Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 132: Pitiful Joe

Chapter 132: Pitiful Joe

Joe was leaning on a pillar and was watching the corner where the band was. His wife was standing nearby clapping for the first daughter who sang that popular song from a Disney movie. He didn’t know Talia could play the piano this well and she even sang well as she helped the first daughter, as she forgot her lines out of anxiety.

His heart got filled with sorrow. He saw his mother walking towards him and after greeting her, he walked to his wife and his mother followed. By now, the First Daughter got more excited and was singing another song and Talia was playing the piano for this song too.

"Rebecca..." Joe placed his hand on her shoulder and like a cat who touched a hot pan, she jumped and got aside. His heart broke to pieces.

Is she that scared of me?

"Rebecca, honey..." Mrs. Feldstein tried to speak to Rebecca but she moved aside.

"Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight? Maybe bring your friend - " she asked nonetheless.

"My, Mrs. Feldstein!" Rebecca looked at Mrs. Feldstein, who had a deep smile in her lips and her usual haughty eyes were looking at her with affection now. She didn’t recognise this woman in front of her and she cringed hard.

"Why do you bother to spare a glance at a social climber like me? Shouldn’t you be grateful I don’t want your son anymore? " Rebecca smirked. She was more pissed to see Joe here too.

He didn’t bother to move when Peter was attacking them! Why is he here now?

What is the mother - son pair planning now?

Joe, who was extremely surprised by his wife’s words, glared at his mother. His mother never learns! Why does she bother his wife time and time again? Is she planning to ruin his life?

And Rebecca never talks back! Why does she seem different today?

A storm brewed in his heart.

Joe’s mother didn’t mind his glare and asked Rebecca in a inquiring tone, " Did you know who your friend is all these years? Why didn’t you -"

"I didn’t want you hypocrites boggling her! That’s why!" Rebecca said with a sneer.

Rebecca then pushed through the crowd and went to the powder room and locked the door.

She felt so hurt. All these years, when she was being a good daughter, cooking for them when they are sick and being nice to them even when they were mean to her... They never once tried to engage with her with affection. They never cared about her.

And now... Just because they knew who her friend is, they are willing to put aside all their pride and looking for her, pretending to be worried for her?

She couldn’t stop the tears rolling from her eyes. She slid through the door and sat in the floor, as she cried.

Talia walked down from the small platform for the band and gave compliments to Little Claire who was pretty good for her age in singing. After safely handling over to the First lady, she wanted to go look for Rebecca. She seemed extremely distressed as she left and it has already been a long time and she hasn’t came out yet.

Talia looked at the little girl who was holding on to her skirt as she was smitten by her and a soft sigh escaped her pink lips. She wanted to give something as a memorandum to the child.

All she had on her clutch were makeup products and her ID’s and cards. Talia decided to carry gifts for children in her purse in case she needs them, in the future.

"Your Highness!" the little girl did a curtsy again. Talia explained to the child that she need not curtsy many times, but it seemed like the child was interested in doing so and didn’t listen to her.

It seemed like that little girl was playing the part of a high society Lady in the earlier era and so Talia played along.

"Do speak your mind," Talia nodded with a regal smile.

"If you’re not marrying the Prince, can I marry him when I grow up?" the child with her innocent big eyes blinked after she asked.

Talia couldn’t control her laughter but held herself back and looked at Lambert at a distance holding back the annoying Mrs. Feldstein for her. Everytime that annoying woman tried to get to Talia, she ignored her and now she is bothering Lambert.

The First Lady couldn’t help but get embarrassed by her daughter’s blatant request and tried to carry her out of the room, but the girl insisted on knowing the answer.Talia didn’t mind the curious child. She was adorable; so adorable that Talia wanted to kidnap her and bring her home with her.

"Won’t he be old when you grow up?" Talia pursed her lips and touched the tip of Little Claire’s nose. The girl squinted her eyes naturally and her lips pouted as she pondered.

She couldn’t even imagine how Lambert would look in twenty years. He probably will still be single, but won’t he go ugly?

Lambert as if sensing that he was being talked about, walked to them.

"Let me tell you... Study hard and earn a name and position for yourself. And if both of you didn’t find your better half till then, maybe you’ll have a chance," Talia said and the First Lady looked at Talia with an exasperated smile. Lambert took a deep breath hiding his emotions.

Talia saw the little girl’s lips trembling and she was about to cry. Only then Talia realised seven year old children won’t understand what she just said.

All the little child would have heard is, ’No, you’re not worthy to marry a Prince!’.

* Drip *

A tear slid through the child’s cheek and Talia didn’t know what to do.

But Lambert, like a perfect gentleman, took out the pocket square he had and passed to the child.

"I am saddened seeing tears in those lovely eyes of yours, young lady! ," Lambert made an exaggerated bow, "Please, accept this," he smiled gently seeing the young girl smiling sweetly as little Claire accepted the pocket square.

Talia sighed in relief seeing the girl smile and her eyes wandered around to see if Rebecca returned and Mr. Ed realising what she was thinking informed her that Rebecca has locked herself in the Powder room and that Joe is trying to get through her.

Talia’s heart slipped a beat hearing that. Talking with Joe only had spoilt Rebecca’s mood in the past few days. And she didn’t think today would be any different. It would be better for them to not talk to each other for a while and compose themselves first.

She was about to excuse herself with the first lady before looking for Rebecca, but she saw the President carrying his daughter with a little dangerous expression towards Lambert while the First Lady seemed to be mocking him for his overprotective nature towards his daughter.

"Uncle Tony, did you remember what you said to me the day we met?" Talia waked to him and spoke in a low voice and the first lady and Lambert both were intrigued. "You told me, ’Little Bo Peep, in twenty years you’ll be dating me!’" Talia shrugged seeing the first lady looking at the a president for answers.

"You are..." The first lady shook her head smiling and shaking her head. She knew how her husband was before. He should have definitely said that, although she knew he must have been joking.

He used to be a blabber-mouth saying whatever comes his mind without caring for the consequences.

"But this is my baby!" the President hugged his daughter closer making everyone around laugh and the President got red with embarrassment.

He really was jesting with her that day and got an earful from Jerome Brunton! He didn’t understand why Jerome got enraged that day, but now that he has a daughter, he could understand. It is funny; life is funny!

She politely excused herself and Mr. Ed led her to the powder room Rebecca was in. Joe was standing outside the door, knocking.

"Becky, please come out..." he was pleading, "Let’s go home; to our home... For -"

"Talia... Talk to her. She’s not opening the door!" Joe noticed Talia walking towards him and pleaded her.

Talia looked at Joe. He was dishevelled as if he was in a lot of stress. His usual charm was missing from his eyes now stained with red veins visible. It seemed like he didn’t get a haircut for a while and he even seemed thin.

Talia darted her eyes away from him and stepped aside as he tried to hold her hand and walked to the door.

"Rebecca, are you okay?" she asked placing her hand on the knob.

"Tallie...?" Rebecca’s nasal voice came from the other side of the door and Joe tried to step to the door. Talia looked at Mr. Ed and he stopped Joe from moving forward.

"I’m here..." Talia answered.

"Tallie... I don’t want to look at his face. Make him go away!" Rebecca said within sniffs.

Talia felt her heart squeeze and Joe struggled to get out of Mr. Ed’s grip. He really couldn’t bear to see Rebecca crying like this. She never was like this. She is the strongest woman he knows. It was her strength that made him attracted to her. But what happened.? Why did she turn so meek?

A big wave of fear engulfed him and he felt suffocated.