Going Under Cover

Chapter 16

16

Exactly two days later, I found myself standing outside my parents house, a house too large for just two people. I remembered having mentioning that fact to them once only to be protested against by my mother dear. 'Guests', was her argument and maybe she was right. A large house was needed for that indeed. My two sisters, their husbands and the devil children were going to be here after all. And me of course. And Martin.

Not that they knew about Martin's existence and I planned to keep it that way until I opened that front door and returned home.

Martin, on the journey up to Dublin, had been anxious almost, as if I was actually bringing him to meet my parents, as if he was planning on asking for my hand in marriage. It was ridiculous, well to me anyway. He didn't need to be nervous, in fact he should have been hardening himself up. My family was no doubt going to try and break him during his stay. He was an easy target, not too bright and too polite for his own good. A disastrous recipe for someone about to enter hell itself.

 I took a short moment to take his presence in, a warm one. Martin breathed in deeply, looking warily at the house that stood before him, in all of its glory. What had my father done to earn this? I honestly don't know, something to do with a business deal that went right for once before I was born. He had always been well off, thanks to Gramps of course, who unfortunately passed away when I was at the age of not actually remembering anything. I had heard that he was just like me, foul tempered and 'rebellious'.

When I was younger I had absolutely loved that idea, me being a 'bad-ass'. While now, as a young adult, I find that title a bit harsh. Just because I didn't listen to the stuck-up demands of my mother, didn't make me a bad person necessarily. I took on a part time job and earned my own money. It may not have been enough to get me into college by myself but it was something, the only thing that helped me get away from this nightmare. I refused to spend my parents' money, well my father's but my mother always claimed that what is his, is also hers. Because they were married and that is clearly what happens when you tie the knot, your other half steals everything.

Oh, how I was looking forward to this little holiday away in Dublin.

"Coming?" I asked, turning to Martin who's complexion would lead to the assumption that he needed a paper bag. A nauseous, green tint was left on his skin as he nodded his head, stepping out of the car while I closed my door behind me. My converse kicked an out of place stone away, ending up somewhere in the perfectly mowed lawn. I almost felt sorry for whoever was going to cut that next, hoping secretly that the machine wouldn't break.

But before I could take another step forward, I noticed a figure bounding towards me. At that moment, I recalled something that I had previously watched on television once. It was as if I was a small piece of prey, minding their own business, just nibbling on a grass as you do while a large lion sped towards them. I figured that maybe, if I was quick enough, I could move slightly to the side and the on-coming figure wouldn't notice and plough straight into the run-down car, which looked very out of place here.

Still, I also thought that I might as well get this 'hug' and 'kisses' thing out of the way before anyone else could witness it. It was bad enough that Martin had to see this, I didn't want my sisters to enjoy my torture. Knowing them, they were probably already seated in this best seats, waiting on me to appear, like a comedy skit. I was going to mess up somewhere along the line, there was no doubt in my mind about that. Either I'd say something crude and rude or I'd fall and rip my pants to pieces, both equally bad for me.

"Darling!" I flinched back as my mother came into contact with my body. I heard faintly the noise of a bone cracking, more than likely my back under the weight of two bodies. Her tiny arms wrapped around me while I patted her back awkwardly. Honestly, I didn't know what to do in such situations. Was rubbing in circular motions a better choice, more affection? Did my mother want me to do anything back? Or did she just want to suffocate me with her two big balloons? From the looks of it, 'Dan' and 'Ger' had come out to play with force, maybe even bigger than since I had last seen them.