Ringing the doorbell

How I missed this doorbell sound. It might be such a small thing, but for me as a kid it meant getting visited, it meant getting delivery food or anything else delivered. Nothing promised me more excitement than a new thing or people I hadn't seen in a while back in those innocent days. Today, I'm standing on the opposite side, being the guest. But there's also something new here, just nothing exciting.

I had to wait a minute, until my mom finally opened the door. I entered, and she immediately began to hug me, her tears melting the few snowflakes still on my shoulder. She continued hugging me for a while, until finally letting me further in. Just what had happened?

As I entered the living room, it looked awful. She clearly hadn't cleaned in two weeks, judging by how dusty the TV monitor was. The couch was also littered in used tissues, the entire room reeked of something salty and was very humid.

"Mom, what's going on? I'm very concerned. Why are you even alone?"

"It's a long story, James."

"I'm here to listen. Please, your call made me really worried about what happened."

"Well...", my mom started, trying to stop crying enough to tell me everything, "after the news of your brother's impending divorce, your dad decided to go on a fishing trip with him up north. He went there before but always alone."

"A-Are you lonely, mom?"

"In a way, yeah. I'm going to continue. Because you see, it wasn't the first time your dad went there, but the trips were always weirdly long and he was never really into fishing before or otherwise."

"Well, maybe he likes the landscape?"

"I-I don't think so. I...", she seemed lost in thought.

"Mom, please tell me. I want to know what's going on."

She was pondering it for a long time. Then she suddenly began: "It's not unusual for your father to take trips far away and for a longer time, but usually, he comes home and we... do it right after. I shouldn't be telling this to my son, but I guess you're an adult now. Either way, after the two of you moved out, we had less sex for some reason, but for these trips it always was the same. Except for when he goes fishing." Isabella +15SP (+15SP) NOT NOW, APP.

"Do you think he's cheating on you?"

"I don't think that, I know it. Look at this." Mom shoved her phone in my face, dad was on the picture with some random girl, probably late in college or about my age. "I don't know who she is exactly, but the two seemed to have known each other for a while now."

"Who sent you that picture by the way?"

My mom sighed. "Your brother, who else? He was suspicious because your father left him alone and found the two to be too cozy with one another. The divorce did a number on him but his suspicions were ultimately right."

"I'm so sorry mom." I began to hug her, tightly, as if to show that my love for her was that strong. Familial love of course. Fucking app, not even my mom is safe. "What do you plan to do in the future? Have you spoken to dad about this?"

"This isn't the end of the story. After this happened, your brother and father got into an awful argument. I'm sure he must have felt how much it hurts me based on his own experiences, but then..." She paused for a moment. "Things got violent between the two. They're currently in the hospital up north and they're probably both going to be in jail for a few years because they destroyed the pub and harmed some other people."

"Jesus Christ." I couldn't speak for a moment, there were so many thoughts in my head. My mom was a housewife, what now? What about dad's business? Fuck, I lived in one of his properties, what's going to happen to them? Fuck... I thought my week started with my life being shit and now my brother and dad will be in jail after they're recovering and someone has to take care of my mom. The doorbell rang. "I'll take it, mom."

A mailman rang. "Sorry for the late delivery, this is a special letter, you gotta sign to confirm you got it." "Oh that's interesting, I didn't know you could do that." "Well, it's useful every time you have to send legal documents, you know? It costs extra, but for documents that are extra important..." "Thank you Sir, and I hope you can enjoy the weekend soon."

"What was it?", my mom asked. "Some letter for you, but I had to sign that you received it. Here you go." I handed mom the letter. She read it for a few minutes and handed it back to me. "It's more important for you, read it."

The letter began with an apology to mom, but honestly, even I could tell that it wasn't very sincere. He had a new one, and all he regretted at most, was that she found out. Page 3 was very interesting. The tone shifted, it seemed more professional. There were probably lawyers involved. 'Isabella, due to my incapacity and the incapacity of my eldest son I hereby declare James to be the caretaker of the Goodman Realestate Co. (henceforth GRC). His job will be to manage the company in my absence and incapacity to act on my duties as owner. He shall continue the founding principle of GRC of helping those in need, thus I hereby void my right as owner to strip him of his power due a perceived lack of profits or company growth. He shall share the money that I received from operating this business with you much like I have done in order to allow you to live as you have done before. If you seek employment, it is in the realm of his powers to decide whether you should remain eligible for further funds. Please inform him of his duties as soon as possible.'

"Ugh", I said. "I have already so much shit going on in my life and now this too." My mom patted me on the back. Smiling seemed painful for her, mainly because she's been out of practice. "I'm sure you can manage this. If you want, I'll help you a bit as well. Your dad always liked to think that he did everything, but I helped him a lot, too."

"Gladly, mom, I'll take any help I can get." I hugged her again. "Should I visit you occasionally? I think you'll get lonely over the next few years without anyone around."

"It would be great if you could come visit over the next few weeks when you have time, yeah. Over Christmas, I'll visit my side of the family now and if you're available, you're invited too of course."

"I don't think they're going to send me anywhere with my current job, I should be able to make it." I kept holding her in my arms for a while, while we were both lost in thoughts. But something didn't feel right. Mom still held back something.

"Mom, is there anything else weighing you down? You seem like you're feeling better, but I know you well enough to know that you haven't told everything."

She was uncomfortable. But her looks meant that she wasn't even trying to deny it. Suddenly she began crying again and blurted it out. "She's your age. Goddammit, he left me for someone who's still young and pretty. Do I look like an old hag to you? I'm still pretty, right?" Isabella +10SP (+25SP)

"M-Mom, how exactly am I supposed to answer that?"

"Y-You're right, sorry. It would be weird. Anyway, I think your last train is leaving soon, you better hurry home."

"Alright mom, call me if you want to talk about things again."