5 4

The Kifer's house wasn't just plain grandeur. It practically screamed how rich they were that I almost went back inside Andy's BMW but his grip on my hand was too secure I had no choice but to walk with him.

When we had entered the huge white door where a giant could even enter, I heard elegant music playing softly in the background and it was mixed with human voices chattering happily.

I almost tiptoed on the marble floor afraid that my flat shoes might ruin it.

Their mansion reminded me of my art class back in high school. Our teacher never forgot to praise the ancient arts mostly on the Europeans because she loved the way elegance was portrayed in their architectures, furniture and even their paintings.

I'm pretty sure if she was here in my place, she would drool and probably beg the Kifers to let her stay even just for one night.

Andy had stopped walking taking me back to our purpose why we came here, the very reason why the whole family was gathered.

I gulped and found that we had reached their huge lounge where they were all gathered and all of them were staring in our direction.

"Hello everyone," Andy said breaking the spell that had seemed to capture everyone's attention "I'm so glad all of you made it"

There was a profound silence that I imagined steams coming out from my ears because of shame though I wasn't doing anything wrong.

Or was I?

"Forgive me if it was sudden," Andy paused to stare from one family member to the other.

"It's just that I have a special person to introduce to all of you and I'd like to do it with everyone around so she would be welcomed as she would be a part of this family"

I could almost feel a sweat threatening to drop from my forehead any time soon embarrassing me further.

"Well," he paused and took a deep breath "I'd like all of you to meet my wife to be" he paused yet again. I stared at him and he too caught my gaze.

"Meg Ryan," he said without taking his eyes off of me that I almost forgot to breathe as I felt everyone staring at me directly. It was overwhelming.

I should have thought better before saying yes to marrying him.

For an instant, everyone just looked at us until a woman came out of the crowd. Her eyes caught my attention. It was the same beautiful emerald with Andy and the curve of her lips confirmed my suspicion.

"Finally," she said upon reaching me and Andy. Andy gently let go of my hand as his mother got both of them in hers and stared into my eyes meaningfully.

"I am so happy to finally meet you," she said "I was starting to think that Andy made you all up" with that everyone laughed sharing a joke only them had knowledge about.

I smiled in response.

"I'm Elizabeth, Andy's mother and it is my pleasure to meet you Meg" she added.

"The pleasure is mine as well," I said meekly.

"Come" Andy's mother smiled and slowly dragged me with her. I glanced at Andy who only smiled encouragingly.

She went on introducing me from one relative to the other including their partners and offspring. They were quite a huge family, I wasn't able to catch all of their names.

Except for some namely Andy's baby sister, Kristin who had just turned eighteen last month and his stepfather, Cleo.

Then after the introductions, Andy's mother pulled me on one of the love seats around the place and we sat.

"Everything seems to be happening so fast," she said while I nodded without facing her.

There was a touch of silence for a while before I decided to look at her.

I found that she was staring somewhere else, a light in her face.

I curiously followed her gaze seeing Andy talking to one of his uncles radiating a certain glow all around him letting me know why his mother was staring at him longingly.

"I have never seen him this overjoyed" she murmured.

I sighed in my head.

"I'm sorry if I'm gonna be taking away Andy from you too soon," I said turning to face Andy's mother. She turned to me as well and smiled broadly shaking her head.

"No, please," she laughed "we've been trying to get rid of him for the last three years. I don't know what's with that boy. He waited this long before settling down" she locked eyes with me then.

"But I now understood why" she smiled kindly.

I returned the favour.

"I'm glad he found you"

--

"So my mother spilled my secret huh," Andy said as we waited for the elevator. I didn't respond because she didn't really say anything much except for some childhood memories she had of him.

Such as when Andy was five and had his first visit to the dentist because of a horrible toothache he had been suffering for too much eating candy and how he had cried in fear of the dentist.

There was also another time when Andy was seven and swore to his mother that he won't have any more doctors messing with him and his body because they were scary and stuff.

His mother laughed profusely at that because now that she thought about it, it had seemed ironic given that Andy himself was a doctor.

We left the Kifer's residence with everyone smiling and excited for the big event. For the big wedding. For me becoming Andy's wife.

It touched me lightly how easily they had accepted me and wished again, for Danielle's presence.

I sighed sadly in my head and hardly noticed the ding sound that the elevator made if not for Andy's gentle tagged on my hand. I let him drag me inside.

We rode it in silence the only sound present being the whirr coming from the moving machine.

Upon reaching my floor, Andy slowed our pace.

It was as if he was savouring the moment like it was the last.

When we have reached the door to my apartment, Andy stopped and turned to face me.

"Thank you," he said then grinned.

I smiled.

"I had a wonderful time" I admitted.

Andy placed a strand of hair that had fallen in my face behind my ears.

I looked away fumbling for my keys in my purse. I immediately inserted it into the keyhole and was about to turn it when Andy overlapped my hands with his.

I glanced up at him. He only smiled and slowly guided my hands. He pushed the door smoothly and gently drove me in.

Then he had me face him and teased me by brushing his lips to mine. He let go of me right after, taking a step back.

"Good night," he said closing my door.

I was still too stunned to move that the silence settled in inside my dark apartment and the only sound I could hear was my heart beating wildly against my chest.