The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 104

Rachel After a long flight and lots of laughs with Nancy, the excitement of finally arriving home took over me. I was nervous and at the same time excited to see my mother again. I had decided to surprise her, something she loved when I was a child. Nancy, of course, seemed more excited than I was about the idea of showing up as a surprise. She wanted to help plan everything and had even suggested a few "grand entrances" that made me laugh and feel apprehensive at the same time. As we got out of the taxi, Nancy took my hand and gave me a supportive smile. We walked to the front door, and I felt a mix of happiness and nervousness. Nancy stood behind me, holding her suitcase and laughing softly, probably wondering how my mother would react to the surprise.

I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, ready to see her face. I heard hurried footsteps on the other side of the door, and within seconds, the door opened. There stood my mother, with a look of confusion that quickly turned into one of surprise and excitement.

"Rachel!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining. She pulled me into a tight hug, and I felt the familiarity of that embrace that comforted me so much.

When we parted, I introduced Nancy. "Mom, this is Nancy, my... special friend," I said, smiling. Before I could say anything else, Nancy, with her usual lack of filters, hugged my mother warmly and said in a serious but amused tone, "Nice to meet you, ma'am. I'm Rachel's girlfriend."

My mother froze for a second, her eyes somewhere between surprise and confusion. She looked from me to Nancy, trying to process the information. The color drained from her face, and I realized she was probably trying to piece it all together in her head. I touched her shoulder, laughing, as Nancy gave me a dramatic wink.

"Mom, she's just kidding! Nancy's just a friend. She loves those jokes," I explained, trying to ease the shock my mother seemed to be feeling.

She took a deep breath, placing her hand on her chest. "Rachel, you scared me half to death! But, well... I respect whatever decision you make, you know that, don't you?"

Nancy, not losing the spirit of the joke, nodded her head, as if she was accepting my mother's "approval." I nudged her lightly, laughing and shaking my head.

"You need to stop playing those jokes, Nancy, or my mother will really believe you," I whispered to her, to which she only responded with a mischievous smile.

We entered the house, and it was as if I had gone back in time. Everything was the same, with the smell of fresh coffee mixed with the soft lavender perfume my mother always wore. I felt a strong nostalgia, and at the same time a sense of peace. Nancy looked around, curious and delighted, and my mother was clearly happy to see me there.

My mother quickly led us into the kitchen, where we sat down for coffee. She offered us some homemade cookies, and Nancy wasted no time in taking one and exclaiming, "This is the best thing I've ever eaten!"

Nancy and my mother chatted like old friends, exchanging laughs and stories. My mother felt at ease with Nancy's presence, who brought a lighthearted and fun energy. They discussed recipes and talked about foods they wanted to try. I felt happy to be there, listening to the two of them get along so well.

Then, in the middle of a laugh, my mother turned to me, her expression more serious, and asked, "Rachel, honey, what was it like living abroad for so long? You must have had so many new experiences..."

The question caught me off guard. My mind flooded with memories that were hard to face, and my heart sank. How could I possibly explain everything that had happened? How could I tell her about the moments of pain, the confusion, and all the challenges I faced without making her worry? For a moment, I felt overwhelmed, as if I couldn't replace the words that made sense to her.

I looked at Nancy, who gave me a reassuring smile, as if she knew I needed that silent support. I looked back at my mother, trying to sound as calm as possible.

"It... it was a very intense experience, Mom," I replied, choosing each word carefully. "There were many good moments, of course, but it was also challenging."

My mother squeezed my hand, her eyes warm. "You know I'm here to listen, right? I want to know everything, even the hard times."

I looked at her with a mixture of gratitude and apprehension. I wanted to share with her, but I knew that some things were too complicated to explain. As I tried to replace something to say, Nancy intervened with a laugh, changing the subject subtly and effectively.

"Mrs. Helena, Rachel had so much trouble with me that I bet she deserves an award for putting up with all my craziness. There was one day when I... well, I better not tell you, but she was always there to save me," Nancy joked, diverting attention and relieving the tension.

My mother laughed, shaking her head. "Well, I'm glad you two have each other. There's nothing like a good friendship."

As we continued to talk, I felt more at peace. Nancy kept the conversation light, and my mother seemed more relaxed, laughing at Nancy's stories and the funny situations she described. Nancy was a real whirlwind of joy, and I knew she had saved me from having to deal with the hardest questions at that moment.

As time went on, my mother opened up even more to Nancy, sharing stories from my childhood and the times when I was just as mischievous as Nancy. They laughed and commented on how curious I was as a child and how I would always bring home something unusual, like stray animals or strange objects that I found along the way.

My mother looked at me fondly and said, "Rachel has always been like that... she wouldn't change for anything or anyone. And I always knew that wherever she went, she would make loyal friends."

Nancy nodded, smiling. "Mrs. Helena, you raised an incredible person, and I am so grateful to have her by my side."

I looked at them both, feeling a mixture of happiness and melancholy. I knew I had a lot to sort out, many pieces of myself to put back together, but that moment, there with my mother and Nancy, made me realize that I was not alone.