"Child, you need to stop fiddling with that cord, you'll hurt yourself."
Leah, who had been in a daze, snapped her attention to her hands. It seemed like she had coiled her IV tube around her index finger, a habit she was yet to break after all these years.
She sighed and stared at the woman who was peeling an apple with most of her focus. She felt really awkward at this point, as she had no idea what to say to her new mother. Yes, she had confirmed earlier with the doctor that the woman was in fact Hazel's mother, and the girl who came with her was her younger sister, Alexis.
Fortunately, the awkwardness was not very palpable since she was moved to a different ward, and there were other patients there with their families. The woman was also strangely quiet, making her wonder if she had already given herself away. That would not be surprising, especially since she knew her original daughter inside out. What worried her was what the woman would do if she found out.
She did not want to become some headline in the newspapers, nor she did want to become a topic for research for some strange doctors. She couldn't tell what she was thinking, and that made her mind imagine all sorts of scenarios, the next one worse than the previous.
She finished peeling the apple and handed it to Leah. She had barely taken a bite when her mother finally spoke.
"There is something we need to talk about, why don't we take a walk in the gardens?"
She stiffened, and swallowed the barely chewed apple.
"A-Alright, mother. Let's go."
****************************************
Hazel's mother seemed to be in no hurry as she walked around the hospital grounds and looking at the tulips that were blooming in the gardens. She did not say a word to Leah throughout, and it was beginning to make her anxious. The woman even stopped to chat with a nurse.
Leah walked behind her new mother quietly, with her mind running in circles. She was beginning to think she worried for nothing and that she just wanted to take a walk. Leah, however could not believe it with how she sounded serious when she said they needed to talk. She knew she needed to be patient, but she was out of her depths. After being emotionally tortured and locked up for years, her usual calm demeanor from before was all but a front these days. She hated how nervous she felt at this moment.
Had she noticed anything off about her? After all she was Hazel's mother. But it felt too soon for that, and could be brushed off as her still recovering. It had to be something else about Hazel.
Leah took in a deep breath to calm herself down. She was overthinking everything, and it had to stop. It was probably something about Hazel. It wouldn't be anything serious.
To take her mind off what Hazel's mother wanted to ask, she walked to one of the benches closer and sat down, observing the flowers growing in the flowerbed.
She must have gotten distracted, because she did not notice Hazel's mother walking towards her and only noticed her when sitting on the bench next to her. Leah tensed a little sighed.
"What were you thinking about that got you so distracted?" Hazel's mother asked.
Leah shrugged, but did not respond.
They were silent for a while.
She felt the countenance of the older woman shift, and a serious expression settled in her eyes. It seemed the matter that this woman wanted to speak about was not simple.
"Hazel, you promised to leave your father's case be years ago and forget all about this matter. He was a vicious criminal, and he did not care about endangering you or your sister's lives. Why then, do you go and dig up things that are supposed to be buried?"
Leah's eyes widened slightly. She did not know what was going on, so she did not know how to reply. She did not even know whether Hazel was guilty or not.
"What are you talking about, mom?"
The older woman's expression turned stern
"Do not lie. A threatening note was sent to the house a few days back. I asked your sister and she told us everything! How could you be so reckless?! Your actions are putting everyone at risk. Think of your little sister and brother!"
Leah was lost for words. The anger in this woman's voice was very apparent. It seemed like this was not the first time this had happened. Hazel, for some reason was determined to dig into her father, from the looks of it. What had happened to him? Was that the reason she ended up in the hospital?
She unconsciously lowered her head in thought. Hazel's mother mistook that emotion for guilt and huffed.
"Child, this is a final warning. please stop all this, or else if something happens to any of your siblings because of your stubbornness, You can forget that I am your mother, do you understand?"
Leah flinched. That sentence…..she had made it many times, when she was younger, when her mother wanted her to do something that she did not want to do. A wry smile formed on her lips.
"Alright, mother. I will listen to you and close this issue."
However, most likely from Hazel's behaviour from before the older woman did not trust her words at all.
"I will be watching you closely from now on. Don't be stubborn and push me to do things I will regret. I am also warning you not to confront your sister about this, she was right to tell me what you were doing. Also I have already punished her for her involvement in this matter. Do you understand?"
"Yes, mother. I won't say anything to her."
Hazel's mother looked at her suspiciously. She then huffed and turned her head away from her.
"The doctor said you will be discharged in a few days. After that, I want you to move back into the house."
Hazel's mother seemed a bit surprised when she nodded without any protest. From the looks of things Hazel may have been a very stubborn person.
They stayed there for a while, and since there was nothing else to say, Hazel's mother led Leah back into the room for her to get some rest.