End Game

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Cera rolled into her parents driveway windows down music blasting. She was in her own world singing along to Chrisette Michele's Rich Hipster. The song was one of her favorites so she decided to let it finish before she got out of the car.

She was still bopping and singing when Coletta exited through the front door. Coletta walked around Cera's car to stand in her eyesight through the windshield. Cera smiled and waved while finishing off the last lyrics of the song and putting on a little show for her oldest sister. Once the song ended Cera turned off her car and grabbed her bags before stepping out to greet her sister with a hug.

"Hey there, sister of mine. Shouldn't you be at work at this hour?"

"Well hello to you too, pot. And I just finished having lunch with Mère. Why aren't you at work? It should be about time for you to make me a new dress, no?"

Cera laughed at that. Coletta was right of course. If Byron hadn't come by and irritated her into going to lunch with him she would probably be on her way to the store right now.

"Yeah, yeah. You'll have your new dress soon enough. I just came to see Mère and drop off some food for Charisse and Père."

"Okay well I actually do have to get back to work so I'll see you later." She kissed her sister's cheek before moving to her car, throwing a 'love you' over her shoulder.

Cera turned and headed up the front steps to enter her childhood home. She decided to check in the kitchen first since Coletta said they had just finished lunch.

Sure enough Estella was sitting at the island having a cup of coffee and reading a magazine. Cera walked up and peeked over her shoulder.

"Seven moves in bed to make him fall in love all over again." She chuckled at that. "Always keep him satisfied huh, Mère?"

Her mother smiled at her as she moved to stand in front of her. "That's right, baby. Maybe I'll let you read it when I'm done so you can use a few on James."

Cera laughed again. All of the Michaelson children had a very open relationship with their parents. So while they didn't do it often, it wasn't unusual for one or both of them to make comments on their daughters romantic relationships. Being that most father's didn't want to know the in and outs of their daughter's sexual lives, talks of that particular matter were done with Mère. "Please don't. I do not want James to fall back in love with me."

The brief mention of her past had Cera living in another time for the second time in one afternoon. It brought her back to when she and James were as happy as a they could be and still had time stretched out before them. Oh to be young and in love. Oh how things had changed.

So lost in her thoughts Cera missed the knowing look her mother gave her. Estella Michaelson had been around Cera and James enough in the past month alone to know that James was very much in love with her daughter. It was a fact that was very obvious to everyone. Except Cera apparently. Estella was going to keep quiet on the matter though because she knew Cera was content in her denial.

"What are you doing here child of mine?"

Cera held up the hag she brought with her from the restaurant. "I ordered too much food at lunch and thought I'd bring some for Peanut Butta and Daddy."

Estella watched her daughter remove containers from the bag. After Cera reached back in after the forth one her mother asked, "Mon Dieu, Cera. I can promise you they aren't starving. All of that can't possibly be leftovers. Why in the world would you order this much food? Did you have a staff meeting or something?"