Selfish Mistakes

25 - Second-rate

"Kevin, darling, how wonderful it is to see you again. We were worried you wouldn't find time in your busy schedule to join us today." Aristocrat Mrs. Sylvia rushed over to greet Kevin with an obtrusive kiss on the cheek.

Kevin managed a forced dry smile but held back a clever retort. He didn't want to spew sarcasm or anything of that sort within earshot of the boy he held in his arms.

Mrs. Sylvia turned her icy glare towards Liz as she threw a head-to-foot look to make the young woman feel inferior to their socialite status. She couldn't imagine Kevin stooping this low when it comes to associating himself with a low-class woman. If he had enough senses in him, Kevin should have married her daughter Darlene years ago.

Liz smiled politely to the old sophisticated woman. She had a feeling this was Darlene's mother, Liz could definitely smell the same blood of discrimination frenzy from a mile.

Kevin broke the awkward silence when he asked Liz to help him find something to eat for Darlene's son. They left Mrs. Sylvia on the spot by pretending the old woman wasn't there.

Liz was able to ask a random waiter to help them find snacks for the little boy. They weren't disappointed when the waiter came back after a few minutes with a bowl of ice cream for Aiden.

The three of them sat by a white wooden garden swing while Aiden enjoyed his ice cream.

Kevin felt sorry for Liz with her encounter with Darlene's mother. He recalled the same discrimination from Mrs. Sylvia that Jeremy went through while his friend was in a relationship with Darlene.

His best friend Jeremy didn't come from a wealthy family and it was for this reason that Darlene's mother had never given her approval to the couple. But as unbearable as Darlene was as a person like her mother, she truly loved Jeremy and fought her battles with her own family while she was with Jeremy all those years.

"You look great in that dress, by the way." Kevin saw how the crestfallen look on her face somehow changed into a tinge of annoyance towards his compliment. He felt much better to rile her up with his obnoxious lines rather than let Liz stress over Mrs. Sylvia.

"Save me from the agony of enduring your pickup lines, please." Liz rolled her eyes to show her impatience but inside she wanted to laugh and thank him for saving her from further humiliation.

"So what's gonna happen now?"  Kevin felt the urge to be the anchor for Liz.  He somehow felt the need to be useful this time.

"I don't have the slightest idea to be honest."  Liz looked at the boy again while releasing a heavy sigh.  It was already complicated when Jeremy's status was single, but now he has a son with his ex.  Liz wasn't desperate to be in a serious permanent relationship with Jeremy, but the feeling of being a third wheel wasn't what she could tolerate to handle.

"Do you want to fight for this? I'm pretty sure you'll have the upper hand. I know Jeremy, he's really serious about you."  At least that's what Kevin was hoping for because he has grown fond of Liz and he wants her to have a happy ending with his best friend.

"Wow, for a second there you really sounded convincing."  Liz gave a wry smile.  Something threatened to open the flood gates of tears but she took in a deep breath to stop it.  Damn hormones.

They both sat in silence in deep thoughts.  It was Aiden's voice calling out to his mother that broke the somber mood between them as they shifted their gaze in unison towards the approaching couple.