The perfect day for the homecoming of the fraternal twins. Saturday. Cynthia worked Upto Friday not Saturday like Nikita. She tossed and tuned smiling all to herself in her bedroom. She was excited about their homecoming and even more, about Pedro. She couldn't wait to see him. See her first love and the only man she loved in silence. The sweet aroma from the kitchen called out for her. She woke in her pajamas and went to the kitchen.
"morning mother," she kissed her from the back.
"morning, how did you sleep?"
She sat on the sink.
"was ok, I just turned and turned. I can't wait for the boys to get home."
Harriet nodded. Pedro had informed her that he would land with his girlfriend. She considered it less important and never told Cynthia. Hours later they went to pick up Nikita to accompany them to the airport. She was excited about it that she couldn't stop blabbing in the car.
"by the way, Daniel asked for your phone number and guess what I did?"
"you didn't. I hope not or I'll kill you."
"ofcourse I didn't. He's hit on every girl and taken them to bed. You are his next."
Harriet pulled over at the parking area. The landing plane was announced. Cynthia's heart raced.
"ladies come out with those banquet. That's the plane landing". They got out and went to the waiting bay.
"finally my boys are home and the family is complete."
"mom you're making me nervous so stop. Look!! ", she pointed when she saw Earl. They got up and ran to them. The lady followed Earl and after her was Pedro.
"my sons!!" Harriet smiled in the middle of tears. The four of them hugged. Nikita's eyes caught Earl. She got attracted to him the moment they shook hands.
"this is Dulce, my girlfriend.
Harriet hugged her.
"mother-in-law am so happy to see you and is she Cynthia?"
Cynthia was silent. She forced a smile and shook hands with her.
"yeah I am."
"am glad I've met you. Your brothers talk about you alot."
She glanced over to Pedro who was busy on his phone then to Earl. He had grown to such a handsome man. Harriet noticed that she wasn't happy about Dulce and did her best to cover it up.
"let's get going guys. The meals will get cold."
They headed back home in happiness and laughter. They told Harriet how they'd missed them all. Cynthia was silent all the way home and when they got she served them in total silence. Pedro hadn't Said a word to her. She wanted to explode. She was angry at him.
"hunny I'll get the glasses just sit"
"it's ok mother. Let me get done"
She went to the kitchen and immediately she got to the sink her tears were on her cheeks. She opened the tap and sobbed. She felt ignored by someone she wanted to talk to the most. She was hurt. She washed her face and looked into the wall mirror and there he was, standing looking at her. Her heart stopped beating for seconds as she stared at him through mirror. Her tongue grew heavy and legs weak. She just stood there and watched him get close to her.
"are you alright?", he asked her.
She nodded as she rethought on his question. Alright?, she thought. What was so right about him ignoring her and rubbing Dulce on her face?.
"I hear you are a good doctor" and your woman is a model", she forced the words out.
He held her hair in his hand and dropped them letting them fall in rhythm. Her heart raced. Feeling his hands drove her crazy and restless. He watched her reaction. She was trying to be distant with him and he couldn't get why so.
"Can I tell you something Pretty sister? "
She shrug. She didn't want to hear about it. All she wanted was for him to go away and let her be.
"look at yourself in the mirror. You are beautiful. You are a true definition of beauty sister." He embraced her. She looked at them. So close and yet so apart.
"why were you crying?"
He kissed her cheeks. Cynthia felt frozen. She couldn't move in his arms. She felt her bones crack.
"something got into my eyes Pedro."
"your eyes are clear to me sister. "
"sure... Yes am Ok.", she got from him and reached for the glass towel. She had to keep herself busy or atleast pretend that she was busy.
"I really missed you."
She looked at him through the mirror. She doubted. She only remember them arguing on the phone about her and that was the last time he'd contacted her.
She didn't want to bring that up.
"I doubt but anyway it's Ok. Go back I'll be there with the glasses."
"are you avoiding me?"
"no way. Am not avoiding anyone. Please go back and let me get done."
Pedro walked away. Cynthia had temper and he was aware.
"alright then...see you around."
He left the kitchen. She dried the glasses and took them to the table.
"you took so long sweetie. I knew that Pedro being around you was slowing everything."
"yes mom. We've missed each other for too long and we needed to bond again and I must say that she's super Pretty."
Cynthia sat beside Earl.
"are you making me jealous with your sister?", Dulce giggled.
"come on Dulce, we are siblings. Do away with that thinking."
They laughed. On the table Pedro and Cynthia stole glances at each other non stop. There was resentment in her eyes and he didn't get why. She had missed him but she wouldn't admit it to him. They ate and drank in silence. Earl and Cynthia walked Nikita to her car. She had to leave though she didn't want to.
"Drive safe Nikki. Goodnight.", Earl hugged her and excused them. Nikki watched him disappear into the house smiling all to herself.
"hey he's gone already stop smiling at least "
"just pray that we become in-laws."
"mhmmm... I was watching you alot and you couldn't stop staring at him", she winked at Nikki.
"why lie I like him. Girlfriend thank you for inviting me over. I had nice time as always"
"it's Ok...get going. I'll come to your place tomorrow."
She drove away minutes later. Cynthia went to the pool and sat. She didn't want to go to the house. She didn't want to see Pedro. She wished to vanish and never appear again. She stayed out at the pool for hours Until Harriet went for her but still didn't want to go into the house. Her daughter had never behaved like that before. So much unhappy and distant.
