Alex looked at Robbie, awaiting for his reaction. This was not the first time her daughter had ever asked the question and yet, she was hoping he would not be offended by it.
Sasha closed her eyes, afraid he would yell at her but instead Robbie laughed so hard.
"What do you think, my dear princess? Would I love your mother if I'm gay?" and he glanced at Alex, who in turn was surprised by his answer.
'Love? Does he really mean it?' she thought, hoping it would be true and not just to answer the curious mind of their daughter.
But then, what about what happened to them earlier? Does that mean nothing?
"Well... why do you like make-up then?" Sasha continued to ask. "I mean... should guys like other stuff than make-up?"
'This is a moment of truth,' Robbie thought.
This is his chance to prove how much he loved Alex ever since.
Even indirectly.
"I will tell you a secret," Robbie told the girl.
"A secret?" and her eyes lit up. "Sure, Dad. What is the secret?"
"I made my very first lipstick through the help of your mom."
"From me?" Alex was confused. "How?"
"Remember the first time I made a lipstick for our school project?"
"Okay... what does it got to do with me?"
"I asked you to show me your pout, and you did."
Her brain suddenly reminded her of the scene. The way his thumb touched her chapped lips gently, and his eyes gazing at it. She felt different and uncomfortable because he had opened up some lost feelings that she hid from him that time.
She had buried those feelings but at that moment, she found herself longing for his kiss. But her brain dictated to move away, before her heart started to hope again.
The kiss never happened...
'Plump and sexy...' he had said about her lips that made Alex blushed.
Did he always wanted to kiss her since?
"So how did you come up with it? Did Mom do something?" asked Sasha.
"She's my inspiration," Robbie replied, gazing at Alex. "Those beautiful lips had inspired me to make my very first lipstick."
Alex did not know what to say as she stared hard at him.
Somehow it made her feel special.
Did he really mean it?
"So how did Mom inspire you, Daddy?"
Robbie smiled as he looked at his daughter closely.
"Did you know that you and your mom had the same cute pout?" he told the girl.
"We do?"
"Yes... and because of that, I decided to make a lipstick made of organic materials. So it could make the lips more kissable."
His eyes averted back to the woman, as she smiled at him in return.
This was the first time she ever heard these things, and she was completely overwhelmed. But somehow, she felt proud she had been part of it.
"Okay, Daddy, let's go eat breakfast now. I am really, really hungry," Sasha complained.
"Okay, Sasha. Let me go get ready so we can all have breakfast together. Later, we need to pack for the trip."
"Trip? Where are we going, Daddy?"
"It's a surprise, remember?"
Sasha sighed. "Fine. I'm just too excited."
"I know, honey. You'll see later."
"Okay. Let's go, Mom," and Sasha went ahead of her.
"I'll see you later, beautiful," he said to Alex, and he was about to get up from the bed when Alex walked over in front of him. She held his face and kissed him. He kissed her back, clutching onto her waist.
She pushed him slightly and smiled.
"What's that for?" Robbie asked.
Alex did not say anything and wiped the smear of lipstick from his lips. She pulled away from him and walked towards the door.
"Go get dress, love," she said, standing by the door. "I'll see you downstairs."
Then she was gone.
'Did she just say love? Did she finally feel it?' and he found himself touching his lips.
He smiled, feeling satisfied as he went straight to the bathroom to shower off the sudden excess heat in himself.
**************
AT THE DINING TABLE....
The glances between the pair had reached Laura's eyes across the table. Sitting side by side, she could not help but notice how both continued to smile at each other like teenagers in love for the first time. It was as if they have their own little world, that no one could disturb them at all, even a silent stare from a doubtful woman like her.
'Could they really be in love?' Laura thought.
The way Alex blushed each time Robbie quirked his lips while she, in return, bit her lip, was something that made her realize that perhaps it was real.
That finally his son had received what he had been longing for.... Alex, his one true love.
But then, how could she be able to know if Alex would never leave him again?
Her mother heart could never contain that much pain if suddenly Alex and Sasha disappeared and break the heart of his son once again.
Laura glanced at Sasha who was happily shoving a mouthful of pancakes in her mouth. The girl had already eaten three sausage links, four pieces of bacon and now devouring those pancakes like a hungry bear who had not eaten for days.
Laura smiled. One of the best things that the couple had given her was Sasha. It amazed her how some of Robbie's traits were evident on the girl. The way Sasha smiled, letting her dimples shown and her being adventurous, reminded her so much of how Robbie was when he was younger. Though she hated to admit it, the combination of her son and Alex was truly amazing.
The woman sighed as she continued to watch the two lovebirds flirt with each other. Somehow she had missed having someone with her. Though she had told herself after her marriage failed that she would never have any man in her life again, but then, there was still a secret desire that someday she would find someone, too.
That she would open up her heart again for love....
A deep sigh came out of Laura's lips as she continued to watch the pair which were now gazing at each other. Robbie was holding the cheeks of Alex, his eyes on her lips and the latter was doing the same.
Laura cleared her throat that startled the pair. They glanced at each other once more before focusing themselves on their half-eaten breakfast.
"So, Robbie, since you moved everything on a later date, what are your plans now?" Laura asked.
Robbie glanced at Sasha first and the girl stopped from eating as she listened carefully on what her father was about to say. Her excitement grew by the minute and her anticipation that her father would not be able to deny the truth continued to escalate.
As much she loved surprises, prolonging the wait made her anxious in a way. She could only go on a few hours and her patience was dwindling as the curiosity grew.
That's why even in Christmas time, she would secretly open her gifts a day before. Her impatience always overtook her and the excitement died the next day, which her mother always noticed.
Now, the girl wondered if her mom knew about this. That maybe her parents had decided not to tell her so she could get excited.
So now she was hoping her father would not be able to resist telling his own mother about it.
A good son would never lie to its own mother, does it?
Or maybe she was wrong.
Because to her disappointment, what Robbie said next was not something she was expecting.
"It's a surprise, Mom," Robbie replied and winked at Sasha.
Sasha pouted as she gloomily looked on to her meal.
'I guess I just need to wait then,' the girl thought and continued eating.
Robbie turned to Alex and held her hand. Alex looked up to him. For the past few minutes, they had been giving glances at each other that made her heart leaped for the first time in ten years.
The way his arm hair tickled her arm as he intentionally bumped it into hers and pretend it was nothing, though she could see in his eyes that he was teasing.
Alex loved his playfulness. The subtle teasing.... the flirtation.
It made her feel alive inside, and it surprised her. The feelings she had for him was too overwhelming and yet there was still uncertainty....
Questions yet to be answered...
It was risky to fall in love with him knowing that he might not be fully hers. That somehow he might change his preference in the future when he meets someone else.
But she still wanted to try at least... and maybe he would be able to really love her... for real.
Alex knew her future mother-in-law was watching them the whole time. She knew Laura was making sure she won't hurt her son anymore, and she understood her as a mother herself.
But what if she learned that it was all an agreement? And that his son was the one who proposed the idea?
Laura would still probably blame her for everything despite of learning the truth. The woman had been indifferent with her since she came and somehow, Alex felt it would never change at all.
But she was determined to prove that Laura was wrong to think of her like that.
Because this time she would make sure she and her daughter would stay forever... no matter what.