Damon arrived at the daycare to pick his son up. He was welcomed with the energetic and happy form of his son. He was crawling and running along with the little kids in the daycare. Damon waited together with the other parents outside the play station for a while. When it was time for dismissal, the teachers guided the children to fix themselves and their own thing. After that, they lined up the little children and led them out one by one. The children, after walking out of the door, would run towards their parents the moment they see them.
Little Allen was the same as he trotted towards Damon and raised his little arms.
“Daddy!” Allen exclaimed happily as he saw his father. Damon immediately caught the flying bomb and raised him in his arms.
“How was school?” He asked gently as he swiped the damped bangs of his son. “Happy!” Allen answered and he started to tell Damon his day.
Damon listened to him as he made his way towards the car while carrying Allen.
He smiled satisfyingly as he saw his son’s happiness. Remembering today’s dinner, he patted his son’s head.
“It’s good that Mon’s happy. Also, tonight, I have a surprise for you.” He said gently with a soft smile.
“Yey! Surprise!” The child was very happy. In this age, even if it is just a banana, as long as it is a surprise, kids will love it.
Both the father and son looked happy and excited, as they anticipated to go home and for today’s dinner.
.
.
In Anya’s studio, everyone called it for a day. Anya fixed her things and dismissed everyone. She once again checked up on Randy and she advised him to rest and not to think much and focus on calming his mind. After that, she left her studio to go home and prepare for tonight’s dinner.
When she arrived at her apartment, she first freshened up and wore her bath robe. She went to her closet and looked for something suitable to wear.
Tonight will be her formal meeting with Damon’s mother, and she wanted to be as presentable as possible. In her heart, she wanted to earn Amanda’s favor, but she knew it would be hard. She doesn’t want much, just a normal respect and acceptance from Amanda Castellano.
When she thought of this, she put more attention to picking out her clothes, but she found that she was very conflicted.
This moment, she knew she needed help. And there is only one person she knew for this. Anya took her phone and dialed Marie’s number.
After a few rings, it was picked up. “Hey,” Marie greeted from the other line.
“Hey Rie, uhm, are you busy?” Anya asked carefully at first. She doesn’t want to friend with this problem of hers after all.
Marie heard Anya’s words and immediately knew something was up.
“Well, you’re lucky sister, I got time on my hands. what is it?” She asked directly.
Anya felt funny as her best friend knew her to well. And because of that, she said her purpose without further ado.
“Well, Damon’s mother invited me to dinner tonight, and I’m having a hard time choosing what to wear.” Anya informed with a helpless voice.
“Wait what? You really need to work on that, darling! Hold up, I’m coming over.” Marie said as she started to prepare to leave.
Anya was surprised and tried to calm her over exaggerated actions, but she was reprimanded instead.
“What do you mean over exaggerated? You will be meeting your mother in law, do you know how important that is?” Marie rebuked her. Anya blushed are her words and could only whisper some words of denial.
Marie didn’t mind her anymore and left her home. She hanged up as she entered the taxi to go to Anya’s place.
Not long, Marie arrived in Anya’s door step.
“The fairy god mother is in the house.” Marie announced as she entered Anya’s apartment. Anya could only chuckle and shook her head at her best friend’s craziness.
“Okay let’s start. Let’s see these clothes of yours.” Marie went into Anya’s closet and studied her dresses.
“Hmm. Since it is the mother-in-law, you should be dressed sophisticated and pure. Mothers love those. You should look amicable and pure since she had a bad opinion of you. Let’s show her other wise.” Marie enunciated as she took a white flowing dress. It had a slight puffy sleeves, and a heart shaped neck line. She put it against Anya’s body and observed.
“Yep, this is the one. The color matches your white snowy skin, much like a fairy! Anyway, you are a fine lady. You’d look good in anything!” Marie continued as she looked appreciatingly at her friend.
Anya was beautiful and has a good temperament. With a good bearing and aura, people can’t help but look at her nicely.
Marie nodded confidently at these thoughts.
“Tonight, you will surely win Maraian Castellano over.” She added and looked cheeringly at Anya.
When Anya heard this, her face became conflicted and somewhat sad.
“Well I think that will be hard. She has someone like Veronica who she really liked for Damon.” Anya said with a sigh. She was somewhat disheartened by this, especially that woman was showing a very obvious interest in Damon and her want to erase Anya in the picture.
And more importantly, she had the backing of Amanda Castellano. Marie looked at the trouble expression of her friend and approached her.
“Hey now, don’t trouble yourself so much about that. That woman had been close with the Castellano and basically Amanda had seen her grow up. Of course she would have good feelings for her at first, and that vile woman hides her poison so good that Amanda cannot see it.” Marie said distastefully as she remembered Veronica’s evilness.
“But if Amanda discovers that woman’s true color, her opinion of her would surely change. And you, as a woman who have a good temperament and intentions, plus the woman her son loved deeply, it won’t be impossible for her to accept you.” Marie added as she placed her hands on Anya’s shoulders. Comforting her.
Anya looked up at Marie and saw the other’s confident face. She wanted to believe it too, that someday, people would see her true heart, that they could look past all stereotype and status quo, and welcome her in their lives.
It felt so far away, but still, Anya dreamed.