"This is your grandma"
"I have a grandma already," Charlie innocently said to Luke as he swiped into his phone
He nuzzled the small guy's temple again, "Grandma Margaret is your mommy's. Grandma Lorraine is your daddy's"
"You're mommy tell you you're fat?" Luke stunned at Charlie's question that he can't react in an instant.
"What do you mean, son?"
"Grandma tells mommy she's fat. But she's not as fat as my teacher. I don't know why"
Margaret never change then, he thought. Ever since their first marriage, Margaret criticized Christine as if her daughter is a walking flaws. He curled his hands to a fist because of that
Speaking of Christine, he's been at her house since afternoon to hang out with his son and to wait for the mother. She's not taking his call since Saturday. The woman is really angry, he thought. He sent her flowers earlier hoping that she'd call to tell him to get the fuck off. At least she called but no, Christine proved to be very hard to catch
At least he's lucky with his son. Charlie stretched his arms happily to be lifted when he saw his dad. No sign of anger in his voice though he sounded sad when he asked Luke why he didn't come during Thanksgiving
"Mr. Roberts, do you want a tea?" Ms. Candy asked him as she descends from the stairs
"That would be nice," he smiled and stand from the couch he's been sitting with Charlie. He followed the old lady who's making her way to the kitchen, "Ms. Candy, does Christine's parents visit their grandchild?"
The old lady smiled while taking a mug for his tea, "Mr. Thomas sometimes visit here but Christine visit their house more. Saturday or Sunday depends on Chrisitine's schedule."
"How about Margaret?"
The old lady shook her head, "She went here once but that was long time ago"
A door opened and he heard Charlie shrieking mommy so that means Christine is finally will grace them with her beautiful presence. "Daddy's here Mommy"
Silenced. Then an angry footstep marched inside until she was visible on his very eyes. Christine stopped when she saw him at the kitchen. She's on that small black dress with two brown belts under a white blazer. His pretty Christine.
He saw that very deep exhalation she released signaling her not so enthusiastic feeling now that she sees him
"Christine," he utterred but then a small hands tugged him
"Daddy, I told mommy I want to see daddy's grandma"
He looked back at Christine who still standing there looking furious and a clasped hands.
Uh oh
"Did your mommy approved?" he asked while still staring at the furious woman
"Mommy don't approved, Charlie." It was Christine who said that. "Uncle Carl will be here the whole week to spend his time with his nephew. Maybe some other time. I'll invite them in your birthday party." Christine said that, giving emphasis on 'spend' and 'time' words.
"Tin, can we talk? I want to explain," he begged while walking towards her
"I'm tired Luke. I've been with a lot of swatches and suppliers the whole day. Ms. Candy?" she called her house help. "Can you please assist Luke for whatever purpose why he's here?" she asked when the old lady walked towards her. Then she turned to go upstairs
She never emerged on her room after that. He even tucked Charlie, as he waited for her but he decided to went home when he saw a sleepy Ms. Candy politely asking him if he still needs anything
Now Carl will be at their house the whole week. This will be challenging
************************************************************************
Tin has been waiting for Luke to walk out of her house before she went outside of her room. It will be this hard to talk to Charlie's father for now on as she wouldn't want to get involve. Not anymore. Luke still disappoints her and she's tired of waiting for him to change. She went into her son's room to look at him sleeping. Her heart broke when she rejected Charlie's request on seeing Luke's parent but she's still not ready sharing her son.
She decided she needs Carl to prevent Luke to come. Just for that week
"I know I'm being childish, Carl but I don't want to see Luke right now," she explained to her brother, Tuesday evening at her living space
"And you make Charlie suffer?" Carl asked calmly and sighed when she didn't replied. "Is this about Thanksgiving?"
"Yes, he promised and yet Charlie was brokenhearted"
"Charlie or you? Because Charlie's still four year old and from what I've learnt, these minds are forgiving still," Carl explained
She massaged her temple, "and then what? He'll disappoint Charlie over and over again. I don't want Charlie to grow up like me. Growing up with too much sadness caused by the constant mockery of my mother"
"You're situation is different Christine," her brother remarked and she remained silent on that
"I'm sorry for not being there when you need someone for I'm always away," Carl spoke again. "I know you've been through a lot with her. I didn't have the chance to help you because I avoided your mom since I can. I know that's being selfish"
"Neither Dad's been there. He's busy rebuilding his empire," Christine sighed. "But at least you're trying to be here now. I know you're always busy. Thanks for being here Carl"
"Hmmmm so delicious, you can marry again," a guy opposite her commented at her cooking. That's Wednesday night in her home while on their dining table.
