Chapter 26 LET'S CUT THE CAKE
1711words
What? Did I say something wrong?
"Uhmm… I would love to Miss, but I have somewhere to go." Ron refuses politely and I squeeze out a small smile. "I'll pass your wish to Cyril," I tell him happily and then we walk towards the door of my parent's home.
"Miss, I don't think you should get more friendly with Ron, he is just a servant." Miss Celine says in a serious tone and I frown, bemused.
"He is a normal human like you and me," I tell her and she looks bewildered by my statement.
Pursing her lips, Miss Celine presses the doorbell and soon the door opens wide.
DING… DONG… DING… DONG…
And there comes an exclaiming shout from my mother's mouth as she spots me beside Miss Celine. "Tess…" She immediately pulls me into a bear hug and I feel overwhelmed by her love.
"Tess, dear how are you? Why do you look so thin? Why does your face look dull? What's wrong? Are you unhappy? Is everything ok at your home?" As usual, my mother starts throwing multiple questions at me as soon as I step my foot inside the home.
"Mom… I am absolutely fine, meet Miss Celine… She takes care of me at the Mansion." I tell my mom, she freezes for a moment, her eyes scanning Miss Celine carefully from head to toes, and then she greets her politely.
"Hello."
"Miss Swan has sent the cake for your son. Happy Birthday to him." Miss Celine says politely as she hands the cake box to my mother.
"Oh… Thank you…" My mother looks a little stunned and then getting aside she gives us the way to walk inside. I and Miss Celine enter the small living room and sit on the sofa. "Mom, I am going to see Cyril," I tell my mom keeping the gift box on the table. I climb the stairs quickly excited to see Cyril's reaction.
I slowly open his room door and find him deep asleep. I sigh disappointedly and then walk back to the hall, my mom was talking to Miss Celine when I entered.
"Oh, dear what happened?" My mother asks as she sees me coming back so fast.
"Cyril is sleeping, mom." I tell her and she nods her head, "Ok, dear. You can wait until he wakes up." My mother says and I nod my head.
"So, Miss Celine, would you like any coffee or tea?" My mother asks her softly.
"Tea, please." Miss Celine replies and my mother walks to the kitchen as I follow her behind.
"Isn't she going to leave, Tess?" As long as we are out of Miss Celine's sight, my mother asks anxiously and I frown. "Mom, Miss Swan has sent her with me."
"But, shouldn't that person be your husband instead of Miss Celine?" My mother starts questioning me again with a suspicious gaze on me.
"He… He is busy, Mom…" I quickly made an excuse looking away from her.
"Tess, I know when you're lying…" My mother says sternly and then sighs deeply, "Is there any problem dear, Tell me. I am your mother and you should not hide anything from me." My mother holds my hand which makes me look at her with a hesitant gaze.
"Since you got married, Dylan has changed a lot, he couldn't sleep properly, do you know every night he looks so restless. I think there is something that he is hiding from me, or I think from both of us." My mother tells her doubt and I shrug.
"Mom… You're overthinking… Andrew is really busy, he will come back soon." I tell her more firmly this time and thankfully she looks satisfied as she turns and starts preparing tea.
I tell mom about my French Tutor, Alex, and also praise Miss Swan's behavior with me, I tell her all the details except Andrew. My mother listens to everything intently and keeps saying words in between as a response.
I send Miss Celine to my room to rest for a while, if she wants while I and Mom start preparing lunch and dinner. My mother calls my father and informs him about my arrival, so he is coming back early and also with a wine bottle.
I laugh as my mom orders him to bring a wine bottle because before my marriage my mother never allowed any wine in the house. Maybe my marriage changes her too but for good, I guess.
I and Mom were busy in the kitchen, when I heard Cyril's voice, "Mom…"
"He is awake.." I look at my mom grinning, "Finally." She takes a long sigh and before she opens her mouth I hurriedly climb the stairs and enter his room quietly.
"Look, who is here??" I yell while making a pose of a Queen and Cyril starts laughing with wide eyes, he looks pleasantly surprised by my arrival.
