It was close to the December vacation and I couldn't wait. I was literally counting the minutes of the clock at work and knowing tomorrow morning, I would be on my way back home. I haven't been home for about 2 years and the thought of warm winter fires, the smell of pine, roast meats, vegetables and laughter just sounded like what I needed.
Finally work finished, I left in my car and drove home. Luckily not too much traffic. I picked up a pizza on the way home as I didn't feel like cooking. I finally got home and started packing my bag. I was flying out the airport bright and early, so I didn't have time to waste.
I eagerly packed my bag, checked the list. It was a 3-hour flight back home so I couldn't forget anything. My name is Thomas and I am 34. I live alone, no girlfriend unfortunately but I'm happy. My parents got divorced a few years ago and I'm close to both my parents. I feel bad as I haven't been home for a while to see mom. She lives alone too and runs a website design company.
I ate my pizza and watched some crap on T.V. I went to bed early and set my alarm for 5am. I got to be at the airport at 6am sharp as my flight leaves at 8am. I like to be early.
I got up at 6am, did the usual, collected my bag, called an Uber and went straight to the airport. There were some Christmas decorations up and some people running around looking rushed. It was exceptionally busy as expected this time of year but luckily my flight was on time and we left a few minutes after 8am. My mom was going to fetch me at the airport.
We landed safely and as the plane drove up to the airport, I turned on my phone. 1 message from mom popped up.
"Hi Honey, so looking forward to having you here. Something has come up and I'm not able to fetch you, but please take an Uber home, I'll pay you back. Love mom."
Oh well, I thought to myself, I was looking forward to riding in the car with mom, but no issue.
I collected my bags and called and Uber. It was surprisingly easy to get one and eventually I arrived at home. I hadn't seen my mom in about 2 years although we chatted online every now and then to catch up. I wheeled my bag up to the door. I finally started to notice how cold it was and shivered slightly. I knocked on the door and it opened almost immediately to my smiling mother.
"Hi Jason!" she said while extending her arms. "It's been too long!"
"Hi Mom! Good to be here, and yes it has been...You look...um different."
"Yes well, I haven't seen you in almost 2 years I think, so I would look a lot different." She said still smiling.
I stepped in and lugged my bag inside. I could see she had modernized the house a bit. New kitchen, new downstairs bathroom, new furniture. The place looked great. There was a crackling fire and a huge Christmas tree in the lounge. Some comfy thick armchairs were placed by the fire and there were even a few presents under the tree. Even though it was 2 weeks until Christmas there was a good vibe in the air.
"How have you been darling? What's news? Do you have a girlfriend yet?
Wait, let me take you to your room first then you can come downstairs and have a hot drink and a chat. How's that sound?" she said.
"Sounds great, will be back in a little while!"
I lugged my heavy bag upstairs into my old room and unpacked. I still had a large bed and I noticed new and clean linen. I was glad to be home. I unpacked my bag and went downstairs to join mom.
"Hey, I was getting worried about you..." she said.
"Yeah, I just had to unpack my bag!"
"Well come have a seat by the fire, you must be cold. I made you some hot chocolate with a little surprise in it!" she said as she sat down.
"A surprise, what is it?" I asked.
"Take a sip and see!" she giggled.
I sat on the large soft armchair and took a sip.
"There's booze in here!" I laughed.
"Yes of course honey, to warm you up, it's freezing outside. The weather people say it will be like this for at least two weeks."
"Well I don't have any plans to go out anyway, so happy to stay here." I said truthfully.
"Things are going to be a bit different this year. I hope you won't mind but seeing as most of the family is away this year, I decided not to do a large Christmas dinner and just have you and I do our own Christmas together. As mother and son." She added.
It was at this moment (maybe it was the booze) I looked at my mom looking eager and hopeful that I wouldn't mind having Christmas dinner with her alone. She looked so pretty and young. Long dark hair, a slim figure and a great smile. There was something different about her, I just couldn't tell what it was.
"S...Sure mom!" I said. "That sounds great actually!"
"WHEW! Good I was so worried you were going to be upset."
"No don't worry about it, it sounds nice. I mean I haven't been home in a while. So look like you changed a few things around the house?"
"Yes, well the house was getting a bit outdated so I redid a few things..."
She blabbed on and on about the renovations, meanwhile I was feeling a bit light headed and happy. I was looking intently as her, wondering what was different. Did she lose weight, was she wearing more makeup, did she buy new clothes...
"Jason, are you listening to me? You're staring at me!"
"Huh? Oh...yes sorry...was just thinking...I mean I was listening."
"Well anyway that's about it, do you like the new changes?" she asked.
"Yeah I do mom, obviously need to look around later and more closely but things look great.
Mom? I asked. "How come you weren't able to fetch me at the airport?"
"Oh...like I said, something came up and I had to attend to it, don't worry everything...um...is fine. I'm just so glad to have you home. Now why don't you go upstairs and have a nap?" she said hastily.
There was something weird about the way she was acting, but I paid no more attention to it.
"OK, think I will get a nap in, I'm quite tired. Don't let me sleep too long, or I won't sleep tonight."
"Don't worry darling, will wake you up in about an hour. See you now."
I got up off the couch, downed the last of the hot chocolate and slumped off to my bedroom. No sooner had my head hit the pillow, I was fast asleep.
I woke up with a start. I heard something. What could that be, I asked myself. I opened my door slowly. It sounded like sobbing. It was coming from moms' room.
I crept slowly towards her door which was closed. I put my ear to it. She was crying. What could be the matter, I asked myself.
I gently knocked on the door and the crying stopped.
"Mom?" I bellowed.
There was a pause and the shuffling of papers.
"Mom?" I called again.
"Y...yes...?"
"Are you OK? I heard crying."
"Yes, I'm fine, no...not crying, you must have been mistaken." She said.
"Are you sure?" I asked while listening closely. She was shuffling papers and sounded like in a hurry.
"Yes, I'm fine...ah, don't come in."
This was too weird. First crying, then papers shuffling, then mom was looking different.
"I'm coming in!" I shouted through the door.
"No, I'm fine really!" she pleaded. It was too late, I opened the door and saw her.
She had been crying, her face and eyes were red.
"What's going on mom, why have you been crying?"
"I haven't been..."
"It's obvious you have been, whatsup?" I said as I sat on the bed. I noticed an email with a doctors' letterhead on it.
"Jesus, are you sick?" I motioned to the laptop. She quickly shut it.
"No, not at all, nevermind that!"
"I have been away for two years. I come home and the house is different and you...you look different, you've been crying and acting strangely. What is going on?" I demanded.
