Wistcoástia (On Hiatus)

Chapter 13: Party

Reena: Mother is serving me breakfast. She told me that she cooked it herself. Am I dreaming? If ever, I don’t want to wake up.

“I sent messages to your Father and brothers that you two are home for the weekend.”

“Are they coming home too?” Sean asks.

“Maybe only Matthew will… Derrick and your Father are both busy.”

“Matthew is already in his last year in military school, right?” I ask.

“Yes.” Mother says while adding more eggs on my plate. “By the way, Reena…do you also plan on entering yourself?”

“Hmmm…I’m not sure yet but maybe I will.”

“Reena, it’s alright if you don’t want to…you actually don’t need to anyway. Whatever you want to do is alright with me and your father.”

“Thank you, Mother.” I say. “But I always wanted to help in some way.”

“Reena, why don’t you marry after you finish high school? I know a lot of good guys that come from respectable families.”

“Hey, I’m too young for that!” I protest, blushing.

“You’re actually on the right age, right Mother?” he says. “Usually, young ladies get engaged at around your age.”

“Really?” I say in disbelief. I really don’t know anything about engagements and marriage. I sigh. Being too innocent about the world is bad.

“Reena, I got engaged to your Father when I was in your age.” Mother says. “My Father was actually against it.”

“Why?” Sean asks, puzzled. “Most people will want their children to be a part of one of the Duke Houses.”

“That’s right.” I agree.

“It was okay for him if I married in one of the Duke Houses but not into the Brightnott family. He told me that he didn’t want me to experience the consequences of war. He didn’t want me to feeling of loss and pain…”

“What did you do to convince grandfather, Mother?” I ask.

“My Father was against it but he still respected my decision because he knew how much I love your father. The day that I left his house, he told me that I should face the consequences of the choice I made. He also wished that I do not regret my actions because it had been my own decision…”

“Grandpa was just worried about you.” Sean says.

“I know…” Mother says. “He visited me the day I sent Reena away. I thought he was going to lecture me or something…but he did not.”

“What did he do, Mother?” I ask.

“He silently embraced me for a long time while I cried my heart out…”

Mother looks like she’s going to burst into tears again. I reach out for her hand and she squeezes it. I give her a warm smile.

“Reena…that’s why I wish that you’ll marry in an ordinary but respectable noble family…thought I have no regrets marrying your father, I do not want you to experience what I did…”

I just stare at her, unsure of what to say but I nod in the end. “Yes, Mother…”

“Mother, no more crying, alright?” Sean says. “Your eyes are going to get all puffy and that will be too bad.”

“Oh no!” Mother exclaims and we jumped in surprise. “I nearly forgot about it!”

“What’s the matter?” Sean asks.