"Sis… How come you're here today. Dad tells us that now you have become very busy…" Cyril's words make me stop walking and I look at him with stunned eyes, "Really?"
"Yeah, You see Dad daily… no?" He asks which is more like a statement coming from him.
"Ahhh…" I don't know what to say as I just nod my head maybe because of mom's worries and suspicion Father has lied to everyone but then why he is not sleeping properly and also he never speaks with me after marriage, why?
"Sis…" Cyril's voice breaks my trance and remembering my purpose of coming here I shake away all the bad thoughts and then smiling I start singing the Happy Birthday song for him.
"Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday Dear Cyril… Happy Birthday To You…" Cyril's smile widens as he says, "So, you still remember my birthday…"
"Of course, How could I miss it, huh?" I tell him and his smile grows as he starts to tease me, "Without cake?"
I laugh at his words, "Your cake is downstairs, let's go down to cut the cake." I tell him and he looks at me worriedly, "No... I think I should stay in my room."
I feel pity as I look at the small face of Cyril, the kids of his age are always in a hurry to leave the house and here, my Cyril, who feels afraid to leave his room, I sigh sadly and then tap the back of his hands.
"Are you a man or not? Huh… Be brave… Wear a mask and then come with me." I order him firmly and he still looks nervous about it, "It's ok, Cyril." I squeeze his hand to coax him and squeezing out a small smile he finally nods, I look for the mask and put it on his face.
"Hey… We need to wait for Dad, okay." I remind him and he frowns a little. He must be thinking of cutting the cake hurriedly and then going back to his room again, caged in his own house.
Very slowly we climb down the stairs and mom looks completely shocked to see Cyril out of his room, "Tess…" She opens her mouth to scold me but Cyril comes in as my savior, "I am okay, Mom. I am a man." He says and then gives me a knowing look as I pass him a warm smile.
"Man? Just one injection from Dr. Wilson and then I'll see who starts crying like a baby, huh.." My mother mocks and I and Cyril have no choice but to laugh shamelessly.
"Let your father come…" Our mother threatens and we stay the same.
I help Cyril to sit, my mother carefully wipes all the things beside him worried that he won't catch any infection, too much protocol for Cyril. My father enters after half an hour with a bottle of wine in his hand and Cyril shows a surprised look on his face.
"Is that Wine bottle in dad's hands?" He asks with a raised brow and a stifling smirk.
"Mom has asked him to bring it," I whisper in his ear and he gives me an amused look.
I wiggle my brows playfully telling him that's for me not him and a low groan of dissatisfaction escapes his mouth making him cute. "Tess, dear how have you been?" My father pulls me into a hug and I hug him tighter.
"They are treating you nicely, no?" My father asks once we pull away and he checks me from an arm's length. I nod my head and he sighs with relief. "You look so beautiful Tess, just like Madam Boss." My father compliments and I giggle shyly.
"Dad… I can never become like Madam Boss… She is outstanding." I tell him feeling embarrassed about myself but my father's words warm my heart instantly.
"And so is my daughter."
"Dylan, come over here, you need to change the clothes first, and then we will cut the cake together." My mother enters and takes away the wine bottle from my father's hand.
I call Miss Celine, she should be joining us too. I introduce her to Cyril and they both pass formal greetings to each other. I hand Cyril the gift box that Ron had selected, remembering Ron I passed his wishes to Cyril.
Cyril opens the box excitedly and we both squeal with joy as it shows PS5, "Sis, we are going to play it after this.." He says and I nod my head. "Sure."
We keep the box aside and I throw away the gift wrap that Cyril has just torn now. Father is back in his formal clothes, he looks a little surprised to spot Miss Celine in the home beside me but greets her politely.
I make my way to the kitchen to bring the cake for Cyril. I look out of the window, it's getting dark and suddenly a pang of sadness hits my chest as I think of Andrew. I wish he would be here too and I am glad that no one has asked about him yet except mom.
