She is dressed in her black and white uniform, her black and gray hair is packed in a bun, and she is looking at me with a mixture of surprise and shock.
"Goodness, child, what are you doing there naked?" she asked in her British accent, making me hold back my laughter.
"I am in my room, Nana," I said, turning back to the mirror.
"Yes, I know that, but why are you looking at yourself naked in the mirror, my dear? Do you have sores or something you are trying to check?"
I chuckled, "No. I don't have sores," I said, picking up my robe and putting it on.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Nana, I am fine. I was just messing around. Nothing serious." I said, sitting on my bed.
"Okay. Well, your mother sent me to call you for dinner."
"But she said it's in two hours," I said.
"It is past seven pm, child,"
I heaved a sigh.
"Get up, get dressed and come down for dinner. I made your favorite,"
My taste buds lightened up.
"Really?"
"Pasta and meat balls," she said, winking at me.
I chuckled "Geez, Nana, where did you learn how to wink like that?"
"Social media. Now hurry. Don't keep your mother waiting. You know how she can be," she said, grabbing the door knob.
"Yes, ma'am," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Evelyn," she called, making me look at her.
"You are the most beautiful girl in the world."
My heart melted.
"Don't let anyone tell you otherwise," she said with a frown, but smiled afterward.
My smile went wider, "Thank you, Nana,"
"You are welcome, dear. We are waiting for you," she said, closing my door.
Without dropping my smile, I walked towards my walk-in closet and took out my black shorts and green crop top.
I pulled off my robe and put on my shorts and a crop top. I took off the bunny hairband from my hair, brushed my hair with my hand as I walked out of the walk-in closet.
I walked towards my mirror and picked up the little band on my nightstand and tied up my hair in a little pony.
Mum doesn't like me leaving my hair while eating. Funny but, she is still the boss of my life. Even though I am a twenty-year-old college student who just got into college.
Yeah, I am in my first year. Ask me why I waited till I was twenty before going to college. I would say let's make it a story for another day.
I applied body spray, put my favorite pendant my mum got me on my birthday and stared at myself one last time before heading for the door.
I looked at my novel.
"I will be seeing you after dinner," I said to the book, smiling as I walked out the door.
I walked along the hallway and then descended the broad stairs.
I heard sounds like the clicking of cutleries, plates and my parents' chuckles as I walked closer to the dining table.
"The princess of the house is here," dad said, making me smile as I walked towards the table. He is seated on the head seat as always and mum is seated on his right-hand side. He extended his hand to me and I placed my hand on his and sat on the seat on his left.
"Thank you, dad,"
"Anything for my one and only princess," he said, smiling at me.
I smiled too.
"Did you apply body spray before coming down?" mum asked, sounding jealous as always.
She feels left out all the time. Well, it is not my fault, dad and I are best friends.
"Yes, mum. I did."
"No wonder," she said, as Nana walked in with a glass jug of water.
"That's my favorite. I will get you another one, pumpkin," dad said.
"Really?"
He hummed.
"But I literally opened a new one before going to school today," I said.
"Still, I will get you another to add up."
I smiled, picking up my cutlery in front of me.
"Curtis," mum called him by his name.
"What? She deserves it." Dad said.
"You are spoiling her," mum said.
Dad scoffed. "Nonsense, she is my only child and my most precious treasure. She deserves the world," he said, smiling at me.
I smiled at him and looked at my mum.
She shook her head and focused on her food.
"Ignore your mother, sweetie. She is just jealous," he said.
I nodded. "I know, dad," I said, making her look at me.
I smiled proudly.
She picked up her glass of wine and sipped it.
I picked a portion of my meal and took it in. My taste buds danced at the divine taste.
"Tell me about school, pumpkin," dad said.
"School is...."
"We shouldn't be talking while eating. That's a bad habit," mum said, making me fight the urge to roll my eyes.
She can be a handful anytime dad is giving me a lot of attention.
If she wasn't my mother, I would be like, "Bitch, you are his wife and I am his daughter. And your daughter too. There is no way I am taking him away from you."
But no.
She is my mother. I can't sound like that to her. I still have my manners, thanks to her though.
My mum is the strict parent and my dad is the loving and cool one.
I count myself among the lucky kids out there with just one strict parent. Some have two strict parents.
I can't live with that.
"I am listening, sweetie," dad said, ignoring mum.
"School was fine. Imogen made it more fun."
"Hmm, Imogen. That pretty best friend of yours, huh?" he asked.
"Excuse me?" Mum asked, making us look at her.
"Yeah. She is gorgeous, dad," I said, making my mum throw me a scowl. I fought the urge to laugh as I picked up my glass of drink and took a sip.
"Just appreciating nature, baby." Dad said to my mum.
"At this point, I think it is best we just eat. No more talking," she ordered.
"Yes, ma'am," dad and I said in unison, chuckling slightly at each other.
Time went by and we were done eating. Nana is working on clearing the table.
"Let's go to the living room and continue our chat, pumpkin," dad said, getting on his feet.
I got on my feet as well, but...
"No, no, Evelyn, join me in the kitchen, let's make dessert," mum said, leaving no room for a protest as she headed towards the kitchen.
I looked at my dad.
"Go ahead, sweetie," he said, walking towards me and placed a kiss on my hair.
"Before she gets crankier," he added, chuckling, and I did too. He headed towards the living room as I picked up my plate, which was the only one remaining, and walked towards our spacious and spotless kitchen.
Nana is like the fairy of the kitchen. Everything is shiny and neat.
Mum is stirring something on the stove and nana is doing the dishes. I walked towards Nana and handed her the plate.
"Thanks, sweetie." She said, smiling at me.
I smiled too.
"Help me with the hand towel, Evelyn," mum said.
I walked towards the spot where the hand towels are hung and grabbed one. I walked towards my mum and handed her the towel. She took it and wiped her hands.
"Mum,"
"Yes?" She answered without looking at me.
"When are we going on our family vacation?" I asked, trying to lighten up the mood. I hate it whenever she is cranky.
"Well, why don't you ask your father? He is your best friend, isn't he?" She asked, turning off the gas and picked up the pot.
Fine. I did my best. I will go to dad, have our chat and then go back to my hours of journey in my novel.
"Where are you going?" Mum asked, stopping me on my track.
I turned to her. She is now standing close to the island with the pot on it.
"To dad," I answered.
"Dessert is not ready yet, young lady. I asked you to help me, remember?"
"But you just said...."
"Just get the plates please," she chipped in.
Nana brought the plates before I could walk towards her.
"Thank you, Annamarie," mum said as I walked towards the island. She began dishing out the sauce for dessert.
It smells so nice.
"About your question, you dad and I are still making up our minds," she said, without looking at me.
I smiled slightly.
"When do you want us to go?" She asked.
"Next month will be fun," I answered, grinning and tilting my head.
She smiled slightly.
Yes! At last!
A smile.
"Very well then. Next month it is." She said.
"Yes!" I squealed happily, making her chuckle.
"Let's take this to your....."
A loud thud from the living room made us freeze.
"What was that?" Mum asked, making me look at her and nana.
"That was the door," Nana said.
"Hey, who are you people?!" I heard my dad's voice, sending shivers down my spine.
Mum took steps ahead.
"Mum," I whispered.
"What are you...." A gun shot fired right after my dad's voice.
We all flinched.
I let out a breath.