Just Friends

CHAPTER-29

THE PREPARATION

The house looked good. It was big, and was in an area which was surely rich.

Emma will be happy over here, thought Paula when the car stopped in front of the Carter house.

They got down of the rental car. As Mark paid the driver Paula looked at and observed the house more carefully.

"Isn't the house really beautiful?" She asked when her husband came and stood next to her.

When no reply came she looked up to see that Mark was busy typing something into his mobile.

"Are you even listening to me? Or are you to engrossed in that mobile?"

"I heard you Paula. You think the house is beautiful and I agree. Now this is an important mail and I need to reply to it. Would you rather that I finish it while we're outside, or do you want me to be engrossed in my mobile inside in front of everyone?" All the while as he spoke his eyes were trained on his mobile.

Paula just huffed and waited for the driver to take out their carry- on bags from the trunk.

It had been their decision to take a rental from the Chicago airport. Alec had offered to come pick them up.

But Mark didn't like the idea of imposing that way.

"Let's go." Mark said atlast when he was satisfied with the mail.

Paula rolled her eyes but still followed him.

They walked up the stairs and rang the door bell.
.....................
"They're here!" Emma said running into the kitchen where Susan was talking to the caterers.

Over the three days she had spent with Susan they had come quite close while doing all the preparations for the party.

She had been standing near the window waiting for her parents to come since morning, poking her head out every two seconds.

And now that they were here, she had a sick feeling in her stomach.

She hoped that they didn't say anything wrong or do anything to hurt any of the members in Alec's family.

"Are they? Why don't I open the door while you go call Alec, okay?" Susan said, dismissing the caterers and walking out.

Emma ran up the stairs. She found Alec in his room just sitting on his bed and staring at the wall.

"Alec, they're here!" She said when she entered his room.

Alec looked up and for a second his eyes were blurred, as if he had been thinking about something very serious and Emma had interrupted him.

"Is something wrong?" Emma asked when Alec didn't reply.

He cleared his throat, "No no... I'm fine. They're here? Good. Let's go down." He said as he raked his fingers through his hair.

Emma was still concerned but just then the door bell rang.

Alec and she walked down the stairs quickly to see that Susan had already opened the door and she was ushering them into the living room.

"Hi mother!" Emma said, she brought on a smile on her face even though she felt sick and kissed her mother on her powdered cheeks.

Paula Burns was as usual immaculately dressed in grey trousers and an off white sweater. Her platinum bold hair, which was chin length surrounded her pretty but sharp face.

"Hello, Emma. How have you been?" She said. Her accent sounded stronger and more pronounced, since Emma had gotten used to hearing the American accent for the past few days.