Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 212: The Unexpected Guest

Chapter 212: The Unexpected Guest

"That plant seems to be well cared," Rebecca said as she saw Talia gently wiping the leaves of the plant. She was so gentle and the care in her eyes was so obvious, like she was handling a little baby. She was that way with animals too, as she noted. And kids.. She couldn’t help but adore them.

When Rebecca came to know Talia, she always said that she is an uncaring person with no gentleness; almost like a monster, a psychopath. She was extremely polite and so classy that made her seem like a fake person. Many believed her to be fake. She was too smart and too polite but she had that aura that made many people feel little in front of her and made them keep their distance from her. She was broken, she had panic attacks at times, took pills, and yet she still couldn’t keep the radiance in her heart from shining out brightly through her eyes.

She has such pretty eyes.

But Rebecca could feel it... Talia is not who she says she is. Even when Talia herself didn’t believe herself, Rebecca knew she is not who she believes she is. And so she stayed close to her, not leaving her alone.

And just like that, Talia proved she was right all along. The way Talia helped her these past few months... Only her family would have given that much support for no reason. But she did. Doesn’t that make her family?

She said she cannot take care of anything and anything she touches breaks. How did this plant stay alive this long then?

Talia’s hand paused and she turned to look at Rebecca. The curtain was open and the outside light spilled in through the window, the dust particles floated around, like glitters and amidst it, Rebecca looked like she was a princess in one of those animation movies.

"It was your gift after all," Talia replied.

She firmly believed that she is unsuitable for taking care of anything. That she was nothing like her mother. Turns out... She is not that bad; relatively. There are people worse than her. Maybe if she tries, she could one day become kind and charitable like her mother.

When Rebecca gave her this plant, she thought it would die just when her hands touched it. But it didn’t. She looked up how to take care of this plant, and it flourished and gave her flowers. It didn’t die like she believed it would.

How amazing is that?

If Rebecca didn’t stick with her even after she tried to ignore her and push her away... She might not have realised what true friendship is.

"You’ve really let out your true self these past few months, Tallie..." Rebecca walked close. "As much as I hate to say it, it was Arthur’s return, isn’t it? You changed after that. Or to be precise, you showed your true self after that. I’m glad for you Tallie... I really am."

Rebecca’s eyes glittered as the sunlight reflected at the tears by the corner of her eyes. She didn’t have the god complex and expected to change Talia herself or anything. But she was glad she stuck around to see how amazing she really is and experience her love.

"You’re right," Talia didn’t refuse. If Fred didn’t force himself back in her life, she still would be in the dark place she was. "And you helped in a lot of ways too," she smiled.

She once was a bird who flew around gracefully and carelessly. But Cyrus’ death and her misunderstanding about Arthur after that grabbed her like a weight around her legs, stopping her from rising up. She fell down and down, into the sea of darkness and she sank deeper and deeper with regret, hatred, vengeance and all the negative feelings. She thought she could turn to a fish and learn to swim and prosper in the darkness. She thought she could enact vengeance on whoever hurt her.

All that was around her was darkness and suffocating silence. She didn’t want to get out ,she couldn’t learn to swim and only sank deeper into that darkness only making herself more miserable.

When she realised she was in love with Arthur, she tried to get out. She realised she can’t be a fish. She is a bird. But still the weight around her legs were there and she couldn’t rise up.

And then he came.... And she felt free. Knowing the truth, set her free. She learnt that the shackles around her legs were put on by herself and there was no need for vengeance.

Getting together with him... She feels free and light.

There still is Cyrus’ death that is unresolved. She did kill him and the weight of guilt might never be lifted throughout her lifetime. But she has hope. Hope that she still can fly like she once did; together with Fred.

Rebecca walked to her and hugged her around her neck. Talia hugged her back and her heart felt warm and full.

"Delivery!"

The door bell rang and the familiar voice interrupted the moment the two of them are having.

"Joe’s here?" Talia raised her eyebrows and looked at Rebecca.

"Yeah?" Rebecca was surprised too.

Talia opened up the door to see Joe with two big bags of groceries.

"You bought this to eat my cooking?" Rebecca asked with an angry face. Talia could see although Rebecca seemed angry, she’d be down with cooking for him. After all she loved cooking.

"No, I’m cooking lunch for us," he grinned ear to ear and Talia watched Rebecca’s eyes go wide with surprise.

"When did you learn to cook?"

"What did you think of me? I won a junior chef competition back in my days. And don’t pretend like you’ve never ate my cooking before!" Joe placed the bag on the counter and said removing his coat and left it on the coat hanger.

"I’m in no mood to eat your gooey mac and cheese now, Joe. And don’t even start on your overcooked steak. Steak should be medium rare..."

"Go sit. I’m going to impress you today. I’m making..."

Rebecca and Joe went to and fro. Talia watching them felt blissful. She tactfully retreated to her bedroom and packed the stuff in her vanity table.

She took the box she kept precious and packed it carefully. Those left in there are the only things she took from Esteria. She wished to set foot in there sooner.

When she came out after an hour, she saw Rebecca was the one wearing the apron and Joe was getting hit by the ladle in Rebecca’s hand.

I knew she can’t help but interfere!

Both were laughing and they didn’t even notice her standing by the door. They looked like they used to do in the past which is good.

Talia smiled and went back inside. She wanted them to get along.

As they were having the sumptuous lunch, Rebecca spoke about how much Clint appreciated Talia’s endorsement of his Ranch and how his business has prospered in these few weeks. Apparently he was planning to expand his business and he felt like it was all Talia’s endorsement of his products.

Talia’s views were different. She endorsed his products because she liked them. And his business took off because others liked his products too. It is entirely his hardwork, integrity and dedication that brought him his success and if he continued the same way, he will succeed in the future too. True, she gave the exposure, but the long term success of his ranch, will depend on his products. If the quality of the products is not on par, no endorsement will be worth it.

As they finished lunch, Mr. Ed knocked the door and entered. He informed that there is a Ms. McAllister who wants to meet her.

Mr. Ed said she is waiting at the lounge and Talia confused as to why Vivian suddenly appeared, decided to meet her at the lounge of her apartment.

"That’s... Did you ask her first name, Mr. Ed?" Talia asked as she got out of the elevator.

What is the nerdy McAllister doing here?