Carl snorted at the guy's comment while sitting beside him
"Who's your newest conquest?" she grinned on the blonde man across her
He wriggled his brows, "I don't have one now but I'm always open for a chance with you"
"Evan! My sister's out…."
"I'm just joking dude," Evan said laughing at Carl's protest.
Evan the deflowerer. That's how Frida described Carl's bestfriend but her friend and him never dated because Carl put that boundaries and Frida's included there being like their sister. The guy's womanizer and can victimized even the most elusive girls on the planet at one grin. Handsomazing blonde on those blue eyes with a deep pocket being a top executive at a very young age. He's talented Ken of the Barbie world
"Remember man, never touch any of Christine's friend," Carl warned, pointing his big heavy looking index finger on him
"I thought only Frida? Why there's a word 'any' on it now?" Evan joked.
"There's that 'any' term eversince, you just don't want to catch it," Carl whined while scratching his head. Her brother promised to stay on her house the whole week and Charlie was so happy about that. Her kid even got happier when Evan went there to hang out.
Oh she wished Charlie won't looked at Evan when he grows up
************************************************************************
"What will I do, Dianne?" Luke asked while running his hands on his face. His annoyance evident. Luke was in his office that time, preparing for another presentation of the office outlook for the next year but his head keeps flipping with another problem he can't solve. Christine proved to be a stubborn woman to not to hear his reason.
"I'm hurt," Dianne replied
He let down his hands to look into his assistant
"Well, you know that I have a crush on you ever since now you want my advice. That hurts," she laughed. Dianne told him directly about that but he politely said no. He can't afford even a one night stand to his co-worker ever since Olga and he can't loose Dianne since his assistant's very efficient.
"It's alright boss, anyways, girls always talk with their girlfriend for an advice. Or their mother. Choose then work from there"
He thought of it. A friend? Frida? She's crazy. He knew that girl ever since and Tin always look out for her not the other way around. The other obvious option was Ms. Queen but, hell no. He can't stand that constant glaring
Christine's mother will never be an option, period. "No, can't have that"
"Then try again and again to talk to her. It's big thing to women you know, when guys never surrender in running after them"
"That's deep", a guy commented beside him. He looked through his shoulder to see a very familiar person tipping his shot glass on him. He's been thinking, that's true, that's why he went on that bar after office to wash his throat with a stronger liquid hoping it will help him to strategize
"Why are you here? This is not your turf," he answered in return
"Just want to look around," the guy replied.
He smirked, no, the guy's looking for one night shag far away from his City. "Sander City's far away from here to look around"
"It's not illegal to look around and drink far away from home from what I know," the guy retorted.
"How are you Gab, long time no see," he finally greeted in a formal tone
Gabriel White. Congressman of Sander City. Part of of the richest family in Johnson but a few rank lower than the Roberts. They were the richest once but the brother who run their business is incapable as well as the father.
Gabriel's the coolest in their sibling and they said the prettiest face among all four. He has that blonde hair with heart shape face and a bonus of cleft chin. Gabriel's part of the most desirable bachelor list for many years that's why it's easier for him to win in any government position with plenty of women's votes. He's never been happier that Christine was two cities far away from that one, because the guy's a known chick magnet too and likes dating blonde girls with creamy skin or brunette type with supermodel body
But now that's the guy's painting the Brinson's town red, that would be a problem
"Fine, you seems thinking of something," Gabriel replied. "Or you actually trying to look mysterious for chicks here"
He shrugged, "Not my thing anymore"
"Really, what paved the way for a change?" Gab asked in a sarcastic tone
"I was wondering how can a girl give you a chance"
"Ah, turned down by a girl for the first time and now you're challenged," the guy assumed
"Not that, she is really one special lady"
Gab shook his head, "Luke Roberts runs out of tricks for the chicks, I can't believe it"
"No, hallows had past for that. It's the real thing"
"Ha! The best thing to do is to face the battle without any armor. It made you look vulnerable. Girls digs guys who's acting like a sheep I heard. They love herding challenging sheeps," Gab suggested.