Second Chance: Reclaiming My Baby's Mommy

By Narrator

Months later

"I CAN’T BELIEVE SUCH NONSENSE." Elizabeth screamed to the point of frightening everyone in the house. "ANTHONY MORELLE, MY HEIR, IN LOVE WITH A POOR LATINA WHO HAS NOWHERE TO DROP DEAD, AND WORSE THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE MAID."

"The maid, who took care of your children better than you, by the way." Mirella didn’t miss the opportunity to pin her mother.

Elizabeth’s three children had daring characteristics. They were all cheeky and showed contempt for rules, but it was Mirella who was least afraid to confront her eldest.

"What did you say?" The corner of Elizabeth’s left eye twitched.

"No lies, Mom." Anthony stood beside his sister, ready to defend her. They both looked at their mother with contempt. "Wasn’t it Mrs. Elinor who took care of us while you were spending day and night in that damned hospital? By the way, you should thank her for all she has done for us."

"And that’s when you weren’t going on vacation." Even though he was the one who feared his mother the most, Arthur ventured to conclude, showing that he was on his brothers’ side.

"Can you two talk like civilized people?" Octavian tried in vain to intervene between mother and children. "I’m sure that these shouts can be heard all over the neighborhood."

"Civilized people? That’s all Anthony is not, my dear. Your son has always enjoyed teasing us, Octavian, but this time he’s crossed every line." Elizabeth seemed to care little if, from the kitchen of that house, Elinor listened to everything with sadness and feeling humiliated, but not surprised, since when she learned of her granddaughter’s involvement with the Morelle firstborn, she would have warned them both of the problems they would face when the relationship was assumed. "WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU CAN HAVE ANY WOMAN IN YOUR ARMS, AND YOU JUST WANT A DISHWASHER? POOR, IMMIGRANT, AND BLACK!" The older woman laughed scornfully. "That’s all I need."

Elizabeth knew that it had only been a few days since Nicole had been hired as a waitress in a small restaurant on the south side of town. Imagining her oldest son dating Elinor’s granddaughter was na affront to what she stood for in society.

Arthur and Mirella exchanged glances, and it was possible to see how outraged Elizabeth’s youngest seemed at her mother’s haughty, prejudiced behavior. By the way, she was not so different from Anthony, but Anthony seemed to grow angry at her mother’s words.

"WASH YOUR MOUTH TO TALK ABOUT NICOLE. BECAUSE HER JOB IS AS DIGNIFIED AS ANY OTHER, AND FROM WHAT I SEE HERE BEFORE YOU, PROFESSION DOES NOT DEFINE CHARACTER."

Like his mother, Anthony also shouted fearlessly. Compared to all the others, this was the first big fight between mother and son since the boy’s return.

"How dare you speak to me like that, Anthony!" Elizabeth’s eyes twitched, so angry was she. "Are you really going to confront your mother about that..."

"That what?" This time Tony was inches away from his mother. "Finish that sentence and I swear I won’t stay another minute in this house. And I’ll tell you something else... racism is a crime. Know that I won’t object if Nicole reports you for it. Maybe then you’ll learn that we’re all equal."

Elizabeth studied her son’s features and at that moment she knew two things for certain: it was time to end the discussion; after all, she knew her son better than anyone else, and she knew that Anthony meant it when he said he was leaving home. And as much as he didn’t say it in words, everyone knew that Anthony was Elizabeth’s favorite son. The other certainty was simple. For the older woman, Nicole would be her biggest problem.

Some time later

"Do you smell that?" Mirella said close to her brother’s ear, who was too stupid to notice the debauch-laden phrase.

"It smells like good food." Arthur answered in innocence, but was soon slapped by his younger sister.

"I don’t mean food, you idiot."

"Ouch." complained the boy, smoothing his arm. His sister was disproportionately strong for her tiny size. "So what are you talking about, my God?"

"Framing!" The younger girl said, and her brother still didn’t seem to understand what her sister was getting at. "Come on, do you really believe that Mom is okay with Tony and Nicole dating? Arthur, when in your life do you think Elizabeth would host a dinner party to make their relationship official?"

Arthur seemed to think about what his sister was saying, and now it seemed to make sense. Really, knowing his mother as he did, Elizabeth’s sudden attitude didn’t fit her personality, even when she claimed that she couldn’t bear to quarrel with her eldest son.

"So, I think we’d better keep na eye out. I don’t want Tony and Nick to be embarrassed by Mom’s foolishness." said the boy.

"So you mean Auntie doesn’t like her favorite’s little girlfriend?"

Neither of the two Morelle’s had noticed that Tomaz had sneaked up and overheard the two brothers’ conversation. Mirellla rolled her eyes impatiently at her cousin’s provocation, which for her was a real synonym for trouble. The bad boy had arrived from a trip a few days before; he was going to spend some time at his aunt’s house, since he had been sentenced to death after getting into a fight in a luxurious nightclub in Los Angeles. For Mirella, that story was badly told, but she accepted the explanations from her mother who did not hide her affection for her older nephew. But how could it be different? Aunt and nephew were alike when it came to dubious character.

"This is none of your business, Tomaz." said Mirella, harshly.

"Hey, easy there, little cousin. I just want to understand why Aunt Beth doesn’t approve of the courtship." Said the boy raising his arms in signs of redemption.

"Look, they’re here." Arthur said excitedly, preventing the conversation between the cousins from continuing.

Tomaz quickly looked towards the door where Anthony entered holding hands with Nicole. This was the first time the brunette had entered the house through the front door.

"Now I can understand why." said Tomaz, holding back his laughter. "This girl is anything but the daughter-in-law of Ms. Elizabeth Morelle’s dreams. Look at that..." The boy was referring to Nicole’s simple clothes and worn-out sandals. However, in Anthony’s eyes, Nicole looked beautiful in that flowery twirled dress. "But I have to confess... Despite being a country bumpkin, this woman is beautiful." concluded the young man, visibly mischievous at Nicole’s beauty.