PERFECT MATCH

24 - Last Chance

Author's POV

Breakfast was a combination of sweet and spicy. Almost a feast, across the huge rectangular porcelain table was a white cloth embroidered in gold. The cutleries were finely selected, such luxury only for the first meal of the day.

After the family said their prayers, they dived in immediately peeling the lids open to unravel the delicacies of an Italian-Ameriacan breakfast.

Mabel plated pancakes beside her choice of scrambled eggs, sausages, waffles and avocado toasts with whipped cream and blue berries to top.

Jason sat across the other end of the table from across his father, Mabel by his right. He was stealing glances that Mabel wasn't aware of. Adding two slices of pancakes and a croissant to his plate, he took a sip of his black coffee.

"I wanted us to share this moment as a family. It's been a while since we had breakfast together and we don't know what the future holds." The man whom everyone respected spoke. He held unto a fork and knife in both hands.

Lilly was suddenly alarmed, no one understood what he was talking about but they ignored it and continued to eat quietly.

For Mabel, she still felt so empty no matter how much she filled her stomach with.

Adaobi felt the need to bring in life.
"We should go shopping sometime later, Mabel." Her life was a routine, from shopping to social functions with the billionaire wives, dinner events, spa, and church whenever it was necessary.

Mabel forced a smile, hiding her face behind her coffee mug.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to do that. I have this very important thing tonight."

Adaobi winced, her brows pinching as she immediately wore a smile to hide her disappointment. "Oh, that's okay."

"You are all invited." Mabel chirped. She wasn't happy to disappoint Adaobi but tonight was going to be one of the most important in her life. Plus, she was leaving soon and didn't want to be attached to any member of the family.

"Will there be lots of food?" Cynthia asked with a mouthful. Her words muffled, by food.

A light chuckle left Mabel's lips. "Yes there will be plenty of food. All kinds."

"So Mabel how have you been enjoying sky house?" Tamara rarely spoke, only when it was necessary. She was the female version of Chinedu. In the house she avoided running into Adaobi, it'd be burning hell.

Immediately Adaobi shot her daggers, she looked down at her plate. Everyone noticed the bad blood. Tamara knew her place and clearly, Adaobi didn't want her around.

Mabel sighed, chewing on her breakfast.
Sky house was the dream. The architecture, beauty of nature, the luxury that came with it. Then again, there was an emptiness caused by a rift between the family members. Everyone lived separate lives, yet they found a way to makeup for it at breakfast or deceive themselves. It was like a kingdom, where everyone was subject to the decisions of the king.

Mabel had experienced so much love growing up so the new environment was almost toxic for her. Clearly, no family was perfect but the Johnson's needed repair.

"I love it!" Tamara joined in Mabel's smile. "I really love it here." Internally, Mabel rolled her eyes.

Jason and Mabel were like strangers. He hadn't said a word, not to his wife or any other person. Mabel didn't look to his side, pretending that he never existed. The family noticed that instead of being lovestruck and undieing romantic, the couples were rather cold but they were tongue-tied to talk. Chinedu wasn't bothered. Sipping water from his glass, he pushed his chair back and disappeared from the room without uttering a word. When Adaobi looked, his plate could still fill up a hungry man. He had only picked on his food, she sighed tiredly.