Michael's Point Of View ~ 

We walk into mothers house. The smell of freshly baked, home-made cookies invades my nostrils. I take off Chloe's coat for her . . hanging it up on the rack by the door as well as my own. Chloe . . she's from work. I am known her for 4 years now. She's very lovely . . very nice women. She has always had her eyes on me for a while . . everyone at work was always talking about it. How the two of us would make such a great couple. How we may be perfect for each other. But for me, I didn't want her that way at all . . I always had my eyes on Olivia. But here I am . . moving on . . well, trying my best to do so anyways. I invited Chloe out to dinner a few nights ago. We had a great time. Lively conversation and delightful dancing. We just got back from seeing a movie and mother insisted that we stop by her place to visit. 

Mother has been dying to meet Chloe. 

"Mother, we're here! . . " I call out. 

"I'm in the kitchen . . " Mother calls back. 

I tell Chloe to follow me, she does. Walking behind me in a very mature fashion. She's very quite, I guess she's just nervous. I understand that. It's okay. 

We walk into the kitchen. The different smells from mothers non stop cooking and creating in here is making me hungry. It always reminds me of when I was a little boy. I would come home after school with my brothers and sisters and mother would be in the kitchen and just cooking what ever she felt like whipping up. Mother has always been in love with cooking. She has always been the best cook in the family by far. I hear mother humming a song quietly to herself as she takes the second tray of cookies out from the oven, placing them on the kitchen counter to cool down. 

She turns around to face Chloe and I . . 

Smiling brightly towards the both of us. Her arms stretched out on either side of her as she steps closer to me. Her arms wrapping around me in a warm hug . . with a kiss to my cheek that I always know is never far behind. 

"Oh Michael, my baby . . how are you?" Mother asks me sweetly. 

I nod. 

"I'm good, thanks . . " I say. 

Her attention is at Chloe now. Mother smile's is still upon her bright face. She looks at me. 

"And who is this lovely, young women? . . " Mother asks me. 

I walk back over to Chloe, standing next to her with my arm wrapped around her shoulder. I smile. 

"Mother . . this is Chloe . . " I say. 

Chloe says hi sweetly. With a wave of her hand. Mother wastes no time in welcoming her into her home with a hug and a kiss of the cheek. Putting a fresh pot of coffee. Telling Chloe and I to take a seat and get comfortable. Here we go, mother wants to know everything. How we met . . how we got together. Well, I know she means well. Mother is just very excited . . very happy. She places the cookies in a big bowl and places them in the middle of the table. I look to the side of me . . towards Chloe. She's looking around the house . . her eyes moving making sure that she see's the house where I grew up. 

I don't see Chloe . . 

I see Olivia. My eyes are glued towards her. No, no . . stop it Michael. Olivia is history now. It's been a few days now since everything happened between us. We haven't spoken since that night that I told Olivia that I'm in love with her. A sad expression washes over my features. I need to stop thinking about it so much. I need to stop thinking about Olivia. She's with someone . . getting married and spending her life with him. Even the guy that she's marrying is nothing but an asshole. A guy that doesn't deserve her in any way. But yet, he has her. And Olivia is crazy about him. She doesn't love me like that . . she loves Eric. As far as I know, they are together and . . ugh. Happy. Olivia made that very clear when she walked away from me, leaving me heartbroken. 

But now, I am here with Chloe. Olivia seems to be in the past now. 

"So, Chloe . . had did you and Michael met? . . " Mother asks, breaking me from my train of endless thoughts. Carrying two coffee mugs in the hands . . placing one in front of me and the other in front of Chloe. Mother smiles at Chloe. Chloe giggles, looking at me. I force a smile and look at her too . . than back towards mothers direction. 

"Well . . we have known each other for about 4 years now . . " 

" . . we know each other from work . . " Chloe says. Kissing my cheek. 

I let out an uncomfortable chuckle. Mother looks at me. 

My mind is somewhere else. As I hear the pleasant conversation between Chloe and mother. Their voice seeming to be very distinct even though I'm sitting right here with them. Their conversation of unknown things is cut short . . Chloe mobile phone starts to ring. She takes it out from inside of her small hand bag. Her face is disappointed as her interaction with mother seems to bring her some kind of joy. Chloe stands for the table. 

"Excuse me, I'm sorry. But it's my mum calling . . " 

" . . I'll be right back . . " Chloe says. She kisses me cheek, walking away to take the call somewhere more private. 

It's quite for a little while. Until I hear mother clear her throat. 

Oh God. I know what she's about to bring up. 

"Michael, baby . . how are you . . please be honest this time" Mother asks. Her voice consumed with concern. I look at her . . taking small sips from my coffee. Awkwardly putting a small amount of sugar in and stirring it around with my spoon. 

"What do you mean, mother? I'm fine. That's the truth! . . " I say. 

" . . have you spoken to Olivia since that night? . . " Mother asks. 

I look at her, my eyes filling with water. No . . I'm not going to get upset about this. Not again. Not this time. I said I'm going to move on from Olivia and that's what I'm doing. 

"No, I haven't . . but I'm fine mother!" I say.

"Michael I'm your mother. I can see that your sad . . "

" . . I can see that your still thinking about her." She says. Her voice soft. 

She puts her hand over mine. Her small, warm hand not holding hands with my large one. I don't say anything. 

"Michael, I saw the way you were looking at Chloe. But you were seeing Olivia instead, weren't you?" 

"Mother I was looking at Chloe. I'm not thinking about Olivia . . " I say sternly. 

"Look, Michael I understand that you are going to deny it but I'm your mother . . "

" . . I'm the person that knows you the best"

I take a cookie as they sit in the large bowl in the middle of the table. 

"Michael you were in love with Olivia for 10 years of knowing her . . and you still are" She says.  

I look at mother . . 

She's looking back at me. Her face softening, her eyes looking straight into mine. 

"Mother I love Chloe. I am with her now and that's the truth! . . " I tell her. 

to be continued.