Work Text:
—The feeling that I'm losing her forever… and without really entering her world. I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter, that funny little girl.
The faded singing voice Drew heard from one of the bedrooms surprised her. She thought her family home would be empty at those hours of the morning, since everyone had things to do and places to be.
Feeling curious, even if she had already recognized the voice since the very first word, she followed the song through the hallway of the second floor.
—Slipping through my fingers all the time. I try to capture every minute, the feeling in it… Slipping through my fingers all the time.
The door of Aphrodite’s room was open, so Drew quietly walked inside.
Her mother was sitting on the bed, still in her morning silk bathrobe. Her blonde hair fell natural on her shoulders, as she leaned over something she was observing.
—Mom?
Aphrodite looked up in surprise. Drew noticed she put something aside and swiftly ran her fingers through her cheeks, as if wiping away tears she hadn’t seen yet.
—Drew? What are you doing here, mon coeur?
—Lacy asked me to bring her some math book she forgot for her classes.
For some reason, Aphrodite’s expression became sadder after hearing that.
—She asked you?
—Well, not me specifically —Drew slowly walked closer to the bed and sat next to her mother—. She asked in the group chat. I had a couple of free hours, so I said I'd do it.
—She didn’t ask me —Aphrodite sounded strangely miserable about that fact.
—I’m sure she just thought you were busy —Drew put a comforting hand on her mother’s back—. You usually are in the mornings.
Contrary to the effect Drew had intended, Aphrodite started crying at her words.
Drew didn’t hesitate a second in hugging her.
—What happened? —She asked, softly—. Did you two have a fight this morning?
—No, it’s nothing like that —Answered Aphrodite, her face buried in her daughter’s shoulder.
—Then what’s wrong, maman?
—Was I a bad parent for you, growing up?
Utterly perplexed by that question, Drew pulled away to look at her mother’s face.
Aphrodite’s eyes, always so secure, always so compelling, always so demanding, were now puffy and self-conscious, looking everywhere but into her daughter’s eyes.
—What? Of course not —Drew gently cupped her mother's cheek with one hand—. You were the best mom ever. I mean, you taught us how to say “Louboutin” before we could say “cookies”!
Aphrodite laughed, but Drew knew her joke hadn’t served to reassure her.
She had never been the best at using humor for making people feel better, so she resorted to what she knew she was the best at.
—No, but, for real —Drew let her voice become warmer, as her thumb gently stroked her mother’s cheek—. You were... you are the best mother we could have asked for. I wouldn’t change you for the world, and I know the others feel the same way.
—You can be honest with me —Stated Aphrodite—. I admit I was a bit… flighty, sometimes. I left you kids alone a lot of times, with babysitters and shit and- sorry.
Drew smiled and lowered her hands to hold her mothers'.
—But you always came home when we asked you to. You were always there when we needed you; that’s what matters the most. So what if you were out there sometimes, enjoying yourself? You were having fun; no one can blame you for that.
—I can. I didn’t exactly give you kids the most stable and nuclear family. I... I should have done better.
—Mom. Look at me, please —Drew waited until Aphrodite did it to continue speaking—. My siblings and I never lacked for anything. And I'm not only talking about material things. Yes, we always had food and a roof and stuff, but you made sure we always had something that is far, far more important than that.
Aphrodite sniffed.
—A skincare routine?
—No, mom. Love.
When her mother started crying harder, Drew squeezed her hands with affection.
—You gave us love —She continued—. You loved all of us, with all your heart. You taught us how to love ourselves and each other. You taught us what true, unconditional, unlimited love is, and to never settle for less. I think that’s the greatest thing a child could ever ask for from a parent.
—Oh, my dear —Aphrodite smiled between tears and delicately brushed Drew's hair out of her face—. You are so sweet. I know all parents must say this but, God, I do have the best children in the entire world. You are all so sweet and smart and kind and creative and full of life and love. And cool! Everyone says you aren’t supposed to be friends with your kids, but that’s because they don’t have daughters and sons as cool as mine. I always enjoy spending time with you guys so much.
Drew leaned forward to kiss her mother's temple and, then, she rested her forehead against Aphrodite's.
—Where is this all coming from? —She asked, after a moment of silence—. Is this a menopause thing? Will I have to go through it too?
Aphrodite laughed, lightly pulling away from her touch.
—I don’t know. I'm just feeling very nostalgic today. I was looking back into the past and I... I don't know when did you kids grow up so much. It happened so fast. I feel like one day I had a house full of little kids making ABBA shows for me after dinner and fighting about who got to dress up with my heels... and now there's only three of us here, and it's only a matter of time before Valentina and Lacy move out too.
—But, mom, that doesn't mean we'll drift apart; it just means each of us is finding our places in the world and living our lives. We will always be a close family, even if we don't all live together in one house.
—Promise?
—Promise.
Aphrodite was the one to hug Drew now, and she warmly returned the gesture.
—Besides, we still see each other every day —Added Drew—. You are our manager, remember? We literally all work together in the same building. And we have lunch or dinner together every other day.
—Yes, you are right. Sorry; I feel so silly now. I don't know what's gotten into me today.
While she was in her mother's arms, Drew's eyes fell on something that had been left at Aphrodite's side.
A polaroid, she discovered, once she got a better look at it.
—What's that? —She asked, separating from her mother and pointing out the photo.
—Oh! —Aphrodite took it in her hands and brought it closer to them—. Look, it's us! I found it today on the bottom of some drawer.
Drew carefully took the photo to inspect it better.
Aphrodite was on the beach, carefreely sitting on the sand. She had a baby in her arms, whom Drew instantly recognized as Mitchell, and she was smiling as the sun bathed her face.
Drew, with only two years old, was standing next to her mother and looking at her brother with a frown, while Silena, two years older than her, was holding her hand and smiling at the camera.
—Sometimes I wish I could turn back time so that you would all be little again —Confessed Aphrodite—. I don’t want time to keep passing.
—We were very cute kids —Said Drew, turning her head to the side to look at her mother—. But we are still here and we aren’t going anywhere. We’re just a little taller and higher maintenance; that’s all.
Aphrodite chuckled and rested her head on her daughter's shoulder.
—You were so jealous of him when he was born —She said, as she looked back at the picture.
—Of Mitch? —Asked Drew, very surprised about that piece of information she had never heard—. Really?
—Yes. You and Silena used to be together all day and I used to give you girls all of my attention… until he came and stole that from you.
Drew laughed, clearly recognizing her own words (even if she didn't remember them) in what Aphrodite had said.
—And Lena?
—She didn’t mind. She was happy to have another baby to play with.
—Of course she was.
—I was so afraid that you wouldn’t get along growing up —Admitted Aphrodite—. But then you ended up being best friends. Of course, in a family this big, there were always going to be fights and arguments-
—And you only know about, like, a ten percent of them.
—But the important thing is that, in the end, you are always there for each other. I couldn’t really ask for anything else. I'm relieved to know that, when I’m not around anymore, you will still love and support one another through all.
—Mom, don’t be dramatic. You are not even fifty yet; you’re not gonna die anytime soon.
—I know, I know, sweetheart. I just wanted to let you know that I'm very proud of this family.
—And I am as well —Drew left the photography back on the bed and stood up—. Wanna come give Lacy her books with me? I’m meeting Nyssa for brunch after that; you can come with us too, if you want.
—Really?
—Yeah. Nyssa likes spending time with you and I know you adore her too.
—I certainly do —Aphrodite got up from the bed—. I would love to go with you, honey. Give me a few minutes to get dressed, please?
—Of course, mom. I'll be waiting downstairs.