Stella took in everyone's expressions. Zach did not look the least bit surprised. She had figured that if he went out straight with the facts, he must have found out her real identity. Amy, she didn't seem surprised either, there was disappointment in her eyes but it didn't feel like it was directed at her. And Nora.
"Nora, say something", Stella urged.
The young woman had zoned out in the middle of her narrating everything. Nora was bubbly and forward just like herself so this silence, it worried her. She would choose her angry outburst over this. She had really shaken her daughter. A laugh erupted in the quiet room.
Everyone turned to find Nora laughing. She looked like she had heard the greatest joke on the planet. She laughed while smacking her thighs to the point of tears welling up in her eyes. She calmed down with a sigh as she wiped away the tears.
"Why are you and Dad so hell bent on ruining my chances at love?" She burst out. Stella's and Amy's mouths fell open. Did they miss something? Nora stood on her feet and started to pace around the room. "Oh! Don't act surprised! You know what you did!"
"What is she talking about?" Amy was befuddled by the turn of conversation.
"Nora, Emily is as good as married to him. And they're having a baby together. Stop with the nonsense!" Stella scolded. She should have known.
"Nonsense? How rich of you mom! First you plan with Dad to add her to our family and now you've put her in danger! I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to move away!"
Zach confirmed with a curt nod. Amy looked at Stella in shock. Her mind took her back to the time she visited her in the hospital. She wasn't wrong. Stella was indeed disappointed that it wasn't her who called her mom. And she was not wrong about their relationship either. She felt her heart ache at this. Nora also felt her heart ache at Zach's confirmation.
"Argggghhhhhhh!" She shook herself and stomped in place in frustration. Her hair quickly resembled a bird's nest from her actions. She turned to look at her mother with a deadly glare before stomping towards her to kneel before her. She took her hands and rested her forehead against them with a sigh. When she looked up, she looked so pitiful with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Mom", her tone turned gentle. "Please tell me everything you just said is not true. It's not true, is it?"
Stella was reminded of her wrong doings. She couldn't even look her daughter in the eye as she dropped her gaze. "I'm sorry."
"No. I.... I can't lose them", she shook her head no non-stop.
"Them?" Stella was shocked when she heard this.
And that froze Nora. What had she just blurted out? Today is not going well for her, she thought with a cock of her head to the side. Well, it had already gotten to this point. She had nothing else to lose.
"Yes", she stood up and looked between Zach and Amy. "I'm crazy about the both of you at the same time! There! I said it! Sue me!"
For the first time, Zach reacted to her. And he was as shocked as Amy was. Having them both look at her like that, she couldn't handle it! At a speed if lightning, Nora disappeared out of the door!
Amy blinked once, twice. "That was... That was....."
"I know..... I..... I didnt.... Wow!" Stella did not know how to explain either. Out of everything she said, that was all Nora picked up on.
The room fell quiet. No one spoke a word. Everything that just happened sunk in. That was when Stella realized something heart breaking.
"You're leaving?" She turned to Amy with alarmed eyes.
She nodded. "We have to. I can't afford to put you in danger. It's bad enough a man as dangerous as Viper made contact with Nora. I can't have that."
"My carelessness. I really didn't mean to put you in harm's way. I was just curious. You're such a good girl and I wanted to know what it who was after you and how I could protect you with my influence. I should have trusted and respected you but I got so curious..... I'm so sorry Emily. Now, I'm losing someone as good as my daughter", she cupped the young woman's cheeks as she started sobbing again.
"You were really going to add me to your family?" She still could not believe this. And she was touched by Stella's reasoning though it brought such consequences.
"Yes, I was worried dear. I talked to Richard about it and he agreed right away. We considered you as our own but we just thought it was too soon to bring it up because you had barely known us."
Amy pouted feeling her heart melt at Stella's words. She pulled her into an embrace. The two fell quiet. Silent tears fell down Amy's cheeks. She sniffled, "I never said this but you are the closest thing I've got to a mother. I would have loved to call you my mother."
"It's too late for that now", Stella sighed into their embrace.
Amy pulled away and cupped the woman's cheeks like she always did with her. She let out a gentle smile through her tears. "We will meet again. Cupcake will have to meet her grandmother."
"Oh! Dear", Stella pulled her into a hug again as she gently patted Amy's head. Tears could not stop falling down Stella's cheeks.
Zach was moved when he saw this. He was wrong for misunderstanding this older woman. He was curious about Amy's family and he just met her. So he moved and went down on one knee before the older woman. The two women broke the embrace and looked at him.
"I'd like to thank you for taking care of her. No amount of words can express how grateful I am. If you need anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate to call me", he promised.
Stella shook her head, "All I want is for you to continue to take care of her. I've seen how happier she's grown with you around. Don't ever leave her."
"And I will never. That's a promise", he said.
Without a second thought, she pulled him into a hug. He felt awkward at first, but he reciprocated the gesture. This was his mother-in-law after all.
Amy wiped her tears with a tissue after they broke the embrace. They both calmed down from the crying.
"I'll have to trouble you to explain things to Richard", Amy said apologetically.
"Don't worry dear. You just take care of yourself", Stella assured her.
She figured they would be gone before her husband returned. In truth, they planned to leave later at night. Zach advised her to stay indoors for her safety because they didn't know who was watching. That's why he called for Stella to come over instead of going over with Amy. Disguises worked best at night, and so their departure would take place at that time. One thought worried the older woman.
"What are you going to do about the bounty? You could have gotten rid of Viper, but what about the rest?" She looked at the two with genuine worry.
"About that.....", Amy started. "I'm going to implement something I learned from you."
Stella's curiosity was piqued. What was she talking about? Amy gave Zach a knowing look and he responded with a smile.....
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