Chapter １０

"Put it under the bed." I'm still bowing my head and packing up a pile of things. It's really troublesome to move. A pile of things have to be moved here.

"Are you sure you don't need to put it at the door? So that when we have an argument, you can run away quickly and return to the apartment you still have." I don't think it is necessary to run away when there is an argument. If I can, I prefer that two people can open their hearts and solve problems, instead of just running away. Escape will only make two people farther and farther away. I don't want this. If ever we will quarrel in the future, I want us to talk about it face to face and solve it immediately. 

"Well, you promised me to sublet my house." My house is going to be sublet. Even if I run away, where can I go? He doesn't want me to sleep on the street alone.

"I will agree to anything in order to let you move in." He looked at me affectionately. Is this together? It's so good to me after so long contact. It's a bit illusory and real, so it's ok to stay there for a while.

"Oh, that's nice. Is it new?"

"Oh, no! You can't look at them, because they're not finished yet." I looked up at the sketch book in his hand. Why is it on his side again? Ah, I can't let him see it. It's not finished yet. I trotted over, took it from his hand and embraced it in my arms. "Okay? Please?" I looked at him with my head tilted.

"Oh, I'm sorry, okay." 

"Give it to me, I'll put it back. I forgot to tell you that we will have dinner with my mother tomorrow." He opened the box where I put my sketch book and put it in. It was not bad. It was a secret not to peek at me, and he didn't insist on reading it.

"Oh." He didn't tell me in advance to have dinner with his mother tomorrow, but I was still a little embarrassed. Now I know it's nothing, so I will behave well tomorrow. When we meet, there should be no problem. I comforted myself silently.

"It's all right, I promise." he told me with certainty. I smiled and pecked him on the lip. He enjoyed it.

"Do you want to take a bath?" Moving is also very tiring, and there is a little sweat on my body, so I go and take a bath first.

"Oh, well!" I jumped out excitedly.

---

Today is the day that I am going to meet his mother. I am so nervous that I even thought of what to say to her. 

Well, I know a good way for her to like me. I will flatter her. Whoever said flattery will get someone nowhere clearly did not know what they were talking about. Who doesn’t like a compliment every now and then? They make us feel all warm and fuzzy. If someone thinks her new haircut looks great, I should tell her. Apart from being pleased that one likes her sense of style, she’s going to appreciate the fact that I am paying attention to every details of her. 

Aside from that because I did not bring a gift, the greatest thing that I can praise her for is something I know she takes pride in. Hmm, I think his mother likes business. But I don't know yet so I will ask Donald about his mother later. But now, I want to ask about his dad. 

"Okay, tell me about your dad." We drove slowly down the tree-lined path. With the green trees on both sides of the road, the weather is getting brighter and brighter. Since it is proposed to have dinner with his mother, his father will be present, so as to better communicate with them when meeting. His father is also an excellent person, so that he can have such an excellent person.

"He died when I was two years old, but it was only her first husband. She was a freelance journalist at that time. Then she married the general manager of a broadcasting company and got her first live broadcast career, but because Alec Rigley got divorced." He told about his mother's marriage history. His face was dull, but it seemed to be telling a story that had nothing to do with him. I played with my hair and listened to it very seriously.

"Wait, is that the actor? I thought he was."

"Oh, yeah, they dated for two years, until she met her second husband." He laughs helplessly

"Wait, how many times has she been married?" I grinned in surprise. Is his mother playing marriage as a game?

"Four times."

"Oh," I have to say, after getting married four times, the emotional history was so bumpy, how did she endure it?

"But, you know, her career has always been her biggest concern. She lives for it. Oh, of course, it should be my career and me. Basically, now I am all she has." In order to do business, I didn't forget my excellent son. This mother is also excellent. We just chatted and unconsciously arrived at their home.

Linda’s Point Of View

It was Tuesday, the day on which I had made an appointment to dine with Donald’s mother, Diana. I promised to dine with her today. She gave me the place where I should meet her and I sought to come at the address she had given me, and in a splendid dining-room, which was almost full, I saw Diana waving to me in the crowd, and there were two women I did not know on either side of her, but I ignored it and waved to her too, as I was walking to the table where she was.

 I was thinking who the two females are and what would be their contribution to our meeting. As I stepped forward to sit at her side. I Still can’t help thinking about the two other ladies I did not know but I sat still.

After I sat down, the waiter stepped forward to take our order. The first one to order was Diana as she was already ready to tell the waiter her order.

"Hi, I'm going to have a garden salad, low-calorie Chinese dressing and a decaffeinated iced tea. Please put less ice on my drinks and separate the dressing of the salad." I looked at the menu, scanning for something I like and heard that she had finished what she wanted to eat.

"And you, Miss?”  The waiter turned to me and continued to say, “What can I get you today?" Then the waiter standing by asked me what I needed to eat.

"I just want a salad, hamburger, French fries and soda." I looked at Diana to see that she didn't want to talk to me, so, quickly ordered something I wanted to eat.

"All right." He said. He then continues to write in his handy dandy notebook. After a few minutes he look at us again and said, “Ladies, you ordered garden salad but the dressing was separated from the vegetable, Ice tea with less ice, a hamburger, French fries and soda. Would that be all?”

“Yes. that would be all. Thank you.” we all said in unison.

“Alright ma’am. Thank you and please wait for your order patiently.” The waiter then left with the menu.