"Where are the girls?" Deveron asked as he began to sort out the things that he'd purchased.
"Hmm... What got your ass all bubbly?" Daliana asked with a smirk on her face. Age had begun to show on her beautiful face but she still looked the same -- at least to Deveron anyway.
"I have great news!" her husband replied to her. "Where are they? I don't wanna have to repeat myself though...cos I know you guys," he finished with a pout as he took a long breath in. "Any who... what's cookin' baby?"
"I tried out a new recipe," Daliana said.
"I bet it tastes great cos it smells great..."
"You bet..." she replied as she winked. "Carnise! Hanita! Your father's here!"
Their house was beautifully decorated and comfortable for the family of four. Everyone had their own rooms and Daliana had the kitchen of her dreams. Deveron had personally seen to that. He wanted her happy and had answered her every request about the kitchen wares and the interior decorations. To Deveron, a happy wife was a happy life and he'd achieved that with two beautiful daughters.
Carnise and Hanita still lived with them and Deveron was in no hurry to see his daughters move out of the house. In fact, Carnise had brought that topic up for discussion and he'd shut it down. They'd marry from his house -- that had been his decision since they were babies. He needed to keep his eyes on his girls until he gave them away for marriage. Yes, one could say that he was old school, and even Daliana laughed at him sometimes. Deveron didn't care about being archaic as long as it came to his girls.
Carnise was the first one to come down from the first floor. She was tall and pretty with jet-black hair that she'd cut into a pixie style and it sat cutely on her head. She walked gracefully but had a straight and unapproachable face. Carnise, who had just marked her 26th birthday, worked as a developer in one of the software companies in the heart of town. She was doing well and had even gifted herself a car for her birthday.
Deveron, who was her stepfather was so proud of her and he didn't hide it, not in the slightest. He had thrown a party for her and had told her to invite all her friends and coworkers which she did. It had been a memorable one for Carnise Hill.
Carnise loved Deveron just as he loved her. She couldn't have asked for a better man to be her father. Still, recently, she began to think about her biological father and getting to know him. She felt she had to know her roots and that weighed heavy on her mind.
A day before her birthday, Carnise had asked her mother about her real father. The change that she'd noticed on her mother's face was heartbreaking. Daliana had gone pale instantly and it seemed like she'd seen a ghost. Carnise could not get the image of her mother freezing still out of her mind as she wondered what must have made her react in such a manner. Still, she made a mental note to get to the bottom of the issue. Carnise wasn't one to sweep things under the rug -- especially something like this -- something that had everything to do with her life and her birth.
"Where's your sister?" Deveron asked, while he still stood at the kitchen island waiting for everyone to gather around.
Carnise shrugged. She walked to the television area and picked up the remote control from its holder. Slumping on one of the white couches in the sitting room, Carnise turned on the tv.
"What's the fuss about, parents?" Carnise called out without looking in Deveron's and Daliana's direction. She had a saucy and sarcastic personality.
"I was about to begin my beauty sleep..."
"You are always sleeping, Carnise," her mother said as she stirred what was cooking on the fire.
"I'm always tired, that's why..." Carnise said in her defense. "Do you know what they put us through in that office?"
"Is it so stressful?" Deveron asked with creased brows and his voice laced with deep concern.
"Absolutely," Carnise said with emphasis.
"Then you should think about applying to another organization," said Deveron.
Carnise rolled her eyes and let out a little chuckle. "The pay is good, daddy!"
"Don't mind her, Dev," Daliana said with a click of her tongue.
Carnise laughed. She liked the fact that she'd caused them to think a little. She crossed her long, dark legs and flipped through the channels on the television.
Sounds of footsteps could be heard from the flight of stairs as Hanita slowly descended to the ground floor.
"Here comes the princess of the castle, " Carnise chimed sarcastically.
Now, Hanita Hill, who was drop-dead gorgeous and had a petite frame with a mane of chestnut hair came down the stairs and straight into the arms of her father. She had a welcoming aura about her and was a straight forward person. Hanita was not one to keep people in mind or to bear grudges -- she didn't have the time or he stomach for that. And that made people trust her and seek her opinion on matters.
"When did you return, Daddy?" she asked with a small voice.
There was something about Hanita. She caught the attention of everyone in any room that she walked into. She had a small voice but whenever she spoke, people listened to her and wanted to hear what she had to say. She was brilliant and had graduated top of her class, still, she was the life of the party. People naturally gravitated towards Hanita and that was something that some people were envious of -- especially in the workplace. However, Hanita Hill was someone that lived life to the fullest. She could not be disturbed by frivolities and she was grateful for the lovely home that she'd been born into.
"Couple of minutes ago," Deveron replied to her as he planted a kiss on her forehead. "To the sitting room, guys," Deveron said. "You too, Daliana!" he knew that if he left his wife in the kitchen, she would remain there until nightfall, cooking her mouthwatering meals.