Samantha
"We can deny those feelings all we want, but that doesn't mean they don't exist."
Theon's words came swirling around in my mind once again. I was teaching the girls, we were already in the third week of January and his words had not left me for a single second in the last few days. We didn't stay on the best of terms either, I ended up convincing my parents to take me to Denver to get away from the New Year's celebration at the Adamos house, and I avoided talking about it with anyone.
I heard the studio door opening and turned around quickly with a racing heart, hoping that he would show up just to see how I was doing, as he did before. But in the end, to my surprise, who was there was my mother. She didn't usually visit me at work, but I decided not to focus on that. I would finish the class and then I would deal with it.
Everything was so difficult, it wasn't supposed to be like this. As much as I knew I was doing what my conscience demanded, I missed him, I wanted his company and often I had to fight to keep my control and not call just to hear his voice.
What have I been doing with my life?
" Hi, did something happen? " I approached her when I was free of the girls at the end of class.
" Oh no, I came to pick you up for coffee together," she assured me bluntly.
" Just the two of us? " I questioned suspiciously, walking to the exit beside her.
" Is there a problem?"
" I'm trying to guess what method of torture you're going to use this time," I took a deep breath.
My mother stopped walking, giving me a cross look that showed how upset she had been by that remark.
" Torture method? I'm trying to spend time with you and you call it torture? " she muttered in displeasure.
" Well, you're not known for spending so much time with me," I returned, starting to walk again.
My mother soon followed me with stubborn steps, ready to start an argument that I might as well dismiss.
" It was you who kept us apart all this time!"
" Well, it was you who put me in boarding school as soon as I was old enough!"
" How unfair of you, we did everything to make your dream come true," she held my arm, "we were always there for you in every detail."
I bit my lower lip, feeling terrible for what I had said. She was right, both of you have always helped me in everything so that I could follow my dream, and I knew that even though you were far away, they always did their best to be there for me.
" I'm sorry, but you have been so insistent with this whole punishment thing, and…"
" Sam, we are just trying to be present in your life and in this child's life " she took a deep breath " okay, the Lamaze part may have been an exaggeration, but we really want to be with you. Or are you going to keep pushing us away like this?"
I took a deep breath and decided to give her a chance.
" Fine, we can have coffee together," I murmured.
" Perfect! " she smiled past me." Come on, your father is waiting for us at home."
I blinked in a daze before hurrying to accompany her. The two of them had rented a nice house in town where they would stay until Henry was born, but I rarely visited. In fact, it was usually the other way around.
" Are we going to have coffee at your place?"
" Why not? It's a nice place, I see no reason to…"
" Fine, we'll go," I rolled my eyes, deciding not to argue.
I got into the car beside my mother, and a few minutes later we were parked in front of her house. I blinked in astonishment at the large crowd inside, turning to her, who kept a calm expression.
" Mom, what is this?"
" I thought you might like the company of your friends," she shrugged as if it were no big deal, "they brought gifts."
I absorbed the information for a few seconds as I processed what it meant, and then got emotional. I thought that the baby shower the girls had before I left Vegas was the only one I would ever have.
" Mom, did you organize a baby shower for me?"
" It's no big deal, it would be a shame if you didn't have one," she declared before getting out of the car.
I hurried after her, intercepting her with a hug before entering the house.
" I can't believe you did this, thank you," I sniffled, trying not to cry.
" For God's sake, Samantha. Don't get so emotional. Come on, I still have a lot of embarrassing things to do to you today," she broke free of my embrace before walking to the door, leaving me behind with a half smile on my face.
She opened the door and walked into the house with me at her heels, we climbed the stairs that would take us to the living room on the second floor. Upon arriving in the room, I couldn't stop smiling as I saw all the people who were present. Lara, Delphine, Iris, Dominic, Lilian and Agatha were all settled in the large living room of my mother's house, being served small canapés by one of the maids that the two of them had managed to hire for their stay. My smile died, however, when I saw who was standing next to Caliope, sipping a cup of hot liquid.
Harper looked in my direction, while I blinked in astonishment at the surprise of her presence. Although I saw her from time to time around town, we hadn't been in the same environment since the day she and Theon broke up.
" Adamos's sister helped me invite people," my mother whispered as they cheered my entrance excitedly, "I tried to invite all your friends."
" Thanks mom," I forced a smile, trying not to focus my attention on Harper.
I soon found myself surrounded by every single person there, and I spent a few minutes talking to each of the guests, deliberately avoiding Harper, who wouldn't stop watching me for a second.
" Then, when she finally decided to be born, everyone in the delivery room started to cry, and told me that she was the most beautiful baby they had ever seen, and when they handed her to me I could only think "my God, this is the ugliest thing I have ever seen" " my mother shocked everyone by recounting her birth experience.
This was not the first time I had heard the story, in fact it was something she liked to share, and despite the shock of the women present, with the exception of Delphine, who seemed to take it for granted, it really wasn't something that offended me.
" Sam, your mother is really... " Lara whispered beside me.
" Crazy? " I interrupted her, "It's okay, Mom, I was an ugly baby, I get it."
" Don't worry dear, you've become a beautiful adult, that's all that matters," my father assured me, entering the room where we were gathered.
" Which was a good thing, since thanks to your beauty my brother became interested in you, and Henry came along." Lara teased, drawing laughter from the girls gathered there, while I looked away, feeling embarrassed by Harper's presence.
I glanced at her, and I could see her whispering something to Callie.
Lara had decided to stay by my side the whole time, she was determined to tell me all the details of her relationship with Marcus, and that seemed enough to keep her from noticing my discomfort at Harper's presence.