Chapter 18: The Healing

I looked at Maureen, who nodded, and we got up, collected our luggage and walked slowly to the door. It was sad, not only for Eileen but for us too. She was sitting there with tears in her eyes. Then she took a deep breath and walked us to the door. I said goodbye and turned away.

“James, you used to hug me...”

“Eileen, you used to love me...”

And she fell apart. She threw herself at me, clinging as tight as possible, hiding her head on my shoulder and sobbing desperately. She shuddered as her crying escalated and her body became racked with convulsions. Her wailing became so mournful that I could feel it straight into my heart. I just held her, but there was nothing else I could do or say at this moment to make this better.

Her arms went around my neck as if she wanted to hold on forever, almost taking my breath away. She cried without stopping and practically wailed that she didn’t mean for this to happen. She loved me and didn’t want me to go away believing that I could even remotely doubt that she did love me still - I was the center of her life and she was so wrong about everything, and she never ever again would do anything at all that would me make doubt her. She would do anything at all, but please don’t go away this way.

“Please tell me that you love me at least a little bit, James. I couldn’t sleep these past nights and I had nightmares that you would leave me. Please say it’s not so. Please tell me that you still like me at least a little bit.”

She continued to cling to me and wouldn’t let me go. Soon the crying became softer and turned into a gentle sobbing. After what seemed like an eternity of holding her, she was quiet. I looked at Maureen and asked for help. She put her luggage down and came over, taking Eileen in her arms.

“Mother, we didn’t cause this - you did this on your own. What did you expect us to do - accept everything you threw at James? Do you believe that I’d not go with him? Mother, you’re an adult and you know that you have to accept the consequences for whatever you do. This time you acted wrong and did nothing to correct it. You acted out of arrogant pride and what have you now? A daughter who’ll walk out of your life. A son-in-law who loved you so much; yet you tried to hurt him. What did you expect?”

Eileen sobbed desperately and suddenly collapsed in my arms. She had fainted.

I held her and looked at Maureen. “Let’s get her into her bedroom and make her comfortable. Then we’ll see what we can do.” Good common sense; I knew I could trust Maureen, whatever happened.

I placed Eileen on her bed, and Maureen and I looked at each other. Eileen was still unconscious, but even so she was sobbing. This was a picture I do not want to remember. When I took my hands away, she awoke and grasped them with all her might. There was no way that I could leave at this moment. I sat down beside her, and she dragged herself closer to put her head into my lap. “James, please stay at least a few minutes until I recover. I know that you have to go, but please stay just a bit.”

I glanced at my watch and then at Maureen. “Please cancel our flight and leave it open for tonight. We’ll see when we can leave.”

I made myself a bit more comfortable on the bed, but whenever I moved, Eileen followed me with her body. Her head stayed in my lap and her arms around my waist, clinging desperately and not letting me go. What could we do? Even considering her behaviour in the last weeks, she was still Maureen’s mother and the woman I still liked and had loved. Slowly she relaxed and the sobbing stopped; she did not let me go, however.

Maureen came back and said that there was another flight in the late afternoon and that she had made a reservation for us.

“James, what do you want to do? We can’t leave just yet - she’s my mother and I can’t abandon her like this. Do you want to go to Sydney and I’ll follow tomorrow?”

I tried to come up with a temporary answer but the only thing that came to my mind was a comment I remembered from my school days. It was Seneca who said that we suffer more often in imagination than in reality, and civilization is the mask we wear. Once it slips, the problem explodes.

“Maureen, she could’ve called me, and we would have resolved it between us, but her imagination and her pride caused her to imagine things, to keep face and not give in. This is our problem and we’ll resolve it together. Perhaps you can prepare some lunch - it seems impossible for me at this moment to leave her side.”

She left and I looked at Eileen. She was almost asleep, but whenever I moved, she immediately grasped my waist to keep me close. She was a bit calmer, however.

So, the afternoon went by. I stayed close to her, and Maureen read a book at my side, probably studying. I suggested that we cancel the reservation again and try for tomorrow after lunch; she had no problem changing the tickets. It became dark and Eileen was slowly waking up. She opened her eyes and saw me sitting beside her. She started a sad, small smile and said, ‘thank you.’ Then she looked at her watch and startled. She bolted up and exclaimed, “You missed your plane!”

I calmed her down and told her that we would go to Sydney on Sunday afternoon.

“Stay in bed and we’ll make a light dinner for you and for us. Just relax - things will work out.”

Maureen vanished to the kitchen to get us fed, and Eileen glanced at me.

“James, you don’t know how sorry I am. I was so happy, and I threw it all away; how stupid of me! Can you please like me at least? Can I visit you occasionally? Is there anything at all that I can do to get back your and Maureen’s affection?”

I remembered all the wonderful and exciting moments we’d had together, and nodded.

“Eileen, there’s nothing we can or should do at this moment. We’re all confused and need time to sort out our feelings. All I can say is that I loved you very much, and while this love has not vanished, it has darkened like someone put a deep cover over it. What will happen, will happen, Eileen, and forcing the issue will not help.”

