Juliet continued, “I came here to watch over you and help you, so that your clumsiness and bad character would not ruin your marriage. I am here to help you, Perry. Your husband does not see that. But I know you see that, right?” When Perry did not answer, Juliet shook her. “Answer me! You know I am here to help you, right?”

Perry’s eyes were already bright red. “Mother, you are hurting me,” she said.

This was clearly not the answer Juliet wanted to hear. “It’s for your own good. You will go and talk to your husband, right? You will convince him to let me stay here, won’t you?”

Perry nodded her head fast. She just wanted her mother to let go of her.

Juliet released Perry’s hand and raised her hand. Perry closed her eyes, thinking her mother’s hand would hit her, but she felt calmer when her mother’s hand touched her hair and rubbed it gently. “That is my good girl. Go to your husband now. Make sure you convince him by all means. I must stay in the house, my darling. We need time to bond as mother and child. Do you hear me?”

Perry nodded as she walked away to do her mother’s bidding. As she walked, she could not help but think about her mother’s words. Had her mother really come to bond with her? If that was true, then why had her mother spoken all those harsh words to her? Why had her mother treated her like that? There was heavy disbelief in Perry’s heart about her mother’s words, but she wanted to give it a chance. She had never been close to her mother for as long as she could remember. Deep in her heart, Perry had always wished her mother would love her and treat her well. She wanted to take this chance to be close to her mother. She would talk to Zach in her mother’s favor.

Zach was in the kitchen eating an apple. The moment he saw Perry, he said, “Has she gone? I do not want to see her face, that is why I am sitting here. Come here, honey, come sit by me.” Zach was sitting on a stool by the counter, and there was another high stool near him.

Perry sat by him and enjoyed the beauty of his eyes and his boyish grin. He was so happy to be with her, she knew that. His eyes flickered with so much light, warmth, and tenderness whenever he saw her. “Zach, I need to talk to you about something. I want you to promise me that you will do whatever I ask.”

Zach thought she wanted to buy something new. “Tell me, honey. My bank account is at your mercy.”

Perry laughed.

“I am serious. I will buy you whatever you want. You deserve it. I remember a few years ago before I lost your sister. Many people called me a loser. I had just lost my job. I was kicked out of my family’s company by my brothers because of a disagreement. I had an idea, but no hope on how it would ever materialize. And then, your sister died. I was crushed, and so were you. But you were courageous and pushed yourself. I told you about my ideas and dreams, and you worked with me to make it a reality. What can I say, Perry? You are my angel. I do not know what I ever did to deserve you. Now, after this intense monologue of mine, tell me what you want.”

“I want my mother to stay with us,” Perry said.

“What? Is your mom still here?” Zach could not believe this.

“Yes, she is still here. Zach, I think it will be fine if she stays here with us. She says she wants to bond with me, and I want to give it a chance,” Perry explained.

Zach rose to his feet and ran a hand through his hair. He did not like this conversation.

Perry was playing with her fingers now. “Dear, please do it for me. I really want to see if it is possible to bond with my mother.”

He put down his hand, “Fine. Your mother can stay. But the moment she gets too nosy or pisses me off, I will kick her out.”

A smile flashed like lightning on Perry’s face. “Thanks, honey,” she said.

Perry told the maids to clean the biggest guest room so that her mother could move in. When everything was well arranged, Perry led her mother to the room. Perry opened the door with a smile on her face. “Come in, Mother. This is the biggest guest room in our mansion.”

“You say the words ‘our’ when you just got married yesterday.” Juliet stepped into the room, and then Perry entered after her.

Juliet looked around the room. The queen-sized bed was covered with materials of blue and white. The walls were cream in color. Everything in the room was expensive and clean.

Juliet nodded in satisfaction, “This room does befit me.”

Perry smiled. She was glad her mother was satisfied.

“Run along now. I need to take a shower and rest,” Juliet said as she shooed Perry out of the room.

Perry swallowed the lump in her throat and walked out. She wanted to spend more time with her mother, to talk to her a bit more. She hoped she would have that time soon.

Perry walked slowly to her room as thoughts ran through her mind. She could not help but think of the past. There had been many painful memories. One day, when Perry was twelve, she was invited to a birthday party with her younger sister, Darlene. She had run into her room to pick a dress to wear when she saw Darlene with that dress in her hand, posing in front of the mirror.

Little Perry walked up to Darlene. “Hey, that’s mine. Give it back.”

Little Darlene had rolled her eyes at her, “Says who? I like this dress, and this is what I am going to wear to the party. Go and pick an ugly dress that suits you.”

Perry got really mad. Her little cheeks turned bright red. She held a part of the dress and tried to drag it from Darlene’s hand. “Give it to me.”

Darlene got mad too. She pushed Perry so hard that she fell to the floor. Perry opened her mouth and began to cry. Her sobs were so loud that they attracted her mother, Juliet, who was working in the kitchen.

“What is going on here?” Juliet asked as she walked into the room and saw the scene before her.

“Mom, Perry is being such a crybaby. I only told her I want to wear this dress, and she began to push and beat me. I tried to defend myself, but she was so weak that she fell on the floor and began to cry. I do not know why she won’t just let me wear this dress, it is just for the evening.”

A frown rose on Juliet’s face. She walked to Perry and pulled her by her ears.

“Ouch! It hurts, Mom,” little Perry cried out as one hand reached up to touch her mother’s.

“Stand up right now. I said get up this moment,” her mother said.