Chapter 48: Miller's Roast dinner
1847 Words
The last time Audrey went on a vacation with her parents was when she was around nine, it was arguably the last time she saw her mum genuinely happy. It was in Japan and they enjoyed visiting the Nonmoku village with the oldest people in the world, the Japanese culture and food, music and new technology was among the major areas that generated much interest to her. Once again, she was getting ready for another vacation, and hopefully it was not going to be Japan. She was not that superstitious but Japan and vacations generally reminded her of an onset to the worst phase of her young life.
Anyway, she started getting ready. Maybe this time it was going to be an onset to the best experience in her life, as they say, you hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
"Can I come in?"
"They actually knock before they ask that dad...go ahead"
David walked in with a wrapped gift box, Audrey had a suitcase open on the bed and clothes spread everywhere. Shoes on the floor, jumpers and books.
"I'm sure where we're going we have books"
"I'm not risking boredom, what are you doing here?"
"Brought you a gift"
"Ooh" she stopped with all the packing and walked towards her father, "what is it?"
"Open and see it for yourself"
"Okay" she went ahead and unwrapped the gift, "dad"
"Yes"
"Thank you, how did you know the other one is full?"
"I didn't"
"Are you sneaking in here to read my diary?"
"No, okay maybe sometimes back" he said sadly, that showed just how much distracted he was as far as his daughter was concerned. She enjoyed seeing him concerned, picking positive fights with her, some Eustress. Hell, she expected him to make a big deal out of her not getting an A in her studies. But sometimes wishes just remain wishes and we can't always get what we want because then life would be comfortable and it's not meant to be. The hurdles and lack of comfort are all part of life that make it interesting.
"Okay. Thanks dad. You've already packed?"
"Rose is packing"
"Yeah I forget sometimes that you're married"
A soft jab. Almost negligible that David didn't feel. In other words, since her mother's death that shoe of motherhood hadn't been filled. He sat on the couch comfortably and fished out his phone, scrolling on it. Audrey was busy with packing humming an inaudible tune.
"So, what's up?"
"I'm good just enjoying seating in here"
"Your wife doesn't give you peace"
"She is also your mother. I'm glad you guys squashed that beef I was afraid of coming home"
"It wasn't a beef dad. She just doesn't like me and as much as I've worked my way around that it still doesn't mean she is right for you"
"We talked about this"
"Did you know she was once arrested?"
And David send the last shred of doubt she had about Rose to the gutter. His eyes turned cold and his face was stiff and wrinkled out of anger.
"Oh" gasped Audrey mockingly, "I wasn't supposed to know that. Or maybe I was too young..."
"Who's been poisoning your mind?"
"Truth is not poison dad, what was she in for?"
"None of your business"
"Am right she did jail time?"
David sprung up angrily, the couch he thought was very comfortable turned out to be a hot seat. Twice in a row his naive daughter had found a way to rattle his peace and leave him seething with rage. And he thought that bringing her a gift on the eve of their family vacation was going be a stepping stone to fixing the mess between them.
"Be careful Audrey, be very careful where you're going with this defiance and disrespect to the woman I married. It was my decision and as my child you ought to fall in line whether you like it or not"
"Sorry dad, it won't happen again"
"Make sure it doesn’t" he said and marched out shutting the door with a bang.
Press until it hurts, that was the criteria she was using to find out more about her step mother with a past that was raising alarm, even if she wasn't going to do anything about it she needed to be in the knowhow. She collapsed on bed and picked up her phone. There was that weird feeling of emptiness, like she didn't know what was next. In her idle mind Mason sneaked in. literally sneaked in because her phone was vibrating with his name taking the screen. And she didn't know what to do. The knock on her door came as a relief as she shoved the phone in her suitcase and dashed to get it. Audrey was keeping her head in the sand with the Mason Klein issue.
"Hello Lucas"
"Hi, I just found Dad in the hallway looking like he got stung by the bees. Any idea where the hive is?"
"So they can sting you again, come on am not telling you"
"I know it's none of my business but you might want to slow down there with him before you start regretting. I'm not saying my relationship with mum is the best but..."
"I get it. What’s up?"
"Came to tell you dinner is ready. Actually, I offered to, the butler was coming this way...do you want to pick that."
"You can hear the phone vibrate from here?" Audrey asked looking amazed.
