Orphans

22

Darina looks over at Ana sympathetically, thinking of how nervous she must be. Although Anabela does not look nervous, she thinks she is merely putting up a brave front. Who wouldn't be nervous meeting her partner's family for the first time?

But Anabela wasn't scared. She wasn't nervous. She was ready for whatever outcome would come from meeting Eli's grandparents. Not a lot of things made Ana nervous. When you have gone through as much as she has, you almost become desensitized to a lot of things, especially things that people think will scare you.

A driver fetches them from the airport and drives the four women to Eli's childhood home.

"Mami... This is our other home... Welcome home" Eli smiles at her.

"Thank you... It is absolutely beautiful..."

"Have you come to have a meeting of your own there and then go back? What are you doing outside in the cold instead of coming in?" Eli's grandma shouts from the window inside the house.

"And that is granny..." Nadi laughs telling Ana who stares with amusement at the woman who is standing by the window inside the house.

"Granny!!" Nadi immediately hugs her as she enters the house.

"Elica, I thought you would have told your girlfriend by now to get the hint... I am not a lesbian..." Granny awkwardly tries to pry Nadi off her. Nadi kisses her cheek making her complain even more.

"Hello granny and grandpa..." Darina smiles at them.

"At least Nadi's craziness has not gotten to you..." Granny mumbles.

"Hello ladies," Mr De melo greets the women, his hand over Nadi's shoulder.

"Grandmother, grandpa, this is Anabela Furtado..." Eli introduces Ana.

"Hello Mr and Mrs De melo..." Anabela smiles at them.

"Lovely to meet you young lady..." Mr De melo shakes her hand, looking into her eyes as she smiles.

Mrs De melo also looks at her, slowly takes her hand and holds it. The young woman's strange beauty taking her by surprise.

"I don't know Elica... I think I may be becoming bisexual now..." She says looking at Ana... Ana finds herself blushing.

"Chica!" Her husband reprimands her.

The women laugh.

"Granny, you are supposed to be only my wife!" Nadi playfully complains.

"Now I understand why she made your two brain cells twitch!"

Elica quickly covers her granny's mouth with a hand.

"Say anything more, and you are not getting the tea or anything I brought you from Jamaica..." Eli warms.

Her grandma turns around, giving her a fake smile. And squints her eyes at her, making Eli squint her eyes right back at her.

"Make me the tea Elica, I want to find more About Anabela.

Darina gives granny the silk headscarf she bought her a while back when she got her first salary. She also gives grandpa the white t-shirt with the words "coolest" on it. Mr De melo is beyond overjoyed, her wife taking off the headscarf she was wearing and replacing it with the one D bought her.

D and Nadi go inside their bedroom with all their bags and put them in.

"Thank goodness you are just Ana... I was wondering what creative title she was going to use for you, since she used "chef" with Darina..." Mrs De melo whispers as soon as Eli goes to the kitchen and Ana laughs.