The Falling Angel of Fire Part 6

 

As she opened her luggage and put her clothes onto the bed, a smile decorated her face. A box of gift was laid  on the bed, next to clothes neatly folded. She saved it for someone whom she loved the most, although that someone might not have realized it. At least, she's finally here: far from Sunset Valley and her luxurious villa which surrounded by marbles sculptures and finest paintings. Compare to it, the place she was staying appear more like a shack. Even though, she must admit, sometimes, she only exaggerated things. Actually, a few meters away, there were three sculptures stood in the corner, made by her son-in-law. Of course, those sculptures were not perfect as works of art, but beautiful enough to decorate the house and the main thing was: she was finally home, so close to her only child.

Still, she expected more, especially from her son-in-law. Lila getting a high education certainly wasn't for nothing. If she threw her opportunity, at least her husband should afford her better. It infuriated her how young generations like them were throwing all of the good opportunities out there. Lila only wanted to become a firefighter, even when the fire station was about to fire her. Meanwhile, Dave, who actually had become a Captain, cared less to provide a better house or a fancy car.

"Why are you late? Where did you park your car?"

"What? You don't have it? You have to work hard then! Do you know Lila's friends have already had two cars?" Her voice came out so loud and clear that made a guy like Marc Brandt smirked at the man whom her daughter married to.

That afternoon, everyone near the supermarket noticed everything. However, Katharina continued to scold and Dave only bowed his head, getting humiliated in front of his wife and acquaintances. He did not try to give a response or snap back at his mother-in-law.

 

"Mother, we are in a public place." Lila tried to remind her, but even her own daughter failed to persuade her to stop. Lila hoped that after the day they spent together at the firehouse, she would, at least, stop intimidating them. Yet, it would take harder effort and longer time to influence someone to change. Maybe, her mother would not even change at all.

Being torn between her mother and her husband, she chose her husband, especially when her mother was being unreasonable. What more she could expect from them, a house like hers?  Lila had been there and instead of happiness, she felt alone, living in such a large house.  

Compare to those years in luxury, she'd already had a wonderful life in a simple house which her husband had built for her.

If only her mother could see how her eyes sparkling every time her husband looked at her and smiled.
 

Her mother said: "You cannot live just by love!" That statement was quite true, but Lila and Dave had already been living in a good condition. They did not have to sleep in an alley or was confused about how to earn money  so just they could eat on the following day. If only her mother could see that there were other things in life money could not buy.
 

Yet, each one measured happiness differently, and she could not force her mother to feel the same way or to change principles and her ways of living. Katharina could not be the exact person her daughter wanted her to be.

One thing for sure, Lila was already happy with her own life. That was the most important thing. She wanted to live her life with her husband, nothing more and nothing less. Yet, she had been thinking about something else. Something so precious and valuable that she would even give up her dreams for having it.
 

"I'm sorry, honey! I forgot about your foot." said Lila after found herself leaping into his arms. Her mother was in the supermarket and there was only the two of them besides pedestrian and cars passed by. It was a cold night, and she felt sorry for her mother's behavior, although Dave said nothing about it. Then, things were getting a bit "out of hands" as they were just a newly married couple.

 

Dave told Lila that he was okay with her mother being like that. Still, he could not hide his humiliation when Katharina started tormenting him again.

"What do you mean that you only have savings in the bank? Don't you have stocks in the market or even bonds?" He wasn't sure if he needed to answer the question. Those things would give him troubles because he had little knowledge about investing.

"Lower risk means lower return. You should learn much while you are young. You still have time off for heaven's sake!" Dave only narrowed his eyes hearing that. He loved high risks. He surely was, but not in that kind of area.

Still, he kept  trying to impress her, even though it made things worse.

Even the story of his achievement as a firefighter did not work.  "So you feel proud because of that? What if you got killed and made my daughter a widower?"

His sculptures did not impress her a bit and his jokes only worsened her headaches. "What? What are you talking about? Just- just leave… okay?"

