; "Mom, who was that strange man? What did he want from you and papa?" Xylene solicited.
"Um! He's a... He's a lawler."
"Right Jeremy?" She said as she looked at her husband to affirm what she had just said.
"Yeah! He's a lawyer." Jeremy said demented with worry.
"Lawler.... Jeremy!"Priscilla repeated as she stared firmly at Jeremy without their daughter's notice.
"Oh! Lawyer... Yeah. He's a lawyer! A very good colleague of mine." Jeremy stuttered.
"Bu..bu.but.... he and aunt Isabella sound so illiberal." Xylene continued asking.
"No, no! It was nothing of that sort. It was...uhm...I think you're just overthinking."
"Yes! She must be very tired. I think she over-read today. Are you hungry Xylee?"
"But Momma?" Xylene remarked and turned to her father when her mother evidently tried to dodge the question.
"Is it true papa. Is the strange man, who accompanied aunt Isabella earlier, your ally?" Xylene asked persistently.
"Uh," he exchanged looks with his wife and even before he could answer his daughter's question, his cell phone buzzed.
"You know what sweety, why don't we talk about this some other time?" He said as he dipped his hand into his patch pocket and fished out his cell phone.
"After dinner?" Xylene suggested.
Her father's attention was wholly directed to his cell phone; as he hurriedly walked upstairs, "We'll talk about that! This is an urgent phone call. I have to receive it."
"I've barely heard what he has said." Xylene said turning to her mother who still held her by the shoulder in a bid to comfort her.
"I'm gonna prepare your favorite dish; Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Bean Salad with Fresh Pineapple Corn Salsa. Now go and take a shower."
"But momma...?" Xylene spoke again.
"Uh.Uh Xylee! No more buts. Food will be ready by the time you're done showering. Now go, unless you want to have mustard and marshmallow pretzels for dinner."
"Okay. Fine. I'm gonna go." Although skeptical, Xylene assented to go.
Walking upstairs, she stopped in her tracks when she heard her father talking to someone over the phone.
She was completely bemused when she heard him mentioning her name. She stealthily tip-toed close to the doorstep and eavesdropped on the conversation between her father and whoever he was conversing with over the phone.
"Kindly help me find a better and professional legal practitioner. I'm in dire need of one before the week ends. You know Lucas won't back down from this case; especially because it involves his daughter Haddy!" Xylene heard.
"What!" Who's Haddy?" She was now even more bewildered and a confused expression crossed her visage. "Is father a criminal? Why does he really need an advocate? Does momma know about this?" Xylene asked herself. However, she held her breath and covered her mouth with her hand; so as not to even the slightest sound.
"Xylee, have you gone to take a shower?" Her mother called out to her, "Food will be ready in 30minutes."
She stealthily crept to her room and took a warm shower. She then headed downstairs and joined her mother who was busy setting the table up; in readiness for dinner.
"Yum! Orange squash, you never mentioned to me that you were going to make this." Xylene stated joyfully.
"I wanted it to be a surprise for you. I know you like surprises, don't you?" Her mother asked.
"Yeah. I do. I really really do." Xylene retorted.
"What are you waiting for? Pour yourself some portion of it and serve yourself a proportional amount of food. Remember there's still dessert that you ought to have after dinner."
"Aha! Dessert! I'm curious. What's is gonna be? Chocolate chip cookies? Apple pie? or is it Cheesecake. No! Pecan pie? Which one of these is it? Please tell me."
"Wanna place a bet?"
"Yeah! Yeah I do."
"Oh you curious one! Enjoy your meal" Xylene's mom said gleefully as she playfully pinches Xylene's nose.
"I am." Xylene retorted.
After a while, Xylene stopped eating and seemed deeply lost in her thoughts.
"Xylee, Xylee, Xylee?"
"Mh m?" She finally answered after her mother had called out to her several times.
"What's going through your tiny tiny mind over there?" Her mother teasingly asked her.
"Isn't father coming down to have dinner with us again?" Xylene inquired from her mother who hesitantly replied, "He requested me to serve him in his working chamber. I think he's quite busy. Don't stress yourself. Eat up your food, he''l join us tomorrow."
"You've been saying that for the past three days!"
"I promise you. He'll join us during dinner tomorrow. As a matter of fact, he won't be busy in any way tomorrow."
"I hope so!" Xylene muttered and ate up her food.
She cleared the table after dinner and went to her father's working chamber in regard to the question she had in mind earlier.
The door was open ajar and through that small space at the entrance, she stood and said, "Hey dad, may I come in?"
Her dad paused typing on his computing device and glanced at the doorway. "Do you mind taking these utensils to the kitchen for me?"
"Not at all! I don't."
"And ..." She said as she walked towards the table to take the utensils. She then cleared her throat and continued, "Are you coming to have dessert with us dad?"
"I don't think so. I was not planning to do so."
"Please! Please dad."
"Okay Xylee. I'll see."
"Thanks dad." Xylee said as she jumped up and down in ecstasy.
She took the utensils and headed outside the room. "Mom, mom, guess what?" She asked her mother as if she was excepting an immediate reply from her.
"What?" She asked back.
"Dad is coming to have dessert with us." Xylene said jubilantly.
"That's great to hear. However, I am amazed since he had assured me he wouldn't be having dessert today." Priscilla voiced.
"I coaxed him into doing so.......!" Xylee responded.
"You sapient lass!" Her mom told her as she chased her across the long corridor.
"Come here you little....." Xylene stopped and gazed at her mother, highly expectant of her to complete her sentence.
The brief moment of eerie silence in the vicinity, between mother and daughter; who blankly stared at each other was suddenly interrupted by Jeremy. "What's not happening? Is the dessert ready?"
"Yes , Yes it is." Xylee spoke up.
"Just wash your hands and sit down." Priscilla followed.