81
-Rose Dern-
After a stretch, I sat straight on the extremely soft and comfortable bed, that seemed to swallow me (in a good way) always.
It had been two weeks in Canada and there was no reason to make me regret my decision.
Darien hadn't made any move on me yet, which I was comfortable and glad about.
Most of the times, we just ate, chatted and talked.
Simple and fun.
Sometimes we'd go on a walk, holding hands or take a tour of the hotel (where tons of workers treated us like we were the most special people ever).
So far, we hadn't met his family.
But that was coming to an end, because today was the day.
The day to meet the Stan family.
Thinking about it just made me more nervous than I already was.
What would I do if things didn't work out well.
Gosh, I didn't even want to start thinking of that.
Instead, I headed to the bathroom, took a shower and brushed my teeth, before wrapping a towel around me then walking out.
My suitcase laid neatly beside my bed, so I opened it, then began my search for the right cloth.
As I was meeting with his parents, I needed to look beautiful.
No way was I going there looking whack, just for them to kick me out.
I mean, these people were the definition of wealth, so of course they'd want their son's girlfriend to play the part.
After about ten minutes of search, I settled on the red off-shoulder knee length gown.
Then I went to sit in front of the mirror, picking up a brush and given my hair the neatest of brush ever.
So neat, I was certain there was nothing wrong with it.
Then I applied a little makeup so as not to look too desperate for their love.
I gave myself a quick glance when the knock came from the door.
It picked up my heart rate, and I found myself taking in desk breaths, before riding from the chair to the door which I opened.
“Morning.” Darien's handsome figure stood in front of me.
My gaze swept past his casual t-shirt and pants, suddenly making me feel way overdressed.
Oh goodness.
He slowly did a not-so-obvious sweeping of my dressing from head to toe, causing the color to appear on my cheeks.
“Are we going now?” The sudden wish to just leave all this and run back to USA hit me.
I wasn't ready for parent meeting.
It felt like too much pressure.
What if they didn't like me? What if they weren't into the fact I wasn't from a wealthy family.
If things didn't work out well, would it leave a scar in the lovely relationship I had with Darien?
Oh gosh.
Like he could read my mind, his hand found mine.
suddenly felt like leaving all this and running back to Canada. “You look very beautiful. I'm afraid all the men would be drooling over you.”
His tone was so soft and sincere, I could feel my cheeks grow hotter, and a chortle left me. “I doubt that but thanks anyways.”
“I'd be there though, to stop their gawking heads.” There was an edge to his voice that I assumed to be jealousy.
It made me feel special.
“Are we leaving now?” I asked again.
He smiled. “Why don't we have breakfast first, get some work done then we'd take our leave.”
Though I'd rather prefer to leave now and get it over with, I could assume it'd be better if I had more time to calm my nerves.
So I nodded, watching him lead me RI where our food had probably been served.
But somehow, I felt the might.
The nervous feeling worsed the moment the car came to a halt in front of a huge mansion.
A type of hugeness that made me feel really low class.
Oh my, this might be a disaster.
Darien got down from the car, walking round it to open the door for me which I came out of with a small “thanks”.
When he reached for my hand, and walked us towards the really beautiful place, I felt a little more comfortable.
But that comfort didn't last long, because the moment we drew nearer, my stomach went all turny and flappy.
And gosh, it only worsened once he opened the door and we both sauntered into where I assumed to be the parlor.
Rose, this is it. This is really it.
The nerves hit the maximum when I noticed a woman who stood a few feet away like she'd been waiting for our arrival for years
I could assume she was his mom, and oh my oh, believe me when I say she was an epitome of beauty.
She had smooth brown skin, with unwrinkled face though I would assume she was above fifty, right?
When did she give birth if she had such a young look.
Her braided hair was packed up in a nice bun, popping out her beauty even more.
She wasn't overdressed in the dark blue gown she had on, with little makeup also.
“Dari.” The smile that took over her face was enough to brighten even the darkest of rooms.
He left me as she headed to us, then threw her arms around him, so he returned the hug.
It was brief, and when she was done, she turned to me, the smile widening. “And you must be Rose.”
I nodded, still nervous, though it had reduced from how her tone didn't hold any judgement. “Hi Mrs Stan.”
She cringed. “Please, call me Dorry.” Then the brightened smile. “My, Dari told me you were beautiful but didn't say you were this beautiful.”
A brush crawled up my cheeks. “Thank you.”
“Okay mom, you're not making her want to stay here any second more.” He held my hand. “Why don't we sit down.”
We all moved to one of the sofas where I sat with him, and Dorry on another sofa opposite ours.
“Where's dad?” He asked, searching the house like his dad would pop out anytime soon.
She rolled her eyes. “He went to water the plants in the garden.”
He also rolled his eyes, like that was such a dumb thing. “Dad and his weird love for gardening.”
“Tell me about it.” She sounded like that'd been the cause of several argument between her and her husband.
Then she turned to me. “Have you eaten dear? Why don't we have something to eat?”
I was about to reply when Darien did so for me. “We both had breakfast before heading here.”
A small glare was directed to him, before she turned back to me with a smile. “The journey must've been rough, why don't we—”
“The journey wasn't rough, the house isn't that far from the hotel and the path's straight and stress-free.” He cut her, earning another glare which he didn't seem to notice.
Or was probably ignoring.
“Why don't you fetch your father, Dari?” She asked with an obviously feigned smile.
He obviously got the signal because he stood up, turning to me. “Do you want to tag along?”
Normally, I'd have immediately said yes, anything to get out of the interview Dorry was probably planning on giving me, but I could sense she just wanted to know who the person her son was dating was so it'd not be nice to leave her.
Instead, I shook my head, giving him a ‘I’m okay’ smile and watching him leave.
Maybe that wasn't such a smart idea, because more as I sat alone with a woman I knew nothing about, the nervousness grew.
It was only worsened by the awkward silence that seemed to last for about a minute or two till she broke it.
“So, Dari tells me you like paintings.”
He did? Hadn't he just going out?
“Yes, I adore art a lot.” I offered a warm smile which she returned with one of her own.
“You know, he's told me a lot about you,” the way she said it readied me for something deeper that was obviously in her thoughts, “turns out he really likes you.”
I felt myself blushing again, and chose not to reply which gave her the room to continue.
“It's nice to see him like someone. He hasn't liked any girl the way he likes you.” She turned her gaze to the table that separated both chairs.
“He's had different girlfriends before in the past, but he's never brought any to the house. It seems he truly adores you.”
My blushing worsened, and goodness, I must look like a tomato.
How embarrassing.
Suddenly, her face fell and she turned to me with what I assumed to be pity in her eyes. “He said you lost your parents at such a young age.”
My smile disappeared also. “Yeah.”
She stood up from the chair, walking round to table to take a seat beside me, seeming hesitant to but placed her hand on my back.
“I don't want this to seem going too far, but…”
A weird and confusing change of topic.
“I know I just met you and it hasn't been up to an hour, but Rose, I really adore you and wouldn't mind you considering me like your mother,” she quickly added, “if you don't mind.”
Mother?
That was even weirder to hear from a woman I knew nothing about.
I was supposed to be on my heels, back to America, but the way she said it made my heart soften so much, I felt tears threaten to appear in my eyes.
“Whether you and Darien have a happily ever after, I would like to be you—” she cleared her throat, probably knowing she was doing things too soon.
“I'd love that Dorry, thanks.” Then I wrapped an arm round her.
We talked a while more till Darien approached with Sean, his dad and we all had a long conversation.
Talking and laughing and talking more and laughing more.
I had never felt happier than how I'd felt talking with the Stan's.