I left him standing at the door because I wasn't cut out for his annoying attitude. I just hoped he wouldn't ruin things for his brother since his Mum portrayed him as Mr. Perfect. I couldn't wait for the night to be over, so Derek would explain all these to me. Walter Miles was his brother? Unity High School was supposed to be his? Why did he decide to sell ice cream? Do I know his sister? I slumped into my chair and picked at my food.
"Welcome, son," Mrs. Miles acknowledged Walter as he stepped in.
"Hey Mum," he kissed her on the forehead and sat by her. "Derek."
"Walter," Derek grunted. "How've you been?"
Walter served himself as he answered, "I've been good. Just too busy doing actual work. And you?"
Derek shrugged, "Just here. Life's been good."
"I'm sure he didn't tell you that he got a wife," Mrs. Miles chipped in.
Walter laughed out loud, "I wonder who knocked the sense into him. Here I was thinking I'd be the first. Congratulations bro." He looked towards the other doors searching, "And where is this pretty damsel?" he sipped his drink now.
Mrs. Miles smiled at me just as I shut my eyes tight, praying he wouldn't mess this up, "She's sitted right here."
I heard him spit his drink and stand up, "Who? Her?"
I opened my eyes to see Mrs. Miles' confused look. "Yes. Why?"
Derek stood immediately and dragged Walter into one of the bedrooms. There was grave silence as I thought what Walter would've done and Mrs. Miles reflected on what just happened.
"What's going on, Elena?" she asked me.
I wanted to tell her the truth. After all, Walter would ruin everything and it was better she knew the truth from me and not Walter.
I scratched my ear, "Well I... I am not... "
Derek clapped his hand, walking in with Walter. "Everything has been sorted out Mum. Nothing you worry about."
Mrs. Miles looked at Walter who smiled at her. He was so cute when he smiled. "Yes Mum. I misunderstood some things that has been cleared now."
I wondered what he misunderstood and what had been cleared but I kept quiet.
"If you say so," she resumed eating. "So, how long have you been married?"
"A year," Derek said as I said, "Three years," at the same time.
Walter snickered watching us. I'm sure he was glad seeing me suffering.
"Oh?" Mrs. Miles said uncertainly.
I forced a laugh, "What we meant to say is that we've known each other for three years but we got married a year ago."
She nodded her head as she sipped her drink, absorbing that information. "I'm pretty sure it was a court wedding."
"Yes. We wanted something small," Derek concurred.
Mrs. Miles grinned, "Well, now I'm here, we're going to make big."
"What?" I, Derek and Walter exclaimed together.
After a moment of silence, we three began talking at the same time.
"That's such a bad idea, Mum," Derek said.
"They wanted something small. Derek is a man now," Walter said.
"I am content with what we had," I said.
Mrs. Miles covered her ears with her palms, "Okay. Okay. Enough already. Let's just eat."
We resumed eating immediately.
"So, Mum how long are you staying?" Derek inquired.
"Just two," she replied.
"Mum, could you hurry up? I'd like to leave soon," Walter told Mrs. Miles.
"You can go ahead. I'll crash here for the night," she said casually.
I felt a headache coming, "I have a sleepover with a friend tonight."
"Cancelled. And does a married woman still do sleepovers? Who'll take care of your husband?" she chided and I facepalmed.
I looked to Derek and pleaded with my eyes for him not to let this happen. "Mum, you really can't sleep here."
She looked hurt, "Why not? Are there monsters that eat people here?"
We were lost for words. Looked like this was really happening.
After dinner, Walter left. Derek showed his mum to the room he hurriedly prepared for her. And I cleared the dishes. As I washed the dishes, I felt Derek hug me from behind.
"Thank you for tonight."
"It's no problem. My problem now is I still have that role to play till morning," I complained.
He turned me to face him and cradled my face in his palms, "I'm sorry I dragged you into my mess."
I smiled, "It's alright. You've been with me through my messes too. It's only fair I return the favour."
He smiled and just gazed at me. I felt shy and ducked my head, he laughed. But then I remembered something and gave him a big blow to his chest.
"Ow. What was that for?" he groaned in pain.
"I told about Walter Miles several times and it didn't occur to you to tell me he was your brother?" I queried.
He scratched his head, "I don't know. I just thought that you wouldn't want to talk to me anymore if you knew that."
"Why would you think that?" I asked surprised.
He laughed, "Just a thought. But really, it changed nothing."
"True though. I'll sleep on the couch," I turned back to the dishes.
"Oh no you don't. I'll sleep on the couch. You sleep in my room."
For some of you wondering, two bedrooms out of the three are for sleeping; the third he used was his study.
While I washed, Derek arranged.
"You both are so cute," Mrs. Miles voice rang.
We both turned to see her leaning on the door way in a nightwear.
"Mum. I thought you were asleep already," Derek said.
She gave him the bird and entered, "I needed coffee."
"Coffee?" I asked.
"Yes, I need to work," she replied, going to the coffee machine already.
Derek chuckled, "Mum hasn't changed."
"You both go to bed now," she said.
I walked towards the door Derek said to be his room and Derek went towards the sitting room with a pillow and a comforter.
"Where are you going with that, Derek?" Mrs. Miles asked.
"To the sitting room," he replied and made to go.
"Why would you do that?"
"Uh... You're in my room and now I'd be sleeping in his room," I said.
Her eyes were round in shock. "What? You don't sleep in the same room? No wonder there aren't babies yet. Tonight, that changes. Derek, you're sleeping with Elena tonight."
Okay. I don't know why that sounded funny in my ears. I blushed.
"Mummmmm. No one is complaining," Derek whined.
"I am. Come on. Go on," she dragged Derek and me to his room and shut the door.
We both stood for five minutes, going over everything.
"Your Mum is bossy but sweet," I noted.
He smiled, "Yes she is. Uh... You could sleep on the bed, I'll stay on the floor."
I disagreed, "No. This is your house. I can't come here and make you uncomfortable. Lemme stay on the floor and you on the bed."
Derek knew there was no point arguing with me, so he gathered the pillow and used it to divide the bed in two.
"You sleep on that side, and I'll sleep over here."
"Works fine for me," I said and we both tucked in.
"Goodnight Derek."
"Goodnight Elena."
I giggled as he put off the light.