“A little over a month ago.”
Lola said with a gentle smile.
The atmosphere remained warm and friendly as they reminisced and enjoyed their coffee.
Lola felt much more at ease, sitting there as Mariana and Zach treated her kindly, just as they always had.
By the time Lola left Dylan’s house, it was late afternoon. Sitting in the passenger seat, Lola fastened her seatbelt and hesitantly spoke.
“Dear… when you introduced me to your mother earlier… you said I was the woman you were going to marry.”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
As Lola hesitated, Dylan nodded knowingly.
“Ah! That doesn’t mean we’re getting married tomorrow. No need to be so nervous. We’ll get married after we’ve dated for a while.”
How did he know?
She had been slightly worried he might propose marriage immediately.
“Oh, yes.”
Dylan’s eyebrow arched as Lola responded a beat late.
“Well, if you want, we could get married tomorrow.”
Lola had just managed to calm her racing heart when Dylan’s words made her frantically wave her hands.
“No, no. I want to date you for a while longer.”
“Right. There are still things we haven’t done. If we just got married now, you’d be quite disappointed, wouldn’t you?”
“That’s true. What haven’t we done?”
Though a bad feeling crept in, Lola’s curiosity got the better of her. She asked hesitantly, but without meeting his gaze, she missed the mischievous glint in his eyes.
“There’s just one thing we haven’t done. Lola, want to do it with me now?”
His words were vague and ambiguous.
There were things they hadn’t done, but upon hearing his words, an inappropriate thought immediately sprang into Lola’s mind.
Was he suggesting they go to a hotel now that she’d met his parents?
A nervous Lola asked in a trembling voice.
“W-what is it?”
“Well, what do you think? You’ll find out when we get there.”
How much better it would have been if he had just told her directly!
Why was he being so cryptic?
Despite her annoyance, Lola glanced at his profile and softly murmured.
“Oh, yes. I guess I’ll find out when we get there.”
“You seem reluctant.”
“I’m not reluctant.”
Lola quickly denied it, fearing he might misunderstand.
“Really?”
“Yes. Let’s go quickly.”
A smile touched Dylan’s lips as he started the car.
She was a woman whose emotions were clearly visible on her face. He was certain she had made some rather inappropriate assumptions about his ambiguous words.
Her flustered explanations were quite endearing to Dylan.
******
Gia’s phone rang incessantly as she came out of the bathroom after washing her hair, lying on the dressing table.
Gia quickly picked up the phone. It was Mariana. The corners of Gia’s lips turned up. Her mother’s calls were always welcome, and her mother’s voice was warm and comforting, no matter how many times she heard it.
“Mom.”
-Daughter, are you very busy right now?
Mariana’s abrupt question made Gia tilt her head in confusion.
“No, Mom. What’s up?”
-Gia, was the woman Dylan is seeing Lola? She came to greet us today. Goodness! I was so surprised by this unexpected turn of events!
Sensing her mother’s surprise, Gia probed cautiously.
“Mom, do you not like Lola?”
-No. I was just surprised. I’ve always thought of her as my daughter, and now she’s suddenly going to be my daughter-in-law. And you, too! Wouldn’t it have been better if you had told me beforehand?
Gia chuckled at Mariana’s slightly scolding tone.
“It wouldn’t be as fun if I told you beforehand. I thought it would be more exciting if you didn’t know.”
-What kind of talk is that?
Gia grinned and began to praise Lola effusively.
“Mom, Lola is a kind and wonderful woman. She’s feminine, demure, and polite; she’ll be good to Dad, Mom, and Big Brother.”
As Gia finished speaking, the bedroom door opened, and Kelvin, the younger twin, ran to Gia and hugged her.
“Momma, Momma…”
“Oh, my Kelvin is feeling sleepy. But just a moment! Mom will finish talking to Grandma and then put you to sleep, okay?”
Gia gently soothed the child. But the child, prone to tantrums, clung to Gia’s legs, whining to be carried.
-I’ve known Lola for years, and I know she’s a good person. But I’m worried about your brother.
“Why Big Brother?”
“Momma, Momma… carry me.”
Kelvin started to fuss, grabbing Gia’s legs.
‘Oh, dear! Why is Hamza so late again?’
Secretly resenting Hamza, who still hadn’t come home, Gia continued her conversation with Mariana. Kellen, the older twin, entered through the open door and began to gently soothe Kelvin.
-Your brother isn’t good at expressing his feelings. I’m worried Lola might suffer.
Gia nodded in agreement with Mariana’s words.
I gave birth to him, but I don’t know who he takes after to be so blunt. Your father wasn’t like that.
