30. Mrs. Gerry?

Miriam just feigned anger and glared at her. She didn't want to admit that she had a dream about Maxwell. Janet thought she was being paranoid for still thinking about someone she met over 15 years ago. She would always tell Miriam to forget about him. But Miriam would just say she cherished their memories and that she was not being paranoid.

"He was one among a few rich people I knew that was not rude, and cared about people. Just like you. He made me feel so special." Miriam said dreamily, and Janet could only scoff in annoyance.

"Yeah right. He might probably be married with kids by now." Janet said and Miriam turned to her with a start and Jane laughed.

"Wait, are you being dumb or you're just so ignorant? Its been ages, Mimie. What are you even thinking? That he will one day come looking for you to, like, marry you?"

"Jane!!" Miriam snapped and glowered at her, a bit surprised that she would go that far. Who was talking about marriage here?

Janet only snickered and forked some fruit cake into her mouth.

"And don't forget rich people and their arranged marriage stuff. Even if he's not married, there's probably someone they've already arranged for him." Janet continued after some time, stealing a glance at Miriam before focussing on her food.

Miriam felt a pang in her heart. She knew that was a possibility. And she didn't even know why she felt kind of sad because of what she just heard. Thinking about it, she asked Janet.

"But, Jane, why haven't your parents put you in an arranged marriage? I mean you just said that's what most rich people do. Your parents are lenient on you on that matter?"

"I'd be very glad if they were, but no. They have already arranged for the one I'll be marrying. Well, that's what they've told me. I just don't want to think about it, that's why I don't talk about it with you. It bothers me a lot, honestly." Janet explained in a sad tone. "They keep arranging blind dates for me, and I've been dodging by giving flimsy excuses. I go for some, though, as you already know. Just... sigh, let's not talk about it."

"Its okay, don't talk about it if you don't feel okay." Miriam said with concern.

"Sure.... uhm... I want to go out tonight. I feel like being outside tonight."

"I'll be going to work after school." Miriam said and gave her an eye, like she should know.

"I know, I'll come pick you up. After you close. Then we'll go to karaoke bar at Ike's. What do you think? It's been a while since I heard you sing." Janet said excitedly. Miriam was an amazing singer, just that her interest in singing wasn't that much. But she listens to music a lot, and sometimes when they go to Karaoke bars, she sang.

"Nah, you'll be singing this time." Miriam said with a teasing grin. She knew Janet sucked at singing. She loved music a lot, but she couldn't sing. Okay she could sing, but it wasn't pleasant to the ear. She sounds like a dying goose when she sings. That was why Janet would lure her sometimes to go to the Karaoke bar just so Miriam would sing. She had come to love Miriam's voice a lot. And Miriam had no idea Janet had recorded her on so many instances in their apartment, singing. Even in the shower! Well, not like she entered but she would stand outside and record. It sounds crazy but that was how much she loved Miriam's voice.

"Are you being serious right now?" Janet said amid laughter. "Stop joking with me and tell me we'll be going, silly girl."

"We'll be going, silly girl." Miriam echoed her words back to her and they both laughed. "Sounds like a good idea. We need to release some stress. I'll call you right after work."

"Its settled then."

The two friends continued eating and teasing each other till they left for lectures.

...

Oliver's apartment...

Oliver left for lectures early morning, leaving Maxwell all alone. He promised to come back home later so they would prepare for the lunch at Oliver's family house. And as promised, he was home around 11pm, and 45 minutes later, they hit the road to the place.

After driving for almost an hour and half, they got to the Wright's mansion and made their way inside. Chobis, Oliver's mother, met them and gave them warm hugs, then, focusing on Maxwell, she hugged him one more time.

"Look at you all grown up now, Max! Your parents will be very happy to see you!" She beamed.

"Thanks, mum. It feels really good to be back home." Maxwell replied. "And you look pretty, as always. You never seem to grow." Maxwell praised and the woman blushed lightly.

