The Unusual Tales Of Winfrall.

Chapter 9 : Unexpected Meetings And Sugar Cookies.

Audrey's POV.

"And guess what happened next?" Uncle Joshua sighed in dismay and gave a pregnant pause causing all of us to sit on the edge of our seats with fingers crossed. 

"Just say it Josh." Mom interrupted the tense moment as she emerged from the kitchen with a tray of PB&J sandwiches. Her voice tone was nonchalant which basically gave away that she already knew.

"You didn't care to tell me mom?!" I threw my hands up in exasperation, not believing that she would betray me like this. 

But before mom could give an explanation, Uncle Josh cut her off. 

"Don't blame it on her Audrey, it was all me." He muttered a "thanks" to his sister who offered him his favourite sandwiches, and he took all the time in the world to eat it before bracing himself to what he was about to say. 

Meanwhile, me and dad were shooting daggers at mom, telling her with our gazes that she dare give him another sandwich. But she just shrugged and stopped herself from laughing. 

"Can I have a drum roll at least?" He gave a hopeful look in my direction, signalling me to complete the request. 

So I wasted no time to get up and fetch for my phone lying on the dining table, and jogged back to the living area where everyone was seated. 

I unlocked my phone, and swiped all the way to the 'Drum Roll' app, which gives you the idea of what it is used for. 

The famous sound immediately filled the tense atmosphere, and everyone's gaze was on Uncle Joshua's face. 

I can't believe this man. 

He took a few deep breaths and closed his eyes, as if we weren't sitting in front of him, eagerly waiting for an answer.

I tsked in disappointment and looked at mom, who couldn't help but look smug as she was busy examining her nails. 

I turned my head to give a bemused look to my father, and before he could mouth me some profanities about his brother-in-law, Uncle Josh shouted, "SHE SAID YES!" 

My lips immediately curved up into a wide smile, and dad was the first to get up and embrace him with happiness. 

I switched off the now annoying sound, given that Uncle Joshua took a full 5 minutes to say it, and went to congratulate him. 

Sandra Millers and Uncle Joshua have been dating since college got over. He would bring her home on almost every weekend, where the dinner table would be filled with conversations about her career in the film industry and how she aspired to enter Hollywood. I was around 12 when we first met and the first thing she told me was, "Hey sweetie I'm just like your big sister." which is why I never added 'Aunt' before her name.

Sandra was, indeed the most beautiful woman I had ever seen; she stood tall around 5 feet 10 inches, with raven hair and ocean blue eyes.

Not only were her features amazing but also her nature and considerate behaviour towards others.

She wasn't here with us, as Uncle Joshua explained how she had an ad project in LA with  Forever 21, and she would be coming back next week. He also explained how both of them had went over the whole marriage deal, and they came to a mutual decision that it wouldn't change the way things were before. 

And I couldn't be more happier than ever for Uncle Josh. 

*****

"I'll get it." I informed as the doorbell rang. 

The smile never left my face as I continued to think about Sandra being a part of the family and how happy I was for the both of them.

But my expressions froze as soon as I opened the door to see my moms cousin and her family patiently waiting by the door. 

"Aren't you gonna invite us in kid?" Aunt Sophia began with a fake smile plastered on her face. 

I broke from my trance and shook my head, "Oh,of course please." I reluctantly stepped aside and let the family of five enter our penthouse. 

******

"Charles would you go and fetch some more sandwiches," Sophia barked out orders at her youngest kid, who didn't even seem to listen to her given that he was busy playing a game on his iPad. 

"Charles." His mothers warning tone was enough for the kid to abandon his game and rush to the kitchen. 

The reason I was in a state of shock when I found them standing in the doorway was because 2 years prior, Sophia and her husband had agreed to break all ties with us, on basis of a land dispute. 

We later got to know the reason, that how Uncle Joshua persuaded them to forget about the past and reunite like old times. 

But taking the matter into his own hands was a bad decision after all, and this agitated mother to no bounds. But since today was filled happiness and good news, she didn't want to spoil her mood by petty arguments. 

"Mom wants sandwiches." A bored Charles entered into the open kitchen area, and tugged at the end of my blue dress to get my attention. 

"Right up coming sandwiches." I imitated Yoda and the little boy cackled up when he heard me. 

"God you're so weird." Deborah, my other cousin, entered the kitchen with her eyes glued to her phone screen, and her face scrunched up in disgust. 

"At least she is not boring like you." Her 10 year old brother stuck out his tongue and raised his hand towards me for a high five which I gladly returned. 

"Whatever." She seemed distracted and a bit tense, so before Charles would go on an arguing spree with his sister, I gave him what he asked for and ushered him to the living area. 

Did I forget to mention that Deborah was also my neighbours best friend? And that she was dating Ryan, who also happened to be Nicholas best friend?

Guess I did. 

"Everything alright?" I asked her but she only flipped her blonde beach waves in response. 

Typical. 

I rolled my eyes and left her alone to join the others. 

The room now seemed to be filled with superficial joy where everyone was trying their best to keep a smile on their faces, and tried their best to talk without taunting each other. 

I slowly walked my way towards a seat empty beside my third cousin Abigail who seemed to have a serious discussion with her father about sports. 

Abigail was the eldest among the three, and also the most sensible. We both always shared a good equation and stayed in touch even when her family swore to never see our faces again. 

But before I could start conversing with her, mother got up and told me to meet her in the kitchen area. 

"But I just came from there." I almost wailed but her stern expression made me stand up and walk behind her with slumped shoulders. 

"I want you to take these cookies next door." She took out an expensive looking porcelain plate and placed 6 sugar cookies in a circular pattern before handing them to me. 

"What's the occasion for giving out free cookies?" I asked, trying to stall for time as I had no intention of going and ringing the doorbell of the person I never liked. 

"I have called Mrs. Jones, she will answer the door." Mother gave me a reassuring answer and thrust the cookie plate in my hands. 

"I'll come too!" Debby exclaimed, clearly excited to meet her best friend, as if she didn't just meet her on Friday. 

"Keeps getting better and better." I muttered to myself and gave a tight nod to her. 

It took around a minute for Mrs. Jones to get the door, and when she did, she was delighted by the sight of her favourite cookies. 

"I will always love your mother for this." She happily snatched the plate from my hands and placed it on a nearby table, before she turned her gaze on a desperate looking Debby. 

"Amelia is in her room dear." And that was all for my cousin to barge in and rush to her best friends room. 

Mrs. Jones however laughed it off and commented, "Girls, always want to share something or the other." 

"Am I interrupting you ladies?" An all too familiar voice came from behind me, and my lips curved into a smile when I saw Mr. Jones standing by his doorway.

"Not at all." I stepped back and gave him way to enter his own home, but he seemed to be in no hurry. Mr. Jones had a strong built and quite a personality. He believed in always being healthy and fit after he nearly died from significant heart failure, but my parents as surgeons, saved him. His green eyes however, always sparkled with happiness and some people couldn't help but share the same positive enthusiasm when they were with him.

"Have you set booby traps inside our home honey?" Mr.Jones asked his wife, who had a perplexed look on her face. She only gave a slight shake of her head, when her husband spoke again. 

"Then why is this young lady standing outside ?" 

She sighed in relief, clearly understanding her husbands joke and laughed shakily. 

I chuckled as well, out of courtesy, and said, "I should be heading back," I pointed my thumb towards my door, and waved them a goodbye. 

"Send my love and respect to your parents," Mr. Jones replied, "And if you need anything remember I'm just a doorbell away." 

The words made my heart swell with affection for the man and I wondered,

What went wrong with his daughter ?