[ Rain ]
"Mom..what..what are you saying?" I ask her with a dreading heart. This woman is certainly a cunning businesswoman than a mother.
"What are you saying Lorraine?" My Dad eyes my mother to keep her mouth shut but she knows the tactics.
"What?" She raises her eyes,"They're married and both our families need an heir since Raindard has already decided to martyr himself than taking over the family's legacy, Rose-" She pauses abruptly realising her slip of tongue.
I feel Nicholas stiffens but masks his discomfort by a plain expression.
Why are you doing this to us, Mom?
"Mrs. Anderson, we just got married and we need time to settle in our lives, handle our business and fulfill our dreams before starting a family." Nicholas answers her and this comes as a shock to everyone, specially to me and our siblings.
"You're right, Nicholas. I think the time has come when Rain should take up her position as the CFO of Anderson Corp. I was only waiting for Rainard to change his mind but since he's not willing to take up his rightful inheritance, I think the time has come when I must choose my most worthy child to take my place so I can enjoy my old days in exploring the world." Dad says.
The air in the room stilled. I didn't imagine the dinner would take this turn. I was prepared for any of this. My apetite was long dead.
"Are you enunciating that our daughter should abandon her new husband and married life and stand on to take the responsibility for which she's still immature?" My Mom scoffs at my father.
"Lorraine, I think we shouldn't discuss these matters now. Our children invited us to spend some quality time as a family. We should think about their happiness." Maa interrupts my Mom.
I wish I could have the same mother figure in my life but for my own mother, her reputation and social status is more important than her household.
"Rainard, where is your next posting, I herd you did a tremendous job in rescuing people in terror prone areas." Mr. Nathan diverts the conversation and now the focus is shifted on my brother who has been extremely uncomfortable around everyone.
I feel pity for him. Nobody understands him and his priorities not even our father who really loves me.
"I am going to the south-west Asia in next two weeks. They're promoting me to Colonel's position if I succeed in establishing peace in the terror effected area." He answers sincerely.
"It's a great honor to have you between us, Rainard. Not all the privileged sons choose to serve the nation." Papa says proudly. I wish our parents would had thought in the same way.
"Mom, Dad, if you don't mind, I want to visit our Grandma's tomb with Nicholas in the next week." Nicole joins the conversation and leads it to another direction.
The old Blackwood couple stop eating and stare at their daughter. A pained expression visible on their faces.
"We do it together every year, right and this year we'll do the same." Nicole says with finalty.
"Nicole, I think this year, we have to adjust." Maa licks her lips and steal her glance from her daughter whose expressions resembles a fire spitting basilisk.
"What do you mean, Mom? I and Nicholas pay homage to our grandmother every year for last eight years. What is new this time?" She looks flabbergasted.
"Because we want Nicholas to take his wife to his grandmother's tomb and in this way, they'd have their honeymoon in the Greece for a week." Papa finishes for Maa.
I cough hysterically when these words leaves his lips.
First my mother dropped a baby bomb and now Papa, he wants us to go on honeymoon. What does this suppose to mean and why the hell is Nicholas very calm about it.
He hates to share the same air with me let alone spending a whole week in a foreign country with him?
"Papa, it's..it's wrong. I mean Nicholas and Ms. Blackwood has their sentiments attatched to their grandmother's grave and depriving them of their chance of grieving together and add me in the picture, it doesn't feel right to me." I try to reject their proposal in the politest way.
"I don't need your fucking sympathy, you Anderson witch!" Nichole slams her fists on the table causing Breece to jump in fear. The girl isn't familiar with her mother's aggressive outburst.
"Nicole, calm down." Papa warns her.
"You want me to calm down, Dad. Just Wow! You and Mom, you both are spellbound by these cunning coven of people who only wants to associate with you because of our name and of coarse, money." Nicole spits more insult causing my family and I to look down in embarrassment.
"You didn't let me finish my talk, Nicole. I said to make adjustment so Nick and Rain can go for honeymoon, I didn't propose you to stay back here. We just want you to return after paying your respect to Mama but you misinterpreted my words and disrespected our guests who are now our kins." Maa tries to remain calm with her rude daughter.
"You know what-" Nicole throws a disdainful glare at us and rise from her seat with Breece on her hip," Go to hell and never come back." She spat me and marches out of the house.
"I'll go after her. She isn't in a state to drive back to her apartment with a child." Nicholas also tries to stand up and chase his sister but Papa gestures him to sit down.
"I will ask Gavin to drop her safely at her house." Papa fishes out his phone and about to dial their personal chauffeur when Rainard stands up unexpectedly.
"I would like to drop Ms. Blackwood and Breece at her house. Actually I have an important work at my friend's place." He says.
I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously.
What is he upto?
"But my daughter has a short temperament and I fear she'll say some rude words to you, Rainard." Papa looks at him apologetically.
"Don't worry, Mr. Blackwood. I hold the same emotions for my sister's spouse. So, we are at even and she's a little high on alcohl. It's not good for her to drive or ride with a child. Please trust me, I am good at my job and I've been with worse tempered people during my job." Rainard assures him.
"Okay, be safe and thanks for looking after her despite of her constant rude behavior towards the Anderson family."
Papa blinks his eyes at him apologetically.
"Good night, everyone. It was nice to be with everyone. I'll call you later, Rain." He says the last sentence to me before heading out of the house.
Just great!
"We're extremely sorry for our daughter's behavior, David and Lorraine. She's just an overprotective sister who doesn't want to see her brother get hurt repeatedly. I am sorry but your elder daughter has caused us so much pain and specially to Nicholas." Papa doesn't hide his disappointment in my elder sister's irrational decision which destroyed many lives.
"Dad, can we not talk about her?"Nicholas's voice come out rigid. He's restraining himself from bursting out himself.
"We're extremely sorry, Nicholas. Please accept our sincere apology. My Rose isn't a bad girl, she's just a little impulsive and rebellious. May be, she freaked out and thought this marriage would ruin her career and snatch her freedom. You knew her too well." Mom tries to defend her favorite daughter but she sounds absurd.
"I am sorry, Mrs. Anderson but I can't accept your apology in the behalf of your elder daughter. She is a selfish woman who doesn't give a damm about others and their feelings. She played us all and if it wasn't for Rain who altered her life, her future and her career to save us from the humiliation, Rose
e had fucked us all. So, never say again that she's innocent and only wants to chase her dreams. Rain too have her dreams. Did you ever thought about her or try to give them wings other than grooming her to become a mute trophy wife to some rich man?" Nicholas bursts on my mother but whatever he says, it's right.
My mother stoll thinks Roselie did right by ditching her fiance on the day of their wedding. She could have said no in the initial days of their relationship but she toyed with his feelings whereas she was in an affair with another man but what shocks me more is Nicholas defending me and also advocating my dreams.
Did he really pay an attention when I told him that I want to become a photographer than joining the business?
What is going inside his mysterious brain?