Chapter 17: Meeting her mom

'Who are you?," The man in suit questions staring right at the two, he gaits and stops in front of them his eyes fixed to Riley. 'Excuse me," Riley counters, his voice comes out stern and deep, he keeps a step forward erasing the few distance between them. 'Who the hell are you?," He questions adjusting his tie, he slants his head a bit to the left frowning at the person opposite to him, his brow arched questionably. 'I'm the assistant of the her husband's lawyer," the man smirks exposing his identity. The corner of Riley's lips twitches up to a smirk, he chuckles teasingly 'I'm the lawyer of her husband," he scoffs as he crosses his arms over his chest, watching him amusingly. Aiden stands by the side passing her gaze at Riley and the other man. 'You...," He lifts his arm his elbow blows backwards swiftly. Aiden steps forward to defend but she stops, her small eyes expands in surprise. She stares at Riley who stops the large fist, his long fingers digging into the man's skin. Tightening his grip he steps forward which makes the man to step back automatically. He glowers at Riley furiously, his upper lip trembling in anger. 'Don't ever disturb my client's family," Riley grunts. He pushes Riley by hitting on his shoulder with his other hand and walks pass him, brushing over Riley purposely. The door slams shut. Riley inserts his hands in his pant's pocket, he sticks his nose in the air, his brown eyeballs scroll downwards to the right corner, eyeing at Aiden. Curling her thin lips inwards she moves her arm forward and shows a thumbs up which makes him to hold up his pride. After a couple of hours they walk out, Aiden requests Ben to introduce someone who can guard the room. She stops in her tracks by the door and grips onto the door knob of the specific room. 'You're visiting someone else?," Riley asks, maintaining his tone to show he is uninterested. 'My mom," she rotates the knob, Riley holds her wrist before she pushes the door open. 'I didn't bring anything to visit," he says facing her. 'Never mind," she opens the door and enters the room 'How are you doing?," She passes a smile at the nurse who changes the saline. 'You're here," Emma grins as she sits straight leaning over the bed board, she pats on the stool beside the bed gesturing her to sit and Aiden obeys. 'You did not tell me anything," she places her fragile hand on Aiden's hands which are laid on the bed. 'Tell about what?," Aiden asks curiously. 'Mike?," 'Mike," Aiden repeats, the name rolling down her tongue foreign, she curls her brows and lowers her gaze, her eyes fixed on her mom's hand 'You spoke to dad?," She asks softly, sure that he has spilled the beans. 'Yeah, he called me in the morning," Emma replies, her voice low 'He asked me about you," 'Oh," Aiden utters, lifting her thumb she caresses at the back of Emma's palm 'We broke up," she declares. 'Will you mind if I ask why?," 'No," she states moving her head to the left and right 'He just....," She looks up 'He just doesn't deserve me," she laughs at her own statement. 'He sure doesn't," Emma nods 'My daughter will find someone better and handsome than him," her face lights up. 'Handsome like dad," Aiden chuckles when Emma laughs. 'It's been a while to see him," Emma blurts, reminding herself that she hasn't seen her husband for months. 'You will," Aiden assures, her lips slightly spread 'You're getting better now and I'll take you to him when you are ready for sure," she smiles gently, she knew that Emma missed her husband but she is not in state of going out. 'Who's that?," Emma moves forward, her thin brows furrowed curiously as she looks at the door where Riley is standing. He walks in nervously 'Hello," he greets lowering his upper body a little out of respect, he passes Emma a gentle smile. 'He is umm...," Aiden moves back, she rubs the back of her neck passing a glance at Riley 'A friend," she completes her sentence. 'I never knew that my daughter has a friend like you," her face beams with a wide smile. 'I'm Riley, we just ran into each other recently" he introduces himself politely as he walks to the other side of the bed opposite to Aiden 'I'm sorry, I didn't bring any gifts," he blurts awkwardly. 'That's alright," She brushes off her eyes never leaves Riley 'You are handsome," she compliments 'Don't be formal," she gestures him to sit. 'He is Mr. Mintz's son," Aiden informs. 'Really," Emma faces Riley again 'I'm thankful to your dad, he paid for my surgery" she states softly. 'Is Aiden nice to you?" Emma leans forward towards Riley's direction. 'Maa, Why don't you ask me that?," Aiden snaps yet her dry tone never conveyed her feelings. 'Ma'am I...." 'Ma'am?," Emma repeats knitting her brows 'Address me mom," Aiden's orbs are fixed to them, one side of her annoyed at their sudden interaction as they are bickering about her, the other side of her happy to see her mother's recovery. 'Tell me, is she treating you well?" Emma pulls up the question again. Riley passes a glance at Aiden who is already staring at him, licking his lips nervously he faces Emma 'She is good," he replies hesitantly. 'Good?," Emma questions raising her brows amusingly 'Don't lie, I know that she is always cold and boring," she laughs, Riley nods in reply and passes another glance at Aiden, she stays still her arms crossed over her chest, those eyes fixed on him. 'Yeah, and whenever I ask her something she will be like," he straightens his posture 'None of your business," he mimics her in the same dry tone. 'Ma," Aiden calls out which makes Emma to turn and face her 'Seems like you are happy to see someone else than your daughter," she sneers as she snaps her head to the right her eyes squinted dramatically. 