She nodded and snuggled a bit closer, “Just don’t leave me, James!”

Maureen came in with a few sandwiches and a bottle of wine. We finished both and I got up.

“Eileen, I’ll have a shower and then Maureen and I will stay in her room to sleep. Unfortunately, tomorrow I’ll have to go back to Sydney.”

I gave her a little kiss and she smiled wanly. Maureen bent down too and kissed her.

“Goodnight, Mother.”

We were not terribly interested in doing anything at this moment, considering the problem that Eileen was going through. We showered, kissed each other good night and slowly fell asleep.

During the night I heard some noises and looked at my watch. It was just after midnight and the noise came from our door - it sounded like somebody was knocking very lightly. I got up and opened the door, and saw Eileen slowly walking away. She was dressed in a white robe that covered her completely.

“Eileen, what happened? Is something wrong?”

She turned around and smiled sadly, “I had my nightmares again and I just wanted to know whether I could stay with you a bit, but go back to bed - I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Eileen, come and stay with us. We have a little problem, but you’re always welcome with us.”

I took her hand and pulled her slowly into our bedroom. Maureen was awake. When I looked at her, she nodded and moved aside to her edge of the bed. I led Eileen to the bed and gently pushed her down. She glanced at Maureen, then at me and asked, “May I just stay a bit to calm down? It was really bad tonight.”

I took her into my arms and placed her in the middle of the bed, then I lay down on the other side. Maureen smiled and pushed herself back against her mother, pushing Eileen into me. I put my arm around her shoulder and said, “Sleep now, Eileen. We’ll keep you safe.”

She relaxed visibly and snuggled a little to find the best position. “Thank you both. I do love you, whatever I’ve said or done. Don’t forget that!”

Within a minute she was asleep, and I whispered to Maureen, “What are we going to do now? I told her in no few words that we were off to Sydney and now she is in our bed, asleep. Is everything forgotten?”

I did not know what else to say or do, so I shrugged and closed my eyes. Despite all the confusion, I was fast asleep within a few moments. During the night I woke up once and discovered that Eileen had taken my hand and placed it on her breast - somehow her robe had opened enough that I held her firm breast. When I tried to take my hand away, she murmured something and did not let me move it. Well, the firm breast of a beautiful woman is something to cherish, and who was I to throw this moment away?

I woke up when Eileen started to move around. Suddenly, she seemed to realise where she was and tried to slip out quietly. I whispered to her to stay until Maureen woke up and she snuggled back against me. Looking at me, she took my hand and placed it back on her breast.

“Please leave it there, James. I so missed the way you touched me. You don’t have to do anything - just hold me safe.”

I always thought that I had strong principles and my character was firm, but at this moment all pretences vanished; I held her closely in my arms, with her pushing her breast into my hand, and when she closed her eyes contentedly, I bent forward and gave her a light kiss. I saw Maureen looking at me, probably analyzing the situation with her ingrained decision process - get information, analyze information, consider options and make a decision. I had seen this from the first time I met her, and while it could be serious and slow, most of the time it was fast and straightforward. She looked up again and nodded.

“You did right, my love. We are family, and families have problems once in a while. As long as we talk to each other and resolve the problems, we’ll always stay together and be united.”

Eileen opened her eyes and looked first at me, then at Maureen.

“Am I welcome again? Am I forgiven for the stupid things I thought and did? Am I still yours, James, and am I still your Mom, Maureen?”

There was that moment when two people who love each other very much seem to know what the other one thinks, and words are not necessary. We both nodded and Eileen threw herself at us, crying and smiling at the same time. Somehow her robe opened completely, [she was in the middle. She’d have to throw it off the bed.] and there was that beautiful woman, completely nude in our arms. There may be better ways to wake up, but I cannot imagine any! It was fun for a while, then Eileen offered to do breakfast.

“Am I family again? Really, James? Prove it!” and she presented her breasts to me for a kiss, which I accepted with great pleasure, and she was not disappointed by the enthusiasm I showed, making certain that I had not forgotten how they felt in my mouth.

Then she kissed me and said, “Thanks, James. Thank you very much.” Turning to Maureen, she repeated it. Then she got up and said that she would make breakfast; if we wanted to go to Sydney after lunch, we would need a solid base. And did we want French Champagne or Australian bubbly?

Maureen and I looked at each other, confused, but relieved. The situation could have gone easily out of control and the memories would have been bitter and sad. Now, whilst not completely healed, we had a chance to come back to the unity we had before.

I told Maureen, “I believe that you better stay another day in Brisbane. I am worried about her mood swings but let me think what we can do.”

She agreed, and after doing our morning getting up ceremony (and how pleasant it was), we had a shower, dressed, and went to the breakfast area. Eileen had already prepared everything and was waiting for us. She looked beautiful again, wearing a long, semi-transparent slinky gown and, visibly, no underwear. She smiled temptingly, “I did remember your order, my master. No underwear when we’re at home. Do you like it?”

