Julie came closer to Diane and whispered to her ears while simpering, "so how are you related?". Diane at first, felt defeated but she was still bold enough to give a reply. "Well, if you weren't told, I'll soon be Damien's wife, so that makes me his fiancée and you are just a sycophant and parasite in all this", after saying this, Diane gave a smile of victory.
She was expecting to see Julie walk away with tears in her eyes or for Julie to feel defeated but Julie was still headstrong. Julie said after a pause "Diane, you're such a fool, just because Damien's family are so much in support of you being his spouse doesn't make you his fiancée, you aren't even engaged to him, girl, so stop dreaming", she said those last words while dusting Diane's shoulder like she was really dusting something. "Wow, I didn't believe Diane would get along with you this much, babe", came the voice of Damien who had just returned.
After his statement, he held Julie by her waist and kissed her on the cheek. Julie played along, "Same here, she's actually a very friendly person, I have an idea, you know, when we get married I'll love to make her my bride's maid".
"Whatever you wish dear, I'm sure she would love to be your bride's maid", he said and smiled at Diane. Diane feigned a smile and nodded, "I have to go now, enjoy the dinner". Julie waved at her.
Damien pulled the chair, which he had noticed had Diane's name penned on the table, for Julie to sit. Julie didn't mind, she sat. Damien sat next to her as every other persons were finding their way to their seat. Damien said to her "You're actually braver than I thought, I could remember how you were acting when we got here". Julie pretended not to hear him but she was pleased with the words he had used to describe her.
"Aunt Maggie, I'm tired of this drama, I thought you said you will match me up with your nephew but it seems more like I'm a jobless busybody", Diane complained in glum. "I'm sorry dear Diane, just play along, you're soon gonna be the one in his arms, it's just a matter of time; Damien thinks his smart enough to make decision himself without involving me, well he's yet to see the outcome of it all", Aunt Maggie said wilfully.
Diane was able to convince Aunt Maggie into letting her still sit next to Damien and that was on Granny's seat.
Mr. James Miller, who had called the attention of the family members earlier, said "Welcome everyone, I'm happy to see everyone of you again, it's time for us to make merry and dig into the meals, I'm sorry to say this but Granny isn't going to be here, she needs to take a rest but let's enjoy the meal while it last, but before we start having our meals, I'll like for us to do the usual ritual of introducing ourselves and saying how we feel towards this year's family dinner party, starting from my beautiful and lovely wife, the first daughter of the Carson family - Maggie Miller".
There was a loud applause accompanied with the clinking of glasses.
"Good evening to every members and relations to the Carson's, we are all one. We all know that the family dinner is a time, for we, as one, to come together, to make merry and reunite. I still remember when this family dinner party started, which was when my late father - late Mr. Alfred Carson was alive, he desired this day and looked out for it because it was when he had to meet his children, sisters, to cut all short, his family. I'm happy to meet everyone of you here, again", after she said this a loud applause followed.
She continued, "I'd love to introduce a very special person to our family, a one in a million, a new member of our family", they had started clapping. "Lady Diane Lucas!", the clapping increased when her name was mentioned. Diane stood up and all she said was a thank you and she sat.
Damien was obviously waiting for her to introduce one more person, when he saw her making effort to sit, he immediately stood up. The other members were amazed that Damien was standing up to make a speech, well he had never made any in any of the dinner party ever held, he was always reserved, which everyone thought was because he became an orphan at a tender age.