How I First Met Vivian

Chapter 3: Family first

"Big sis... Your back!" Her two sisters, Jenny and Cynthia chorused together in excitement as they rushed forward to meet Vivian who had just entered the palour.

Jenny was older than Cynthia by two years. She was 12 years old and always looked after her younger sister Cynthia whenever Vivian was at school or went to work.

Then Vivian lowered herself halfway, almost to kneel as they leaned in to give her a warm hug - wrapping their arms tightly around her neck.

"Mmm... How are my two princesses doing?...and how is dad?" Vivian muttered teasingly in a hushed voice as she snuggled them both in her embrace - loosening her hug before standing up.

"We are good... And daddy is sleeping in his room" Jenny replied quickly with a wide grin on her face as she motioned to collect Vivian's school bag.

"Viv... I'm hungry... Did you buy anything?" Cynthia asked in a low voice while pulling gently on the baggy jean Vivian was wearing. To them, their elder sister was like the mother they once had.

Vivian felt a bit sober after hearing her sister's lament. Then she lowered her right palm on Cynthia's head - rubbing it gently in a consoling manner as her lips parted in response.

"Don't worry dear... You'll eat something soon. Let me check what's left in the house.." Vivian said reassuringly with a smile on her face while looking down at Cynthia who nodded her head in submission.

So she walked past her two sisters and headed straight towards their kitchen.

"Hey Jenny... Make sure you take off this bucket from here" she called out instructively - pointing her left hand at the small sized bucket in the middle of the corridor before entering the kitchen.

They'd always keep the bucket there on a rainy day to collect the water that usually drip down the leaking ceiling.

"What do we have here?!" Vivian bellowed rhetorically to herself as she inspected the kitchen cupboard.

There was not enough food stuffs in it - except for the two packets of spaghetti and some few spices.

"Well, they'll have to hold on to this till I get back from work" she mumbled inaudibly, removing the spaghetti and ingredients before setting them neatly on the kitchen table.

Few minutes later, she was done preparing lunch and took two hot plates of spaghetti to serve her kid sisters who were seated leisurely on the palour floor - reading an action comic book she'd bought for them two months ago.

"Here you go" Vivian said, grinning widely at them as she bent forward and dropped their plates of food on the floor in front of them.

"Thank you.." they chorused heartily with their gleefully gazes fixed on hers while they pulled closely their plates before lowering their heads to eat.

Vivian stood motionless for a while - staring in satisfaction as they ate their meal. She was so relieved; nothing gave her more comfort than seeing her sister's happy.

"Oh and Jenny... remember to heat dad's food for him when he wakes up." She said calmly to her sister Jenny who quickly rose her head to look at her.

"Mm-hmm" Jenny hummed softly with an affirmative nod of her head as her mouth was busy, chewing on her spaghetti.

"I'm off to work... Remember to lock the doors by seven. I'll be back by eight o'clock" Vivian concluded before turning around to leave.

She recently secured a job as a bartender in a pub with a manageable salary that could at least support her daily expenses.

*****

FEW MINUTES after their brief ride, Christian's car finally came to a stop on the road opposite Tessy's house; Although the ride wasn't so much as smooth as he'd thought it would -- having to cope with Tessy who was constantly being touchy and clingy throughout the ride!

"You have quite a lovely house" Christian praised, sounding courteous with his head turned to his left - gazing admirably at Tessy's family house. Then he slowly returned his gaze back to look at Tessy who was now leaning her face so closely to his.

"I think I should be.... Woa!" Christian started to say and exclaimed in shock with a disapproving frown on his face when his lips brushed lightly against Tessy's.

"What are you trying to do" he asked with a tone of curiousity as he quickly pulled his head away from hers.

This made Tessy a bit irritated and frustrated at the same time. Then she retreated her lips and adjusted herself on his car seat.

