Chapter 3 - Meeting the Mother and Sister

Recovering from her thoughts, Marilyn takes a proper look at Michael's mother. If you were to describe in a word or two: strikingly beautiful. If she didn't say 'daughter-in-law', you'd have thought she was his sister. Wearing a gown embroidered with Jasmines that matched perfectly with her fair skin, black eyes and long back hair, she could be mistaken for an actress!

"Mickey?..." She asks again.

"Hm?"

"Are you listening to me?" His mother asks with a frown.

"...Sorry. I was thinking about something else." He lets out a smile.

"Geez! You finally brought a girl home, so why are you still thinking about other stuff?"

Marilyn glances at him sideways. '...Something is wrong...I have a feeling...'

"Alright, let us go in first. You don't want to keep her standing outside, do you?" Michael says.

" Yes. Please come in, dear." She leads Marilyn inside to a huge sitting room. " Please sit. My name is Eliana. I've been looking forward to meet you, Marilyn."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs.Smith." Marilyn smiles politely.

Seemingly pleased, Eliana turns to Michael. "Your sister's probably still in bed. Go wake her up while I talk to Marilyn."

Michael sneaks a look at Marilyn before going upstairs to wake his sister.

"Now that he's gone, tell me truthfully. You don't have a problem with marrying my son, do you?"

Marilyn smiles wryly. "Problem... I don't have any. But I'm not really gung ho about it either.... I guess it'll take some time to build a relationship."

Eliana smiles brightly, her eyes sparkling. Marilyn averts her gaze slightly. ' Too bright...'

"Very good. Very good. That was the best answer you could give to me. I'm very pleased."

'Yeah, I can tell that from your face...'

"Um... Thank you, I suppose." Marilyn answers.

"Yo! Sis-in-law!" A teenager comes tumbling down the steps cheerfully.

Marilyn looks at the girl clearly. Long black hair and ink black eyes that perfectly complement her fair skin, long eyelashes that brush upon her pink cheeks... She looks like a younger version of her mother. Her hair was a bit tangled, though.

'She looks so pretty even with the bedhead.'

"Hello, Ms.Smith." Marilyn greets, maintaining her polite smile.

"What's with that 'Ms.Smith'? Call me Taylor." The girl scrunches up her eyebrows disapprovingly.

"Alright, Taylor."

"That's better." She nods, content.

Michael comes in after Taylor and sits down next to Marilyn. "What did you and mom talk about?"

Marilyn looks up at him through the corners of her eyes and smiles sweetly, placing a finger on her lips. "It's a secret."

Michael smiles and shakes his head helplessly. "Fine, then."

"Whoa, wait. So my brother does like women! I was starting to think he was into men. Not that I mind." Taylor exclaims.

Marilyn's lips twitch. Trying to contain her laughter, she asks, "Why would you think so?"

"I mean, Mickey barely lets any woman within three feet of him and he's already twenty seven! Either he's gynophobic or he's gay." Taylor says matter-of-factly.

Marilyn looks up at him in surprise.

"That's enough nonsense, Taylor." Michael says and takes her hand. "How about I show you around the house, Marilyn?"

"Oh, alright."Marilyn nods her head. Michael leads her to the room opposite to the one they were in.

"He does kinda like her, I think... Alright it's time for me to help my brother..." Taylor mumbles as she smiles slyly, staring at their fading silhouettes.