bad.
So, you went from a careless lazy college student to a very busy working mom in the matter of hours.
Josh loves you. You know he does. And you love him more than you could one day imagine. He'd been always such a good boy. Even that day when he had to go as a butterfly to the spring festival at school because between work and home chores you completely forgot to make his costume. Obviously, you made sure he wasn't bullied by teaching him how to make a speech against the archaic imposition of gender roles at the school system. And also how to punch little pricks faces if they kept going on on picking on him. Of course.
But he doesn't had to. You'd always been grateful that he inherited his father's temper and his mother's brightness. Because if Josh had been your real genes that would be a disaster.
Joshua started to call you 'mom' by his own will. At the age of seven he talked to you about it. He made a little scheme whit red and blue crayons about how you were as much as any other mom as his friends mom's were. So, you were invested with the name that night when you got back from work. Josh made you a paper crown, actually, with the words 'Best mom ever' and it wasn't like you cried that night. Of course not.
Since there Joshua never stopped calling you mom. He once called you 'mother' and you nearly had a stroke at the very thought of your own mother. So, no. Never again.
Your mother wasn't that bad. She was not an ancestry monster but she was always rightfull and strict. She doesn't give you anything for free. Not after she knew you were gay. Because not only you were a sinner but a disgrace for the family name. But as soon as you had Josh she relaxed a little because there were no options for you to date women. At least, not at the public eye and that was a relief for mother.
On the other hand, Josh was her mommy's boy's child. So, he was safe. Mother loves him just as much she loved Will.
Saying you never were a 'normal' family is an understament. But you love that brilliant young man in which Joshua has turned. Full of friends, full of knowledge, full of dreams. And to be honest, what mother wouldn't feel pride to be the one who help him in his path to become a man. A very good man.
Josh is now on his second year of college. He choose stay in home because he said Silas University were such a good reference as law student. You're sure he doesn't wanted to leave you alone. And though you can deny you feel happy to have him here, a large part of you feel selfish for that.
But Joshua seems to be happy. And that's all that matters to you. After his first semester, he stated to date a young beautiful woman named Jane. She's a delightful clumsy but lovely girl.
You know she loves Josh. You can tell. Moms always knows this kind of things. The way she's always seeing him as he was her world itself. How loving and caring she's. How she's always looking for his hand to hold him. And your son doesn't get behind. He's the worst. He's always talking about her. Saying corny things about love and making future plans with her. You're not that sure if you should shut the fuck up your rants about don't believe in love or long-term plans. You're the best case scenario about changing plans.
And is not that you don't believe love is real. At least you know you can love. You love Josh. You loved your father and your brother. You even can say you love mother. A little bit. But you'd never love someone that much to believe in a forever after. Your only 'relantionship' was your highschool sweetheart Ell. The one cheated on you with your best buddy. So, after that, no best friends anymore. And of course, no girlfriends.
It was obvious you had a very large record of 'study buddies' at college. You're not petulant but realistic. You know you're georgeous and so fucking hot. At least you were at the university years. Well, you kinda still are. You never stopped to have a one night stand when you rarely could make a night out. The most of them when mother took Joshua to summer vacations around the world. But no relationships. No dating.
The only time you thought you could date someone was a few weeks before you had to give up college. With your annoyingly beautiful naive roommate. Laura 'Tiny ball of rage' Hollis.
But after you could girl the hell up and asked her for a date, which she was reluctant to accept, giving you the hardest two weeks of your life, you got the call which change your life. Giving you no time to even apologize to her for have to stood her up.
So, yeah. No dating for you.
But this day it's not about you. It's about your son. And his girlfriend. And her mother. Which ugh! You hate meet new people. Even more a cheerful single mother like you're sure Jane's is. But honestly you just love your boy. You become one of those moms. Which even more UGH!
So, now here you are putting your blazer on and watching your reflection in the mirror in front of you. Here goes nothing.
***
Your son opens the door into let you pass to the restaurant and immediately you can feel two arms around you to give you a huge hug and a giggle. That lovely annoyingly giggle.
You sigh. Come on Carmilla, you can do this.
"Good afternoon, Miss Karnstein. I'm so glad you're here. I hope the traffic were light coming here. I'm so happy to see you again"
Says the tiny blonde around you.
But suddenly you can only focus in another little honey blonde next to her talking with the hostess. Those silk blonde tones. Those hands waving around whilts she talks. That cute melting voice.
"Miss Karnstein, this is my mom. Laura Hollis"
Holy shit!