Chapter 8

Since that fateful day, a lot had changed in the McDonell household. When the wedding got cancelled, things took a turn for the worst and its been that way ever since.

Life was getting a whole lot complicated, especially for Leo. Home didn't feel the same anymore, not after what had happened. The place felt like a ghost town and he could tell that it didn't carry that welcoming feeling anymore. To him, he felt like a stranger in his own home.

Only his grandmother and Eric, who had been with him in everything, gave Leo the little comfort he needed in the house. Including his little cousin, Oliver. As for the rest of the others... well, it was another story all together.

Coming to his father, he wasn't mad at Leo at the reason every one seemed to be mad at him for. Mr McDonell was more concerned about Leo not apologising to Angel over the accident and Leo didn't like that at all. He knew he was wrong, but the fact that his father was more on Angel's side just because his father was Angel's late mother's friend, was driving him crazy. It was already enough that he had met the angry Angel who almost tore him apart on the day of the wedding. Now it turns out that his father obliged to taking care of Angel and Carly because of the promise he had made to their mother. Not that Carly was the problem, Angel was.

As Leo sat in the car packed outside along the driveway of the house under the setting sun, he thought of what Carly had told him earlier.

"You and my sister still hate each other."

Was that it? Was that why he still couldn't stand the fact that his father was helping Angel out? Did he really hate her that much?

Well, judging by the way she almost killed him that day, what wasn't there to hate? No one had ever approached him like that, especially a lady. And he hated her for that. Or was there another reason to hate her?

Carly. It's pretty obvious that Angel wouldn't allow Leo to be with Carly when Leo was madly in love with her. And after almost killing Angel with his car, it just seemed to have made things turn from sour to rotten.

He had to admit, it was going to be pretty hard to accept Angel around if she really did decide to come and live with his family. He wasn't going to allow that to happen, not for now at least. Even his own mother wouldn't accept such a thing to happen.

Speaking of his mother, Mrs McDonell had been avoiding Leo these past few days. She always got like that whenever things never went her way. There were a few times the two talked, but it was always about whether Leo had gone to see Kim and tried to set up plans for their next wedding. The fact is, Leo didn't want to marry Kim, yet meet her ever again. Ever since the day of the wedding, Leo had never even bothered to see Kim face to face. Not that he was a coward, he just didn't want to. Kim usually called him to try and talk things over, but Leo would say he was busy and would call her later, which he never did.

Leo pulled out his phone out of his pocket and he saw a text message. It was from Kim. Oh great! He wondered what it was all about now.

"Hi, Leo. Was trying to reach you through your phone, but it seemed to be off. I just wanted to inform you that your mother invited me over for dinner at your place and maybe we could try to talk things over in person. I've been dying to talk to you, Leo, and I think this will be a perfect opportunity to do so. See you at eight then."

"Damn it, mum!" Leo hit the steering wheel with his fist with so much anger.

He quickly got out of the car and banged the door shut behind him. He charged towards the front door of the house on the stone path like an angry bull. He knew he had let his mother get her way, but this was too much.

He wasn't a kid anymore and he was tired of being treated like one. It was time he gave his mother a piece of his mind.

***

"I want dinner to be extra special tonight," ordered Mrs McDonell to the chef who worked in the kitchen. "We're receiving a very important guest this evening and I want things the way I like it."

The chef gave her an obedient nod and left for the kitchen. A few minutes later, the sound of the door being opened and banged shut was heard. Mrs McDonell had a puzzled look on her face as she went to see what was going on. As she was entering the living room, she saw Leo standing close to the front door and he looked pretty angry.

"Leo! What on earth is going on with you busy banging doors like a mad man?" Mrs McDonell asked.

Leo turned quickly to his mother as he heard her voice. He straightened himself and walked into the living room closing the distance between him and his mother. He stood at a reasonable distance and his mother put her hands on her hips staring at him, as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Aren't you going to say anything or are you going to keep on staring at me like you want to kill me?" Mrs McDonell asked.

"Maybe I do want to kill you, mum," answered Leo, "but apparently, I wouldn't have the pleasure of doing it even if I wanted to."

"What the heck are you talking about? Why are you mad at me?"

"The reason why I'm mad is because you always do what you think is good only for yourself and not considering anybody else around you."

"Be clear, Leo. I don't understand all this," Mrs McDonell now looked concerned.

"What is going on here?"

Amanda appeared from the hall with Eric pushing her wheelchair and Oliver following behind them.

"We heard the banging of the door," said Eric, "is everything all right?"

"It's all under control," replied Mrs McDonell, "Leo and I just need to talk over a few things. May you leave us alone for a while?"

"No, I have no problem if they stay here, mum," said Leo, "this matter also concerns them too."

"Now this is about to get interesting," said Amanda as she folded her hands over her lap. Mrs McDonell shot her a look and turned towards Leo again.

"What is it, Leo?" Mrs McDonell asked.

"I want to know why you invited Kim over here to have dinner with us tonight," Leo went straight to the point. Now wasn't the time to start beating around the bush.

Mrs McDonell paused for a while as she stared at Leo who clenched his fists. A smirk appeared across Amanda's face and it was good that Mrs McDonell didn't notice. Things weren't going to turn out well at all.

"I... well, you see, Kim has been dying to speak to you, Leo," the response came out as a struggle for Mrs McDonell. "I thought you two should try to see if you could arrange the date for the next wedding."

