"Oh my gosh it's so nice to see you again." I put down my gift basket and wrap Alexander's mother, Mary in a hug but she is stiff beneath me so I pull away.
"You know my mom?" Alexander asks.
"Yes I do, she was my assigned doctor a little while back when I passed out in school."
"You passed out in school?"
"Yeah but that is not important now." I pick up the baskets and offer it to her but she eyes my hand suspiciously.
"Matthew, Matthew!"
The butler comes racing in and gives a slight bow when he reaches her.
"Yes madam?"
"Take this to the kitchen, would you." She makes a dismissing gesture with her hand.
"Yes madam." Matthew scurries away.
"My smile falters a little bit."
{Would it kill her to at least touch the basket or say thank you?}
"Yes, yes it is quite unexpected to see you here under these circumstances."
She gives me a dirty look from top to bottom which makes me want to hide away in a cave and never be seen by anyone.
"Mom!" Alexander scolds his mother, noticing the looks she has been giving me for the first time.
She replaces her dirty look with a smile. "I'm sorry my dear I haven't taken my meds....Welcome to my home, it was lovely seeing you again."
Alexander's mum gives me a smile but I know it's fake because trust me, I have seen this woman smile. She mumbles while walking away.
I noticed that through out our conversation Alexander's father, Benjamin had been silent so I turn towards him and see him studying I and Alexander intently.
"Well dad I just wanted to introduce you to my fiance Bella, I will be on my leave now." He takes my hand in his.
"So soon? Stay longer son. I would like to get to know Bella longer."
"Dad I have to be at the office by 12 and I can't possibly leave Bella here."
"But you can son." I still instantly at the thought of being left here.
Alexander looks at his father and his father looks at him then they burst out laughing.
"My boy." He gives Alexander a pat on his shoulder.
"Never knows how to take a joke until now." Benjamin says proudly.
"So Bella, how long have you know my son?"
"Not long."
"Not long?" Alexander's father looks at me a bit confused.
Then I glance at Alexander, he looks nervous so I think of how I will explain what I meant by not long because I can't just say - your son knocked me up and that's why I'm here getting married to him in like two weeks when I barely know him, so I decided to go with a lie.
"I mean long but not long enough compared to all the years we would live together." I make a save and I hope he is buying it.
"Ohh I see." He laughs then faces Alexander.
"Son I like this one, she is wise." He states without caring that I was standing next to him.
{So if he didn't like me, would he had said so.}
Alexander smiles at his father.
"Oh well would you look at the time, I think we should be going. I'll go say my goodbye to mom." Alexander rushes while looking at his watch simultaneously.
I really didn't want to see her because it seems like she doesn't like me one bit so I tell Alexander to wish her goodbye for me.
"Ok love, I will." he pecks my cheek and walks away while I can't stop myself from blushing right in front of his father.
I whip my head to Alexander's father and feel even more embarrassed that he saw that.
"Don't worry I know what it feels like to be young and in love." He places his hand on my shoulder lightly.
I smile back at him but can't help thinking about what he said.
"Young and in love". {I might be young but am I in love? can I possibly be in love with someone I just met? If not, will I want to get involved in a loveless marriage? Will the love grow over time? What if it never grows? I Don't want my child to grow up without love...}
"Bella! Bella my dear, are you alright?" Alexander's father shakes me with his hands on my shoulder.
"Hmmm?" I snap out of my thoughts.
"Ok good, you spaced out a little....So Bella tell me where are you from?"
"Nigeria." I smile.
"Interesting place with interesting people, you know I have always wanted to visit there."
"Oh really? you should, I think you would love it."
"I think I would too....Oh look Xander is here." He gestures to Alexander who just came back.
"I'm back, I hope my dad didn't bore you? and mom wishes you the same."
I giggle. "Don't talk bad about your father I whisper to him."
"Heyyy!!" His father says in an offended tone.
"I can be interesting if I want to." His father argues rather childishly which is so cute.
"Sure dad....anyways good bye, I'll see you later." He gives his dad a hug.
"See you later son." He pat's Alexander's back then looks at me with arms spread wide open.
I give him an embrace.
"Bye sir."
"Oh please call me dad...daughter-in-law" He pulls away.
"Yes dad. I smile."
"Ok let's go Bella Alexander practically drags me out of the house."
"Heyyy, what's you problem?" I break free of his grip.
"I'm sorry, you guys were getting so cozy and emotional with the goodbyes and I don't have time for the father-daughter bonding thing."
I can't help but laugh while saying "Now you know what it's like to be late to somewhere"
Alexander laughs too. "Yeah I do so walk faster"
"Okayyy okay I'm going"
There is a comfortable silence as we walk to Alexander's car.
"I'm sorry for my mother's behavior, I promise you on a normal day she is all smiles." He says out of nowhere and opens the car door with the key then runs to the other side and opens my door.
"It's alright, I know too. When she was my doctor she couldn't stop smiling."
"Yeah that's my mom." Alexander starts driving.
"So your dad is pretty nice."
"Only to people he likes." He rolls his eyes.
"Isn't everyone." I reply with a sly smile.
"Yeah now that I think of it....." He looks up and and raises an eyebrow ".....they are."
I laugh at the face he made and he soon joins in.
*******
"Thanks for giving me a ride back home even though you were late."
"No problem anything for my future wife and child." His eyes dart to my stomach.
"Speaking about the future, I'm traveling next tomorrow."
"Okay, I wanted to know when you can move in but now that you are traveling I can have your things moved into my condo without stressing you."
"Yeah sure, that's a good idea."
"How long will you be there?"
"Maybe a week." I shrug.
"Okay, the wedding can be a week after that."
"Yeah sure. Bye Alexander."
"Bye Bella."
I open the car door and stride to my apartment door. When I finally enter, my stomach decides to remind me I haven't eaten in hours.
"What to make?, what to make?"