Another Wrong Turn?

Chapter Twenty-Five: Say You Love Me

            “Mom, do you still remember Victoria?” Miranda asked softly at her.

            Sometimes it really surprises me how Miranda acts when she’s talking or with her Mother. She’s just really tough and a badass, but when she’s with her Mom, she’s so soft and… vulnerable.

            Instantly, Naomi’s eyes snapped to mine. The sides of her lips lifted up slightly. “Yes,” she whispered back to her daughter. “Of course I remember her.”

            Miranda smiled. “So I take it you still remember the time when you used to bake us cookies after we play outside?”

            Naomi didn’t say anything but just simply nodded and closed her eyes, as if she was relishing the moments when she was still happy married with her beloved husband.

            “Come now, Naomi, we don’t want you to fall asleep standing, do we?” a familiar voice said.

            Miranda rolled her eyes. “She was not sleeping, Grandpa.”

            A sixty-year-old smiling man stepped beside Naomi, his hand enveloping to a petite woman, obviously his wife. “I know that, Mimi.”

            Miranda blushed. “Don’t call me that in front of others! Especially in front of my boyfriend later!”

            Miranda’s Grandpa, as I recalled, was named as Edward Parker. He turned to me and gave me a warm smile. “Hello, Victoria. It’s been a long time.”

            “I know. It’s been a while since I’ve been to Miranda’s.”

            Miranda’s Grandma, Hannah Parker, laughed. “Well, just speak up if ever you want to come and visit. It would be very fun. And my cookies are still the same, don’t worry.”

            I smiled, not bothering to point out that I’m too old for cookies. But, heck, I might hurt her feelings. Grandmas are always like this, so fussy and so caring.

            “I better leave you alone and talk to the other guests,” I said, chuckling quietly to myself.

            Edward grinned. “Of course. We’ll see you later.”

            “Okay.” And with that, I turned around to look for Suzanne. Unfortunately, I haven’t found her. So, instead, I just slumped down on the couch beside Suzanne’s Mother, Mrs. Joanna Rodriguez.

            She was slightly surprised with my sudden appearance but then she smiled at me, regaining her composure. “I’m happy that my daughter is happy with your brother.”

            I smiled. “I know, me too. I always wanted to see that both of them are happy together.”

            “Say, are you their matchmaker?”

            I shook my head. “Nah. Fate has its own ways.”

            “Right you are,” she said, sighing. “I think your Mother and I are going to talk about marriage and this stuff. You know, for future purposes.”

            I laughed. “Yeah, you need that! I also think that my brother and Suzanne are really going to end up marrying.”

            Joanna sighed. “She’s so happy right now… I just wish she would take it slow.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “I’m going to miss her if ever she leaves me so she could move in with your brother.”