55 Dinner With the Parents
1508 Words
Snowflake stomped her feet several times on the ground. She caressed her head to the side of Diana’s face.
Noah had to smile at the mare’s adorable gesture, “Indeed, she does.”
When Diana turned her head and saw him—Noah heard her faint gasp.
Her eyes widened, and the rush of blood all over her face made her feel hot.
“What’s the matter?” In a matter of seconds, Noah was beside her already.
Diana hid her face with her hands, “U-uhm, it’s nothing.”
She held her hand in front of Noah as if to tell him to give her enough space for herself.
Noah took a step backward while he was left wondering what has happened to the young maiden beside a concerned-looking Snowflake.
Diana took her time hiding her face.
And when she’s about to face him, the ringing on Noah’s pocket made her jerk her head back.
“Hello?” Noah said casually.
Diana watched him, her face still hot from the initial reaction she had with Noah’s smiling face.
“Ah, I see. I’ll be there in—” Noah looked at his watch, “In an hour. I’d wait for you in the arrival area.”
He nodded even though the person at the other end of the line couldn’t see what he was doing.
Then, he pressed the phone and placed it inside his pocket.
He looked outside and saw that it’s already getting dark.
When their eyes met, Diana almost shrieked again from embarrassment at how he reacted earlier.
Noah gave her another smile that made her heart almost lurch out of her chest.
“Would you stay for an abrupt dinner?”
Diana blinked, “Sure?” she said with hesitation.
She knows she needed to get home, but it wouldn’t hurt for a few more hours with Noah.
“My parents are arriving in a bit, and maybe you can have dinner with us?”
“With your parents?” Diana couldn’t find the appropriate words to reply to what Noah had said.
Having dinner was a nice idea if it’s just the two of them. The same applies to have dinner with his friends and employees. Feeding the animals' dinner was also something she had considered doing long before while they hang out on the ranch.
But having a meal with his parents?
That had never occurred in her thoughts. Not even once did it slipped her mind in the entire time that they’re together.
Now, if Diana had heard him right, he’d like to have dinner with her—together with his parents.
Her initial thought was why he hadn’t told her that his parents are arriving today?
Of all the days they were together, it was this particular lucky day.
She was willing to go out with him, have fun with him, eat dinner with him, meet his friends, meet his dear employees who managed the farmhouse—but meeting his parents meant something different.
It was something that you needed to commit to—perhaps a sign that things are going to be serious, and she hadn’t expected it all.
Diana was fine being Noah’s friend, even if she knows deep down it wasn’t what she wanted.
There was a boundary she wanted to cross, but it was happening so fast in a non-sequential manner.
Noah looked at her, his eyes seemingly expecting an answer.
Diana opened her mouth, but no voice would come out of it.
Her lips began quivering, her chest tightening for all the wrong reasons.
She needed to tell him something—anything that would come out as an answer to what he had just said.
Just anything, Diana pleaded to anyone who is listening to her silent thoughts.
The sun was definitely teasing her, because when its orange-colored light hit Noah’s hair—she draw in a sharp breath.
Her heart hammered the bone on her chest, and suddenly, breathing had become a difficult task.
Diana couldn’t think as Noah turned to her, his face stunning as it’ll ever be. It was still the same handsome face that she met in Vegas.
Compared to her average looks, this man was on par with the level of actors and models featured in a billboard you see in New York. She liked the way his caramel-colored eyes mixed with the tint of orange when he faced the setting sun.
Noah checked his watch again, and this time, he decided to break the silence, “You don’t like it?”
It’s true because Diana couldn’t say anything at the moment.
He might have shocked her with the idea, but she felt that she wasn’t ready to meet anyone that important in his life.
“I’m taken aback,” Diana blurted out.
The blush she tried to hide earlier resurfaced again, and Diana wasn’t able to hide it behind her hands.
Noah blinked slowly.
Diana made no effort to conceal the red that spread over her cheeks and nose.
