As the rain continued to fall, it seemed as if it was trying to sweep away the whole city.
I stood at the window of our house in Portland, Oregon, and watched the droplets of water roll down the glass. The image of my biological mother, Catherine, who I hadn’t seen since I was eleven years old, was blurry to me as I watched the precipitation fall.
On that particular evening, twelve years ago, Mom went without saying goodbye, leaving my father and I stranded inside a home that was much chillier than the winter weather in Oregon. My father, who had been a successful real estate agent in the past, had lost everything following the catastrophe that occurred in 2008. Only a letter was left behind by Catherine, who seemed aloof and resolute, and it said, “I can’t live like this.”
It was on that day that I decided to cease believing in promises.
My father remarried when I was fifteen years old. Rachel’s name was Rachel, and she came into our lives in a stealthy manner. She did not make any attempt to be unduly friendly or to take the place of my mother. Now, she has simply… arrived. Not only did she provide warm meals for me, but she also listened to me when I wanted to chat, and as time went on, I started calling her “Mom” even when no one asked me to. My dad gradually rebuilt himself with Rachel’s help and encouragement. By the time he was fifty years old, he had established his own property management firm, which was somewhat modest but secure. Suddenly, our house, which had been filled with a heavy quiet, began to seem like a home once again.
After then, the doorbell rang in spite of the rain that was falling tonight, when I was twenty-two years old.
When my father answered it, I heard a voice that was both familiar and distant.
I am Daniel, and I am… “Ms. Catherine?
I became numb. My heartbeat quickened.
Yes, she was there. The rain was pouring down heavily as I stood at our front entrance. Her hair was longer, and her face was older, yet she still managed to look lovely. Her eyes, however, were no longer proud of her. It was a weary person. With a trembling voice, she said, “Am I permitted to enter?”
The father gazed at her but did not say anything at first. Later on, he moved to the side.
Rachel delivered a mug of hot tea to Catherine, who sat in the living room with the beverage in her hand. She informed us that she had been residing in Los Angeles and employing herself in the fashion industry, but she had never really found success. She expressed her sadness at having to go. said her desire was to make things better.
“I would like to return, Daniel,” I said. The tremor in her voice was accompanied by the words, “I want us to start over.”
There was complete quiet as I sat in the far corner of the room and listened. My heart continues to be icy. Twelve years have passed. There was not a single phone call. No birthday card was sent out. And suddenly she was back, like if everything had been a nightmare that she had just discovered she had woken up from.
Surprisingly, Dad maintained his composure. It’s wonderful that you can make it. However, you will need some time. We will do the same.”
Almost as if she was afraid that he might close the door once again, Catherine gave a short nod.
A second blanket was brought out by Rachel, who had been quiet up until that point, and she carefully laid it over her. “Past the night there. She spoke in a soft voice, “It is far too cold to be out there.” With that being said, there was a glimmer of steel in her eyes.
Unreal events transpired in the days that followed. Catherine did not leave. She made an effort to chat to me and inquired about my college, my friends, and my major. Every query, however, drove me farther and more away. It was impossible for me to forget the night that she departed, when I sobbed while clutching the plush owl that she had already given to me the previous year. But the thing that baffled me the most was my father. To her, he was… friendly. They engaged in conversation. One day, they even went out to lunch together.
Rachel never stopped smiling. Continued to cook. On the other hand, she had begun to speak less. In the backdrop, she saw Catherine’s return to our lives as she drifted back into our existence.
I dreaded the worst possible scenario, which was that my father would allow Catherine back in and forget about the lady who remained due to feelings of remorse or nostalgia.
At that moment, the truth came to light one evening.
At that moment, Catherine was standing at the head of the table, and we had just completed our supper. She looked around and said, “I need to say something,” as she looked around. A confident and even practiced tone emanated from her.
“I really want to return back from this trip. I want this family to be whole once again.
Rachel was the one she turned to.
I want to express my gratitude to Rachel for looking after Taylor and Daniel. Then then, this is my family. And now that I’ve returned, I believe it’s an appropriate moment for you to go. I have no desire for any kind of drama. What I really desire is what is mine.
As I said, my mouth fell open. Despite the fact that Rachel’s hands were gripping her glass more tightly, she did not reply. Not at this time.
And then Dad got up. In a low voice. Unwaveringly. He went inside the office and came out with a large envelope in his hand from the office.
“Indeed, Catherine, you are absolutely correct.” It is your family that we are. Having said that, you must first be aware of something;
All of the paperwork were slid over the table by him.
“When Rachel and I were married, I put the majority of our assets, including this home, the business, and even our savings, into her name. It would be me who would be the one to go without anything if we were to part ways.
The color fled from Catherine’s face. Despite the fact that her hands were trembling, she tore through the paperwork, turning each page more quickly.
“You… You are not telling the truth. You handed up everything to her?
The father did not show any signs of fear. I am being serious.
It was a USB disk that he retrieved from his pocket after reaching inside it. After that, he connected it to the laptop that was positioned on the sideboard. A voice could be heard coming from the speakers.
It is Catherine’s accent.
I’ve heard that Daniel is doing well. I am required to return. Because I am deserving of a portion of that property and that money. That lady, Rachel, is she that? You can count on me to find a method to free her.
Catherine’s face lost its composure.
Rachel remained on her seat. After that, she got up and made her way over to my father. It is not the home or the business that I am interested in, Daniel. I’ll go if you want her to remain the same.
Dad gave a nod of his head. It is not. It is true that you are my wife, Rachel. You’re the lady who remained present. He was instrumental in reestablishing this existence. “No one can take your place.”
When Catherine’s lips opened, she did not utter a single syllable. Taking her bag, which was now drenched in rain as a result of the storm outside, she departed. There will be no apologies. Not a hug. She did not even bother to glance at me.
As was the case earlier.
This time, however, I did not shed a tear.
It’s not because I lost my feelings. But because something inside me had undergone a transformation. Dad had anticipated this happening. Rather than the money, he had safeguarded the house that we had reconstructed, which was the ultimate concern.
With their hands intertwined, I saw Dad and Rachel seated on the back porch of our house the next morning. They were gazing out over the forest that was located behind our home. With a grin on her face, Rachel gazed up at me.
She told her sweetheart, “Sweetheart, family is not blood.” “It is the person who picks to remain.”
Having now grasped the whole significance of what was being said, I nodded my head in agreement.
However, the most unexpected event occurred one week later.
My dad gave me a letter to read. “I have concealed this information from you. But I believe that you are prepared.
A letter from Catherine, dated twelve years ago, was brought to my attention. An end to this.
In it, she stated that she had married my father not out of love but more for the sake of luxury and riches. Furthermore, after he lost everything, she came to the realization that she did not had the strength to remain. At the conclusion of the letter, there was a statement that I will never forget:
“I am not looking for you. Never in my life did I intend to become her mother.
In order to cause me pain, my father had not retained the letter. Because he wanted to remind himself that love is not just about the person with whom you start the narrative, he preserved it.
What matters is who makes the decision to remain when everything else comes apart.
First, I took my time folding the letter, and then I went out into the gentle and peaceful air. There was no longer any storm. For this particular instance, the absence of Catherine did not feel like a wound.
It was a sense of tranquility.
Because my father, Rachel, and I were finally able to form a complete family unit.
