Chapter 17: Mother’s Address

June woke up in a very bad mood. She felt tired and heavy, and the last thing she wanted to do was go to work.

But, she knew she had no choice. She needed money, so she needed to work.

She dragged herself off the bed, and literally dragged herself to the living room.

Grandma Evelyn was next to the window with a radio in her hand while she tuned the frequency for a clearer station. And Ellie, she was probably still sleeping in her room.

She was always the last to wake up in the room.

"Good morning, June. How was your night?" Evelyn asked, while paying full attention to the radio.

June nodded. "I’m fine."

The food was already set on the dinning table. She just had to eat, take her bath, and leave for work.

Simple, but felt complicated at the moment.

If it were up to her, she wouldn’t mind just lying on the bed all day.

She settled herself in front of the food.

"This city needs protection." Grandma Evelyn was saying. "There’s another gang war between those mafia. It just never ends."

June knew exactly what she was talking about. Back at her father’s house, her father was always scheming and plotting.

Thankfully, that life was behind her now.

She opened her plate to eat, but stood up immediately. The food smelled rotten and her stomach lurched up as if she were going to vomit.

She ran towards the direction of the toilet, colliding with Ellie, who was just waking up.

"Hey! What’s wrong with you?" Ellie shouted in her direction.

But June could barely respond as she covered her mouth with her hand. As soon as she got to the toilet, she let out everything in her stomach, up to the point that she was spitting into the toilet.

A hand suddenly patted her back. "Sorry, dear. Sorry."

June nodded, and then rested on the bathroom door. She washed her face and her mouth, before allowing Ellie to pull her out of the bathroom.

"I guess morning sickness is finally starting," she commented, once she felt a bit alright.

She made sure to sit far away from the dining table.

Grandma Evelyn had abandoned the radio, which was now producing nothing but crackling noise.

June could hear snippets of the report: two dead, drug licensing. But she couldn’t make up all what the news was about.

It wasn’t until Grandma Evelyn placed a cup of tea in front of her that she felt a bit better after sniffing it.

"Thank you."

The tea was more bearable than the food. At least, there was no awful smell coming from her.

"You know you don’t have to go to work if you’re too tired," Ellie said, standing right in front of her.

She was supposed to be getting dressed for her own work, but she seemed to put June first.

"I’m fine. I can’t miss work every time I have morning sickness. How am I supposed to save up to get the things the baby needs." She sighed. "And I still need to find my mother."

She wasn’t ready to lose hope of the last remaining person in her life.

After much persuasion, Ellie allowed her to leave for work.

Thankfully, she didn’t need to take a bus to work. She walked, letting the fresh air settle her stomach. She placed her hand on her stomach slowly as she took deliberate, slow step.

June’s boss, Andy, was a nice vet, who would understand the reason she had come late to work.

What June didn’t expect to see was the man whose dog she had helped last night.

June could feel the budding headache coming back from the moment she set her eyes on him.

"What are you doing here?"

He smiled. "Good morning to you, too." Then he proceeded to check his wristwatch. "I had no idea you usually resume this late, I would have come with my breakfast."

June only continued staring at him. Then she asked. "Did something happen to the dog?"

Chris smile widened. "You really care about your patient, if only you care about their owner too, it will be nice "

June frowned, her patience running thin at the man’s confidence. "If you don’t have anything to say, you can as well leave now."

But Chris shook his head. "I promised to give you anything if you can save Milo. And I remembered I hadn’t fulfilled that promise. What do you want?"

June stared at him in open disbelief. "The only reason he had come back was because he hadn’t fulfilled his promise.

What was it to him?

People break their promises every day without thinking of the consequences.

She waved at him. "No problem. I am just glad to be of help."

But Chris shook his head. "I insist."

Before June could reply, the door to the clinic opened and Andy came out. He wore a frown on his face, but as soon as his eyes landed on Chris she bowed.

Chris shook his head at him, making him stand upright again.

Yet, that little exchange hadn’t gone unnoticed by June.

Who was this man?

"Any problem?" He asked, directing his gaze at June.

But it was Chris that responded. "I came to thank this young lady for rescuing my dog."

Andy frowned at June. "You treated a dog?"

Having no idea if he was angry about the idea, June bowed immediately.

She loved this job.

And she didn’t want to lose it.

It wasn’t just about the money alone, but because she loved helping the sick and injured. Even if it was just animal.

"I’m sorry, Andy. I didn’t mean to, but you already went out and the dog was bleeding heavily. I only wanted to help."

She glared at Chris for implicating her.

So much for helping her out.

But suddenly, Andy smiled. "No. No. It’s not that. I’m just surprised you could treat a dog when you haven’t even started working here not quite long."

Then he turned to Chris. "How is the dog, sir?

Chris was still smiling and June thought it he didn’t feel pain for smiling so much. "Fine. And already active by the way."

"Come in, sir. Come on." Andy ushered Chris into the Clinic. He even volunteered to give Chris his seat while he sat at the visitor’s chair.

June couldn’t put a hand to it, but she knew that her boss was acting strange in front of this stranger.

It was funny.

Chris accepted the chair and relaxed like a man who was used to being offered things.

"I’m thankful to Miss..." He waited for them to complete it.

"June." Andy completed for him

"June." Andy teased, staring at the lady who was glaring at him as if she could put a hole on his face.

"Well, I’m thankful towards Miss June. Milo is family and I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost him. It’s all thanks to you that he’s still active now."

"It’s no problem, sir. We’re glad to be of service to you." Andy answered with too much enthusiasm.

June stared at them both with a furrowed brow.

To her, it looked like they were acting a meaningless script.

Seeing that she wasn’t ready to give in, he stood up and brought out a card he pushed it towards her. "Well, in case you change your mind, you’ll know where to find me. And remember the offer stands."

June made no effort to collect the card but one look from Andy made her collect it as fast as she could.

Andy followed him out, almost bowing his head as he left.

June stared at the back of the man as he left the clinic. Then, out of curiosity, she lifted the card to check the man’s information.

Chris Vassari.

But it wasn’t the name that captured her attention, but the address on it.

She had seen that address countless times because she stared at it every night before going to sleep.

It was the same address as her mother’s.