She had her hands clasped with one another, and her lips were in a tight line. Her brows furrowed, a line appearing between them.
He, too, was a loss for words.
“I could take you home,” Noah said as he turned around and faced the blinding, setting light of the sun. He can barely see it now, which meant the night was slowly capturing what was left of the sky.
“Let me stay,” she suddenly said, and it made him turn his back immediately.
His eyes widened, “Are…” he trailed off, but continued otherwise, “…are you sure?”
Diana blinked, the shadows of her eyelashes reflecting on her still pinkish cheeks, “I would like to meet them,” then, her smile resurfaced between her lips.
The tightening in Noah’s chest wasn’t anything he could stop anymore. It was a grappling feeling that made everything around stop as if his senses ceased to work as of the moment. They were frozen by that one, genuine smile she always gave him.
It was valuable than anything material ever gifted to him on any occasion there is.
The table was covered by a silky cloth that Nancy wanted to try as a way to elevate the plain wood’s outer appearance. It was useful, yes, but to her eyes, it should also look presentable to any guest. But now that Noah’s parents will be staying at the ranch for the rest of their lives, Nancy was determined to beautify the house.
The silk reminded her of Snowflake’s lovely pearl-like fur. She would have to visit the horse later on.
Of course, Noah didn’t mind it at first. The price wasn’t cheap when they bought at an online shop Nancy claimed selling displays for houses.
He had been thinking too hard on the topic that his hands wobbled, and a droplet of sauce fell on the expensive material.
Noah had to mask the disappointment on his face.
Diana must have noticed it for she stopped midway in placing the spoon inside her mouth. Her light-colored eyes stared at the space near the plate next to hers.
Then, she looked back at Noah.
She instantly understood what had happened that caught Noah’s attention.
Reaching for the tissue, she peeled a piece and had it dabbled on the tiny drop of sauce. She did all of those things without sparing a glance at Noah’s amused face.
What a clever girl.
“There,” she smiled before continuing, “no more mess.”
“Should I thank you?” Noah whispered, his eyes lingering on the chicken leg Wynn placed on his plate earlier when he came in and served the main dish for tonight’s dinner.
Noah had invited his employees to come to dine with him, but they declined.
They told Noah that they were going to have their own dinner at the kitchen counter.
And to quote what Thomas had said; they were having Chinese fried rice instead of roasted chicken and buttered vegetables.
Diana looked straight on the window behind Noah’s father, “Sure,” she teased, “don’t be bothered. I already saved you.”
Noah couldn’t stop the snort that came out from him.
His mother looked-up, her eyes suspicious, but she didn’t say a word.
The slurp his father did when he was savoring the mushroom soup made his mother cringe.
“Why does he always do that?” she said in Italian.
Both Noah and Diana looked up from their plates.
Diana had her eyes fixed on Noah for seconds.
On the other hand, Noah lightly shook his head, as if to tell her that it was already a daily occurrence in family meals.
His mother and father welcomed Diana when they arrived. It was supposed to be the other way around, but he let it be.
Diana made small talk with his mother when he helped his father carry all their luggage in the room he had particularly designed as per their request.
Their idea of a bedroom was completely the opposite, so Noah had to compromise among the two designs.
When they got back in the living room, Nancy had already ushered the two of them in their seats.
Then, sooner than he expected, hot food was served.
“So, darling,” his mother began speaking as she dabbed the napkin on her lips.
She didn’t look at them, and truth be told, Noah was beginning to feel anxious.
Although his feelings for Diana weren’t clear yet, he still didn’t want her to be put in an awkward situation with his parents.
Noah’s mother showed her usual smile that Diana mirrored when their eyes met.
“I heard from Noah here that you’re also Italian?” she ended the sentence with a question mark.
Diana’s smile widened, “Yes. He speaks nothing but the truth.”
Noah wondered why his father suddenly choked from the wine he was drinking.
- Writer