She even accused him of fooling around with another woman. "Who had just called you?"
"My friend, Eva Drudge."

"A woman?! Listen to me, young man! If you're cheating on my daughter, I will hunt you even from hell."

"Eva is my friend. There's nothing between us. I don't understand why  you have to be so negative."

 

The only time she made  funny faces with him was because she was busy thinking about something else, but soon she aware of it.

 

"Dave, I see you as a nice gentleman, and I know you would do anything for my daughter, right? I heard that she must leave her job as a firefighter."
 

"How do you...? Did Lila tell you about that?"
 

"No, she had not. I was hoping she did. Anyway, since she will lose her job soon, your income will be reduced. I'm thinking to let you both stay in my house in Sunset Valley. It will eventually be hers, and she can run a business with me. So, if you can persuade her to…"
 

"You mean Lila and I should move to Sunset Valley?"
 

"That's the point. It will be good for both of you. You can leave your job as a firefighter and then help me  run the business. Surely, you could not rely on being a firefighter forever. The job is  dangerous. Do you want to see my daughter mourn for the loss of her husband in the line of duty? Besides, being a firefighter  you will earn fewer than running a business."

Dave stood still. He was quite shocked hearing it. Had she planned it perfectly, setting up the future for her daughter and him?

"Personally, I did  plan to work in Sunset Valley, but it's because by doing that  she would be able to keep her job here. "
 

"So, wouldn't it be a good opportunity at a right time?" Katharina asked.

 

It sounded like one, but...  "You should talk about it yourself. Sometimes, I cannot change her mind. I cannot help you."
 

Katharina  grumbled as he walked away.  This man was so stupid to let a good chance to go by.

Or

 Was he?

 

Would he let go the  opportunity when everything he dreamed of had already within his reach?
 

Just a little further away, and it would be perfect.

 

A wife, a career, a house, and  children, then everything would be perfect.

 

What more he could ask for?
But, what if she was right? What if something happened to him?

"Mr. Firefighter,  please tell me a story!" asked a boy who had just played catch with him. His name is Ti-Ning Hunter.

It was two weeks ago when Dave carried him out of a burning house.

He was so scared seeing the fire and people in panic. Thankfully, the fire had not left him a trauma.

 And he seemed very fond of firefighters.

"Okay Ti-Ning, but after this you should be going home soon."

 

 ***

"It's getting  dark. Wanna have a ride with me?" Dave's thumb pointed to the fire truck.
 

"Yay!" The boy shouted happily, clapped his hands and tapped his foot.

"Fastened your seat belt, Officer! Enjoy the ride!"

***
 Meanwhile back at home, Katharina approached her daughter and said:

"Lila, I have something to give you."

"What is it, mother?"

Katharina smiled and then handed her a gift.  Lila stared closely at the box. She  wasn't expecting a gift.  Still, she opened it.

 "Mother, this.."

 
"I bought this in a store on my way here. Your father once gave you a music box with dancing unicorn, and you were so thrilled and carried it everywhere even to your school. You could not even sleep without it. I wish I could find the same like that."
 

"This is beautiful, mother. Thank you."  She smiled and opened the lid. 

She did not know the title of the song, but she could not forget the tune. It was her lullaby and it reminded her about the memories with her father.

"You left so many things in your room:  clothes, prom dress, books, trophies; but you don't have to take them, maybe you can stay there again?"

"Stay there?"

"Yes. there are lots of rooms. It will eventually be yours anyway, so...  would you go back with me, Lila?"

 "Mother...I'm sorry. It's not that I don't want to stay with you, but here my husband has his career, friends, our house. And Twinbrook is the place where I work, so ..."

 "Do you mean, you don't want to stay with me?"

  

"What's a matter with you, Lila? Why are you refusing the offer? For once, you should consider me more than your husband or that stupid career as a firefighter! They even wanted to fire you now!"
 

