When Does the Pretending End?

Chapter 19- Food And Friendship

  Lucy's Pov

The clock beeps at 6.30 in the morning but i've been awake for hours. Today was the day I was going to meet Cristiano's mother and sisters. I'm planning on staying at Elena's during the weekend so I start to pack an overnight bag. The summer was starting to disappear and the autunm was coming. Or as Elena would say "another excuse to shop".

Hours later i'm sitting at me desk with papers all over it. "Do you have a problem with taking orders from a woman" I say down the phone. Why won't people listen to me. The man at the other end of the phone hangs up and i throw the papers in my hand over to the other side of the room. "Who pissed you off" Josh says as he picked up the papers. "Matt in design doesn't agree with me about the posters for the lauch of Russo's resturant" I say. "What else is bothering you" he asks. "The list is too long to tell you. Some guy tried it on with me in the gym earlier and the banks want forms from clients that I can't reach. Just ignore me. I always get miserable when it rains"I say. "Tina spoke to dad last night" Josh says taking a seat on the chair in front of my drsk. "Really. How did she sound. Does she want to talk to anyone else" I say sitting up in my chair. "Dad just said that they spoke for a few minutes. She didn't really say much only that she was missing him and that she wanted to come home" he says. I sigh. "Lucy she'll talk to us eventually. This is Tina we are talking about" he says. "I know" I say.

You have got to be kidding me i think as i sit in traffic on my way to Cristiano's house. I actually don't care what i'm walking into. I just needed to get out of the office, but i hate been stuck i traffic. And it's raing. Lovely.

"Hey sorry I'm late. I've had the day from hell" I say when Cristiano opens the door. I quickly take off my coat and hand it to Cristiano. "What happened?" he asks. "Just work and stupid men" I say. "Relax for once you're not one of the stupid men. For now anyway" I say and he looked thankful. "Good to know" he says. I take a deep breath when he says "My mother and sisters are here". "You're sort off the number one topic" he continues. "So no need to be nervous" I say and tap him on the arm. "Come on let's get this over with" I say.

The first thing I notice when we reach the living room is the three women's eyes staring at me. They remind me of a mother lion protecting her young. "Máe, this is Lucy. Lucy this is my mother Dolores" Cristiano says when we reach the living room. "Olá, Mrs. Averio. é agradável para encontrar conhecê-lo" I say smiling when i see Cristaino's reaction. "Call me Dolores please. Aren't you lovely" she says giving me a warm hug. "I'm Elma and this is Katia" she says. "It's lovely to meet you all. Cristaino has told me so much about you" i say. "Well he has told us nothing about you. So please come sit and talk with us" Elma says pulling me to the couch to sit down. Wow they move fast with their interrogation. "Don't forget about me" i hear a soft voice say as a little boy runs up to me. "This is my son Rodrigo" Katia says. "Hello Rodrigo" i say and his face lights up. "So how did you two meet?" Elma asks and i look up to Cristiano. A bit of help would be nice i think. "They met at a restaurant Elma" Nuno says. Can always rely on Nuno to help me out. "We bumped into each other and got talking and have been since then" I say to all of them. Keep it simple was what Cristiano and I had agreed.

"Food is ready. Everyone come sit" Nuno shouts from behind us. "Yeah food" Rodrigo says "come on Lucy" he says and grabs my hand and we head to the table. Cristiano sits beside me with Katia at my other side. "You never told me you spoke Portuguese" Cristiano whispers to me. "You never asked" I say helping myself to the food. "Are you coming to the match tomorrow, Lucy" Katia asks. "You're working right Lucy" Nuno says towards me. "Yes i am sorry" I say. "Aww I wanted you to come" Rodrigo says. "But you will come to dinner tomorrow night. I'm cooking" Cristiano's Máe asks. "That would be lovely. It would be nice to taste someone elses cooking other than Masterchef heres cooking" I say nodding to Nuno. "Well you don't want to eat Cristiano's cooking" Elma says and the table starts to laugh. "I preferred your cooking to Nuno's" l lean over and whisper. "Well a small bit"I finish and he smiles.

After dinner I was dragged far away from Cristiano. I sat in the movie room with all their eyes watching me. " So my brother seems to really like you" Katia says. "What makes you think that" I ask shifting in my seat. "Well for one he has told us nothing about you" Katia says. "So how come we haven't seen the two of you in the newspapers" Elma asks. Wow this one really likes to ask questions i think. "We want to keep things secert. The papers can make things awkward" I say. "Well it's nice to see Cris not in them for a change, what ever is wrong with him" Katia says. "Katia he was upset about your Papí" Dolores snaps. "So are we but we don't act like tarts" Elma says. "He took his fathers death very hard" Dolores says to me. "Yeah and that means he can go out clubbing and hooking up with chicks when ever he likes" Elma says and Katia gives her a dig in the side.

