Chapter 19

Kim was proud that she'd stayed the past few days without running upstairs to Lennox's door and grab him. She was happy she hadn't run into him on any occasion but she watched him go out in his new camry. The poise with which he carried himslef, the unruffled clothes and hair he wore and the comely way he took long strides out of the garage after parking. A part of her wanted to sit with him in the car and tell him long stories while they drove to a destination she didn't know yet.
She had to pack her bags again. She was going to Mississippi to see her parents who didn't call much or care much about her . The couple seemed contented with each other and a third party always burst their bubbles. The third party happened to be her. She often wondered if perhaps, she had been an accident, if her parents never rely wanted a child which to her was a logical reason enough why they didn't have any more babies after her birth.
She was in her home not long later. She'd phoned and told her parents she was coming and their their family driver, Harry had been sent to come pick her up. Harry was pleased to see her. Hello spoke at length about the weather and how he loved working with Kim's family and she only nodded. Harry was a tall bulky fellow who'd worked with Kim's family for eight years. Kim held nothing against the man except for the fact that he was almost nosy. He only needed the smallest encouragement to jump into people's discussions which he always listens to.
" I do hope you go with your parents to the exotic vacation they're planning".
Even though Kim hadn't asked him, she was almost grateful that at least, she knew something about her parent's plans which was never a business of hers.
"Where are they going for the vacation?"
She asked casually,. feigning uninterest in the conversation that she itched for.
"Somewhere in Texas, I think. I did hear your mama say she misses the smell of animal dung and the Texas sun. I think a cottage in Texas is where they'd stay ".
Harry continued. He took the last bend that led to Kim's home and she sucked in air. Coming home always made her tensed. Hugging her parents and heading them compliment her made her sick everytime, but they were family, people didn't just throw away family, especially not one's parents.
She paid no more attention to Harry's incessant rants and uninteresting stories. Her home stood looming in the distance ahead. The gigantic building her dad had bought when he retired ten years ago. She remembered how excited her parents had been when they had bought the house, not because the money for the purchase was huge__at least not for them_ but because the house had been the exact they wanted to live the rest of their lives in, their youthful fantasy in the right neighborhood. The long drive to the garage irritated her, the well pruned flowers adorning the vast yard looked good. They had more land than they could ever need , she remembered once when she asked her mother if she could own a dog or a cat so she could make it excercise in the vast land outside the house and her mother had rejected the idea on her behalf bluntly like she did most times...she'd resolved to keep a pet when she eventually moved out but now she was much too busy to be able to care for am animal. She'd be out most of the weeks and no animal could cater for itself.
The car pulled to a stop. Harry helped take her bag from the boot of the car and carried them up into the house, she followed slowly, feigning tiredness so she wouldn't have to stay long in the living room with her parents if they were already waiting for her. Her mind raced back to tbe garage. Her parents owned two cars each and she had none. They lived in their gigantic house in the finest part of Mississippi with a lake at the back of the house and a few coconut trees but she lived in an ordinary apartment building albeit in a good environment. She worked her ass out and tried every day to make a name for herself and more money in her account. They never sent her money. She'd told her dad to stop sending her money three years ago. She wanted to be sure she was self reliant. She wanted to be sure she could take care of all her needs with whatever she was earning and it pleased her that she'd done remarkably well in that regard.
She was hit with a cold surprise as she stepped into the airy empty living room. The orange evening sun streamed into the living room generously, everything looked polished and glittering. There was no mistaking the fortune each antique furniture in the house cost. She looked up at the Chandeliers, it wasn't the same ones she'd seen when she visited six months ago and it pleased her.
"Ma'am, your parents must be having their siesta now. The butler just went home to attend a sick wife, I'll take your bags to your room, you freshen up and meet your parents at dinner, your room had been prepared at your mother's order".
" Where's Callister?"
She asked since Harry seemed to be giving too many unnecessary details. Callister was the cook she'd grown fond of. Callister had served her parents for the whole of fifteen years, five years before the retirement of her father. Her mother had retired from her engineering job which had fetched her much money than most could have three years after her father's retirement. They were a happy couple, they paid their few domestic staff generously and donated to charity without batting an eyelid.
"Callister has gone to shop for groceries, I suppose she's taking so much time because I didn't drive her"
" Oh, I see".
She said and walked past him to her room. Her previous look of fatigue gone. She had parents who prized their siesta over her. She hadn't seen the for six hectic months and noghiny had changed. They weren't eager to see her, they didn't care if she'd arrived unhurt, they would care less if she'd been involved in any accident. It irked her.
"Thank you, Harry".
She said as Harry turned to leave.
" You're welcome"
He strode off. She looked around her large room. The large white Teddy bear that she'd eventually gotten in place of a real pet sat staring at her at the foot of her bed. It large dark eyes looked invitingly at her and she picked the Teddy bear.. she hugged it to her for a few minutes and smelt it's clean freshness. Her curtains had been changed prior to her arrival and the walls of her room had been polished another shade. It wasn't the light pink it had been for years, it was now a pale sea green colour that contrasted with most of her pink furniture.