"So all that's running in your mind is about the wedding then, isn't it?" Leo almost laughed, but he shook his head. "Have you ever tried to think about what I want? You think bringing me and Kim would try to make things better? You pretty well know that ever since that day, things aren't the same as they were, mum."

"I know, Leo, but I'm just trying to make things right for you."

"No, mum! You aren't! You're making things worse! All this is what you want, but not what I want! I have the right to make my own decisions, don't I?"

"You've every right to. But you ignoring Kim like this isn't going to help."

"Look, mum," Leo pressed his temples with his thumb and index finger, trying to keep in the pressure, "I know that ignoring Kim for so long isn't right, but don't you think I should have known all about this first? As far as I know, I'm the one who was supposed to get married to her, not you."

There was silence in the living room as the air around them turned cold. Mrs McDonell looked as white as a sheet while Leo kept on giving her the angry stare. Eric and his brother, Oliver were stunned and Amanda's smirk soon turned into a wide smile.

"Leo, how... could you...." Mrs McDonell was lost for words.

"You don't like it when someone talks back at you, don't you, mum?" Leo asked. "I have told you time and time again that I would talk to Kim when the right time came, but no. You only want things to be done your way! I've tolerated that these past years, but you have gone too far, mum, way too far."

Mrs McDonell stammered, but it was no use anyway. Leo seemed to be done with what he had to say and he turned for the stairs. Before he began the ascension, he stood still for a moment.

"And do me one favour, mum," said Leo, without looking at his mother, "cancel the special dinner you had for Kim. And tell her I'm meeting her tomorrow. Maybe then, you would stop bothering me about all this."

Mrs McDonell still didn't say anything as she continued to look at her son. As Leo climbed up the stairs, Mr McDonell was coming down from his room. As he passed Leo, he noticed that something was wrong and he stared down at the people at the bottom of the stairs.

"May I know what's going on here?" Mr McDonell asked. "And why does Leo look so upset?"

"It's... its nothing, Fred," replied Mrs McDonell, "he's just upset. Thats all."

"Aww, come on now," said Amanda, "you know perfectly well what's going on. You don't have to lie to Frank here."

"Could you just shut up for once!" Mrs McDonell looked red on the face as she turned to face Amanda.

"Look here, Bertha, Fred is going to find out anyway. Just tell him now so that you won't have the problem of telling him in the future."

Mrs McDonell didn't say anything as Mr McDonell slowly reached the bottom of the stairs. He looked at his wife and then to Eric, Oliver and his mother, and they too were quiet.

"May someone please tell me what's going on?" Mr McDonell asked.

"I told you that nothing is wrong, Fred," replied Mrs McDonell. "Are you going to listen to the lies of your delirious mother?"

"Since when I'm I the delirious one?" Amanda asked shockingly.

"Mind what you say, Bertha. This is my mother you're talking about," Mr McDonell warned.

"Believe me, honey, nothing is wrong," said Mrs McDonell.

Mr McDonell shook his head and stared at his mother and the others.

"Mum, please tell me whats wrong, right now," demanded Mr McDonell.

"Leo is angry at his mother for inviting Kim over for dinner," replied Amanda quickly.

Mr McDonell looked back at his wife who avoided eye contact with him.

"Of all people you must know better than anyone how Leo is. You know he wasn't ready to face Kim even when he knows it's wrong avoiding her for so long. As a mother you should know that all he needed was time," said Mr McDonell.

"Ya, but for how long was he going to keep this up? All I'm trying to do is help him out," said Mrs McDonell.

"Well, he did say he was going to see her tomorrow," interfered Amanda, "just to quit you from nagging him any more."

"I know that you're trying to help Leo, but you should let him make his own decisions," said Mr McDonell. "You always think you can take control over people's lives when it isn't your own, Bertha."

"But...." Mrs McDonell was quickly interrupted.

"Not another word, please." Mr McDonell raised a hand to stop his wife from saying anything else. "Putting that aside, I need to make an announcement."

"And what is that, son?" Amanda asked looking concerned.

"In a few days time, we will be putting Lisa to rest after her daughter, Angel is discharged from the hospital," said Mr McDonell, "and the two sisters might come to leave with us."

For a moment, the room was quiet, until Amanda laughed with so much glee like a teenager and clapped her hands. Eric had a smile on his face.

"That's good," said Amanda. "I've been dying to meet Lisa's children for a long time now. This is good news, Fred. I can't wait to see them."

Mrs McDonell gave out a loud snort and everyone turned to face her. Her arms were folded and her face was one full of fury and disgust.

"This is just ridiculous," said Mrs McDonell, "you're bringing in those two girls just because of that stupid promise you made to Lisa before she died."

"What's wrong with you? Is it me or is it that you have always had a problem with Lisa even now when she is dead?" asked Mr McDonell.

"Ya, you're right. I have had a problem with Lisa for years. And now, it seems problems still come about even from the land of the dead."

"You should learn to respect the dead, you know?" said Amanda. "I wonder why you have hated her so much all these years, Bertha."

"You'll never know so stop asking," Mrs McDonell snapped. "I just hope those girls never agree to come and stay in this house."

With that, Mrs McDonell headed for the stairs like an angry devil ready to destroy everyone and everything in her way. When she reached her room at the top floor, she banged the door shut behind her.