CHAPTER 20: DIANA'S VISIT HOME IV
The sitting of the dining table changed that evening due to James presence. Raymond sat at the head of the table, his usual spot. Then he made James sit directly at his right hand side where Jason normally sat and made Diana sit close to him. While his own wife had her space normally at his left hand side. Every other person took their seat with the remaining space left. Soon dinner was served.
Before they started eating, Raymond started by introducing his children to James. "The one sitting beside your wife, is my first born child and son Jason. The girl sitting opposite your wife is my 2nd child and first daughter Rebecca, then the one sitting beside Jason is my second son and 3rd child Jackson and Diana of course is my 4th and 2nd daughter while my last born, sitting at the end is Phoebe".
"Hello", Phoebe said in a small voice and waved. James nodded towards her and revealed a small smile.
"Its nice to officially meet the members of my wife's family".
"Nice to meet you too" Jason said and stood up to shake hands with him. James stood up and accepted the hand in front of Diana.
Diana felt her inner self do a leap dance at this new turn of event. 'Her husband getting along well with her family, it was indeed a sight'.
"And my beautiful wife Katherine", Raymond introduced again as Katherine walked towards the table, steaming pot of chicken sauce in hand.
Katherine removed her gloves and stretched out her hands to shake him with a big smile. James accepted the handshake with his both hands and greeted. "Nice to officially meet you mom".
Katherine's smile became broader as she used her other hand to tap his both hands that were on hers. "Nice to meet you too son".
Diana's smile was radiant. in fact she couldn't help smiling. Rebecca who noticed this couldn't help but scoff when her mother jabbed her side, only then did she behave.
The meal was surprisingly pleasant. Conversation flowed smoothly, with only the occasional spark of tension quickly doused by Raymond's jovial remarks.
Aside for Raymond, Katherine, James and Jason's occasional conversations, every other person was relatively quiet.
Diana spent the rest of the evening bathed in the glow of this unexpected truce.
After the dinner, the maids came to clear the table as every other person stretched lazily.
Katherine looked at James. "My dear boy, has Diana even prepared our African food for you? You will really enjoy it".
"Mom!" Diana looked up at her mom as if saying why would he want to eat our African food.
James smiled a little and said, "i'm sure i have a lot of time to eat it, so my wife can take her time and prepare it whenever she wants to".
Diana looked at him, surprise etched across her beautiful face for the zillionth times that day. This man will never stop surprising her today, she thought.
Katherine responded happily. "Diana you see that, don't be stingy with it. Just prepare it for him already".
"Mom!" Diana called her mom again clearly embarrassed.
Raymond laughed and chided his wife, "you should let her be since her husband has said she has a lot of time".
"Thanks Dad", Diana responded to her father's save from her mother with relief.
"Well the both of you can come back tomorrow and i will start by making one for you"; Katherine pressed, not ready to give up.
Before Diana could respond, James beat her to it
"Tomorrow will be a busy day for us both" James said looking at his wife.
Diana stared back at him asking with her eyes, "will it?"
He nodded silently to her.
Katherine looked at him, "oh it will?" voicing Diana's question.
"Really Mom", Jackson blurted impatiently. "Just give up already geez!"
Katherine ignored her son and continued staring at her son-in-law hopefully.
"Yes!" James replied again calmly he looked around the table before he said, "i'm taking my wife out throughout tomorrow".
"Awww!" Phoebe said from her seat and Diana blushed hard as she pinched the back of his hands. James felt it and showed a small smile. 'Why the hell would he say that to her family Diana wondered'.
James held her hand and drew circles on it soothingly
Raymond laughed and looked at his wife, "you should let young couples be alone and enjoy their married life"
Katherine smiled and said, "i guess your right dear. Alright then, i will just prepare it and bring it myself".
"Mom you don't have to worry about that i will do it already".
"Alright fine, Katherine grinned widely. I was just looking for your answer".
James smiled and stood up with Diana's hand in his.
But it was Diana who spoke. "Dad, mom we will be leaving now, i need to go back home with him".
"Oh my dear child, Raymond laughed. Now your own home is unbearable for you huh?".
Diana smiled shyly and went to hug her father, then her mother. She looked at Rebecca. "Come on now Rebs, i know you want it".
James smiled as Rebecca sighed, reluctantly stood up and hugged her. She hugged Phoebe next, then Jason. Jackson was the last person who hugged her as he whispered in her ear. "Take care little sis, and if he bullies you i'm just a phone call away".
James felt his eyes twitch at Jackson's words but he did not comment. He shook hands with his father-in-law and mother-in-law then with Jason before he walked towards the door.
Raymond and his wife saw them all the way to their car with Jason and Phoebe in tow. The black Bentley stood proudly at the entrance of the Pierce home. Diana felt that the car stood as proud as the owner.
They both got inside the car and Diana kept waving to her family until they were out of sight. She turned back as silence descended on the atmosphere. She noticed Antonio driving the car. He must have returned the previous car they came with and came back to ride this one.
Diana decided to break the silence of the car as she turned to look at her husband who kept staring at her, she confided in him, "My family can be... a lot."
He chuckled, a warm sound that surprised her. "I figured that much already. They're good people, though."
She looked up at him, her heart swelling. "They are."
As they drove away, a comfortable silence settled between them. The air seemed lighter, infused with a sense of possibility.
Diana glanced at James, a quiet smile playing on her lips. The future, once shrouded in doubt, now glimmered with a hope she hadn't dared to dream of.
The journey might be long and winding, but for the first time, she felt like they were walking it together, side by side.