'You're here!', a beaming Mom opened the door for us. Eric leaned over to kissed her soft cheek.
'Mom you look so radiant today', Eric complimented her.
'It's my new hair cut, do you like it?', she said, blushing.
'It becomes you, you look younger like a sixteen year old', then he winked at her as I rolled my eyes. Such flattery in the middle of the day. Goodness.
'Nic?', mom. I didn't noticed she saw me doing that.
I was mortified and embarassed, being caught.
'Hi mom', I smiled awkwardly then gave her a kiss on her other cheek too.
'You look pale', she touched my forehead. 'Are you sick, darling?', Still frowning.
'No mom, I'm fine', assuring her.
'She hates me', Eric.
'I do not!'
'She doesn't love me either', he pouted.
I gave him an angry glare and a snob.
'See?', he complained while pointing at me.
'Nic', mom, giving me a warning.
I took a deep breath. Why does she always choose his side?
She's my mother!
But before I can explain, someone interrupted us.
'Hey bro!', Shawn, holding a steaming bowl of soup maybe and a spoon, grinning smugly.
'Shawn?!', me.
'Hey! What's up?', Eric.
Eric went over to him and they shook hands while I was looking at mom with astonishment.
'What is he doing here?', I asked in a loud whisper.
'Tori invited him over', mom said smiling, as if it's the most natural thing in the world.
'Oh? Okay...', I'm puzzled. Something's going on with those two. And my husband doesn't even look surprised to see his brother here.
My eyes squinted. Hmm... I better find out what's up with them, quick.
The two handsome Morrisons were laughing and was left sitting on the sofa while I followed mom towards the kitchen where we found a busy Tori stirring something in a pot.
'Add the carrots now', mom instructed her.
'Hi Nic', Tori smiling at me while pouring the carrots into the pot. It's a miracle my little sis is cooking. She never does that. Maybe she wants to impress someone.
'Why is Shawn here?', I inquired.
'Nic!', mom.
'He's my friend', Tori. 'Why? Is there a problem with you two?', now she's frowning at me same as mom.
'What?!', I gave mom an innocent look. Then gave Tori a pointed look. 'I'm just asking'.
Then Tori's eyes became wide and then she blushed.
'You don't think that Shawn and I--', I raised my left brow at her. 'No, we're not!', she denied stonily.
'Hmm, are you sure?', me.
'But I thought you and Shawn are together?', mom asking Tori, puzzled.
'We're not mom, I explained that to you earlier. Just because we're hanging out, doesn't mean we are in a relationship. We're friends, plain and simple. You don't have to add some spice on that! What's wrong with you guys?! Geez!', she turned her back at us and started stirring the pot again while me and mom exchanged teasing looks. Not buying what she declared.
Mom cleared her throat, 'You're at the right age now and I think it's about time you find yourself a boyfriend...'
'Mom!', Tori. Pissed.
'Don't mom mom me. After all, you graduated in college with honors and you found a new job so yes I think it's all good now. Go find yourself a lad', mom, nodding her head in emphasis.
'You have our blessings', I grinned at her.
'Seriously guys?! You want me to parade myself infront of those 'men'?!', she said scathingly.
We grinned.
She gave us a disgusted look then rolled her eyes. 'Okay, next time I'm going to wear skimpy, little, skin-tight outfits and search for true love in a bar'.
I giggled and hugged her. She is my 'so' serious younger sis and I know she hates being teased. Sometimes I think her mind is more mature than mine though she is still our bratty baby.
'We love you and we only want your happiness Tor'.
'P--lease! Why are you bugging me about that?! I told you he is not my boyfriend and never will be! Okay?! Period!', Tori flung her hands in the air for emphasis.
'Someone's got her knickers in a twist', mom.
'What?!', Tori and I, mortified. Our mom never say those kind of things, not before though.
'Just kidding', mom grinned.
Tori snorted while I shook my head.
'Hey Tor, you better pay attention to that', changing the subject, pointing at the pot, 'Or we won't have anything for lunch'.
She just nodded her head, dismissing us. Asking regarding how to prepare the dessert next.
***
After lunch, we decided to drink hot cocoa outside the garden set kiosk looking over mom's beautiful garden. Tori and Shawn volunteered to do the dishes. Actually it was Tori who volunteered first and he seconded. I noticed Morrison Men are fond of cleaning the kitchen. I'll ask Eric about it next time. Maybe they aren't allowed to do that in their house. With all those servants around, no wonder they are dying to do slave themselves in the kitchen when they get the chance.
'I decided to go on a trip with my friends next month', mom announced. Smiling at me and Eric, who was seated near beside me eventhough there are other chairs around.
'Where to?', I asked, sipping my cup of choco. It surprised me to learn that mom is going out with her friends again after dad passed away. Maybe, just maybe, mom is fully recovered from losing him.
'Vegas'
I paused for awhile before placing my cup on the table infront of us.
'Would you like me to make some arrangements?', Eric offered her.
'It's okay Eric, we already made some. We were suppose to go last year but Maria's husband got sick so we postponed the trip for awhile'.
'Did you book a flight already?', I inquired.
'Yes we did, but actually Doris and Eunice said it is much better if we go to another place. They said we old people doesn't belong in those casinos and disco thingy you young people go to nowadays', she laughed timidly.
'Where would you like to go?', Eric smiling fondly at her.
'Somewhere serene and calming', mom took a deep breath, 'The ocean is much preferable'.
The sea, oh how I miss our honeymoon Barbados trip. I wish he will take me back there.
