What about the marriage?

FOURTY-NINE

LEONE

We sat stiffly on the wooden chairs in the dinning as the maid served a good portion of the meal on our plates. Dad was chattering with Racquez. It was hard to call her anything other than that because I had not accepted her, and this marriage wasn’t really going down well with me. I know she was Lynn’s mom, but I didn’t like it. My mother was still alive after all.

Ok, I was a bit childish there, but could you blame me?

It’s hard for me to accept all these. I knew that mom and dad would never have that love again in the nearest future, but I still, didn’t want to have anything to do with this woman who was trying too hard to fit in.

“Lynn was saying,” she started. “That your friends were so kind and nice, and she couldn’t get enough of them.”

“Huh?”

Racquez stabbed her fork into the pork, and proceeded to place it in her mouth. She chewed delicately, but somehow I felt it was fake. If they left her, she would feast the whole food down in one move.

Then, she took a white wine to wash down the food. “What I mean is, she had a crush on one of the boys there.”

“Mom?” Lynn snapped in horror, earning a laugh from dad, and a sheepish shrugs from her mom.

I looked at Lynn. Had she told her mom that? Wow! I had no idea that she would have such an overactive imagination to tell such an expensive lie. Lynn surprised me daily at this point, and I wasn’t even kidding.

“I didn’t notice this,” I said easily.

She glared at me. “Because, it was nothing like that. I was just able to make a few friends, that’s all. There is nothing special about it. I’m more focused on…”

“Clam down, dear,” father said with his voice full of amusement. “I understand that your mother can jump into hasty conclusions, but I believe she meant no harm by it. We are both so glad that you’ve been able to adjust into the family. Isabella speaks highly of you,” father turned to my little sister, who was eating her veggies dutifully with no fuse.

She seemed to know that dad wished for her to say something, and she said, “Right,” offhandedly like she was distracted.

Dad smiled as he pushed more of the meat into his mouth. It was an odd arrangement of food, but we were making do with that at the moment, so there was really no need to complain about it. I liked the way things were actually going right now.

“You saw that?”

Lynn nodded.

“Right. Isabella is totally enamoured with you. When we got back, she filled me in on so many things. I must say that you all spoilt my little girl silly, and I wouldn’t complain. She became your best friend so fast. I know the hardest to woo is my son, Leone. But, the way he took you to his party is so nice. I must confess I wasn’t expecting that,” father said softly.

Lynn choked on her drink, and I gasped in shock, moving towards her. I soon realised what I was doing. Instead, I gave her the towel to help her out, while Isabella kept rubbing her back like it would help.

I had to be careful with her too, and not just with mother’s issue. It would take so little time for father to find out about us if I didn’t bring my emotion down a bit. The man was like a hawk when he wanted to be, and I had to be very careful.

“Lynnette, drink some water,” her mother said aghast.

I poured some for her and pushed it towards her. Lynn muttered her thanks as she drank the water and cleaned her lips. Her face was so red at the end, and I sighed. I hoped all will be fine soon. She really knew how to scare me sometimes.

“Oops, I guess that is enough talk for the dinner,” dad said with forced humour.

The ladies laughed except me. I didn’t find it funny. There was little or no words after that. The dinner ended quietly. We all got up and left the plates for the maids to take, but I could see that Lynette was itching to take the plates, but her mom had other plans.

The moment had come.

Dad was going to tell me why he called us all over here. I had no idea what the reason could be, but it was definitely time to find out what it was all about. Isabella told us goodnight, and her nanny came to take her in.

“Come with me,” dad said calmly.

I nodded as I followed him to the sitting area. He switched on the Tv. They were showing rugby, but I wasn’t completely interested in what was being said. I wanted to know what was going on. But, father didn’t say a word, so I was forced to watch the players combat for just a ball. The sport was quite aggressive, but father was loving every minute of it.

A maid came over, and poured white wine in our glass cups. I took it up to my lips, hoping that it would at least serve to quench the anxiety that had caught up with me now. It was not really fair when things happened like this, and I was hoping that father had not smelt the rat in all of these. It would be completely disastrous if that were to happen.

The moments seemed to pass, and my eyes were suddenly laden with sleep. I looked at dad, and he was watching me, and that made my heart skip a beat. For how long has he been observing me like this?

Did he know anything?

“Dad…” I trailed off.

“Leone, I wanted to speak to you regarding something very important.” He started.

I gulped as I looked at him. “What is it?”

He was quiet for a while, and then, he sat up. “It’s my marriage to Racquez,” he stated.

I frowned slightly. What was my business with that? I waited for him to say more, but he did not, instead he was looking at me like I had the answer to everything, and that unnerved me more.

“What about the marriage? You’ve gotten married already, so I don’t see why it has to be up for discussion,” I pointed out.

He smiled. “You take after your mother with such fierce temper,” he said softly.

I looked away from him. Father talking about mother after all that I had seen these past few days was distasteful, but I tried not to show it. It wouldn’t be good for him to see that he affected me so much. He would know that something was up.

My mother’s death had been a hole between us, but I was never unreasonable. I was just downright rude and disrespectful which was bad in its own right but there was nothing I could do to make things better. I was so annoyed at the whole things as it played out.

“Go straight to the point,” I snapped.

He shrugged. “Well, I know you don’t accept Racquez. It shows in your attitude, but you’ve been making effort in making Lynnette blend in with us so well, and that is good. Yet, it’s not enough. You need to understand that Racquez is my wife now, and she has to be duly respected. Your mother is dead, and I have a right to move on. It’s been so many years, and I can’t continue to stay without a partner. That would be stupidity on my part. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I glared at him. The nerve of this man to sit right there, and lie to me about things like this. I just can’t with him. Did he have any conscience at all? What the fuck?

I got to my feet, straightening my shirt. “If she earns my respect, then I would give her. For now, she would only be known as my father’s wife. Plus, you don’t need to bring mom up at every moment. It’s unnecessary. Lynette earned her spot when she saved Isabella’s life, and took it upon herself to make her feel safe. But, I can’t say so much for her mother sadly. They are different people. I have no interest in these talks,” I snapped coldly as I turned to leave.

Father slammed a glass on the table, and it made a clattering sound. “What insolence! You need to bring yourself down a bit, and stop walking on a high pedestal. It’s not as cute as you like to think it is. It’s completely disgusting, and I hate it. Whatever issue you have with me must not be extended to my wife, understand?” He snapped.

I scoffed as I walked away, not bothering to reply. I didn’t give a fuck about the man or his stupid wife one bit.