Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 139: Her Opinion

Chapter 139: Her Opinion

With a cookie in one hand and warm milk in the other, Talia was sitting in the dining table in the middle of the night. She couldn’t sleep.

She was contemplating about her future plans. As she thought about her past, she felt a bit ashamed of herself.

In the past few days she lived here, she saw how Rebecca’s mother prepared meals for one of their neighbours who fell sick until she recovered. And today, her mother prepared twelve batch of cookies to distribute to the kids in the town, for no reason.

And Rebecca brought Talia with her to the local nursing home that day. And the way she interacted with those old people... It was so amazing. The patience she had and the care she showed those people... Many of them had alzheimer and some were unable to move freely. And yet Rebecca knew how to interact with them and her presence made those people delighted.

Most people working there welcomed Rebecca fondly. Apparently she used to do volunteer work in that nursing home. Some of the residents there remembered Rebecca too.

Talia knew Rebecca was like that. Even when they were living in the city, she’d go out of her way and bring food for homeless people.

Rebecca always had that nurturing and caring tendency in her heart. And in a way that’s what made her drawn to Joe and she fell in love with him as she started caring for him.

Caring and sharing - Talia never felt like she needed to care for someone for no reason. She was the one who was cared for and never once has she cared for anyone.

She’s hurt people, although not deliberately. If they messed with her, she’d hurt then back. And about others, she never gave a damn!

So either she never cared about others or she’d repay the hurt she received. That was her interaction with other humans. But there were a lot of people who cared for her and she were nice to some of them,like Fred, Cyrus and her grandfather but she always found reasons to keep them away too. One fault on their side and she’d push them away and their relationship will never be the same.

She pushed her grandfather away like that...after her mother’s wake.

Cyrus... She really cared for him, but she never felt the urge to do something for him; to learn his favourites or give him a gift. He was there, like a light in her life when she thought she had no one on her side. She translated her grandfather’s rules for her to understand making her realise his ’rules’ weren’t rules but they are his care packets.

Those days, she didn’t care about anything and left everything with Cyrus. She only listened to him and he tried to lead her in a good path. She only realised it all later in her life. He didn’t expect anything in return from her until the one thing he asked of her, destroyed her entirely.

Fred... She cared for him a lot and she tried to be in his good graces. Thinking about it... She never tried to be on the good grades of anyone but Fred. She never cared what others thought about her with the exception of Fred.

’Blimey! I’m not a good person, am I?’

Mother was a very good person. In a way, she was very similar to Rebecca in certain aspects. Both out others in front of them and were natural nurtures. Although her mother was elegant and graceful, Rebecca is flamboyant and quirky. But their hearts are in the right place.

Maybe that’s why I was able to withstand the bubbly nature of Rebecca all these years even though I can’t put up with that type of people!

Ah, mother... I wish you’d met my friend...

Talia closed her eyes and tried to remember the face of her mother. But she failed to. There were only faint memories of her mother in her memory. She used to remember her mother’s voice, but it had fainted in her memory.

Her mother used to be so kind and gentle. People of Esteria still missed her. Her mother was called ’Princess of the hearts’ by the people. There was no one else in their country who’d do charity work like her mother. Be it visiting sick children in the hospitals or injured soldiers or making sure the donations given by the Brunton family reaches the people, her mother did it all perfectly and with a smile in her face.

There were villages adopted by the Brunton family in some third world countries and her mother made sure to visit them once a year mostly to make sure the money they spent is being used for terror welfare and will provide them with more in case they needed more.

Even Talia remembered a national park, conserving elephants that her mother loved to spend time in. Her mother brought her there once and Talia still remembered getting a ride on an elephant. Her grandfather supports some lions too.

Her grandfather never had the time to visit anywhere but he didn’t count his spare change when it comes to charity and would five away with his both hands. Their Corporation has many welfare programs conducted in various parts of the world where they are needed and her grandfather never made them public. They didn’t have a ’foundation’ like most rich people either. Talia knew most foundations funnel money to their own business and used the charities as a means to avoid taxes. For some, it was to show themselves as philanthropists and humanitarians.

But her grandfather did everything without publicity. He did it because he wanted how wealth to be of use to others who need it more. She remembered her grandfather saying once, ’What use is to save money to let it rot in the bank? For interest? With how successful Northern Star is, even if I spend a million each day, I will still be a billionaire for the rest of my life. It would be better if I earn good karma for my generations by sharing my excess with those who need it more than me.’

Her Grandpa also believed the old words of wisdom,’Charity begins at home’. So her Grandpa always treated their staff well and together with the benefits they receive, he’d help them in their times of need. There are times when he’d just give gifts to the staff of their company randomly.

Ugh! Talia sighed,’ How is that I am the only uncaring person from that family who cared for others genuinely?’

Within ten days of her talks with the President, Senator Campbell has resigned taking responsibility for the actions of his sons who has hurt a lot of women and he released a statement that he just wants to spend the rest of his life quietly.

She also heard that a lot of money has been settled for the women who had credible accusations against Peter Campbell to stop them from going to court.

One way or another, Talia knew she had helped those women who suffered grievances, to have some justice.

Talia knew she has power; real power in this world where the gears of fortune turn swiftly and in favour of the ones with wealth.

She can really make things happen if she wishes for it.

But has she ever used her power for good? Has she ever used her power for the benefit of others not minding her own reasons?

’Maybe I should change the course of my life... ’

Talia dipped that big chocolate chip cookie in the glass of milk and took a bite. It was so delicious.

No wonder this is called comfort food! It really comforts my heart and soul.

Talia savoured the cookie.

"Mom’s cookies are really good, aren’t they?" Talia was a bit surprised hearing Rebecca’s sister- Sally.

Sally’s living in the next town and as she heard Rebecca was here, she came here. Sally is the sister Rebecca loved the most and Talia knew she was here to be an emotional support for Rebecca during her hard times.

"Yes they are," Talia smiled, "You want one?" she tried to get up but Sally waved her hand,

"It’s fine, I’ll get one myself," Sally took a cookie from the cookie jar and posted herself some milk and sat in front of Talia.

"Can’t sleep?" Sally smiled at Talia and Talia nodded.

"You’ve known Joe as long as Rebecca does right?"

Unlike others in Rebecca’s family and town who wanted to ask Talia about Joe, and for some reason hesitated to talk to her about him, Sally came to the point without hesitation.

"If you want to know my opinion, I don’t think Joe cheated on Rebecca," Talia placed the glass of milk on the coaster and spoke in a straightforward manner as she looked at Sally.

"Oh?" Sally raised her eyebrow and Talia took another bite of the cookie.

Talia could see that Sally was a bit disappointed hearing her opinion. But she spoke what she really believed. Even though Sally is just six years older than her, Talia knew she had a really good understanding of the world and is more mature. Surely she won’t let Rebecca make decisions in the heat of the moment, especially when she is with child.

No one can deny the importance of a father for the child’s development.