CHAPTER 18: DIANA'S VISIT HOME II
Diana was very careful when getting the gifts, she chose the very expensive ones, even though she used up all her savings to get the gift she just wanted the gift to befit what her husband would actually get for her parents.
She couldn't understand why she was doing all of this for a man who didn't even want her, but she was in this marriage now for better or worse, so making the most out of it was her main and utmost priority. As long as he still at least tried to look after her, it was enough she could work out her own money by herself.
Katherine's eyes shone in surprise as she saw the gift. "My son-in-law is so thoughtful", Katherine said as she walked closer to the gifts to inspect them closely.
Rebecca scoffed at her mother. "Of course he will be so thoughtful now he had you to think about as well, and even getting you this very expensive gifts".
''Rebecca!" Katherine snapped at her daughter. "Its none of your business". She was about to speak up again when her husband looked at her, she immediately fell silent and rolled her eyes mentally at him.
"Enough, come on everyone let's have breakfast i'm starving". Raymond said while looking at everyone meaningfully, one after the other. They seated themselves at the dining as the maids came to serve breakfast.
Jason looked at his sister once they started eating and asked, "Diana, at least tell me he treats you well huh?"
"Yes bro he does just check me out from head to toe" Diana said as she demonstrated with her hands, "do i look like I'm suffering?"
"Well its only been four days", Jackson chipped in.
"And a lot can happen in four days", Rebecca finished.
Diana hit her head on the table gently and brought it back up again, sometimes her siblings could be overly annoying with care.
''Dad," Diana turned to her father, "can you help me tell them i'm ok?"
"Diana they are just worried about you", Katherine said.
"I know that mom, but i'm fine really!" As exasperated as she was, Diana was almost shouting the last line.
"If she says she's okay, then leave her be if you don't have any other thing to discuss." Raymomd commanded gently. Everyone kept quiet and ate quietly.
Phoebe spoke up next, "so Rebecca, when are you planning on getting married hmm?" Rebecca choked at that moment on the water she was drinking as every other person laughed. Even Raymond showed a little smile
''Phoebe!" Rebecca screamed and threw her a piece of the steak she was eating. Phoebe tactfully dodged it and continued laughing.
"What? You think i don't know how you pursue those guys away that come to meet you and say fine girl what's up, i love you so much just the first day i'm meeting you..." Phoebe said, all the while demonstrating with her voice and body movement.
Jackson could not hold it in again, he stood up from his seat and sat comfortably on the floor to laugh
Diana dropped her fork and bent her head to laugh. Katherine, Raymond and Jason were not left out.
Rebecca was chagrined at her sister's behaviour. She looked at her family and her fair face turned red. "That's it phoebe". She stood up and walked towards her sister. When Phoebe saw that things had changed she quickly ran and went to hide behind her father still laughing
"Daddy please save me", she said in between fitful of laughter. Rebecca saw what she did and went back to her seat, "i will deal with you later", she threatened.
The breakfast conversation flowed with a mix of joy and jabs, typical of their family dynamic.
Suddenly, the mood shifted as Katherine, their mother, expressed her desire for grandchildren.
Katherine looked at her two sons and said to them, "when do the both of you plan to get married and give me grand children huh? As you can see i and your father are not getting any younger".
The two guys looked at themselves and kept quiet.
"Answer your mother", Raymond said when he saw that they were both quiet.
"Mom come on", Jason started "not this again".
"Look at yourself Jason, you are 29 this year. That is way old enough, you should be ashamed of yourself!"
Jason: ....! What is there to be ashamed of he thought.
Jackson was feeling lucky that the marriage heat was not exactly directed at him at this moment because whenever his parents ganged up against them like this, it was never good.
Rebecca turned to look at her other children. "In fact all of you should go and get married and leave i and your father alone to enjoy our old age in peace with our grand children", she sighed on the last part.
The other children: ....!
"Hmph! Bunch of nothings; you lot," Katherine finished.
After being scolded there was a chill that came on the atmosphere.
"And mom just had to come and ruin it" Phoebe commented amidst the silence.
"How did she ruin it Phoebe", Rebecca asked naturally albeit feeling vengeful.
Phoebe ignored her sister and continued, "mom i'm still so young, who the hell gets married at 20?"
"Other girls your age", Raymond responded bitterly without looking at her
Phoebe: ...!
"I don't think our parents wants us again they are obviously tired of us", Phoebe said regrettably after her stunned silence.
"Oh my daughter is so smart", Katherine laughed and clapped her hands. "You figured it out so well".
The children: ....!
Jackson scoffed and kept quiet.
"So," Rebecca spoke. "Diana do you and your husband sleep in the same room or different rooms?"
Everyone: .....!
Diana: "And what business of yours is it Rebecca?"
Rebecca: "well it happens in most conglomerate families...."
''Rebecca!" Raymond shouted to cut her short. "Enough talk about Diana and her marriage, i will not say it again".
"No Dad, i will answer". Diana, feeling the pressure, tried to lighten the mood by sharing a humorous anecdote about her and James's sleeping habits. She plastered a broad smile on her face as she said, "matter of fact, we sleep together. When we first moved into the house, he wouldn't give me my own separate room giving me the speech of how we were married and are not supposed to sleep in different rooms because of that reason and all that". As she spoke, sweetness filled her insides to the extent that everyone could see her blushing.
"Well little sister you didn't have to tell us that little detail", Jason said smirking.
"Well your sister asked" Raymond chimed and scoffed.
Rebecca twitched her lips and finally kept quiet.
''That is so nice Diana'', Katherine commented.
"I know mom", Diana responded smiling.
"So how did he deal with your karate sleeping style", Phoebe asked.
Panic flashed through Diana's eyes in a fleet second luckily no one noticed she thought but her father surely noticed.
"It was a little problem at first, Diana said half truthfully. But we are okay now" she said with a bright smile.
"I keep telling you to watch your sleeping habits" Jackson reprimanded her.
''Yeah, i know now why i should have". Diana yawned immediately after her response.
"You look tired, you should go up and rest", Katherine said carefully.
Diana nodded and stood.
Raymond looked up at his daughter. ''Diana, see me in my study after you've rested".
"No problem Dad". Diana, slightly flustered, excused herself, waved to the members of her family and headed upstairs to rest.