Beneath My Beautiful.

Chapter 12.

"Nervous? "

I nod then take a deep breathe.

Benja holds my waist protectively with one hand and knocks on the door with the other.

A few seconds later the door opens to reveal my mum, an apron tied around her waist.

"Oh my!" She exclaims, pulling both Benja and I into a hug."I was expecting you an hour later but am almost done cooking."

"You didn't have to mum, really." I tell her.

"Ofcourse I did." She says with a glint of tear in her eyes. " It's not everyday my baby comes home. And engaged." She gives Benja a warm smile before ushering us into the living room.

"Where's dad? " I ask curiously as my eyes scan the room at the new family photos that had been put up while I was gone.

"Am here!"

I turn around to see my dad emerge into the room. We both pause for a while not knowing what to really do; the tension between us existing for many years.

"It's good to have you back kiddo." He smiles at me and I realise just how much I've missed that smile.

"Well, we're only visiting. " I try to pull a blank expression on my face. Don't let it get to you. I keep telling myself over and over again.

"Um...It's really great to finally meet you Mr Mandi." Benja finally says taking a step forward to greet my dad.
"I've heard a lot about you."

"You have?" My dad asks in a surprised tone but quickly dismisses the look on his face. "You must be Benjamin. "

I watch them shake hands and steal a small glance at my mum. She smiles knowingly at me and pulls me aside. "I'll steal my baby away. You two can have a 'man talk' or something. "

We walk towards the kitchen leaving Benja and my dad still talking, mostly about things I couldn't make out even if I eavesdropped.

But lucky for me, I could handle being around my mum unlike my dad.

"So, what's the wedding plans? " My mum asks excitedly as we make our way into the kitchen. I roll my eyes and hug her by the side, enjoying every bit of her good cheer.

I help her out with dessert as I brief her on little details in my life.

    > > >

We all gathered at the dining table an hour later.

"This really looks good dear.Can't wait to have a taste of your great cooking. " My dad tells my mum. She blushes for a moment and smiles sweetly at him, taking the seat next to dad.

A tinge of pain hits me for a second but I manage to hide it showing.

"You must have missed your mother's cooking after all these years." My dad begins to say. Then turning to Benja. "Lulu's never been a fan of cooking Benjamin. I hope you survive her."

I glare at him but Benja only chuckles and nods."She doesn't need to be one. She's more than enough just like that." He says and kisses my knuckles.

There's a knock at the door and mum gets up to go open it. "She's just in time for food."

"Who is? " Benja asks after her.

"Naima. "

I shift uncomfortably in my seat trying to shake off the disappointment I had.

"So this was the big surprise? " Naima comes into the room with her husband, Pete. I had only heard about him in the past but I never met him.

She hasn't changed much. Not even the tone of sarcasm in her voice has changed.

"Welcome back siz." She smiles at me but I don't respond.

This is going to be a long meal.

I sigh as mum says grace before we dig in.

> > >

"I always thought you would get married first, Lulu."

For the first time I look up from my plate. I had not been paying attention to the conversation they'd been having.

"Pardon? "

"I always thought you would be the first to get married between the two of us."

I narrow my eyes and send a glare her way.

"Well, considering the boys you had flocking all around you back in the day." Naima smiles sweetly and takes another bite from her plate of food.

I don't like where this is going.

"It seems she's been waiting for the right person to come along." Benja speaks up in my defense. "Am so glad she didn't get any chance in marriage before I came along."

I smile and hold Benja's arm as a 'thankyou' sign.

But Naima isn't through with me yet.

"Did you hear? Am pregnant!" She beams.

I stare at her then at my mum, shocked that she didn't tell me anything about it.

Mum shrugs and throws in a weak smile. "Am sorry dear. Naima wanted to share the news to you herself. "

I nod silently. It all makes sense. This is the kind of attention she really needs right now. Am not sure if it's her hormones or that she's gotten serious at her 'lets-torture-Lulu ' plot.

"Yeah siz. Don't take it personally. I mean, if it weren't for that little misfortune seven years ago, you would have been the first to give mummy her 1st grandchild, right?"

I almost choke.

I stare at her wide-eyed but she pulls an innocent look on her face.

Mum and dad keep giving me odd glances. I swallow hard, wishing that I could somehow disappear at this moment.

Why does she have to bring it up?

Why now?

"Oh Benjamin!  Don't mind me." She says from the other side of the table. "Am just feeling a bit nostalgic today. She didn't even know who the father of the baby was. Tragic! "

"That's enough! " My mother's voice fills the room instantly.

I try to blink away the angry tears in my eyes.

"What is she talking about Lulu?"  I hear Benja whisper into my ear.

There's a triumphant look on Naima's face.

"I HATE YOU!!!" I snarl at her.