'Obviously, you always give the same expression when you tell something, it's not exciting and interesting, but talking to him is fun," Emma answers her smile never leaving, she enjoys watching her daughter acting this way as she rarely does. 'Absolutely," Riley claps enthusiastically like a child got a birthday present 'She always puts on the poker face," Aiden's phone buzzes, she stands and blurts ignoring his comment 'Okay enjoy your chat with him," answering the call she walks out the room. After few minutes Aiden hangs up the call and walks in the room, a slight smile makes it's way on her lips when she sees Emma asleep. Passing a glance at Riley who is standing by the window, viewing at the dark sky which is brightened by the full moon, few stars surrounded. 'Shall we leave," Aiden asks dryly as she stops by the bed, bending low she places a kiss on Emma's forehead and stands straight. 'Sure, let's have dinner," Riley grins. Upon the some closed shop by the main road, the midnight snack corner captures the pavement, few vehicles passing by, the night chilly air blows which makes the hot dishes even more delicious. People are gathered around, most of the stools and tables placed outside the shop occupied. Aiden picks another barbecue from the plate which is placed at the centre of the small square table, holding onto the edge of the stick she bites the bottom meat and pulls the stick smoothly which allows the juicy meat to fall into her mouth, tossing the stick to the table she looks straight while chewing onto the meat, the spices make her taste buds dance, she swallows and looks straight at Riley. 'So, What did you and mom talk about?," She asks. Riley faces her immediately, he pushes his tongue to the corner of his mouth pushing his inner cheek, he licks his lips and answers as he raises his brows 'It's none of your business," he leers dryly as he takes the can and sips the cola. The muscles between the eyebrows and his eyelashes expands while he continues to drink, his inner being eager to see her curious. 'Oh," she blurts. Riley's actions pause, he stares at her for a long moment when she continues to eat, his heart literally broken of having ironic expectation. 'Wait," he hits the can on the table and moves forward 'Aren't you curious to know?," She takes a sip of cola and looks at him puzzled 'Of What?," She asks. 'Of what we spoke," 'No, I just asked," she shrugs her shoulders and empties the can. 'Oh my god," Riley gasps aloud as he moves his lowered head to the left and right 'You are freaking boring," he exhales. Aiden rolls her eyes at his dramatic behaviour, ignoring his act she continues to eat. 'Hunting for the cafe owner is impossible," Aiden breaks the few minutes of silence between them, licking her sauce stained fingers she faces Riley who is paying attention to her in interest 'The number has not been working since the day of accident, I don't think we can find him before the trial," she motions forward 'Did you take photos of the surrounding?" 'Yes," Riley leans backward weighing on the air, he inserts his hand into his pant's pocket and pops out his phone 'There isn't anything though?," He hands over the phone to Aiden. Straightening her posture she slides through the multiple photos, pinching on the tempered screen she stretches her fingers zooming the image of the opposite road from the cafe. Her eyebrows meet as she lowers her head taking a closer look at the photo 'Is that a food truck?," She asks as she leans over the table holding the phone to Riley for him to view the screen. Examining the image he nods. 'What's about the food truck?," He looks straight at Aiden as she moves back and tries to zoom in the image to read the number plate which is blurry. 'The dash camera," 'Oh yeah," Riley clicks his tongue. 'The number plate isn't clear but we can find it," she returns the phone and eats another barbecue. She picks another can of cola, inserting her finger in the ring she pulls it down, her actions freeze when Riley stands from his seat and hovers over the table, his hand accelerates forward. Aiden's eyes fold as she gazes at him motionless baffled. His fingers drive close to the corner of her lips of where the sauce remains. Furrowing her brows she licks the corner of her lips her eyes never leaving him. Riley stays still, unmoving, he curls his lips in awkwardly and sits back averting his gaze. He scratches the back of his head as he chews onto his inner cheek. Second time his heart breaks for ironic expectation. 'You have sauce over here," Aiden informs, he turns his eyes on her. Clearing his throat he rubs the other side of his lips unknown of the place. 'It's still there," she blurts and takes a sip of the cola. 'Now, is it gone?," He asks softly, words hardly rolling down from his tongue in awkwardness. 'Nope," she places the can on the table and stands. His brows slightly lifts in surprise, he waits till she moves closer. She tilts over the table and picks his phone which was laid beside his plate, lifting it she holds the phone where the black screen faces him. 'Can you see now?," She questions looking down at him while he stares at her taken back. The third time, his heart literally breaks with ironic expectation. He looks at the screen in slow motion, and wipes the skin below his lower lip. Passing a smile Aiden sits back. She then lifts the can and moves it forward in mid air 'All the best for the trial Lawyer Riley Mintz," she cheers. Lifting his can Riley hits on her can, he forces a smile and utters drowsily 'Thanks."