'You can go to Hawaii', Tori suggested.
I was extracted from my daydreaming. She and Shawn joined us with the latter holding a cup and eating what I can guess is the famous Tori fruit salad.
'Good idea', Eric.
I nodded my approval, avoiding Eric's stare. He must have read my mind.
'Honolulu has a lot of famous beach resorts. Eric's family owns--'
'I promised you'll love it', he cut me off, looking at mom avidly. 'I can fly you there myself if you want'.
'Fly?!', mom gasped. Stunned.
'Eric's a... A pilot', I told mom, in a shy voice, biting my lip. She looked as if she just swallowed a sea slime. She is so astounded with the news for I never told her how the rich, yummy stranger I'm married to spends his past time which literally means flying a plane, car racing, counting fashion models as his arm candies, etc. Things that most carefree, hot men I-dont-give-a-shit lifestyle. Well, I forgot to do so and besides I was unaware of that fact, not until I snoop into his past or went into his office and find out about it myself!
'I can take them there, I know you're busy', Shawn said, still engrossed with his dessert, glancing at Eric. 'I can fly a plane too. I'm free the day after tomorrow', he grinned. 'You wanna come along Tor?', his green eyes twinkling in amusement spotted her.
'Huh? I don't know. I got work to do, remember?' Tor.
'Oh come on, you'll enjoy it, I promise. I'm a good pilot myself. You don't have to worry about me crashing the plane', he laughed
'Shawn...', his big brother reprimanded.
'Sorry, just teasing. So, what say you woman?'
'Wom--?!', Tori took a deep breath. 'I told you countless times not to call me that!'
Tori...', me, reprimanding her.
'Sorry', Tor, keeping her eyes averted from mom and I.
Silence.
After awhile...
Mom cleared her throat.
'Well now, I won't say no to you Shawn, thank you so much for the offer love. I'm gonna tell my friends about it', then she frowned. 'Hmm... I wonder if we can refund our plane tickets?'
'I'll take care of that', Eric offered, giving me a wink.
I smiled at him. In this case, refunding the plane tickets are just a phone call away from him.
'Thank you darling', mom.
'You can stay in our hotel there if you want', Shawn, grinning before devouring another spoonful of fruit salad.
'Your hotel?!', mom, now her eyes are as huge as the sun itself.
'He meant the-- the hotel where we usually stay at every time we have our vacation there during summer', Eric, giving him a warning look.
Tori and I kept our silence. Both thinking mom will have an inevitable heart attack once she'll find out that she is currently sitting here, together with two of the sought after, richest men in the country.
Shawn was left puzzled. He must be wondering why Eric won't tell mom about their properties then he shrugged. But the grin never left his smug handsome face while he was chewing. He glanced at Tori and he gave her a cat kiss with his eyes which made Tori blushed furiously.
I saw their reactions and smiled to myself. Shawn is a remarkable, gullible man indeed and my sister isn't immune to that, much as she tries to avoid it. An unspoken attraction is blooming between these two. As much as how many times and angrily she denies it, Tori is attracted to Shawn as much as Shawn is attracted with Tori.
***
When we reached home I immediately sought a private bath for myself in the bedroom. I needed a quick, cold shower before going to bed with him. I felt so icky after that long travel due to heavy traffic from 'our house' to 'our house'.
I smiled timidly to myself, what a confusion?
While the cascade of water was pouring down on me, I can't help but think of what mom and I discussed before Eric and the rest joined us for hot cocoa.
Mom and I spoke about us having a family of our own. She was demanding for a grandchild but I jokingly told her it's under a heavy processed. Then her attention was diverted towards the tall, creepy gorgeous man I own or rather who owns me.
'Eric is such an amazing guy', she smiled fondly while we were both watching him as he inspects every flowers and wild orchids in mom's garden. He has a penchant for those, particularly roses. His landscaped garden is a mighty proof of that.
'I see a bit of your daddy's traits in him. The same type of a charmer, witty, responsible, hardworking and stubborn'.
'Yes, he is', I took a deep breath, sighing. She isn't the only one who said that to me about him.
'No wonder you were so drawn to him', she continued. 'Do women buzz around him like flies all the time?', she teased.
I nodded awkwardly, unknowing how to give her a proper answer. I wanted to scream and tell her uhuh uhuh uhuh but I declined. God, that Portia woman is in my head again. I'm so insecure when it comes to her.
I manage to smile though but it didn't quite reach my eyes.
She paused and stared at me for a long while. Then gave me an assuring smile and reached over to squeeze the back of my hand.
She must have sense something is amiss between Eric and I but she didn't pry. Mom patiently waits until you are ready to open up to her regarding your problems.
'You father and I didn't have a smooth sailing relationship, Nicolaa. We had our bad times too in between. Our beginning was a fairytale, a story out of a romantic novel. But you see, it wasn't that perfect as you thought it was. There is no perfect relationship in this world my love, only perfect moments, so cherish and make the most of it. If I didn't chose and love your father, I wouldn't have you and Tori. My two precious daughters, his princesses' she stopped and stared. 'Love is priceless. Love is enduring. Love is beguiling. Love is forever. Don't be afraid of loving your man Nicolaa. For he is the key to your happiness'.
I nodded, blinking rapidly.
Trying to hide away the silent tears that starts welling up into my eyes.
Oh, I love him alright.
So much, it hurts.
But does he love me the same way too?
Or does he even love me at all?
For he never said it.
Not one bit.