Though I am generally a forgiving and loving person, the fact that Tiresa hasn’t visited Pa for years has been a big gripe with me and a constant bone of contention between the two of us. Pa loves her as his own daughter despite the fact that there was no blood connection. When Ma and Pa got together against her families wishes he promised he would love and support her daughter as his own. Though it has been 22yrs since she was taken from him he has still obstinately kept that promise and waits daily for his daughters’ return. Even in failing health he has faith that she will come to him that they will be reunited. Yet Tiresa seems determined to ignore him, even knowing about his failing health, she wont even acknowledge him as the doting loving father that he once was and still is to her if she would but give him a chance.
After a long pause and deep breath I respond quietly, “Mama Rose…I wont promise, i will see how things go and if she contacts me over the next few weeks. If all is ok with her, I’ll come, otherwise the kids can stay at your place and attend but I wont be there…ok?”
“Ok Dear One,” Phew!… The end is in site i ponder wickedly to myself…She continues “Well, keep me updated. I will see the children on Thursday.” With a few more niceties and a bye bye she finally grants me parole.
The conversation with Mama Rose left a sour taste in my mouth, there was a time when Tiresa and I were close, I would have been the first person she told about her impending engagement. How times change…
A part of me missed that and wished things could be different yet another part of me thinks that I could never trust her again with intimate details of my life because of her betrayal last time.
Darn! I just caught a glimpse of the monster at the end of the hall again.
[hr]
Heavy hearted Mama Rose put the phone back on its cradle… Shoulders slumped with the burdens of her family she leant heavily against the kitchen sink as she looked vacantly outside at the roses below the window sill.
“Lord knows we made mistakes with those girls but they are both as stubborn as an ox being led to shelter.”
“Did you say something Mama?”
As trapped in her thoughts as she was Mama Rose, looked over her shoulder, and was surprised to see her other granddaughter had entered the kitchen.
“Tiresa, my dear…I didn’t hear you come in” Mama Rose turned, holding out her arms to offer a hug in greeting.
“No wonder” Tiresa raised an eyebrow, a slight colour of disdain brightened her cheeks “you were busy talking on the phone when i knocked, no guesses who that was” Instead of walking into those arms held out for her, Tiresa lifted her nose and ignored them handing Mama Rose a piece of notepaper whilst she continued talking “Mika’s waiting in the car we’re off to the country club to have a look at the venue for the reception”