ENCHANTED LOVE - SEASON 7 EPISODE 45

Laura was furious and fuming as she held the phone to her ears. Her face went red and her voice trembled as she spoke, “Don’t listen his nonsense.” She tried to appease Junia, “As long as I am Anthony’s mother, I wouldn’t allow that girl to enter our home. I truly appreciate you and would do anything to see both of you together. But before that can I expect you to tell me the truth? Do you love Anthony? If you really love him, I will be on your side by all means.”

There was complete silence on the other side of the phone. Laura waited for a few seconds for Junia to reply. With every passing moment, she was getting more and more impatient. Then she spoke out hastily, “Okay Junia, how about us meet up and talk? Just you and me? Of course, if you are not busy. You can take your decisions after I tell you everything about Anthony’s girlfriend. What do you think of it? Just take your time to think about it and let me know.”

After a moment of hesitation, Junia eventually agreed to meet Laura. “Okay,” she said in a meek voice.

Then Laura hung up the phone and heaved a sigh of relieve. However, her anger towards Anthony was not yet pacified. She kept walking up and down the hall till Carlson came back at night. In fact, Laura was so angry that she didn’t even cook the dinner.

Carlson marked that Laura was agitated the moment he walked into the living room. He promptly asked, “What happened? Did anything go wrong at today’s date meal?”

“You should know your son! I really don’t know what is going on in his mind. I asked him to watch a movie with Junia, but he bought two tickets in different rows. Can you imagine? I really wonder what magic that woman has cast on him that my son is so enchanted by her,” Laura started to complain bitterly to Carlson.

“It has been three years.” Carlson sighed and continued speaking as he sat on the couch and made himself comfortable, “The woman that Anthony loves may truly have something special. How about agreeing to meet her once? Since we have never seen her before, it is a little unreasonable for us to have such a prejudice to her.”

Hearing the words spoken by Carlson, Laura fumed up all the more. ‘Now even the father has joined the party,’ she thought in her mind. “So are you opposing me? Are you now on the same side with your son?” Laura looked at Carlson and interrogated wrathfully.

“I didn’t mean that,” Carlson explained immediately as he marked Laura’s rage. “What I mean is that, we can make our decisions after meeting with that woman. Our son is old enough to get married. We couldn’t just get in the way of his marriage,” Carlson tried to make Laura see reasons for all practical purposes.

“I warn you! Don’t meddle with this matter! You got that? I know how to deal with this. If I come to know that you are giving a favor to Anthony behind my back, I would teach you a lesson,” Laura nearly yelled at Carlson in great wrath.

“Fine, I wouldn’t meddle in. You do whatever you want to do,” Carlson said helplessly.

The next morning Anthony booked an early morning flight ticket to Y City.

Just like every other day, Anthony got up early and prepared breakfast for Laura and Carlson. And at the time he was about to leave, Laura woke up. Watching her son carry a suitcase, Laura asked, “When will you come back?”

“Very soon,” Anthony replied with a smile. He had made great efforts to convince Laura to meet with Sheryl. And now, he certainly needed to strike the iron while it was hot. Before Laura could have changed her mind, he must bring Sheryl to meet her as soon as possible. He believed that Laura would like Sheryl after seeing her.

“Mom, don’t forget what you have promised me,” Anthony couldn’t help but remind Laura of her promise. Laura nodded her head in affirmation which made Anthony hopeful. Upon thinking of the beautiful life in future, Anthony couldn’t resist smiling.

Laura took a sip of milk from the glass and said to Anthony, “Don’t worry. I will keep my words.”

A big smile appeared on his face. “I’ll take my leave.” Anthony kissed Laura’s forehead as he said goodbye and drove to the airport in a contended mind.

Just after Anthony left, Laura called up Junia for dinner. And Junia agreed delightedly.

Laura intentionally selected a Japanese restaurant which was equipped with private rooms. They could speak in private conveniently.

Laura reached the restaurant much before the scheduled time and waited for Junia to arrive.

“Aunt Laura. I am so sorry for being late. There was a traffic jam and then I had to spend a long time finding a parking place,” Junia apologized to Laura as she approached the table.

Laura laughed and poured a glass of water for Junia. Then Laura said to Junia, “It doesn’t matter, child, even I have arrived just now. Please drink some water and wet your whistle.”

“Thank you,” Junia smiled and expressed her gratitude as she took her seat. Neither of them talked about Anthony. Laura handed over the menu card to her and asked her to place the order. Both the ladies shared niceties with each other. Laura asked Junia about her stay abroad and her new job. Then the dishes were served. Much later, when they were at the middle of the meal, Laura shifted the topic to Anthony.

Laura cast a glance at Junia and said, “This morning… Anthony left.”

“Is it?” Junia was pouring mustard onto the sauce plate. When she heard Anthony’s name being brought up by Laura, her hands trembled and she poured too much mustard.

Laura marked her reaction and promptly offered her own sauce to her. “You can eat my sauce,” she said. Junia smiled and refused politely, “Oh no, don’t worry about it. I just like eating mustard.”

‘Maybe no one would find it strange if some day I get choked by spicy mustard,’ Junia kept thinking in her mind. On the face of it, however, she put a smiling face and pretended as if nothing happened.

Laura stared at Junia and continued, “In fact I am greatly pleased that you could come here to meet me. It manifests that you have a place in your heart for Anthony, isn’t it?”

Junia caught a glimpse of Laura and said smiling, “Aunt Laura, maybe you have misunderstood it. Today I have come here, because I am curious about Anthony’s girlfriend. I want to know what kind of a person she is. I don’t have any other intention.”

Although Junia was reluctant to admit it, Laura knew that Junia was too shy to speak her heart.

Laura laughed and added, “You are the kind of girl I like. You are beautiful. And you were born in a decent family. But that woman…”

“How is that woman?” Junia narrowed her eyes and asked Laura curiously. Laura became conscious when she noticed the curiosity on her face.

“That woman…” Junia stopped to organize her words, “lost her memory. She doesn’t even know who she was. Three years ago she was Anthony’s patient. Because of her illness, she took a drug and lost all her previous memory. Although Anthony loves that woman, I can’t allow a woman who can’t even tell about her background to be a part of our family. So, that is the real story. Now tell me, what do you think of it?” Laura got angry at the very mention of that woman. ‘How well-behave Anthony was before. Now he has always been opposing me since he has been together with that woman.’ Laura could not stop her mind from the random unpleasant thoughts about Anthony’s girlfriend that kept coming to her mind.

“Is… it real?” Junia’s eyes were wide open as she asked Laura in great disbelief. “Of course it is true,” Laura heaved a deep sighed and replied as she kept stirring the mustard sauce on her plate. “Why would I lie to you on such an important thing?” Laura sounded remorseful as she spoke.

“So… does she have any family? Have her family tried to find her?” Junia couldn’t resist interrogating.

“I don’t know. The only thing I know is that Anthony resigned from the hospital and went to America with that women three years back. He has left everything behind for that woman. Since then Anthony has become her boyfriend. In America Anthony took care of her and barely came back home,” Laura answered.

“Anthony is so kind to that woman!” Junia spoke narrowing her eyes. Laura could clearly see envy in her eyes at the mention of the dedication Anthony had towards his girlfriend. Laura became hopeful.