She kicked her shoes off her feet and unpacked her bags. A sudden wave of Nostalgia overwhelming her. This was her room. The room she'd lived for six years before moving out to go make a name for herself in the movie industry, the room that she'd danced and rehearsed her first movie scripts in Mississippi.
She began to pace the room, picking up little toys and items she'd kept for memories. She felt a warm year trickle down her chin. She sniffed. It had only been six months since she'd been in this room. Only difference was, she didn't pay attention to her little treasures the last time. She'd spent two days in Mississippi with her parents and had wished, every minute of each day that the visit ended so she could be back In South Florida, living her life and pursuing her dreams.
It was during the last visit that she'd told her parents for the first time in her adult life that she was in a relationship with Austin Lancelot. A big time Disc Jockey who'd made quite a name and cash around the county. She had only said it as an offhand remark, not expecting her parents to be interested in whoever he was or his family background and they'd not disappointed her.
Kim was sure she didn't know when she'd slept off. The alarm that called for dinner jolted her back to reality, she got up groggily and checked the bedside alarm, it was six forty five in the evening and dinner was set. She looked herself over on the dresser and made sure she still looked good even after her bath before she started down tbe hallway. She saw first, Callister beaming at her. The woman always had her apron draping down her large bossom and her thick arms were ever working dexterously. There were times she'd sat with Callister in the kitchen just to watch her knead doughs, make barters , dice vegetables and do other things. She'd proven versatile on the kitchen, her confectioneries were as good as her meals, everything she made was as good as the other. Over time, her family had increased Callister's pay and ensured she enjoyed bonuses from working for them.
"My precious little baby, welcome home ".
Callister said lovingly, her eyes looked misty as she looked Kim over.
"How long have you been gone, six months?"
" Yes ma'am. You look good Callister".
Kim complimented and Callister laughed heartily.
"Don't mess with me, silly ".
Kim grinned. She liked Callister's free spirit and easy going nature. She'd never seen Callister frown for any reason, not even when she had to spend extra time in the kitchen on Nights when her parents had a few colleagues come over for dinner.
Kim saw her parents watching her. Her conversation with Callister had attracted their attention. Her mother held her hands to her chest, smiling while her father just stared.
She walked slowly to her seat and sat clumsily on her seat.
"Hi, Mom, Hi, Dad".
"Mi amor, good to have you my dear".
Her mother purred.
" Kim, I'm happy you're home. Do make it a point to visit more frequently my dear ".
Her father said. She looked at him and nodded, her expression blank.
"Why do you look so thin, dear, don't you ever eat?"
Her mother asked. Her tone was tender and concerned and it annoyed Kim.
"I am not thin, mother. I eat a lot and I rest a lot. I like the way I look".
She gritted. Her mood had suddenly turned sour and if was their fault. They never called to find out if she was in good health, If she was Feeding fine and in good relationship with her neighbors__they knew she'd never get into trouble. Just maybe.
"Oh, dear, you should spend some real good time here, you need all the rest you can get"
Her mother insisted.
" Spend time staring at the walls in my room? I have better things to do ma"
She replied indifferently.
" Kim, your mother means well, apply some courteousness in your responses to her well meaning __"
" I get you dad. Can I eat?"
She cut him short. Her parents exchanged puzzled glances before beckoning on Callister to come and dish the food for them. They ate in silence for a few minutes, Claire__Kim's mother constantly looked up at Kim. Kim felt the eyes each time she started to stare but she left her unwavering gaze on her food. Callister had fixed pot roast and a couple other dishes she really didn't fancy.
"Kim, how're you dear?"
Kim suddenly heard her father ask. She looked up steadily and met his gaze. The edges around his mouth had softened and he looked vulnerable to her. Claire too had stopped eating and was also looking at her. She swallowed.
"I'm very fine. You?"
She responded politely.
" We're fine. Your mother and I would be going on a vacation in a few days ".
Her father started saying. She wondered why he was telling her. Since she moved out, she never heard anything about them, she never heard their plans.
"Good luck. I wish you a safe trip in advance"
She Said and went back to her meal.
" Kim, your dad and I thinks you should come with us. It's been such a long time"
Her mother was placing her hands on her chest again as if to keep her heart from falling.
" I told you, mum. I'm always busy ".
Her mother looked at her father in despair, willing him to say something.
"I bought a cottage In Texas, we can always go there for vacations. Kim, you will love this trip"
Her father said to Kim's irritation.
" What do you two want me from anyways? You always go on your trips without my knowledge, why do you suddenly think I would be interested?. I told you, i have a life to pursue, I'll go on my own vacations when I want".
She said coldly and she thought she saw her mother tear up.
"Kim, understand dear, we do love you"
Her mother said desperately
" No one ever argued that. No when you make your love for me so evident".
Her mother flinched at her words..
" Let's talk about something else, mum"
She said. Tonight, she didn't want to run off to her room like she always did.
"There's a lot we should talk about as a family, Kim"
Her father said.
" First of all, you both don't care how my journey down here went, and you're supposed be my parents?"
" Kim__"
" I came here to see you both, but did I have you stick around to say hello to me the moment I stepped in? No!. It was time for your siesta and you wouldn't miss it for any reason".