Rhea dashed straight to the door as soon as Eris drove off after saying their goodbyes. She really wanted to bang her head on the door for not remembering to have informed her mother. The poor woman might even thought she had gone missing now and must be worrying to death.
She walked into the house and just at the moment, her mother walked down the stairs with her brows scrunched together and she kept on staring at her phone. Her mood was not a very good one. She looked extremely bothered about a particular thing and even did not notice the presence of her daughter in front of her.
"Mum, please I am really really sorry. I did nothing to know I would be going out for so long. I know I got you so worried... I am here now—" Rhea blurted.
Laura finally raised her head and stared at her daughter for the longest time. She looked as if she was not understanding the reason for Rhea's dramatic performance.
"Why are you pleading with me so badly?" Laura finally asked.
'Okay, that was not expected' Rhea thought.
"I thought you were mad at me. I just suddenly disappeared without telling you" Rhea answered.
"Oh. Claire already told me your prince charming came to pick you up" Laura responded.
"Ah..." Rhea murmured.
She had forgotten her blabbermouth friend would have carried the information to her mother. If only she had remembered, then she would not have been so worried. Who knows, she might have been able to spend more time with Eris... the thought caused her face to brighten in colors.
"I can tell you had a really nice time with him" Laura winked at her blushing daughter.
"Mum..." Rhea groaned.
"Look at you. You know it is high time you stopped being embarrassed about being in a relationship. It is a normal thing" her mother said.
"Okay mum. You know I am only getting used to it" Rhea replied.
"It's alright darling. I am thinking we should have our dinner by the end of this week. You should invite your man too. It's high time I met with him" Laura voiced.
"Alright" Rhea responded. Her mother nodded and stared into her phone. A frown that did not go unnoticed by Rhea formed on her face as she turned to leave.
"Mum" Rhea called and Laura turned back. "Is something the matter?" Rhea asked. She looked intently at her mother expecting her to speak.
"You know you can tell me anything right" Rhea urged. Laura sighed and signalled to her daughter to find a seat.
Rhea and her mother went to the dinning table and sat down. She poured a glass of juice for herself and her mother. Laura took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"Rhea, there is something I think you should know about" Laura started. She fiddled with her phone nervously.
"Tell me what it is mum. I am listening to you" Rhea voiced.
"The thing is... I just noticed that I had only thought your father and I was in love" She said.
"What you mean?" Rhea asked. She raised a confused brow as she stared at her mother.
She had always believed her parents were inseparable lovebirds. She thought they were so in love with each other but what was her mother saying all of a sudden to her.
"I might have never told you this before but your father and I had an arranged marriage and some how we were patient with each other and made the alliance work. Your father had someone he loved from the beginning but they did not end up together. We were never in love and not the lovebirds you thought we were" Laura voiced.
Rhea stared at her mother in disbelief. This new information was so much to take in. Could it be that her father found his first love and left? Even if that was the case, he could have at least told his wife. Her head ran with series of thoughts and questions but found no one to give answers.
"I know you are wondering if he left with his first love, at first I thought the same thing but not anymore because I am confused. With the years we stayed married, your father never showed any sign that he wanted to find his lost love so I don't think he left of the account of her" Laura said and Rhea nodded in understanding.
"There is something else" Laura said in a small voice.
"Okay" Rhea replied and raised her glass to her mouth for a sip.
"I guess I am in love" Laura voiced.
"What!?"
Hearing the unexpected announcement, Rhea spat out her drink and the little drops that escaped into her throat choked her.
"Sorry dear" Laura said and Rhea's head snapped to look at her mother on disbelief.
"Mum, did you just say you are in love?" Rhea demanded and Laura nodded. Rhea shook her head and looked at her and without blinking.
"Don't give me that look girl! I am also human and I have feelings too" Laura voiced.
"Okay, okay... tell me who is the lucky man?" Rhea asked.
"I am not telling" Laura answered looking away from her daughter who was giving her 'the detective look'.
"Why? Tell me please.. I need to know who my step dad is going to be" Rhea pouted.
"What!. What do you mean step dad, you silly girl!" Laura said, her eyes widened as she stared at her daughter.
"Wait, you claim to love him. It is only normal that you two get married" Rhea answered with a shrugged.
"I don't know if he feels the same way for me" Laura muttered.
"Oh... that is another thing" Rhea nodded understandably. You should just tell him how you feel then" Rhea urged.
"No, I can't do that! It is young ones like you that can always confess their feelings" Laura said.
"Ah..." Rhea muttered. 'I did not know that' she thought.
"What do you plan to do now? Invite him for the dinner. At least let me know the man who was able to capture my mother's heart after so many years" Rhea voiced.
"I can't" she mumbled a response.
"Why?" Rhea raised a brow.
"He is not picking my calls anymore" Laura answered with a dropped face.
"Oh..." Such a foolish man, Rhea thought.
"You should not worry about him then" Rhea uttered.
"I am not" Laura replied but Rhea was not convinced.
"I can see that" She snorted.
"Whatever, just remember to tell your man about the dinner" Laura said.
Rhea rolled her eyes, she stood up and left for her room. She removed her shoes and laid on her bed. Picking up her phone, she dialled her bestfriend's number.
"Hey" Rhea said as soon as Claire picked.
"Babe! You are back from your lover boy so soon?!" Claire yelled.
"What do you mean so soon. Silly" Rhea said.
"I thought I would not be hearing from you till forever" Claire replied and Rhea rolled her eyes internally. Her bestfriend is always extreme.
"You are so silly" Rhea said.
"Duhhh"
"Mum said there is going to be a dinner here this weekend and she wants everyone there. Tell Carter about it too" Rhea said.
"Oh.." Claire paused before she answered "Okay" With that, she ended the call.
After calling Claire, she also dialled another number. The person picked up as soon as the phone rang.
"Hey. I am surprised you picked up so fast, that was unexpected" Rhea said.
"Ah... about that, the phone was just right beside me" the person on the other side answered.
"So, what's up?" the person asked. The voice of the person was obviously laced with enthusiasm.
"Actually, we are having a dinner at home and my mum asked me to invite you. I don't know if you will be chanced—"
"Why not? I would love to. Just tell me the day and time and I will be there" The person replied eagerly.
"Oh... okay, I will. Bye" Rhea said and ended the call.
"Well.... that was actually unexpected" she mumbled to herself. She opened her message to send a text to Eris.
'Hey. Do you have time this weekend' She texted.
'You miss me already?' Eris reply came almost immediately leaving Rhea speechless and before she could text him back, his call came through.
"Hey" She said.
"I take it as you miss me already" He voiced.
"Eris..." She groaned and he laughed. The sound of his laugh was melodious to her ears.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Ehmm... we are having a dinner at home and my mum wants to meet you already. It's okay if you are busy, I will just—"
"Tell me the day and time, I will be there. It is high time I meet my mother in law" Eris said.
Rhea opened her mouth and closed it back. His response made her speechless.
"Okay. Bye" She said finally and ended the call.
This dinner is really going to be an interesting one, she thought.