Skylar stepped out of the car as soon as it pulled into her mom's driveway. She ran up to the porch to ring the doorbell, she couldn't wait to meet her mom.
Vino was shocked to see her running away from him. He reluctantly stepped out of the car to follow while wondering what could make her keep her distance from him? Was it what Michael said? But Vino wasn't in Skylar's mind to read her thoughts.
"Are you alright?" Vino asked her as he got to where she stood ringing the doorbell continuously. Does she hate me so much that she couldn't spend a second with me? Vino thought in his mind as his face pulled up in a frown.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for today, I enjoyed my day with your brothers" Skylar replied lying as she avoided his eyes. Though she had enjoyed her day, what Michael had said was eating her up that she couldn't help wanting to stay away from him else she might not be able to stop herself from asking him the question on her mind.
"Are you sure?" Vino asked her, clearly not believing her as he walked over to rest his back against the wall with a sceptical look on his face.
Skylar ignored him as she continued ringing the doorbell; she couldn't wait to get away from him. What's keeping mom? Skylar wondered in her mind.
"Do you hate me that much?" Vino whispered to her. He watched as she turned to stare at him with confusion on her face.
"Hate you? No, why do you think so?" Skylar asked him, surprised that he would ever think that. She loved him more than he would ever have imagined. She was only scared that he didn't trust her enough to share his past with her.
"Because you're ringing the doorbell continuously like you couldn't wait to get away from me," Vino told her, pointing to where Skylar's hands were pressed on the doorbell about going for another ring.
Skylar removed her hand as if being burnt by his words. She turned to stare into his eyes, and just like always she was lost in his brown eyes which were begging her to trust him but how can she when he's withholding his past from her.
"What incident was Michael talking about?" Immediately the words left her mouth did Skylar register what she had just asked him. Skylar's eyes widened in shock as she turned to take in Vino's pale face which had whiten in shock like he just saw a ghost. Skylar's curiosity was spiked. She made a vow to herself to uncover the secret he was keeping from her.
"That's none of your business" Vino's voice hardened as he avoided her eyes. He blamed Michael for saying that to her. He didn't want her to know about how foolish he had been before he found her.
He knew Skylar will never want him again after she finds out about his secret which was why he planned to keep it away from her forever.
"I will pick you up tomorrow to meet my parents. Goodnight!" Vino told her, his voice softening as he bent to kiss her immediately, he heard the door opening, but Skylar avoided his kiss causing it to land on her cheek.
Vino straightened and turned to smile at Mrs. Evans who was watching them curiously "Good evening, Mrs. Evans"
Vino greeted Skylar's mother. He paused to stare at Skylar torn between begging her or walking away. He chose the latter as he took a brisk stride to his car and drove off to his home.
Mrs. Evans bombarded her daughter with questions as soon as Skylar stepped into the room "Did you and Vino have another quarrel?" Mrs. Evans asked her daughter as she took the couch opposite her daughter.
Skylar ignored her mom as she bent to remove her flats, she folded her leg together on the couch. She was annoyed with her mother, if only she had opened the door on time, she wouldn't have asked Vino that forbidden question.
"Skylar Evans?" Mrs. Evans screamed up at her daughter after seeing that no answer was coming from Skylar. She hopes her daughter won't be losing a good man like Vino over silly fights. She could see that the young man loves Skylar so much but her daughter can be so distrustful.
Skylar took a long sigh as she turned to stare at her mother "I don't know mom. Sometimes, I feel like he's keeping secrets from me and I've been trying to play the role of the understanding girlfriend but what to do?" Skylar lamented bitterly with sadness on her face. She loved Vino so much but what could she do when he doesn't trust her enough.
Mrs. Evans stared at her daughter trying to decipher the meaning of what she had just heard. She couldn't understand what secret Skylar was talking about but she chose not to say anything. Instead, wait and let the words flow out of her daughter.