"Mother, you… How did you.... Why did you say that?"

Seeing her daughter's face, Katharina realized everything she had just said. 
 

"Dear... That- that's not what I mean." She said nervously.

 

Yet, Lila had already  turned her face away and hurriedly ran outside.
 

"Lila, I...what I said..." Katharina talked to her outside.The night was cold, and she could see her daughter was trembling. She reached for her, but she stopped before she could.
 

"Mother, please stop treating my life like this is yours, stop treating my husband like he is no one. This is my life and he is my husband.  I want you to respect those facts."

" Lila, I ..."
 

"All this time, you were rarely there for me. Your business always came first and your clients mattered to you the most. You even did not come at my wedding day. Now... that I'm feeling happy,  being with someone who really cares for me, I want you to respect that." 
 

Lila stared at her, and as she heard those words, Katharina felt a pain pressing her chest. She tried to hold it and as she saw her daughter's face, she could see the trace of tears on her cheek.

"Honey, are you crying?"

"No! I don't want you to see it. You never saw me cry before. Why should I let you see it now?"
 

Lila ran into the house in tears.

 

After standing for a while, Katharina followed her. Lila cried as her body curled up in the bed.

 

Katharina stood still. She could hear her daughter's sobbing, but confused of what she should do. She sat next to her on the bed, still  hoping that her daughter would eventually stop crying.

Her hands shook as she tried to touch her forehead. She wanted to stroke her hair, but before she could do that, Lila had already gotten up.

 

"I'm going to prepare for dinner." Lila said without looking at her.
 

"Lila, please sit beside me.The dinner can wait."
 

Lila stood in silence for a while and then finally sat  beside her.
 

"Maybe what I did was unpleasant to you, but I have to make sure that Dave is a good husband. Dear, all I did was for your own happiness."
 

"I know... But, how many it would take to make you see it?"
 

"Plenty, my dear, he should have given you his best efforts."
 

"He is not a cash machine, mother, and Dave has already given me everything. He loves me and I love him too. It's enough. Can't you see that?" Lila stared at her, hoping that she would end it.
 

Katharina smiled. Her daughter's words reminded her of herself and her own love to her husband. "My child, you should not love a guy too deeply. You don't know what will happen someday. He probably will love you forever, but the worst thing could happen too. He may leave you, either it's for another woman or because of death. He is a firefighter. It's even riskier for you and I don't want you to feel the same way like I was." She sighed, eyes narrowing in sadness. Her mind traveled to the past.

"I love your father, but death came between us. You were so little. I told him to quit his job, but he didn't. I wish I had prevented  him from walking out of the door. I love you and I don't want you to feel the same grieve as I did. I love you so much. You are my only child." She bit her lips as she tried to hold her tears.

 

"Mother, what's wrong?"

 

Katharina refused to answer. Instead, she cried and  then hugged her tightly. "I love you. I just wanted the best for you. "

 

"Mother, I…" 

The strong woman finally cried on her shoulder. Lila could not understand it. It happened so suddenly. She could feel her mother's sorrow and  all the barricades that shielded their hearts were falling apart. She  leaned her head on her mother's shoulder. "I love you too, Mom." Lila  rubbed her back, trying to comfort her.

Katharina pulled her body  as Lila wiped the tears off her mother's cheek. It was the first time she saw her mother like that, so vulnerable yet so close to her.  Lila hugged her again as she was eager to replace the memories of feeling lonely and forgotten. Nevertheless, she knew now that her mother had not forgotten or abandoned her.

"Mom, can I ask you a favor?"
"What is it, dear?"

"Can I sleep on your lap?"

 

Katharina smiled. "Of course, you could, dear." Lila smiled and then laid her head on her lap.
 

Katharina's hands stroke her daughter's hair gently like she often did when Lila was only a child. Sometimes, her daughter did not realize it.

 

 

"Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh a beautiful release
memory seeps from my veins
let me be empty
oh and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight"

To be continued...