Page 76 of Forbidden Fruit
“You look… like a goddess,u mu sole.”
“He’s right, you look so good, mum,” Anton says and Livia steps off the couch to give her mother a hug.
Livia has almost always called Vanessa ‘Mum’ even when Monica was still alive. And Anton asked if he could do it, too, when he was ten. Even years down the line, I know with how her eyes shine and her lip slightly trembles with how grateful she feels and how loved.
“Don’t ruin my make-up. You’re gonna make me cry if you keep saying things like this.”
I kiss her gently so as not to ruin her make-up. We’ll have time for that later, and the salacious grin I give her makes her blush, reminding her that I’ll be too happy to do it when we’re back tonight.
“Gross,” Livia complains.
“We didn’t even say anything.” Vanessa laughs, and I follow her lead.
“You don’t need to, Mum. The way Babbu looks at you, we know exactly what he’s thinking.”
She isn’t wrong. I usher our family out to the car and drive us into the city centre of Melbourne where we made a reservation for tonight. Vanessa and I are celebrating our ten year anniversary, but it’s not only what tonight is about. The rest is a surprise and both children are in on it. It might be a lot, come to think of it, but we don’t do anything by halves in this family anymore. And we want to have everything settled before we fly to Kalliste for Christmas.
The restaurant is a farm-to-table with produce coming from farmers just outside the city. Our table is set in an alcove just off the main room which gives us privacy. The low light illuminates Vanessa’s face as she takes the place next to me. She’s relaxed and not ready at all for what’s to come. Anticipation builds in my bloodstream. I can’t wait for all the surprises we have for her. The rustic charm of the place balances the elaborate meal. Both kids are on their best behaviour, not bickering as they usually do, but sharing what they’ve been up to at school.
I’ve never felt so at peace and exactly where I need to be as I do right now. I take Vanessa’s hand and kiss the back of it, needing more contact as I bask in the contentment of this moment.
When dessert comes, both Livia and Anton are balls of excitement, fidgeting and sitting on their hands, ready to explode with the need to tell their mother the gift they have for her.
“Here.” Anton hands a thick envelope to Vanessa. It’s decorated with a golden seal and her name is written in elaborate script. I know they went out of their way to make this special for her. I’m so proud of them.
“What’s this?” she asks.
“Open it,” Livia answers.
With a frown and a suspicious smile, she opens the envelope and takes the contents out. A gasp escapes her and her hand lands on her mouth. Shoulders racked by sobs, Vanessa silently cries as she discovers that she is now officially Anton and Livia’s mother. The adoption papers were sent back to us a few weeks ago.
I stand and surround her with my arms from behind, my head resting on the crook of her neck. She clutches my arms like I would ever let her go. I won’t. And now she knows how much she means to us.
“Don’t just stay there. Come, embrace your mother!”
Anton and Livia spring into action and pile onto us in a hug that warms our souls and links us together. Everything I ever need is right here with me.
Some days I still feel the heaviness of life but with the help of my family and the medication I’ve been diligent with for a decade, I’ve found stability and peace. All three of them may complain sometimes that I’m inflexible and too serious for my own good, but their joy lights up my life.
All I had to do was take a bite of the forbidden fruit.
