Chapter 20: First meeting with mother-in-law and dropping a bomb

Teresa P.O.V

I don't know why but since I ended the call with my daughter I had a feeling that something big was gonna happen I don't like this feeling because usually, I am right about those kinds of things my mother's instincts were screaming at me that something was wrong its already been 50 minutes since I call my daughter I was starting to lose patience so I called Derrick in the living room.

-Derrick come here!

-Yes Mom?

-Do you know where your friend Ace is living Derrick?

-No he just came to New York this morning but I wouldn't be surprised if he owned a house around Gramercy Park

-He is a student doesn't he live near the university?

-With how rich his family is he won't stay in dorms of that I can be sure! I can ask him if you want to know... where is my phone by the way

-Don't ask him that just ask him if your sister and he are arriving soon and it is on the countertop in the kitchen 

Derrick took his phone and called Ace's phone he was about to hang up when he heard his Sister's voice coming from the speaker

-Alicia why are you answering Ace's phone 

-....

-Oh okay yes I understand why am I not surprised (giggles)

-....

-Right I was calling because Mom wanted to know when you guys were arriving.

-....

-Uh Uh alright I will tell her .. hey hey don't hang up I have a question 

-....

-Did Ace drive his Plymouth?

-.... 

-YES HAHAHA awesome! Okay, see you soon!

After finishing his call my son started walking toward the entrance of the house without telling me a thing if he could see me he would see veins popping on my forehead 

-DERRICK!

-Ah yes Mom sorry I was too excited i need to wait for them on the front porch i don't want this miss this beauty i cant wait to hear the sound this car is making. Oh and Alicia said they were 5 minutes away 

-Derrick last question why is your sister answering your friend's phone?

-Oh because Ace is driving and he doesn't answer the phone when he is driving apparently hahaha no wonder he and Alicia get along so well they both are such sticklers for these kinds of things

So Alicia isn't driving her car did she leave it at Ace place or as it breaks down, her car is not young anymore I shouldn't jump to a hasty conclusion 'again my instinct is screaming at me' damn it this will be a very long 5 minutes I thought

Ace P.O.V

Alicia put my phone back on the phone holder I had installed in the car and looked toward me I couldn't look back at her but I did squeeze her hand a little bit in an attempt to calm her down I could feel she was exasperated with her brother I don't mind Derrick I like how he is I hope our friendship won't sour because of my relationship with his sister

-Haha why are you so tense don't be mad at your brother you know he was dying to see my car of course he would be excited 

-I'm not mad at him I'm exasperated because my mom asked him to call you to know when we would be arriving which means her supernatural mother instinct has kicked in and she is being impatient

-Hahaha I like how you said it but are you sure about this it could only be her worrying because it took us 1 hour to come 

-Humph I know my Mom I bet she made Derrick do all the chores and right now she is wearing one of her working clothes my Mom is a lawyer by the way and be ready for a round of questioning about your life 

-And what do I need to prepare when you drop the mega bomb of you moving in with me?

-It is gonna be an entirely new experience where in a new territory now I'm a little scared now what if you go back now and I tell her over the phone?

-if we do that it will be worse, your mother will hate me even longer, I know she will hate me but if we face it at least there is a chance she will have a little bit of respect mixed in and your brother might cry himself to sleep if he doesn't see my car. Also, you are not alone in this I will try to take as much anger as possible on myself, do we act like lovers right off the bat or do we wait I think that being frank and direct with it might save us a couple of questions don't you think so?

-what are you thinking about?

-I will open the car door for you when we arrive and we directly hold hands.

-Sounds like a plan Muah leaning toward me and giving me a kiss on the cheeks which made me smile this girl is so sweet (giggles)

5 minutes later Staten Island, New Springville Elwood Avenue I had already been there once but since it was Nigel who was driving so I hadn't taken notice of my surroundings that much at the time. It wasn't a luxurious neighborhood but it was clean the houses were in good shape and the vicinity was quiet you could see that people here were not rich but were not poor either of course there was an exception in all situations like Alicia's family since her mother was taking care of 2 children's alone and paying for Alicia university the family was short on money well it won't be a problem from now on but I will have to talk to Alicia about this later

I could see Derrick waiting for us on the porch seeing him spring up from his chair when he spotted my car made me laugh while Alicia was massaging her forehead looking tired which prompted another round of laughter from me

-Dont encourage him she said

-Sorry I can't promise you anything my Love

-Funny timing to call me that Handsome 

-Again sorry ...nah I'm not sorry it came out of my mouth spontaneously which means it's my true feeling does it make you uncomfortable?

