My Heart's Choice (On Hold)

Chapter 21

Finally the door swings shut behind Kenneth as he walks out of the room.

"Mom wanted you downstairs. Dinner is ready," his voice floats in, seconds before the door clicks shut.

Nora turns to me, her eyes bright, "Dinner time it is! I can't wait for that apple pie."

She hops off the bed, pulling at my arm and drags me downstairs. We notice Janet and my mom setting the table with Kenneth.

"Hurry up, old ladies. It's late already," Kenneth says to Nora who does not waste even a second to smack his arm.

I hear a faint chuckle from Kenneth, but I do my best to keep my eyes off him.

When all of us are seated at the table, Janet at the head of the table, then Mom infront of Kenneth and Nora infront of me, while I sat beside mom, and Nora beside Kenneth, Janet gestures us to dive in.

My stomach does uneasy flips and flops inside, that I find it hard to push the food down my throat. I can see each and every movement that Kenneth makes; his spoon raising to his mouth, the fork poking at pieces of fried bacon, his knife sliding across his plate, his adam's apple bobbing each time he swallows.

While on the other hand I am a ball of nerves. And my knife decides to disobey me at some moment like this. I keep on trying to cut through a piece of bacon in Janet's new spice-and-mint bacon dish that she says is pretty famous online.

My knife slips off the bacon each time I try and my mind completely goes blank for a second with all my thoughts focused on that stupid piece of bacon.

It is Dana vs Bacon for a moment when suddenly Janet calls my name. I find her smiling at me and smile back.

"I'm so happy that Nora is so fond of you. And the fact that both of you are already friends is quite pleasing," she says after a sip of wine, "Both of you would be attending the same school."

Nora winks at me, reminding me of her master-plan and I do my best to stop myself from flashing her a thumbs up, in fear that it might be seen.

"I'm so happy to meet her too. She is an excellent friend," I reply.

"Well Dana," Kenneth joins in, and I am pretty sure that my stomach can't handle this, "I'd like to warn you of certain things if you intend to continue this friendship of yours. First, don't invite Nora over for a sleepover. Try a bear instead, because the snoring is bound to be bearable that way. And two-"

Nora's face is red as a tomato as she nudges her brother in his ribs, making him stop talking with a slight hiss of pain.

"Shut up," she mouths, glaring at Kenneth.

Janet smiles at her kids quite lovingly and slightly shakes her head at them annoying each other. I can sense that she is happy to have them with her, and it is quite evident on her bright blue eyes which are now glowing with adoration.

"So Christine," Janet turns to my mom, "How's your husband doing these days?"

"He's fine, thank you. Infact he'd love to meet all of you when he comes over," she says with a smile.

Dad is coming over?

I turn to mom with questioning eyes, hoping that she understands my question. She gives me a faint nod and continues with her food.

My insides fill with a fine flutter. Dad is coming over, and it has been almost an year since he last showed up, after he missed a flight for Christmas.

"Dana's dad? I've never heard of him," Nora says turning to me for an explanation.

"He's a professor in New York, lecturing in Nuclear Physics," I deliver the answer I have prepared for anyone who asks about him.