"What does it look like... Is there something wrong in giving you a kiss before I go?" She heaved out with a disappointing frown on her face as her gaze remained lowered - staring blankly on her thighs.

"Oh... No.. no. There's nothing wrong with that" Christian chuckled in amusement, with a soft voice that made Tessy raise her gaze back at him with a wide grin on her face.

"Really?... So does that mean we can..."

"But um..." Christian interrupted quickly before clearing his throat in awkwardness. "Maybe some other time... Not today, and besides. I'm in a relationship already" He lied nervously before forcing a wide grin on his face that seemed somewhat suspicious to Tessy as she kept her gaze fixed on his.

"Okay then... Thanks for the ride" Tessy muttered calmly in a dispirited tone before opening his car door and come out. "But remember, you owe me that kiss!" She added purposefully with a smirk on her face before crossing over the road towards her house.

'Pheew... That's one hell of a girl' Christian gave out a relieved sigh with a brief shake of his head before speeding off back home.

***Christian's Family Mansion***

Moments later, Christian arrived at their mansion and entered quietly into their massive sitting room.

"You're welcome sir... Can I help you with anything" their middle aged caretaker said courteously as she followed behind Christan who was now walking towards the dining room.

It was his parents idea hiring the caretaker who has worked for them for over 12 years -- right from the moment when he was just a boy. For his parents, they fancied living like royalty - after all, his dad was a billionaire.

"Um, no ma'am... Am okay. I'll let you know if I need anything" he replied politely to the caretaker who only nodded her head before retreating her steps.

"Mom... You won't believe how my first day at Barkley went!... There was this..." Christian spoke in a hearty voice before pausing instantly when he sighted his mom sitting all by herself in the dining room - sipping a glass of whiskey and wearing a sad look on her face.

'how many glasses has she taken!' he thought in worry when he realised that his mom didn't even notice his approaching presence.

"Mom... What's wrong!" Christian inquired quickly while pulling a chair closely to hers before sitting. "You only drink when you're angry or depressed.. so tell me Mom, what's wrong?" He asked again with empathy in his voice before pulling the glass away from his mom who turned to give him a sober look.

"I... i Feel your dad might be cheating on me" his mom sighed in a very low voice before covering her face with both palms.

Her response hit Christan hard - I mean, he saw how romantic and playful they were with eachother before he left for school earlier today.

Then he leaned closer and gently lowered his mom's palms on her face.

"Hey Mom... It's okay... Talk to me" he consoled in a whisper, wearing a warm smile on his face as she returned her gaze back at him.

"While your dad was in the bathroom... he got a text message. So I went to get it for him when I saw it... It read 'I'm still waiting for you' from a lady called Susan" his mom narrated with a deep sigh before leaning her back on her chair.

"And what did he say about it... Did you tell him you saw the text?" Christian asked curiously before retreating his back to lean on his chair while staring at his mom.

Then his mom rolled her eyes in disgust before shaking her head slowly.

"No, I haven't told him... At least not yet" she answered in a cowardly tone before stretching her right hand forward to reach for the glass of whiskey.

"Uh uh!... You've had enough of this" he chuckled while shifting the glass of whiskey farther away before his mom could even reach for it.

"Besides, you know how dad is with his business meetings... What if the lady in question is just an associate?.. I'll only advice you talk to him when he's back before jumping to conclusions. Dad still loves you and I have not doubt in my heart" Christian adviced, looking at his mom who was beaming with smiles for his mature response.

But as for Christian, he had little doubt in what he'd just said. 'What if his dad was actually cheating on his mom? What if his business trips were actually a get away excuse to spend time with this mystery lady?' -- these worrisome thoughts filled his head as he got up and stood beside his mom.

"I don't know about you mom... But am super hungry. Here -- hold my hand let me walk you down to your room." He said to his mom who finally held onto his right hand as she stood up from the chair with her stance wavering as a result of her intoxication.

Then she took slow cautious steps forward while Christian guided her to the room...