"Okay, enough talking. Let's go inside now. The food is ready." They all went inside and met a banquet. A whole feast was set up on the table, and it seemed to have heightened their hunger.

"Mum, can we just get to it? I'm really starving." Oliver whined as he quickly pulled himself a chair and sat down.

"Tsk, you're just a foodie," Chobis said and raffled his hair, as she also made herself comfortable. Maxwell also took a seat next to Chobis.

"Wow! That's quite a spread, mom. Did you make all these?" Maxwell asked as he scanned the table, salivating at the delicious meals on display.

"Thanks, but I didn't make these. My cook prepared all these. Now let's dig in. I can't even wait any longer."

"Says the one who thinks I'm a foodie." Oliver mumbled under his breath.

"Hey! I heard that!" Chobis said and they all laughed. "Her meals are amazing. And..." She paused as she scanned the table, and said, "...I'm sure she'll be bringing the dessert soon."

They all served themselves and dug into their meals. They enjoyed the meal while having small talks about work and stuff. As they were about to finish, the cook walked in with some freshly baked cookies and some strawberry-flavoured yoghurt.

"That's the cook right there. She's really good at what she does, as you can..."

"Mrs Gerry??!!" Maxwell exclaimed, his face full of shock and surprise. Mrs Gerry worked here? And... where was Miriam? He wanted to ask straight away but he seemed to have not come out of his shock state. The rest of the people looked on, as Maxwell and the cook kept staring at each other. But the look on the cook's face showed that of contemplation.

"Ye..yes. I'm Gerry. Please, have we met before?" He didn't look like someone she was familiar with, so she asked.

Maxwell stood up and made his way towards her. He looked so surprised, but happy. And Gerry squinted at him, trying as much as she could to remember him.

"I am Maxwell. Maxwell Holmes. You used to work in our..."

Clank!!!

A loud sound was heard as the tray Gerry was holding slipped out of her hand and hit the floor. Her eyes were wide opened and her jaw had dropped.

"Max...Maxwell??!!" She blinked several times. "Maxwell is that really you?" Gerry managed to say after she recovered from shock.

"Yes! Yes, Mrs Gerry, it's me! Maxwell." Maxwell said in a broken voice after he had bent down and picked the steel tray that fell. Gerry was thankful it wasn't glass. It would have been disastrous.

"Oh, Maxwell!" Gerry reached out and touched his face. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she remembered what happened the last time she saw him. She pulled him into a tight hug and some tears managed to slide down her cheeks. Maxwell dug his face into her shoulder, burrying deep into her embrace. After some time, they broke from the hug and looked into their faces.

"Its so good to see you again, Mrs Gerry."

"Maxwell," Gerry whispered as she touched his face again. "How have you been?"

"I've been good, Mrs Gerry. It's been a long while."

"You've really changed." Gerry said and Maxwell chuckled lightly and nodded.

"You haven't really changed, Mrs Gerry. I'm so happy to see you!" Maxwell beamed. He was so happy he had met Gerry. That was one step, and a positive one, to seeing Miriam again! He couldn't be happier.

"Ahem!!" Oliver cleared his throat to draw their attention to them, and they turned to face them.

"I'm sorry, mom."

"Sorry, ma'am."

Both Gerry and Maxwell said simultaneously. They turned to look at each other and laughed.

"You seem to know each other." Chobis said.

"Yes, mum. She was our cook before I went to North city."

"She's Miriam's mother??" Oliver couldn't hold back his curiosity anymore, and Maxwell nodded his reply. He was not staying with his parents in the family house. And he didn't really pay that much attention to the workers in the house. So she didn't know who the cook was. To think that she was the mother of the girl Maxwell had been looking for! That was so much information!

"I see. Let's finish with the dessert first then you can catch up with her later. Is that alright?"

"Yes, mum." Maxwell said and turned to Gerry. "Please, we have a lot to talk about. Please do wait for me, okay."

"Yes, sure. I'll be in the kitchen." Gerry said with a smile and headed for the kitchen.