"So what was Cristiano like growing up" I ask in the hope of changing the subject. Dolores's face lights up. " Oh let me show you. I have pictures" she says getting up to find a photo album. "He was always playing football" Katia says. "You must have missed him alot when he left home" I asked Dolores when she sat beside me. Her eyes turn to sadness. "Yes, but he loves to play. Now let me show you the photos" she says. We spend the next while looking at the photos. "Are you close to your parents, Lucy?" Elma asked sipping her drink. "Kind of. My dad lives in New York. I don't really speak to my mother" I say quietly. "You never know when we will lose our loved ones Lucy. So don't wait too long to speak to your mother" Dolores says. I just nod.

"OMG how old was he?" I ask pointing to the picture of Cristiano with his curly hair. "10 i think" Dolores says. "He's changed alot since he was younger" Elma says. "Oh ya he had"I say and we all burst out laughing. Next thing I know Rodrigo comes in and says "Tio Cris wants to know what ye are doing". "Or Cris can't bare to be away from you Lucy" Katia laughs. "More like he's worried what we are talking about. Bet he asks you about what was said in this room by at least tomorrow" Elma says.

"Seriously brother sending a three year old to spy on us" Elma says when she and I arrive back into the kitchen to find Cristiano and Nuno doing the dishes. "Don't worry Cris, we didn't tell Lucy anything bad" Elma says. "Yeah they just told me some stories about you growing up" I say "And maybe some pictures" I mumble "Elma!" he shouts and Elma and I can't stop our selves from laughing.

"So what did ye all talk about?" Cristiano asks as we reach my car. "Couldn't even make it till tomorrow. Your sister was right" I say laughing. "What do you mean?" he asks. "Elma said you would quiz me the minute you got me alone. Katia gave you till at least till they left the country" I say. "Well if they didn't ban me from the room i wouldn't have to ask you" he says. I could have so much fun with him right now but for some reason I can't find it in me to wind him up. "Relax they just asked me about myself and we talked about your family life in Maderia. That's all. So relax" I say. Just as i was about to get into the car he leant down and kissed me on the check.

                                               *****************Saturday Night*********************

"Hello Katia, nice to see you again" I say as Katia opens the door to Cristiano's house. "Hey Rodrigo has been asking when you were coming all day" she says. "Hey Lucy" a bunch of voices all echo at the same time when Katia and I reach the living room. "Hi Lucy" Cristiano says placing a kiss on my forehead. "Lucy come play" Rodrigo says running up to me. "Hello sweetie. Give me a minute ok" I say to him. "So did you see my game" Cristiano asks. "No but I heard you won" I reply. "He played so good" Dolores says as comes over to give me a hug. "I'm sure he did" I say smiling. "So did your football team win today" Cristiano says to me. "Maybe they did and maybe they didn't" I say. "Lucy, come play" Rodrigo shouts. "Can you take this" I say handing the box to him. "What is it?" he asks. "I made cupcakes" I say and head off to find Rodrigo. "Papa got me this car" Rodrigo says showing me the red toy car. "Wow lovely car" I say. "It's like Tio Cris's" he says. "He loves Cris" Katia says. "The feeling is mutual" I say. Although i'm sure Katia knew already how much Cristiano cared for Rodrigo.

So Nuno wasn't lying about Cristiano's Máe's cooking. It was really good. "So do you enjoy your work" Elma asks. "Yeah I love it. I work mostly with the clients dealing with the money side. Like making sure we earn enough from them without over charging" I say and she laughs. "Ok I think it's someones bed time" Katia says when Rodrigo lets out a yawn. "But Mama" he says. "But nothing bed" she says. He gets up and Dolores follows him upstairs.

"You are staying tonight" Elma asks. I look at Cristiano for help but he says nothing. "It's not like you haven't stayed before. Plus you have to taste Máe's breakfast" Elma says. "Of course she is" Cristiano says putting his hand around my shoulder and pulling me towards him. I nod in agreement. "We'll do the dishes" I say handing Cristiano a plate. "What did you want me to say. My girlfriend would stay with me" he says as we reach the counter top.

"Hey no fighting, they're watching you" Nuno says appearing from nowhere. "Does all this not bother you?" i whisper to Cristiano as I place some dishes into the sink. "I'll buy you something pretty for your troubles" Cristiano says watching as Elma and Katia left the table. "Hey you know they are plenty of girls out there who would jump at the chance of spending the night in my bed with me" he smirks. "I'm not like your bimbos" I say backing away from him. "And I don't want you buying me things likes your own personal escort?" I say running the water in the sink.

"Well you did sell yourself freely" Cristiano says.