Chapter 16: Chapter 16

-15-Mother-in-law.

"A Mother gives you life, While a Mother-in-law gives you her life." [Author]

50-year-old Milly Brown remembered when she had first seen her husband. Her breath had seized, Stephen Brown had mesmerizing black eyes and a hearty smile. His smile was of the kind that can light up a room. She had liked him on a feeling. They had met through a party and had talked all day long. And in the end, they had exchanged numbers and left the party.

They had talked about life for a few weeks and had come to know about each other's interests. After dating a few months, She had told him about her secret.

[Milly Brown- 25-years-old]

"I'm barren."

"Oh. It's fine Honey. It doesn't matter to me."

"Really?" With tears in her eyes, she had asked him.

"Yes, Honey. Come here now." Opening his arms he had engulfed her in his warmth. Kissing her forehead.

[One year later]

Even then, amidst the spasm of joy that followed, When Stephen Brown had proposed to her, she remembers thinking it was a strange choice of words of him.

"My dear Milly,

Please always be this silly.

Would you like to be

A Step-mother to my Riley."

He had sung those words to her, Amidst carrying a photograph of her daughter and a blue-diamond ring.

"You are going to get stepdaughter."

For a long time, she hadn't answered him back. When he had spoken again.

"I hope you will make a new home for us, To grow together."

There was wholly a different kind of newness in his proposal. It was funny but was probably true.

"Okay." Crying she only spoke a word.

[A week later to the Proposal]

When She had arrived at the house for dining and meeting, 5-year-old Riley Brown. She had noticed Riley's Cute, Chubby heart-shaped face, was as swollen and twisted as a red balloon animal. Her big black doe-shaped eyes were filled with unshed tears.

Though Her mesmeric eyes were the same as her father's. She was sniffing her cute little nose attempting to wipe it with a napkin. Yet she still looked adorable.

Though Milly didn't mind her. A kid of her age will probably think she might steal her father. As if the people we love can be stolen. It was ridiculous Yet something was fascinating about her. Perhaps it was more than just fascination.

She had felt she was so precious that she needed to care for her correctly with utmost love. She wanted to protect that small little girl who was too innocent for the world. She knew she got the biggest gift from God. She wanted to be there for her. To make her smile in her lowest moments. She didn't even know she could feel so much for a child just when they first met.

_______________________________________

Stephen Brown has always been an emotional man. His world revolved around his little daughter.

Their first meeting was not that bad because she kind of guessed Little Riley was fascinated with her. Despite her trying to be a cold little girl. She wanted to be in her arms.

Milly was amused by her behavior.

When Stephen had introduced her. She had raised an eyebrow and had turned her head.

"Hie."

"You can't be my Mama!"

"Ril-boo, behave!" Stephen had warned his little daughter.

"Huh."

"Please, Stephen. Don't say anything. Let us talk."

She had shrugged, but not in an unkind way. No, it was a little different. It was kind. Not wasting a second She had given her the gifts All her favorites.

Backpack, dolls, and Chocolates. And a picture of her mother. That was the moment When finally little Riley wasn't able to control herself and had embraced her happily. She accepted her.

"Thank you."

And from then onwards their team was the best. She never had any other children Yet she was able to enjoy the feeling of motherhood. Riley will always be her Treasure.

________________________________________

She was brought out of her daydreaming by her phone buzzing.

She rolled her eyes at her stupid impatient husband. She had begged him to come with her for their daughter yet the stupid old man was as Cold as ice.

"Darling. How is she?"

Milly scoffed at Stephen.

"Please. Tell me, Darling? I will try to forgive her."

"Stephen. You could have done better than that. She is your only daughter. And was involved in an accident. Yet you choose to stay at home. How can you be so heartless?"

Stephen sighed helplessly. He was worried sick about His daughter. Yet he knew Milly can handle everything. He knew if there would be something wrong with their daughter. She wouldn't be only taunting him. But he wanted to hear her words.

"Come on Darling. Just tell me. Is she fine?"

"Yes, Stephen. She is! but you have disappointed me. When did your anger become bigger than your daughter?"

"Oh, Thank God! We will talk later. I'm busy right now. Bye."

Stephen knew he was in deep shit. If his wife was disappointed in him.

She sighed helplessly and wanted to shatter her phone. She would have already done that. If people around here we're not already glaring at her.

She muttered a small sorry and waited for her daughter's arrival.

Riley has left the room after some time and was not in a good mood. Milly could guess the beggar was still unconscious.

She shook her head at her mother helplessly.

"Mom, He is fine now. You can go home. I'll call you when he will be conscious."

"But Ril-Boo. I don't need rest. I'm fine. And also I want to meet him."

"Mom. I'll call you."

Milly sighed helplessly. Yet she understood her daughter's dilemma. So she muttered a small "Okay." And hugged her daughter lovingly.

Riley couldn't categorize if it was a blessing in disguise. After all, Her mother seemed to have forgotten about the earlier fight.

In the evening,

Christian woke up with a heavy feeling on his hand. He looked around the window and saw it was already dark. When He turned to his right side which was feeling a little heavy, he was surprised when he saw Riley sleeping on it.

He tried to move his other hand to trace her beautiful face that was filled with tears.

But his body was hurting like hell. He couldn't even move his left hand nor leg.

Closing his eyes, he remembered those beautiful black eyes of his wife looking at him with various emotions, full of disbelief, love.

Hah. He must have imagined. Riley brown was never softhearted. Yet another scene of what happened earlier filled his head just Like snippets flashing before his eyes, it all came to him in pieces, like one bad movie. The car. Riley holding him in her arms crying in agony.

He remembered her voice begging the driver to take him to the hospital.

It almost seemed that they were a couple, deeply rooted in love.

He heaved short breaths because taking a long breath was making even his ribs ache. He wanted to change his posture. Yet he hesitated not wanting to disturb Riley in her deep slumber. She looked so tired and sad.

However, the pain was too much so He slowly and cautiously struggled to change his posture into a comfortable one. However, The bed dipped and produced a creaky noise that disturbed Riley.

With a tiny shriek, She stood up. Looking remorsefully at him.

He looked like he has been through hell and back. Though his disoriented state, She could feel his eyes full of tenderness for her.

Tenderness. She must be imagining things. But it wasn't the time to comprehend what kind of emotion she had seen in his eyes.

To make him comfortable she operated the electronic button and helped him to sit in a comfortable posture.

"How are you feeling Mindy?"

He looked at his wife with dry lips and so many untold things in his eyes. His throat was too parched to speak out. So he pointed his eyes towards the water. She immediately helped him to drink it right away. While Christian swallowed the water slowly and stared at her panic-filled face.