"How did you pull this off?" I ask with a cocked brow stepping into my mums private plane
"I know my rights," she shrugged. "And a 'Thank you' would be very much preferred."
I take the space beside her and pour myself a glass of Champagne downing it in one gulp.
"Yo, chill," she tells me.
"I'd rather be anywhere but here" I sigh, leaning my head back.
"Well on the bright side, we're here together." She gives my hand a little squeeze. "Now drink up, we need to be as lightheaded as we can by the time we arrive." And so I do just that, I drink until I can't feel anything anymore. I wake up to the pilot's voice saying we have arrived at our destination…. Mummy induced family drama time.
***
We arrive at our rental by noon and it seems everyone else, my mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law have already arrived. The rental has four rooms and is located by the beach. We make our way to our room quietly, we're sharing a room and our view has got to be the best. Our itinerary for the weekend is sent to our emails courtesy of my sister.
D Roberts 9:27 am
to me
ITINERARY FOR OUR WEEKEND FAMILY GETAWAY
Friday:
Mid-morning: Explore the beach, go for a swim, or relax by the shore.
- Lunch: Seafood at the rental.
- Late Afternoon: Take a hike or bike ride.
Saturday:
- Morning: Wake up early for a sunrise yoga session on the beach.
- Breakfast: Have a leisurely breakfast at a beachfront cafe.
- Mid-morning: Go snorkeling or kayaking.
- Lunch: Picnic on the beach with sandwiches and fruit.
- Afternoon: Visit a local market or artisan shops for souvenirs.
- Evening: Seafood dinner at the beachside.
Sunday:
- Morning: Boat tour to visit nearby islands.
- Lunch: Have a seafood feast onboard.
- Afternoon: Relax on the beach, read a book, or take a nap in a hammock.
- Evening: Watch the sunset and head back home.
"She sure wants to fill us with seafood," I say.
"Seafood breakfast, lunch, and dinner," Baya and I laugh.
"Well if anyone has a problem with it they should have taken the liberty to plan the weekend…" D interrupts. She's now standing in the doorway.
"Busted…" Baya remarks beneath her breath and we try to keep our laughing down.
"Hey, D." I try to lighten up the room while Baya on the other hand isn't even trying because the next thing she says is, "You did great but less seafood could have been appreciated. I mean one of us could have developed an allergy since the last time we've been together."
"Then deal with it." D rolls her eyes and walks out on us. "Also do us all a favor and keep your terrible habits to yourself." she directs to no one in particular. But we all know she's talking to me and Baya. I mean why won't she judge us when she's the ideal daughter to my mum? The perfect life, job, and the only one of us with family, husband, and two kids, but nobody cares.
"Bitch," Baya murmurs and I give her one of those eyes, "What, didn't you see what she just did?" I just shake my head because I don't want to take any sides.
We both have lunch and spend the rest of the day in our room. Family weekend officially begins tomorrow for us. Mummy drama can wait till then.
***
I wake up to a loud noise. My parents have always had creative ways to wake us. I freshen up and head downstairs to where everyone is gathered for our yoga session, Gary is saying a lot of things I'm not in the least bit interested in. I can't believe they brought him. It's my first time being in the same room with my mum in years and I can feel the tension.
You know me and my history with sports and D knows this too but she hates me so much she just has to, saying "We can't all be unfit because of you" Bitch! Everyone sees me struggling and I eventually stop trying when my lungs begin to burn. I have had enough sports for a lifetime and the yoga positions are insane.
"Anna," my mum says."You need to stop being lazy and start some exercise, you're adding in the wrong places. Look at your sister." she gestures to D, did I mention she has the perfect body too, well she does. But adding in the wrong places, really? When the only thing Gary has been doing is try to send me to my early grave with sick workout routines
"Cut the girl some slack Blair." Dad says.
"That's what you always do." She turns to dad. "Supporting them." and they burst into a mini argument. I move past them into the house heading straight to the kitchen to soothe my aching and very hungry stomach.
