"Madeline, Claire. Please keep an eye on the cupcakes and everything in the oven. Rhea and I would set the table" Laura instructed.
She walked out of the kitchen carrying trays of cooked food, Rhea followed after her also carrying another tray. The two worked together to prepare the table.
"Look how beautiful this table seems"
Daniel who just walked down the stairs said. He walked towards them and tried to dig his hand into the bowl of chicken and veggies roast. Rhea was fast to notice and she smacked his hand away.
"Ouch! You don't have to be so cruel" Daniel cried. He rubbed the back of his hand and glared at his sister.
"You silly little thing, do you know how much energy it took to get all these dishes prepared" Rhea lectured and Daniel rolled his eyes at her.
"Anyone listening would actually think you did most of the cooking and it's so heartbreaking you merely watched" he said.
"Whatever makes you sleep at night. Just don't put those filthy hands of yours in the food prepared for visitors" Rhea replied.
"Ah... that reminds me, is your boyfriend coming over today?" Daniel asked. He leaned on the table, his eyes sparkling with eagerness.
"How does that concern you?" Rhea raised a questioning brow.
"What do you mean! I am your brother so I have every right to know" Daniel answered.
"Oh, I couldn't tell" Rhea drawled.
"I hope this guy is a little bit fun and not a boring person like you" Daniel said.
"Say that again" Rhea voiced. She held the spatula above her brother's head threateningly. He took a step further away and another and another before he opened his mouth and yelled.
"I hope he is a little bit fun and not a boring person like you!"
With that said, he dashed to hide behind their mother without giving Rhea the chance to retort.
"You better come out now else!" Rhea matched forward turning the spatula in her hand. It was obvious, Daniel would be so dead.
"Rhea dear, take it easy. He is still your brother after all" Laura chipped in. She shielded Daniel away from Rhea's furious gaze.
"Mum! You are always siding with him!" Rhea voiced. She was obviously not satisfied with the protection Daniel got.
"No dear, you know I won't do such. I just don't want you to mind the boy. He is actually still a little child" Laura said.
"Who is little?! Mum, you are obviously spoiling him" Rhea replied.
"It's okay my dear, just let it go. You know people should be arriving anytime soon" Laura said patting Rhea's arm to calm her.
Rhea glared at Daniel who stuck out his tongue at her. Rhea ignored him and continued with her work. Madeline and Claire also came by with trays of freshly baked cupcakes, pie crusts and puffed pastries. All for dessert.
"Daniel, fill the wine bucket with ice and put in the bottles of wine I bought. Since that is all, we can go ahead to shower now." Laura instructed and everyone dispersed.
********
At that moment in Jordan's apartment, he came out of his closet dressed up in a grey well-tailored suit. His shampooed jet-black hair was styled lavishly to the side. Matt, his best friend who sat on the couch in the room watched him in amusement albeit, his gaze also held utmost disbelief.
"You know what Matt, I think Rhea's mother is beginning to accept me as her son in law"
Jordan said walking towards his friend. His hand doing his cufflink paused and he stared into the empty space thoughtfully. He then nodded to himself and had a satisfied smile on his face.
"Are you crazy?" Matt uttered immediately.
"Dude, you have only met with this girl and her family once so tell me, what exactly is giving you so much guts?" He added.
"You really don't understand? She had invited me for yet another dinner. The second invite" Jordan replied.
"So what?" Matt responded. He gave his bestfriend a really hard look as if to tell him he was getting the situation all wrong.
"So what?" Jordan repeated nonchalantly.
"Listen man, there is absolutely no big deal about being invited to join in a dinner or whatever, anybody else could be invited. Stop acting so dumb!" Matt lectured.
"Have you ever been in a relationship of any sort?" Jordan raised a brow.
"No but neither are you in any" Matt answered.
"You are getting it all wrong, I am going to—"
"—To be in one soon" Matt interrupted. "You have made that statement countless times guy. I am getting tired of hearing it already"
"Because it's true" Jordan replied.
"You are being so ridiculous about this whole thing. It's just unbelievable" Matt voiced in frustration.
"You still don't get it. Anyways, nevermind. I have somewhere to be" Jordan uttered and walked out of the room.
Matt shook his head in disapproval as he watched him leave. He ran his fingers through his hair and roughened it. How could he possibly take it in, his bestfriend had fallen head over heels and became unbelievably dumb.
Just in the middle of his thoughts, his phone rang, he saw the caller's ID and picked the call immediately.
"Hello sir" He said and sat up straight.
"How are you my boy" A deep voice rang into his ear from the other side of the phone.
"Very well thank you sir" he answered quickly.
"How is my son doing. I hope you are keeping an eye on him as I instructed?" The man asked.
"Yes sir.." he muttered.
"Mm.... tell me, what is he up to?" the man questioned.
"He fell in love" Matt uttered.
A short silence followed after Matt's confession then the man, Jordan's father let out a bark of laughter.
"Hello sir?" Matt voiced worriedly.
"He fell in love?" he uttered.
"I am afraid he did sir" Matt answered.
"It looks like watching over him will become fun then"
"Sir..."
"Fret not Matt, you are not a bodyguard. I have only asked you to watch over my son because you are his bestfriend and I know how much trust he has in you. You know I could not stop him ever since he wanted to leave the country. Just be neutral and keep doing your job" He said.
"Okay, Thank you Sir" Matt responded. The man hummed and ended the call. Matt immediately let out a puff of breathe he had been holding.
Back in Rhea's home, dinner was set and the family waited for the guests to arrive. They sat in the living room having small chats and just then Carter walked in.
"How late am I?" He asked as he walked towards the family.
"Not too late to play a couple of games" Daniel answered before anyone could and Rhea smacked him for his forwardness.
"Ouch. That hurts" he mumbled ripping the spot his sister hit him.
"Don't be too forward and speech in such manner to guests" His mother cautioned.
"But he is not a guest anymore" Daniel argued and his mother shook her head.
"Come here my boy and sit down" Laura said to Carter. He smiled and nodded before taking a seat right beside Claire.
"Perfect" Rhea voiced out her thoughts aloud and Claire who knew what she meant glared at her.
"You know what my dears, I am so happy one of you have finally broken through the mentality of singleness.." Laura started causing Rhea to roll her eyes and Claire to groan. 'Not this kind of talk again' they thought.
"So it makes me wonder, Claire when is it going to be your turn?" She asked.
Claire gave a small laugh and said
"Aunt, you know love is only a stupid fun thing. It's annoys me so badly that I don't want it"
Laura could only stare at her in disbelief. No one saw her eyes shift a bit from Claire and moved to Carter then back to Claire.
"This is still about your father right, you should let it go already my dear. Open your heart to any man. Who knows, there might be someone so close..." Laura voiced.
A certain glint flickered across her eyes but she quickly blinked it off. She smiled and said
"Aunt, you think too much".
All the while, Carter had his eyes glued to her. He walked her every move and took in everything she said. His fist clenched on his thigh. He seems unhappy at her nonchalance. But then a thought crossed his mind and he had no choice but to let go. He unclenched his fist and sat straight.
'It is all for the best' he thought.
Rhea who had just sat in silence watching the scenario looked at her best friend and noted to herself that something was wrong. Her bestfriend had been behaving in an unusual manner for a couple of days. It was time to play detective. But for now, dinner comes first.
At the sound of horning outside, every one scurry to their feet and walked to the door. It looks like the guests are finally arriving. It is going to be so much fun later.