Somehow that Itsuki guy’s warning seemed more true now. I opened the envelope and read what Yuji left me and there was only a small note that said.

  ‘It’s not the time yet.’

  If this wasn't proof that this guy was tricking me what else it was? That guy is definitely up to something. I should not indulge in his tactics any more.

  I think the first thing that I need to confirm is the situation with my mother. If there is some kind of trap set out for me I have to grasp my personal situation first. That is why today I asked my mother for the address and told her that I am coming over.

  Right now I was sitting in her kitchen while she was in the middle of making dinner. A skill she rarely showed growing up.

  “I still don’t understand mom. Why is all of this happening?” I had calmed down over these past days so I decided to not be emotional over this.

  She noticed my change of attitude and looked at me.

  “I guess. I do need to tell you some things.” She finally acknowledged my feelings.

  I only watched her wait to explain.

  “One of the reasons was that we had truly grown apart from each other and it took a month after you left for university for us to realize that our marriage is over…” She started speaking words that stirred troublesome emotions inside me.

  She was stirring a pot while talking. My mother’s voice is soft and full of thought.

  “Sano is a good man. After all he did a lot for you and for that I will always be grateful.” She spoke acknowledging his efforts to raise me and even smiled as she looked at me.

  “I’m truly proud of the person you’ve become, Rory!” My mom praised me.

  It sounds very genuine.

  I was still very cautious of her sudden change of attitude and the warm attention towards me. It stirred slight resentment and something else that I couldn’t name.

  “Don’t change the subject.” I interjected at her attempt to drive my attention away.

  “He was the one who brought it up first.” She finally said what I wanted to hear.

  “What did he say to you?” I asked.

  “Well…I sort of saw it coming. We simply sat down just like this in our kitchen. I was making dinner and he sat down watching me. At first he apologized and then asked for divorce.” She said to me explaining the event.

  I wanted to press more.

  “Apologized?” I asked.

  “That is a part I can’t tell you.” My mom told me. Her eyes were looking at me.

  From her look I could tell that whatever question I’d ask she will not answer.

  “What was his reasoning?” I decided to move past.

  “That now is the right time for him to leave. He asked me not to tell you anything back then knowing how close you two were.” She finally was giving me some kind of answers but everything she mentioned so far was so roundabout that I couldn’t help but be slightly annoyed by it.

  “Do you really want to make up with me?” I asked. Raising an eyebrow.

  She eyed me letting out a sigh. “Of course I do!”

  “Then rip the bandage and just tell me!” I couldn’t help but show my annoyance.

  “The reason he didn’t want you to contact him was because he already was thinking about divorce before. And that is also the reason why I told him to stay away from you.” She told me.

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  “But something else also happened. Something you both agreed on as your divorce settlement… ” I pointed out my mind thinking of possible scenarios.

  “Something that I can’t know of.”

  My mother was trying to be honest. If she really didn’t want me to know she wouldn’t mention that there was something else. She told me because this was her way of telling the truth. If she wanted to hide things from me she shouldn't mention this secret thing. She was really trying.

  “I see!” I looked up at the ceiling and my mind was thinking.

  “When I left over a year ago dad told me to be independent and don’t seek out him under any circumstances. And part of the reason he said that to me was to test me to be independent but the other part was because he already was thinking of divorce.” I rambled out loud as I understood the situation.

  My mom was silent letting me say my thoughts.

  “Then ten months ago you settled the divorce. Something that I can’t know happened during that time. You told him to stay away for good. He told you not to tell me anything. Under these terms you divorced?” I looked back at my mom.

  She turned off the stove and gave me a slight nod.

  “Those were the terms.” My mother confirmed the situation was just like I understood.

  “But if you tell me this…does that still count as a breach on your part?” I asked.

  “No. That would be ridiculous if I can’t tell my daughter that I divorced a man who has such a big part of our lives.” My mother spoke.

  Sano wasn’t the type who would do ridiculous demands or requests. All his decisions are rational and knowing him this is something for my own benefit to not to know. I could tell that much.

  “So he said not to tell me about the divorce at the time but it’s okay now?” I questioned.

  My mother nodded her eyes and watched me with a small smile.

  “You really do still look up to him. Do you?” My mom asked. Seeing that my reaction has turned calm and more rational from the one that I had before.

  “I do trust his decisions.” I confirmed her thoughts as she nodded.

  It’s not the first time my dad withholds information from me but eventually it always came out. I had a feeling this will too.

  My mom reached out for two bowls and poured the soup she had made. Something she sometimes made me when I was a kid on cold days. Then she placed one before me and another in front of her seat. Then she turned to pour two glasses of water and placed them on the table.

  I reached for it. Drinking a couple sips. Then I looked down at my bowl. Ready to dig in. I tasted the familiar taste I haven’t had for years. We ate in silence. Enjoying the meal. It felt very odd to eat with my mom like this. At the same time I felt like I did not want to be anywhere else. She was my mom after everything. Trying to mend our relationship. I was aware that we won’t fix our issues with a single conversation and a meal. Hopefully gradually, time will tell.

  “The second thing!” I spoke up again.

  My mom looked up at me.

  “Why did I take a drastic change to move here?” My mom asked the question out herself for me and I nodded as I slowly ate.

  “In all honesty. I am not the best mother for you and Sano being there felt like I could still hang on to my career and not lose myself. I felt like there’s nothing much to give from a person like me to you and in the end I totally lost you as my daughter.”

  “What do you mean?” I didn’t really understand her words.

  “I am not the best role model for anyone. I mean, I don’t even know who your real father is.” She said to me something that I vaguely already knew.

  My biological father was someone she never was with but a fling with she had over the summer. I ended up being in her life as a surprise. When she reached for the person it turned out they never told her their real name. Coincidentally. My mother at the time also had done the same thing so even if the person tried to search for her they wouldn’t be able to find each other. Then she met Sano and the rest is history.

  “Well…it’s not like you left me completely helpless. You actually found someone that could fill the gaps that you lacked in. And look how well that turned out for me.” I didn’t know why I said this trying to comfort her.

  My mom only smiled at my words. Appreciating them.

  Then I straightened. “Though…yeah you are a pretty awful mother.” I ended up admitting it.

  My mother nodded in bitter agreement with my words.

  “That is why I want to make our relationship better!” She insisted. “I didn’t sell our old home but cleared it out and brought all the stuff here.” She told me.

  “You’re telling me you made the room for me with the stuff I left behind?” I raised an eyebrow. I still haven't walked upstairs so I wasn’t aware of what everything looked like.

  My mom nodded. Somehow this gesture of hers felt thoughtful.

  “Not only that but the basement floor of this house I turned into your workspace. Just the same as we had at our home.” She mentioned it to me.

  “You did that?” I was surprised again.

  That space was my dads in our home originally but it was a space he was tutoring me in so even if it was a reminder of him she didn’t disregard the past with him. That gesture did mean that her actions were genuine.

  “So you bought the house just to live close to me and for no other reason at all?” I still fully didn’t get her rash decision to do this.

  “I did.” She admitted me. “Are you selling the other house?” I asked.

  My mom immediately shook her head.

  “No! That house is passed from my parents to me. I intend to give it to you!” She answered.

  I looked at her nodding.

  That home has been in our family for generations so I guess her decision made sense. We finished eating and I decided to explore and walk around the home. My mom washed the dishes letting me roam around.