"Yeah, I'm a vampire...arrgh" he made a scary face that thrilled Audrey, it was the first time he was making her laugh and it was cute.
"You can make a better cast for a horror movie"
"I can't believe you just called me ugly without calling me ugly...don't stay up here long. You know me with chicken" Lucas fished out his phone and started walking away.
"Coming right up lil bro?"
"Wait what?"
"Kidding, you're a couple of days older than me. Go, am coming"
"Okay"
She watched him disappear, buying time not to go back in her room and pick her phone that couldn't stop buzzing. One way or another she was going to talk to him because on top of his qualities for greatness Mason was persistent and not just because of the bet. Giving up was not an option for the Klein bloodline.
"For f***s sake, why won't he stop calling" she complained staring at her screen.
The phone coincidentally stopped ringing, her muscles twitched and she looked around scared. Was he watching? Her phone beeped, it was a text that came in.
MK: I know you can pick but you've chosen not to. Kindly pick up or I'll have to come over and tell your dad how much I'm in love with you.
"He is bluffing"
Another text came in.
MK: I'm not bluffing.
"Jesus Christ what's wrong with him?" She picked up her phone, put it on silent mode and left her room.
Downstairs was suffocating with fragrance of mixed delicacies. The millers were seated around the table, a maid was serving them. Smiley faces, at least Ivy was around this time. Perhaps the after-school talk with the mysterious man on phone seemed to have worked. Watching them from upstairs was Audrey and no she was not frozen out of fear or anything else, it was a reality check right there. She realized just how lucky she was to have all of them. In comparison to Sean who had no one but his sick mother working her ass off somewhere in that big city. She realized perhaps God can't give you everything, her family was imperfect but at least she was smart with an insured future, the ability to live her dreams. It made her think of that Elijah Mikaelson line in the first episode of the hit series The originals- We're forever bound to those with whom we share blood with, while we may not choose our family, that bond is our greatest strength or our deepest regret. David was her blood, was he her deepest regret or her greatest strength? It was not certain yet.
"There she is!" Ivy was pumped up to see Audrey.
"This food must be good, she is happy and she is here"
Everyone including Ivy herself burst into laughter. Roles had changed, Audrey was the family stand-up comedian.
"That's was a good one" Rose complimented lazily clapping for her.
"There was no lie about that, where do you go cuz?"
"Evening run"
"At night? Let's not mention the fact that you're already slim" David happily jumped in, maybe he shouldn't have because the roast had just started and the unspoken rule was-No hard feelings.
"And I thought CEOs were smarter" Ivy's come back had them all favoring their ribs from laughing so hard. Even the employees were laughing secretly, hopefully Rose was not going to pick fault with that. How could she? When tears of joy were blocking her visage.
"I call a truce" She said amid laughter, "you just made my day. Let's eat"
And so, they obediently started enjoying their meal but not before the butler took a photo of them all with their glasses in the air. It would one day serve as memory for all them at different times in the near future, with some behind bars and others wishing they made use of that time they spent together to make things right, others would be feeling lonely and forgotten, worthless despite having everything money could buy. It was coming. It was inevitable because at the end of the day choices have consequences.
***"
At the Klein's, dinner was over and the family of three was in the living room watching a movie. But only two were actually following it. Mason had his eyes glued on the phone as though he was waiting for a call from God. Generally, his mood had been terrible and neither Maryse nor Maeve could fix it, not even Ice cream... that he didn't like much, no type of food could. They thought he was sick, he negated, forced a smile and ate his food and cracked a few jokes before reverting back to his gloomy mood.
He really was sick, but emotional. No drugs or sweet food could heal him apart from three magic words from Audrey. His reputation in the locker room was on the line and he was not known to be a loser at anything really. All he did was excel.
"Mason"
"I'm okay mum...I feel like going for a drive"
"But your leg?"
"It's gotten better, I drove myself to and from school, didn’t I?"
"Okay, where are you going?"
"Just a ride around town. I'll be back even before you realize mum" he assured getting up.
Maryse walked towards him, cupped his face and hugged him then cupped it again.
"Be careful, hopefully you recover from what's weighing heavily on your heart"
"Thanks mum"
With his mother's blessing, Mason was going to get the girl of his dreams.
- Writer
