Arranged

Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen - Homecoming [edited]

September 2015

Melanie's POV

"You flew me all the way to the end of the world for a business party?!" I ask bewildered. I thought my mother was the queen of dramatics but this proves otherwise. I could've been in bed all day, not to complain, the spa was great but really?!

"Melanie! You look so gorgeous!" My mother chimes coming in to give me a hug. I flash her a smile and fiddle with my dress slightly. She pulls away beaming per usual and goes to work at perfecting my appearance. She lifts my chin and pushes my shoulders back. She believes she doesn't have OCD but anyone would take my side on this argument, she can't read a book with sitting with her legs crossed at "the right angle".

My mother looks like the beauty she is. Her dress is a deep royal blue color with sheer lace sleeves, it's fitted at the waist and flows out abundantly, flowing like mercury. She drips of diamonds, from her earrings to her necklace, and even her wedding rings. She still has yet to let go of my father, I doubt she'll ever take those rings off.

"You're glowing! Just absolutely stunning." My mom begins to tear up and I don't know quite what about but I go to work consoling her as Alexander slips away to God knows where. He makes a move around the corner following a blonde woman I've never seen before.

"I'm sorry, it's just... Lance would've loved to see you like this." She sniffles patting her eyes with a handkerchief and straightening up. Whenever someone so much as mentions my father she looses a grip.

"Melanie, how beautiful you are! Has my son been treating you right?" Alexander's mom rings, floating up besides me. She wears a deep purple, a color that has always suited her. Her hair is up in a magnificent bun and her jewelry is gorgeous. Diamond studs and a necklace consisting of one medium sized diamond. She never need much to enhance her beauty and contrary to my mom, she has never liked much of anything around her face. Therefore she rarely wore makeup and jewelry.

"Hello Mrs. Beth, you look wonderful as usual." I say smiling pulling her in for a hug.

I chatted a while with them both and they introduced me to the rest of the guests. They stemmed from Alexander's grandparents who I had only met a couple of times, to his aunts, uncles, and cousins. One of which stood out completely seeing as though he held a bottle of champagne as opposed to a glass, Tyler was his name. Despite him being slightly drunk he was a gentleman and ridiculously funny.

Tyler managed the Chamberlain Hotels in Europe with his parents, Vivienne and Charles. From his speech I could infer that he was incredibly smart just as his parents and Alex himself.

There weren't very many people here at all, despite my mom and I, everyone was a Chamberlain. Well, not despite me. I was actually very nervous to meet Alex's family. I had never met more than his parents and grandparents, and at the wedding I checked out and don't remember anyone I may have met. Yet, within an  hour I had figured out everyone's name.

There was, of course, Elizabeth and Vincent, Alex's parents. Mrs. Beth had two sisters who were both older than her, Vivienne and Angelica. They all resembled each other, with the same nose, mouth shape, and their eye colors were very similar. Whereas Mrs. Beth had dark brown hair, Vivienne had light brown hair, and Angelica was dirty blonde.

They were both married, Vivienne to Charles, a neurosurgeon, and Angelica to Roman a photographer. Vivienne like Mrs. Beth was a housewife, and proud of it at that, though they weren't snobby. Angelica was a model, she had started modeling at a young age and she fell in love with it. Angelica and Roman were free spirits, they lived from place to place, sticking wherever they landed. They never had any kids but Vivienne and Charles had two. Tyler and Hailey.