As the black Mercedes drove into the carpark merged to the beautiful courtyard of Lapes villa, Darla knew he was home. She has an important issue to discuss with him. She asked Hadlee to receive him and direct him to her study. Alighting from a day full of papers, deals and conferences, he was received as always by Hadlee the housekeeper; with the expression on her face, he knew he was wanted.
"Mother or father?" Eamonn asked her.
"Your mother Zaph. She is in her study." She answered and received her mandatory peck before he proceeded to the study. He found his other siblings present indicating something bad has happened.
" Good evening mother." He pecked Darla's cheeks. "and to you all as well." Some huffed, smiled and snorted in response.
"what is it mom?" The eldest, Ethan questioned.
" watch your tone son." Darla scolded. " I called you here because I have decided to retire. What I mean is, I have decided to handover the company to you, Sybil."
"What." They exclaimed in sync.
"No mom. You cannot do this." Eamonn spoke first.
"Why? Do you want the company?" Sybil snapped. " Because I'll be delighted to hand it over."
"No, gosh, no. I wouldn't dare. It's too girly." Eamonn shrieked.
"Quit shrieking and look at the bright side of this."
" There is no bright side." He retorted. They bickered back and forth while the rest munched on popcorns and sodas chirping in a thing or two in-between. Darla however was being tested.
"Enough." She screamed at her children." Oh for goodness sake Sybil, you are an architect with degrees in cosmetology you can teach the employees some of your skills and Zaphenath, that was insulting. It's not some girly thingy. It is to help the unemployed women in the society."
" por favor, lo siento madre. (Please forgive me mother)" Eamonn apologised.
" Estás perdonado (you are forgiven). Now you all go freshen up and come have dinner. The decision has already been made." She dismissed them not leaving room for any other objections. Dinner time was spent like always except this time their father wasn't present . He was overseas. They went to bed with their orders as always. Ethan was to cease from eating too much sugar at night, Sybil was to switch of her TV and turn down the volume of her radio, Eamonn was to not engage himself in too much work and Kilmer and Kaylee the youngsters were to complete their home works before bed.
In the midst of their dinner, Eamonn disclosed a secret which he had been harbouring for a while. He was attracted to someone. As soon as the words came out, everyone went silent then the collection of lots occurred soon after they bombarded him with questions to which he answered. His family had made bets on whether he would be attracted to someone. The twins Kilmer and Kaylee won a sum of three thousand dollars. The stakes were high since they thought it was impossible to happen. The family requested to meet her with a girl in mind. The subsequent weeks went quite fast. They had the shooting for the advertisement at the countryside just like how Earlene had chosen. In their free time, they spent it together. They admired the grand interiors of an English stately home before catching a play in the surrounding gardens ; stepped into a chocolate box of quaint villages and their market towns and lived like the locals, trying farmhouses cheeses, cream teas and real ales along the way of their shooting. The natives loved the way the two bent their ways. Ah! Such beautiful memories. It was rumoured that Earlene and Eamonn were dating. They did nothing about the rumour which escalated quickly. When complimented, they gave shy smiles. He hadn't had reddened cheeks for so long thanks to the natives. All these passed away and they were back in the grey coloured landscape of a city. His family pressured him in bringing the girl home and finally he did. He arranged a family dinner to meet her . They were ecstatic. The D-day came.
Dressed in semi casuals for the dinner were the ladies and gentlemen. Ethan was jealous his brother got a girlfriend before him and Kilmer wanted to see how attractive she was for his brother's description turned his world upside down, he was going to ask if she had a younger sister. The doorbell rang and as usual Hadlee got it. With a smile plastered on her face, she welcomed the gentleman and his lady into the house. Hadlee went to inform the mistress of the house about the arrival.
" Son, where is she? I want to meet her." Darla inquired when she found her son alone in the well decorated living room.
" Mother, she is in the dining room. Hadlee, inform the rest." Eamonn answered. The four siblings came racing down to meet the girl of Eamonn's dreams. He directed them to the dining room which they took off without him. He got to the table in high spirits to find the frown, disappointment and another he couldn't decipher.
"What's wrong mom?" He asked.
"Where is she? Is this her?" she questioned back.
"Yes mother. She is the one. Everyone, I want you to meet Rayna Hambleton, my girlfriend." He introduced her.
"Wait, I thought you said citrusy fragrance caught your attention and Earlene..." Ethan trailed off.
"Wait , you guys thought I was into Earlene? God, no. We are just friends and for the citrusy fragrance I told you about, it belonged to her. Earlene that day was of lily of the valley." He explained. "Now everyone have a seat and let us enjoy the meal." He pulled back a dining chair for the blond hair, grey eyed lady just as a gentleman would and took out his own seat after he was done. He looked up to find his family still standing. He raised an eyebrow and frowned but they ignored him.
"I am sorry son but I have a conference meeting to attend. It's about a shipping. I have to go." Darla excused herself.
"Sorry lil bro but I have to go through mom's company's files. There are lots of them. I have to go too" Sybil excused herself.
"Uh...We have...we have our homework to do. The professors piled them up for us since it's a weekend also Kaylee is my study partner so I'll pass with dinner." Kilmer said before leaving with his twin tagging along.
"Do you also have a meeting to attend or homework to do?" Eamonn asked with fury.
"Actually yes. I mean to say my fellow colleagues at the university are having a bachelor's party. I'm one of the main guest so catch you later." Ethan blurted out. " Nice to meet you by the way, Rayna." And like the rest , he also vanished. Hadlee was long gone before the drama could start. Eamonn and Rayna ate in silence till she broke it.
"It seems your family detests me." Rayna analysed what had happened.
"No, no. They do not. They just aren't used to being introduced to people especially by me. They will come around." He assured her.
They hadn't exactly gone to the places they had mentioned. They all ended up in the panic room. A secret room designed and located between the library and the main study in case of emergencies. They all got there to find Hadlee sipping tea and watching a classical drama. (They had decorated the room to their preferences.) They were surprised to find her there and annoyed she didn't give them a heads up.
"What are you here Hadlee?" Sybil asked her.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking" She answered.
"Yea, what are you doing here Sybil? And twins? Mom?" Ethan chirped. They glared at him and he sighed. They found seats and stole some of Hadlee's tea. She knew they would plopped down here so there was enough. After a moment of silence, Hadlee cut in.
"Those were the lamest excuses I have ever heard in my entire sixty five years of living." She criticised. " Really! Is that all you all got?" The fact that she disappeared doesn't mean she didn't get to enjoy the show.
"You got to admit Hadlee, daughter of Mother Teresa. She wasn't Earlene. What did you think we were supposed to do? And twins, give me back my money. No one won." Ethan bristled at her remark. Those who lost their bets agreed with him.
"C'mon for once I thought it was Earlene. I even wore my favourite perfume and choker." Kaylee complained. "Damn it! I had made money for it to be taken away all because of her." For that Kilmer shared the same feeling whilst the others were relieved. Not that it made any difference in their bank account.
"I should have made a bet on it not being Earlene." Darla grieved. They all gave her the 'really' look to which she shrugged.
" You know, you could have said something more discouraging or even played along for a few minutes. Darla, you could have made the girl uncomfortable, twins, you could have started your annoying childish brawl and Sybil and Ethan, you could have bored her with your work issues. That isn't so had but you didn't!" Hadlee scolded them like her own child and grandchildren showing her disappointment in her voice and eyes. They sulked in silence and didn't ask for a change of movie. They 'wailed' in the classical drama. What they didn't know was what they were going to face after their play.
For now, enjoy the peace and tranquillity whilst it lasts.