Chapter 271

I stepped through the door, a sense of relief washing over me as I returned home. As I entered the kitchen, the comforting scent of lavender-scented cleaner filled the air. Aria was there, her sleeves rolled up, diligently wiping the countertops.

"Hey, Evie! Where have you been?" Aria glanced up from her task, a warm smile curving her lips.

I shrugged off my coat, feeling a flicker of nerves as I prepared to share my news. "I went to see a therapist."

Her eyes widened in surprise before lighting up. "That's amazing, Evie! How was it?"

Taking a seat at the kitchen table, I exhaled slowly. "It was... better than I expected. She really listened, you know? Didn't just nod and scribble notes. It felt like she understood."

Aria paused in her cleaning, leaning against the counter with genuine interest. "That's great to hear. Are you going back?"

Nodding, I felt a hint of determination bubbling within me. "Yeah, I already scheduled another session. It feels like a step in the right direction."

The genuine concern in Aria's eyes made my heart swell with gratitude. "I'm proud of you, Evie. It takes courage to seek help."

I smiled. "Thanks, Aria. It means a lot."

Then, something else dawned on me, a spark of excitement in the midst of my revelations. "Oh! I almost forgot to tell you. Timothy got us free tickets to his next hockey game."

Aria's face lit up with enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling. "No way! That's awesome. You're coming, right?"

I nodded eagerly. "Of course! And you can bring your boyfriend too if you'd like. It'll be fun."

Her grin widened as she continued to clean, the tension in the room dissipating with each stroke of the cloth. "I'll definitely bring him along. Ugh, this is going to be amazing. Those tickets usually cost me a whole paycheck."

As I watched her, a sense of contentment settled over me. Sharing this moment with Aria felt like a small victory, a glimpse of normalcy. The therapeutic session had opened a door I had been hesitant to approach.

"We'll have a blast," I assured her, a newfound optimism coloring my voice.

With a determined smile, I stood up, ready to help her with the cleaning.

The faint aroma of sizzling garlic wafted through the air as I stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, as I prepared a comforting meal. Cooking had always been my solace, a way to ground myself amidst the chaos. Tonight, I felt the need to channel that familiar rhythm.

As I diced onions with practiced precision, the sound of a gentle knock on the door interrupted the quiet evening. Aria glanced at me, curiosity dancing in her eyes as she wiped her hands on a dish towel.

"I wonder who that could be?" Aria mused, heading towards the door.

I shrugged, a sense of intrigue mingled with the anticipation of the unknown. The door swung open, revealing my mom, her usually buoyant demeanor subdued, replaced by a hint of worry etched on her features. Yet, her eyes sparkled with excitement upon seeing me.

"Evie!" Mia exclaimed, a mix of relief and enthusiasm in her voice as she stepped inside.

I blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by her unexpected arrival. "Mom? What are you doing here?"

Mia's smile widened, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Surprise visit! I needed a change of scenery and figured I'd pop in for a visit. Hope that's okay!"

I hesitated, glancing at Aria who wore a welcoming expression. "Of course. Dinner's almost ready, so stay and join us."

Aria chimed in, her voice warm with hospitality. "Yeah, it'll be great! Come on in and make yourself comfortable."

Mia's shoulders visibly relaxed as she exhaled a breath she seemed to have been holding. "Thanks, girls. I really appreciate it."

As I resumed my cooking, the atmosphere in the kitchen felt different, charged with an unspoken tension. Mia seemed on edge, fidgeting with the hem of her sweater as she sat at the kitchen counter. I glanced at her.

"Everything okay?" I ventured cautiously, stirring the simmering sauce in the pot.

She hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating whether to share her thoughts. "I've just been a bit stressed lately, you know? Work stuff."

Aria leaned in, her tone filled with empathy. "If you want to talk about it..."

Mia managed a small smile, her gratitude evident. "I'll be okay. Just one of those weeks, you know?"

