Chapter 16

My mom begins to ask questions she asks Arnold first, what happened on your vacation?

You dancing with a Strang e woman will ruin our family name and the business!!

You are now a dale you should know that, you are now married into our family, you should behave like a dale, for years this.....

Mom you are married to a dale too, stop with the lectures!!

You..
Honey let them be I will talk to them I promise, mu father assures her but she doesn't listen.

When is she going to leave she says shooting daggers at Christine who seemed to be non chalant about what was being said.

She would have to leave, Christine why would you tag along on thier honeymoon, that is the height of it, when you girls were kids, it was cute but now it isn't you both are now adults, you need to have your own life.

Are you even seeing anyone?

Christine flashes a smile, thank you Mrs Dale and hands my mother a drink, she drops it on the table and continues.

Arnold are we expecting a baby soon or you have spread your seed all over Mauritius and we need to adopt.

Stop it mom, I yell, my mind had gone to what Freddy had said, i don't want to think about it but it is the only thing that weighs.

I look at my parents and I ask, " am I adopted dad?

They both look at me shocked.

Why would you say that to us,

Jesus!!

Queen what is wrong with you?

I close my eyes," please answer me?

Okay yiu are not adopted my dad says, "I was in the room when your mother gave birth to you, I can still remember that day, I was working in my study when I heard her call out my name, I rushed there and all I could see was your mom on the floor, she said" my water just broke, I did not really know what she meant but I knew she needed to get to the hospital.

I ride her there queenie, I saw you come out, I called you a queen from the first moment you were born.

The security comes with all the groceries he could find, I guess Christine had given him more than he needed.

She walks over to the kitchen and my mom, asks is she cooking?

Yes mom

Are you paying her to cook?

No mom.

Then you need to get a cook, you need to get your life in order, you are married now queenie.

My mom had brought back the issue again, she would not it go.

She stands and walks to the kitchen, I follow her immediately and when she gets there,, I hear her ask Christine if she needs a hand.

I sigh and listen then i turn back, I don't wait there, I go to my room upstairs, I lay on my bed, today has been stressful enough.

But I don't rest, I can't rest, I think about the interview and which would be best to showcase our life, which show would give us a good edge.

That is mona's job but yet again I can not leave my life to chance, if everything goes wrong the board will have me removed from my position as the chief executive officer.

They would claim that my image would dent that of the company just like my mother was saying, I knew she was right, and that was why it hurt really bad to hear her say it.

I don't feel bad for Arnold, I know he would be able to take it, even though I know he might not survive for long with my parents on his neck, but I hope.

Knock!

Knock!

Dinner is ready I hear his voice,as he pulls open the door, I stand and walk towards him, let's go I say, I could not think of leaving them there with my parents, it will be a disaster.

We walk downstairs and i put my hand in his, I don't look at his face, I don't lean in, I need his touch but I can't be weak, not here not now I tell my self.

He holds me, I know he needs it too, I can sense he is distraught too.

We walk to the large dinning room with golden painted chairs and a long table that could fit a dozen on each side.

We all sit at one end of the table with my father at the head and mother by his side and me at the other end facing her and Arnold by my side.

Christine stayed close to my mom and Freddy stayed close to her.

It seemed Freddy had been invincible all this while until it hit my mother and she asked, "who is this?

He is my brother Arnold replied.

So you bring another to finish our money, don't you have any shame, you are living in our daughter's house and then you bring your brother here too?

I don't live here Freddy interject, I only came because sister in law needed my help.

What kind of help? my father asked.

Isn't it obvious? Freddy replied.

Speak up young man, my father raised his voice, he seemed irritated by the suspense.

I.....


I called him to come have dinner since you two were coming, I called him so it would be a family dinner, since every one is here, our first family dinner.

Mom please can we all just eat in silence, we can talk when we are Done with our meal, I added.

I knew my parents would not keep silent, I know I would have to deal with all the things I had earlier called my dad to help me with alone,
I can't really stand this woman, my mother had come here to make my life a living hell as always.

"Queenie I have something to tell you" my dad spoke.