I had to admit that the picture was stunning: the tall redhead, a little bit of makeup, a timid smile, and an absolutely beautiful body, full but firm, sensual, and plainly visible. On top of it, I knew that it was mine, whenever and however I wanted it, as she had said so often. But that was an issue to be resolved later as, at this moment, I had another problem.

“Eileen, you look beautiful, and I like it very much. Unfortunately, I cannot explore the opportunity as I want; we have to leave soon to catch a plane.”

Her face fell and her smile vanished. I walked over to her and said that ‘soon’ meant two hours, and that we should enjoy her breakfast first. I gave her a kiss, and she pressed herself against me.

“Could you not take a plane tomorrow morning?”

I reminded her that I had a job that started at 8:30 on Monday morning. I did not have defined hours at night, but I had to work to solve my problems and orient my people as necessary. I asked her if she always went home on time, and she agreed that this happened rarely.

“Let’s have breakfast and we can talk a little bit more afterwards.”

Maureen was an excellent cook, but her mother was as good. The food was wonderful, assisted by a bottle of champagne she had dragged out of her well-stocked cellar. The conversation was light, and nobody touched on the issue of Maureen going with me to Sydney. Then the two ladies cleaned up and we went to the sitting room.

I had come to a conclusion but had had no time to discuss it with Maureen; she had to trust me on this.

“Eileen, I have been watching you the last three days and you are tired - deadly tired. You need time to relax and start again. I would like to suggest the following, and I have not discussed this with Maureen. I think you should cancel all your commitments for the next week and go to a spa to recover and to relax.”

Both looked at me - Maureen with confidence that I would find a solution, Eileen with hope that I could find one.

“You’re tired, Eileen, and your face and body show this. You have an important new project to guide during the next months and you’ll have to make important decisions and spend a lot of money. Also, we’ll have to find a way to become a family again. All this will take an enormous amount of energy, and I observe that you don’t have that energy to spend. My best advice is for you to take time out, get a massage, eat green leaves, walk around, meditate, and do whatever it takes to get you back on your feet. We’ll be with you, even staying in Sydney. Actually, what I also suggest is that Maureen stays here until tomorrow, helps you set everything up, and comes to Sydney tomorrow night. I need her too!”

Maureen looked at me, closed her eyes for a moment and then nodded.

“If you want this, Mother, I’ll do it. I agree with James - you need rest. I’ll get you to your spa tomorrow afternoon and we’ll talk during the week. Depending on the commitments James has for the next few days and weeks, we might come up to Brisbane next weekend; if not, I’ll come alone and stay with you for a few days.”

Eileen considered our suggestions - it was not what she wanted right now, but she realised that it was the best she could get. I hoped that she would also realise that she really needed the rest since her company depended on her and that, in her present state of mind, she would make mistakes and they could be costly.

She nodded and said that if this was what I thought best for her, she would do it. Looking at Maureen, she asked, “Mother? Not Mom anymore?”

Maureen responded, “I believe we need a long talk tonight to sort out our problems, and you getting some rest today will probably start to help. Do we all agree on this?”

Eileen and I nodded and then I asked whether there was still some champagne left as the mood had become too sombre. We finished the bottle, Maureen called the airport to change our tickets once more, and I said goodbye to Eileen. She started to cry again and did not want to let me go. At the end, she relaxed somewhat and told me she would go to the spa; she knew that she needed rest. A final kiss and Maureen took me to the airport.

During the drive we discussed what could be done for Eileen, and Maureen agreed that the spa was the best solution at this moment. I said that I did not like the way Eileen had agreed to everything I had suggested, and if she wanted to keep control of her company, she had to get her energy back. At the gate we kissed goodbye. Maureen looked as if she was going to cry, so I reminded her that tomorrow night she would be in my bed and I expected to hold her in my arms and kiss her all over. She nodded and smiled, and I said goodbye once more, told her that I loved her and left.

When I entered my flat there was a message from Sir Allan to see him on Monday morning at 10:00. I acknowledged the message and went to bed - it had been an exhausting weekend. I called Maureen and Eileen came to the phone for a moment, her voice seeming to be a bit firmer.

When I arrived at the company, Mary Ann was already waiting for me confirming that Sir Allan wanted to see me at 10:00. Since it was still early, I went to see Peter and was received with a big hug; I was so surprised that I could not move. When he let me go, I asked what had happened.

“Don’t you know that you’re the big hero now? That you tamed the Wicked Witch of the West? That our project was confirmed because you put her in her place? The news went through the company like wildfire, and you can imagine how lively the conversations were in the pubs. You made our results for the year, and everyone will get a bonus!”

“Peter, slow down. First, Eileen is not the Wicked Witch of the West; but I do agree that she has acted like a witch and has shown some very witchy attributes that I would like to forget rapidly. I did not understand in the beginning what was going on, but then I used Sir Allan to force her to make a decision whether she wanted to cancel everything or go along with us. Being the businesswoman she is, she took the right decision. She was overstressed and tired, and that was reflected in her decisions and words. And second, it was the team that made the proposal. I only presented it, and I shall say to everyone who wants to hear it that you were an important part of the team. But at the end, it went well, and now I’ll have to look at other projects and see what more we can do.”