Nodding in understanding, I focused on finishing up the meal, hoping that the simple act of sharing a meal together would ease the tension lingering in the air. As I plated the food, I couldn’t help but wonder what drew Mia here of all places.

Placing the dishes on the table, I gestured for everyone to sit. The clinking of cutlery against plates filled the air as we served ourselves, engaging in light conversation. Despite Mia's initial unease, Aria's presence seemed to dispel any of the initial awkwardness.

"So, Mia, tell me more about yourself," Aria prompted. “It’s so strange, finally seeing you in the flesh.”

Mia hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating where to start. "Well, for a while, I was a hairdresser just trying to get by. I left home with a dream in mind, and doing hair seemed to be it at the time."

Aria nodded, her eyes alight with interest. "Interesting. Work for any special people."

Mia's smile softened, memories flickering in her gaze. "No, just the usual civilians. It took up quite a bit of my time since I was trying to make ends meet, but I did come across some cool people from time to time."

I lifted an eyebrow at her. It would have been easier for her to just stay home and help raise me. She could’ve been a hairdresser without all the hassle.

Oddly enough, just that thought gave me pause. Her story about being some aspiring hairdresser hadn’t even come up the last time we talked about her fleeting lifestyle away from home. She told me she’d been trying to start up a band.

“Never in my life did I think I’d run into a lovely man like Kamran Hayes, however. He came in, asking for a haircut, and I thought to myself, ‘How could I get so lucky?’”

“I thought you said you met while you were tailoring his suit?” I interjected.

This caused all eyes in the room to land on me. Mia, caught in her theatrics, seemed to dull a little as she pondered my words. Then she grinned, sweeping her hair over her shoulder.

“No, silly. I told you we were talking about his tailored suit while I was cutting his hair.”

“But-”

Mia waved me off, and I noticed something dark flicker behind her eyes. “You must be mistaken. I couldn’t sew to save my life back then. I must have misspoke.”

I decided to keep quite, and Mia seemed more than pleased with that. She shifted her attention to Aria, who was none the wiser about the inconsistencies, and the conversation flowed effortlessly between them.

As the evening progressed and the last remnants of dinner disappeared from our plates, I glanced at Mia, noticing the subtle change in her demeanor. The tightness in her shoulders had eased, replaced by a sense of ease and familiarity.

"Thanks for dinner, girls. It was delicious," Mia said.

Aria nodded in agreement, a smile playing on her lips. "Thank you. It was great having you here, Mia."

As I cleared the table, Mia stood up, a newfound lightness in her step. "I should head back now. Thanks for letting me crash the dinner."

"It was no problem at all," I said, walking her to the door. I couldn’t shake the unease that had settled within me, even as she regarded me with a kind smile.

Mia enveloped me in a brief but tight hug. "You're the best, sweety. Thanks for keeping me."

Watching her leave, I felt slightly off-balance. The evening had taken an unexpected turn, leaving me with a gnawing sense of unease. Mia's sudden appearance, her subdued demeanor, and now, the inconsistencies in her stories had set my mind whirling with questions.

I couldn't shake off the strange feeling that something wasn't adding up.

Mia had regaled me with tales of her life, stories woven with intricate details about her time on the road with a band, a life filled with music and adventure before settling as a tailor. However, as she spoke with Aria, she casually mentioned working as a hairdresser before finding Kamran.

I glanced at Aria, who was drying the dishes, seemingly oblivious to the discrepancy. "So…How was my mother?"

Aria paused, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. "Oh, she’s absolutely lovely. I kept expecting some horrible woman, but she was actually pleasant. How do you feel?"

I couldn't shake off the feeling of doubt, but Aria seemed convinced Mia was pleasant. On the surface, that was true, but Mia’s little slip-up only increased my paranoia.

"She’s nice. She seems a little confused about her stories though,” I said finally.

Aria's brow furrowed in concern. "With all that experience, I’m sure she just mixed things up. People do that sometimes.”

I hummed thoughtfully. Maybe Aria was right. I was probably reading too much into it, but I know what I heard.

There was something Mia wasn’t telling me.