Mom had agreed that I should follow Grandma to the US without any argument. She just looked at me, her eyes filled with understanding, and when I finally laid out the question, after circling it a dozen times, she softly said yes.
“Mom, will you allow me to do that?” I asked again, to make sure.
“Yes, Sara, I can’t stop you from getting back with your grandma, especially after all these years.”
I was honestly shocked. I’d expected some protest, maybe a hesitant, “Are you sure?” or even a reluctant no. But instead, she just opened her arms, and I couldn’t help but rush into them. “Thank you, Mom.” I buried my face in her shoulder, breathing in her familiar warmth. “Thank you so much.”
We stayed like that for a while, her hand smoothing down my hair, my cheek pressed against her, soaking in every second. I felt like some Disney character who went from rags to riches—Cinderella, maybe, or Tiana. All those fairy tales about wishes coming true didn’t seem so far-fetched anymore.
“Anything for you, Sara,” she whispered, making my chest ache with love and gratitude.
Eventually, we pulled away, and as she looked at me, a shadow crossed her face, like something was bothering her. “What’s it?”
She hesitated, glancing away. I nudged her gently. “What’s bothering you? Is there something you’re scared of?”
Mom’s lips parted, but then she pressed them shut again. She seemed so torn, her gaze flicking around like she didn’t want to say whatever was on her mind.
“Mom,” I pressed, more firmly this time.
“It’s just that…” She finally looked at me, her voice soft, almost uncertain. “What about us? Betty and I—are you leaving us, or are we going together?”
I felt a wave of relief wash over me, for I had feared it was something worse than this. I wrapped my arms around Mama again, comforting her like she’d done for me many times. “I already talked to Grandma; she doesn’t mind us going with her. She insists on it.”
“Wouldn’t that be… somehow?” She looked skeptical, brows drawn.
“What’s ‘somehow’ is you still being a maid for Beatrice when Grandma is literally one of the richest women on the planet.”
Just saying Beatrice’s name left a bad taste in my mouth. God, I couldn’t wait for us to be rid of her.
“Betty said the same thing.” Mom grinned, a little spark in her eyes. “She said the first thing we’ll be doing on Monday morning is to quit.”
Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough. “Yep, first thing we do Monday morning.”
She laughed, the sound soft and almost childlike. “You two should relax. I’m not stupid—I don’t want to work there anymore.”
“Then that’s it. We’re all set. You’re my mom, Betty’s my sister, and Grandma’s more than okay with you both coming with me.”
Mom sighed, glancing down, and I could still see a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. “But… what if people think we’re mooching off her?”
I shook my head, squeezing her hand. “You taught me not to care about what people who don’t know us think.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to feel like a burden to your grandma, Sara.”
“Simple solution: I’ll tell her to give you a job that matches your PhD. How’s that?”
She nodded, a little smile finally breaking through her worry. “Alright.”
Thank God that conversation went well. Now, all that was left was to text Grandma the good news and start figuring out our travel plans. When I stepped outside, Betty was already perched by the door, arms crossed, waiting.
“What did she say?” Her eyes were wide, her breath held like she couldn’t stand the suspense.
I gave her a teasing smile, holding back the answer a little longer.
“Come on, say something.”
“Guess.”
“Don’t play this game with me.”
“Then I guess you don’t want to know what she said,” I said, starting to walk away, but Betty lunged at me, her fingers finding my sides and tickling me until I doubled over, laughing.
“Stop it.” I squealed.
“Then tell me what I want to know.”
“Yes! She said yes.”
Betty’s grip on me tightened as she let out a little cheer, practically lifting me off the ground. Tears streamed down my face from laughing so hard, but she didn’t seem to care, hugging me tight like she’d never let go.
“Thank God,” she whispered. “We’re finally getting away, and I can achieve my dreams.”
Phase one was complete. Now, just one more step, I’d be on my way to Grandma’s—and my fairytale ending.