-No quite the opposite in fact (giggles)

-Good now get ready because the hard part is right in view I said pointing toward the front door of her house we could see her mother standing in the doorway

I finally arrived in front of the house I pulled my car into the driveway right beside a grey Toyota probably the car of Ms. Augello I turned off my car stepped out of the car made my way around the car and opened the passenger door for Alicia to get out after closing the door I took Alicia hands in mine Derrick didn't notice anything too absorbed looking at my car(image here)

Ms. Augello on the other hand didn't miss our interaction of course we weren't hiding it but the fact that Derrick hadn't noticed anything yet was concerning

Alicia P.O.V

I could feel the gaze of my mother drilling at the back of my head I wanted to turn around but I was scared to do so I'm sure by the pressure I was putting on Ace's hand that he knew what I was feeling because he didn't try to move he just stood there smiling at my brother incessant question about his car of course now and then he would look at me with an understanding and loving gaze I knew he was trying to give me his support sigh he's really a good man I was waiting for my brother to say something before starting to talk to my mother the limit of my mother's patience ended before my brother could understand what was going on 

-Alicia why don't you introduce your 'FRIEND' to me, Derrick stop talking and come inside 

we turned around under the stern gaze of my mother we both approached her I was about to say something when Ace took the reins 

Ace P.O.V

I never felt so nervous in both of my lives and I fucking landed a plane on a cornfield in Iowa after a flock of birds crashed into my left turbines and yet this conversation was scaring me but when Alicia was about to introduce me I remember saying to her that I will be her shield so I took the lead 

-Nice to finally meet you Ms. Augello i am the boyfriend of Alicia, Ace I said with a smile extending my hand for a handshake

Derrick who was about to enter his house tumbled and fell face down right after hearing what I said and even if Ms. Augello didn't react as strongly as Derrick, you could still see the shock on her face either by the fact that I was so direct about it or by the fact that she confirmed her speculation about our relationship after recovering which didn't even take 2 second indeed a good lawyer

-Let's talk inside, shall we? She said inviting me inside and stepping over Derrick who was still lying on the floor 

-Bro get up said Alicia

-Sis are you and Ace...

-Yes now get up responded Alicia 

-AHHAHAHA I knew you two were made for each other 

-Well that wasn't the reaction I was expecting but I'm glad you are not mad at me Derrick I said

-Mad why would I be mad You're a good guy and I wouldn't have presented you to my sister if I hadn't felt that you two were so alike 

-Well that's one less problem to think about Love I said looking at Alicia by my side

-This idiot wasn't even a problem, to begin with just giving him a ride in your car would have changed his mind in the likelihood he was against it

-Damn it, I should have faked my anger and asked him to buy me a car Derrick said in a muttered voice

This really made me laugh while Alicia kicked his ass not figuratively but literally all along up to the living room I could hear Derrick pleading his cause to his sister saying it was just a joke I was left behind because I was looking at every photo on the walls alicia playing the piano Derrick playing basketball the family of three at some park probably around here omg Alicia had a child was so fucking cute especially with her front tooth missing (giggles) I finally arrived in the living room I took place beside Alicia who was clearly fidgeting under the gaze of her mother I hold a sight that was about to escape my lips I didn't want to be misunderstood because of this

Teresa P.O.V

My daughter was dodging my gaze since she sat down on the sofa Derrick was about to sit beside her be she sent him a gaze I only saw her use when he was about to go relieve himself in the bathroom before her shower he took the cue and sit beside me 2 minutes later Ace sat beside Alicia I could see her gaze soften so much I could see my younger self when I fell in love with their father but compare to their father with me Ace was looking at Alicia the same way she was looking at him well at least as far as I can see that he is genuine about his sentiment but still they have only known each other for 2 weeks isn't it too soon ... sigh I can't blame her I did worst at her age at least she brought back a young man who as the courage to face me without flinching I could see the determination in his eyes when he shook my hand but also nervousness which means he really cares about making a good first impression

I must say he did make a good first impression on me he had a car and nice clothes and from what I've heard from Derrick his family is well off so he was clearly not using my daughter for her car or because he thought she had money but he was still dating my daughter so even with all his good point my stance was still neutral even going toward the negative side a little bit

-So Ace you are going to study at Columbia University?

-Yes I plan to study there for one or two years until I get my diploma after that I will go study at the New York Film Academy for a bachelor's and a master's in fine art 

-Ambitious are we young men?

-Well I finished high school at 15 years old with a SAT of 1600 and ACT of 36 I speak 6 languages fluently so yes I have great confidence in my abilities

-Hum impressive indeed are you living alone in New York for the time of your study

-Yes that was the plan in the beginning 

-In the beginning? 

-Well someone wants to come live with me so my plans had to change a little bit

-And who might be this certain someone I asked

looking at my daughter who was trying to hide behind Ace's back I had a bad feeling about this I noticed my daughter's face stiffen when I asked if he was living alone I didn't like it one bit 

-Sigh Alicia and I plan to live together from now on Ms. Augello

-I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT ALLOW THIS ALICIA and you young men what are your parents thinking about this

-Ms. Augello you probably do not want to know what my family would think about this said Ace 

-Why is that?

-Because they would be ecstatic knowing this hell later tonight I will have to call my Uncle and Aunt to tell them I have a girlfriend and I'm pretty sure that if I don't stop them and promise to visit them before the school starts they will come here tomorrow to meet Alicia right away!