"Just today, his brother mentioned a secret. And when I questioned him about it, he went all rigid and hard as I've just crossed the forbidden zone" Skylar continued ranting to her mom. She was tired and annoyed with everything. Why do all men have to be so secretive? It's so tiring!
"Just give him some time. I'm sure when it's right, he's going to tell you" Mrs. Evans tells her daughter trying to pacify her seeing that she was very annoyed with Vino.
"When? I might not be able to wait for that long mom" Skylar turned to stare at mom with sadness on her face.
She doesn't know why the Evans women were not lucky when it comes to love. Her mother was abandoned by her father when he found out she was pregnant, he left to be with another woman who caused his death. And now, Skylar is battling with an ex-boyfriend who also left her when he found out that she was pregnant and a very secretive, current boyfriend.
What an irony? Skylar marvelled in her heart with a sad smile on her face.
"I don't even know if he loves me" Skylar whispered to her as stood up to retire for the night "Goodnight mom!" Skylar said to her mom before going down to her room which was beside her mother.
Mrs. Evans heard her daughter's mumbling but she chose not to speak. She should find that out by herself instead of her mom. Mrs. Evans thought to herself as she also stood up and went to her room.
Skylar rose the next morning with a dark shadow under her eyes. She couldn't sleep a wink last night as her insomnia took a toll on her. She couldn't help wondering why she could sleep peacefully with Vino without any insomnia but when she's alone, boom! her insomnia kicks in and she restless on the bed trying to find sleep
She stood up yawning as she stepped out of the room. The first-person Skylar saw was Vino sitting comfortably on the couch she had vacated last night, chatting with her mom as he sipped from the coffee in his hands.
He turned as soon as he noticed her presence in the room. Skylar watches as his eyes swipe through her with a blank face before turning to say something to her mother, ignoring her completely.
Skylar scoffed at him. What? Such an attitude!! Not even a good morning! Skylar mumbled to herself as brush past him into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee for herself.
" Skylar honey, how are you? Did you sleep______? Phew, there's no need to ask that, I could see you didn't sleep well" Mrs. Evans exclaimed as soon as she saw the big bag of a dark shadow on her daughter's face.
Skylar groaned at her mother as she took the coffee with her, she paused at the door" Thanks for pointing that out mom," Skylar told her mom. She turned to glare at Vino before disappearing into her room.
" What's wrong with her?" Skylar heard Vino say to her mom, he wasn't being subtle about it as his voice carried through to her room. Skylar couldn't help wondering if he wanted her to hear it.
" Ignore her. She's being childish" Skylar couldn't help rolling her eyes at her mother's response" Wow!! Mom, thanks for being such a good mother" Skylar screamed out from her room in anger causing her mother to wince in shock.
Skylar was annoyed that instead of her mother defending her, she chose to side with Vino. What kind of a mother does that? Who betrays her daughter? Skylar wondered in her mind as she stepped into the bathroom to shower and prepare for her visit to the Thompsons. She hoped his parents wouldn't say anything about another secretive stuff again.
Skylar stepped out of the bathroom after she was through. She drained her now cold coffee in one go before ransacking through her wardrobe for a dress suitable enough for meeting Vino's parents.
She was nervous as this was the first time, she would be meeting the parents of her boyfriend. She had never met Leon's parents as he rarely spoke about them. Skylar should have been suspicious of him from that instance instead she was blinded by her love for him.
Skylar shakes her head to rid herself of those disturbing thoughts as she quickly dresses in a blue peplum gown that falls just below the neck. A bout cut neckline adorned the neck, allowing for some cleavage. She paired it up with a silver flat and turned to walk out of the door.
Vino pulled into his parent's driveway. He shut the engine and turned to stare at Skylar who was already opening the door to step out. The entire ride here was in complete silence, Vino couldn't help wondering if she was like this because she was still annoyed with him? Or just like her mother had said, she was being childish.
