Mystery of Small Shoes

45

Sarah is surprised because Rudi suddenly invites her away from her parents' house, Sarah begins to suspect that Rudi's mother does not like her.

"What the hell is it?" ask Sarah.

"There's nothing" answered Rudi briefly.

Sarah dared not ask further. He doesn't want things to get worse if he keeps talking. Along the way, the two of them were silent. Sarah stared at the street illuminated by street lights from the windshield of the car at her side. He began to think of the bad things that had been on his mind all along. He must be prepared for the most difficult situation that will happen in their relationship.

When he arrived at Sarah's house, Rudi immediately said goodbye, but Sarah held back the departure of her lover.

"Is there a problem?" ask Sarah. His eyes could not be seen Rudi's face that looked serious and a little riled up.

"There's nothing" replied Rudi flatly.

Sarah catches the lie from Rudi's speech and gestures.

"Didn't mom like me?" asked Sarah who made Rudi surprised and raised her head that had just bowed and avoided Sarah's view.

He saw Sarah fixed, and then brought her body closer to Sarah.

"Don't think. We will face any obstacle together. For now leave this to me. I'll try to convince my mother first!" Rudi tried to convince Sarah.

"I thought this would happen. I was prepared for the consequences. If indeed we have to separate, I will not mind," said Sarah lirih.

"What are you talking about? Listen, Sar. I'm not leaving you!" Rudi became emotional hearing Sarah's words.

"Then I will leave you," said Sarah no less emotional.

"Sari... We can't give up. We have to fight together. You have to be sure that our relationship will be okay. Please help me, Sar. Help me to prove to my mother that she's wrong about you!" Rudi begged Sarah.

"What does your mother think of me?" ask Sarah.

Rudi did not answer, he could not tell Sarah the truth.

"Your mom doesn't like it because I'm a widow and have kids?" ask Sarah again.

Rudi remained unanswered, making Sarah more convinced by her conjecture.

"Truly as I thought," said Sarah.

""You don't say that, Sar. We have to be optimistic that we can definitely get through this situation. What is needed now is that we must strengthen our relationship Believe me, Sar, we will be able to deal with it together!" once again Rudi tried to convince Sarah who started crying.

Sarah continued to cry and made Rudi become confused, she continued to try to calm Sarah.

"Please don't cry anymore, Sar. Let us think of a better path. Please don't be this way. Let's both fight, love each other. I believe you are the soul mate God has given me!" Rudi clasped Sarah's hand as if to give her strength.

Sarah was calm and did not cry anymore. Rudi wiped away Sarah's tears that were still flowing with her finger.

"Then what are we going to do?" ask Sarah.

"We'll see things first. I'm sure time will help us if we strengthen each other. You want to, right?" said Rudi. Sarah answered with a nod.

Now you calm yourself down, pick up Bio at Arini's house, but it's not too late. Okay?" rudi said that Sarah realized that she had not yet picked up her son.

"Bio? Oh my God, I forgot!" Sarah rushed towards Arini's house after cleaning her face from the rest of the tears and slightly putting powder on her face.

***

That afternoon Rudi had made an appointment with his father for lunch and talked about his father's shares invested in his company.

Rudi had booked a VVIP room at a favorite restaurant. Their lunch is interspersed with business chats as well as their family problems that lately become tenuous especially Rudi's relationship with his mother.

"I don't understand why mom told me to stay away from Sarah? What's wrong with Sarah?" rudi said a little carried away by emotions.

"As far as I know, your mother does not like the status of your candidate who has been married. He feels you deserve more than Sarah" explained Rudi's father.

"What's wrong with the status of a widow? If asked to choose she would not want to be a widow. It's his destiny, Dad. Should we blame fate?"

"Look on the good side of your mother's opinion, son. As a parent, your mother wants the best for her child. Your mother feels there's something better out there than your candidate. So you don't think negatively about your mother. That's one of the ways he loves you" explained his father.

"Yes, Rudi knows, Dad. But do you think that mom's thinking could change?" rudi's tone of voice began to soften.

After the death of his father, Rudi pensively thought of all his father's words. Right enough. It was a challenge for her to change her mother's opinion of Sarah. But he still could not find a way.

With a move Gontai Rudi left the restaurant after paying all his bills.

On the way back to his office, Rudi sees an old woman with an agile little boy in a park. The woman looked very happy playing with the child who seemed to be her grandson. Their happiness seemed to be from the carefree laughter of the two of them. The boy patiently led the grandmother who could no longer walk quickly.

Seeing their familiarity, Rudi became remembered with Fabio who had almost the same nature as the boy

"Papa miss you, son," he murmured.

Rudi turned his car around and went in the opposite direction to his office. He went to an area that was very familiar to him. Arini's residential area and Arini's child care center.

Rudi's arrival there was warmly welcomed by Arini.

"Tumben's here in the afternoon?" ask Arini.

"Yes. Suddenly miss my son. May meet? If you can, you can also invite him to go. I'll return it here before 4" said Rudi.

"Did you know Sarah?" ask Arini.

"This is just telling him. Wait, yeah?" Then Rudi called Sarah and Sarah gave permission after Rudi said the reason.

Fabio is very happy to be with Rudi. Rudi took Fabio for a walk. Suddenly Fathia calls and says that she is lonely at home.

"Bio wants to see Aunt Fathia, right?" ask Rudi.

"You!" answer Fabio.

"Let's make a surprise for Aunt Fathia!"

"Hore.. would like to see Aunt Fathia!' exciting Fabio.

Set them up in the house of Rudi's parents. From outside the house it looked as quiet as ever.

"Surprise!" rudi said as Fathia opened the door for them.

"Ang? He said he was busy! You're a liar!" fathia Rajuk.

Fathia's attitude suddenly changed when she saw Fabio was behind her brother.

"Bio...! Auntie miss you, come on in!" Fathia hugs Fabio and pulls Fabio's hand and takes him inside their house

"Whose son is that, son?" rudi's mother told Fathia.

"Brother brother! Oh, yes Bio. This is Bio's grandmother. Come salim!" fathia's orders.

"Assalamualaikum, Grandma. My name is Bio" Fabio said, then kissed Rudi's mother's hand.

"Child pinter...! Fathia, please answer the right questions mom! Whose son is this?" rudi's mother looked confused. He did not realize that Rudi was in his house.

Rudi kept quiet and watched from a slightly hidden place.

"Bio is his brother's son. Fathia Pound! Uh, Mom. He's a pinter and funny!" fathia clear.

"What cook grandma? Bio hungry. Can you eat Grandma's cooking? The Bio friends love the story if the grandmother's cooking is really good!" Fabio.

"By dong, Sweet Boy. Fathia, feed me there!" the order of Rudi's mother.

"Ready, Boss!" Fathia.

"Grandmother doesn't eat? Let's eat together, then let Bio lead the prayer," Fabio said.

Fabio's easily familiar and cheerful attitude made Rudi's mother start to like him and agree to eat together.

Rudi sneaks out of his house, then tells Fathia that he must leave and leaves Fabio to her

With still confusion Rudi's mother followed all Fabio's will, even accompanied him to play with Fathia.