"Took you long enough" Baya murmurs, ending her workout, joining me in the kitchen. I make myself a coffee and two sandwiches because I know Baya would always beg for my food. "How could you," she mocks exclaims taking a sandwich, "she is gonna be so pissed "
"It's morning and I'm having coffee. That's pretty much breakfast at a Café." I shrug. "Just mine is an In-rental Café."
"What are you doing?" D's angry voice booms. Speak of the devil. She gives us the stink eye and walks away like, isn't it obvious we're eating??.
The picnic happened on the beach and my parents, as always, went all out. There's a tent, blankets, and food, and it looked really pretty. My nephews played around our blankets while the rest of us sat keeping to ourselves to show how pathetic my family is. My parents and D were talking to themselves while I and Baya stayed on our phones texting each other and sending Instagram reels. My poor brother-in-law was on his own and I couldn't help but think there was something wrong because they are always together and just then Baya sends a text.
Baya: What's up with him?
Me: Him who?
She gestures at my brother-in-law with her eyes.
Me: I don't know. They probably fought. You know how annoying D is.
Baya: No that's not it. It's something more.
Me: That's none of our business anyway
Baya: A hundred dollars says they're getting a divorce.
Me: I am not betting on my sister's marriage 😒
"Anna, Baya," My mum interrupts. "Could you at least pretend to be interested in our conversation?"
Baya: Yes you are! 😌
"It's not like they'd have anything to say anyways," D says. "What do they know about anything with no jobs and no relationships?"
Baya: Oh no she did not
Me: Oh yes she did
Baya: I'm so sorry
Me: For??
"Forgive me for not knowing anything," Baya retorts and I just know I'm going to regret the next thing that comes out of her mouth "But Anna has a rich and serious boyfriend" What now? I choke on my water and start coughing and everyone's eyes are averted to me.
"Now that's new" D scoffs.
"So tell us about your boyfriend Anna, when do we get to meet him" my mum asks," What's his name, family?" They have this obsession with reputable families and all that nonsense.
"You'll meet him soon ma'am," I tell her.
"And where do you work?" She asks.
"Uhh…" I know she is not going to like my answer. She has never been in support of us working for my dad but she only ever successfully got D out. Thanks for putting me in the spot Baya.
"How about Thanksgiving?" my dad interrupts saving me. He's such a darling sometimes but he knows the boyfriend does not exist so why would he suggest that? I hate my family, Baya and dad are now at the top of the list. "He's invited."
"Alrighttt dad"
"And…" Mum starts to say.
"Mummyyyy…" One of my nephews starts crying and everyone's attention is shifted to them.
Me: Apology unaccepted.
Baya: You're welcome.😘
***
The door to my room opens and Baya comes in finally retiring for the night trying to tell me something but she is terribly bad at sign language. She looks like a distressed bird flailing her arms.
"You know you can talk right?"
"Incase you haven't noticed, the walls are paper thin." She gestures, pulling me from the bed. "Now come."
We walk to the opposite side of our room and she asks me to lean my ears on the wall and I can hear D moan.
"She's fucking her husband, how does that concern us?" I ask Baya.
"Only that her husband left after you went to bed. Said something about a work emergency."
"Oh." I exclaim dumbstruck, "That's ... Wow."
"I know, " Baya whisper screams encouraging us to keep on eavesdropping.
"Ahhhh... Your cock... it's so big." D moans.
"Babe, relax." a man says. I've heard that voice before for sure. "Touch yourself. I want you to cum on my dick."
"Oh God, oh God, oh God. Yes Yes Yes. FUCCCKKKKK. I'm cumming Gary." She moans loudly.
"Gary" Baya and I speak simultaneously. "Holy shit."
At this point we've had enough so we silently walk back to our bed laying stunned and just staring at the empty space.
"I can't believe she's fucking the gym instructor"
"We just heard it happen," Baya states and we both shiver. "He's Gary for Chrissakes"
"Goodnight Baya," I laugh and we fall silent with our thoughts. "They do realize the walls are paper thin though, right?"
Why would Doris do this? She's the responsible one. I fall asleep with that thought.