Familiar Strangers

Chapter 5

Jasmine touched her bloated belly and winced. Melissa's brother was indeed an excellent cook and she had failed to resist trying out all the different snacks he made her. They were still in the kitchen talking and laughing, and Jasmine was surprised to find out how easy and effortless that was.

That's how Mr and Mrs Brown found them. They were both tall and in good shape although a little older than her parents, Jasmine noted, studying them carefully. Mrs Brown's platinum hair was elegantly tied up and her emerald dress flattered her deep green eyes. Mr Brown was dressed with a formal black suit and he looked a bit worn out. Jasmine felt the butterflies of excitement batter their wings inside her stomach.

She was meeting two of the most important people. She was meeting the most successful business man of the past fifty years and his wife, a woman dividing her time between her family, her fashionable clothing line, her charity organization and her own talk show. On top of that, she was meeting Melissa's parents.

"Melissa! Jason! ", the woman hugged them warmly, one at a time. Jasmine felt quite uncomfortable but was careful not to show it. "What a day! The Jones were just a pain in the..."

"Tania! Language!" Mr Brown scolded his wife with a laugh, he then patted Jason's back affectionately and attempted to kiss Jasmine's forehead. Jasmine pulled back without thinking that it would be normal for a father to kiss his daughter.

Mr Brown looked at her, his grey eyes searching hers questioningly. Feeling stupid for forgetting who she was supposed to be she mastered all the courage she could find and she hugged him. Doing this she found herself faced with three different reactions.

Mrs Brown gasped softly and blinked hard as if unable to believe what had happened but eventually smiling with pleasure. Jason gave a slight nod and a half smile like he wanted to say he understood. Mr Brown was startled at first; his arms remained extended and rigid. He looked at his wife and son faintly panicked before finally sighing with relief and embracing her tightly.

Have I just made another mistake? Jasmine asked herself while trying to figure out her next move.

Melissa’s miracle came in the form of a man who appeared just in time to distract Adrian from her terrible slip.

“Adrian,” he said his voice dripping with a stern coldness that made Melissa shiver “how many times have I told you to inform me before you bring company here?”

Adrian rolled his eyes playfully at her before turning to the man and answering politely but at the same temperature.

“A lot of times father."

“So why is it that you keep deifying me?”

“I’m sorry father. It will not happen again”

“It better not young man or make no mistake, there will be consequences. Consequences your lovely friend here I’m sure won’t like to hear!”

Melissa’s eyes turned from Adrian to his father and back again several times. The tension was so thick she felt it suffocating her gently. This was all so wrong. Why did they act like that? Most importantly why did it bother her so much?

Something stirred inside her, no, not forgotten but never investigated, not since two years ago when her own relationship with her father had started to fall apart. Just a spectator now, to a very similar show, she realized how terribly spiteful she had been all those times. Yet she wasn’t willing to regret anything. She put the thoughts right back where she found them but it didn’t matter really, because now that they had been awakened once they would be waiting like a dormant volcano ready to explode at any giving chance.