Vino shrugged and stepped out of the car. Either of the two, he wasn't going to say anything to her as he was afraid of her leaving him when she found out the truth. He can't risk her finding out about his secrets.
Skylar stood beside the car waiting for Vino with her folded together. She was nervous. She turned to smile at Vino as soon as he took her hands in his, trying to reassure her but the smile soon disappeared when she remembered that she was still annoyed with him.
"Shall we?" Vino called softly to her, afraid of her anger. He watched her nod as she exhaled. Vino pulled her close and wrapped his hands around her shoulder. He bent to sniff the vanilla scent of her bath gel before turning to guide her to the porch where he rang the doorbell.
The door opened almost immediately as they were greeted by Maria who ushered them in with a smile on her face "Signore and Signora had been waiting for you" Maria told them as she nodded in greeting, to Skylar before guiding them to the salon where Vino's parents were.
"Mom! Dad!" Vino lets go of Skylar to hug his mom who pecks him gently on the cheeks before turning to his dad who pats him lightly on the shoulder.
They both turned to take in Skylar who was watching them with a nervous smile on her lips. What if they don't like me? Skylar wondered in her heart but she was greeted instead by Mrs. Thompson's smile.
"Mom, that's Skylar Evans, my girlfriend. Skylar, my mom Diana Thompson and Dad, Daniel Thompson" Vino introduced them both as he pulled Skylar closer to where he stood.
"How do you do, Skylar?" Mr. Thompson greeted her as he shakes her hands as a smile graced his brown eyes "I've heard so much about you from my son"
"Hope, they are all good stuff, Mr. Thompson?" Skylar replied with a smile on her face causing the Thompsons to chuckle lightly at her question. She liked Mr. Thompson; he was friendly. She could see where Vino got his coffee-brown eyes from.
"All good, Skylar. I must commend you" Mr. Thompson replied as he threw his head back and laughed loudly. He liked the girl. He turned to wink at his son before leading him out of the room, leaving the girl to bond with his wife.
"Good catch, by the way, Vino" Mr. Thompson complimented his son who couldn't stop smiling, embarrassed by his father's statement as they went up the stairs to his father's study.
"Thank you, Maria" Mrs. Thompson nodded to Maria as she took the tea she was served. She sipped on it lightly while turning to stare at the girl sitting opposite from her with hooded eyes.
"So? I heard you're an artist just like my son" Mrs. Thompson said after studying the girl. She dropped the teacup onto the saucer before turning to focus on Skylar awaiting her reply.
Skylar gulped nervously. She wiped her now sweaty palm on her gown before turning to stare at Vino's mom "Yes ma'am. I did some paintings for LA Rosa's Paintings until it went bankrupt some months ago.
"LA Rosa's Paintings?" That seemed to spike Mrs. Thompson's curiosity as she turned to look at Skylar like she had just won a raffle draw ticket.
"Yes, Mrs. Thompson" Skylar answered, she never believed that she would be here discussing her work with Vino's mom.
"Nonsense, call me Diana. It's fine" Mrs. Thompson replied, smiling at Skylar who nodded at her "If you've worked for LA Rosa's Paintings, surely you know the painter of 'Lavender Beauty'. I heard she worked there too" Mrs. Thompson asked her. Skylar gulped as she was once again being reminded of bitter memories and a terrible past.
"I painted that" Skylar replied softly, she wanted to lie but she was afraid that Vino's mom might find out about it and hate her for lying to her. Lavender Beauty was a painting about her baby girl she lost a few months after her birth.
"Really? Wow!! I'm a fan. I have all the collections" Mrs. Thompson exclaimed excitedly as she took Skylar to see the room where all art collections were stored.
It was late before Vino and Skylar could bring themselves to go home. As Vino drove her home, Skylar was glad that she was able to bond with Vino's parents. She loved them as they were friendly. She hoped she could do the same with Vino and it was also a relief speaking to someone else about her baby.