Lunar's Eclipse || Wattys 2019

Epilogue 3: The Name 'Kensington'

For a second I'm pretty sure that Nathan's mum is mistaking me for someone else.

Unfortunately?

What does that mean?
I've never even met her in my life before now.

I don't realise I've been standing in the same spot and everyone has gone inside until Nathan walks over to me.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asks and I look at him, unsure of what to say.

Should I even speak at all?

Maybe I didn't hear correctly?

Of course I did! The way that smile vanished off her face like a spell. And then she had walked out....

"Lu?" Nathan snaps me out of my thoughts and I subconsciously force a smile.

"I'm fine." I say and he smiles as he reaches his hand out for me and leads me to the large dinner hall where everyone is seated.

Staring at how happy Nathan is, I don't think I want to ruin this for him...or his family.
I don't think he even knows his mother doesn't like me.
I have to try and make this work...maybe after the buffet, I'll try to talk to his mum again.

I feel more confident with that thought in mind, but my heart sinks when Nathan leads me to his family table.
His parents are seated at the centre of the round table and besides them is Fred and Betty who smile at me as we get there.

Nathan helps me into the seat besides Betty and sits next to his Dad, fully occupying the table.

"I'm so glad you could make it." Betty says and I smile at her,

"Me too." I say and I turn to Nathan's mum, but she is busy talking with Fred, smiling pleasantly like royal queen.

Just then, the waiters troop in, in a uniform-like-fashion, carrying bowls and trays of food.
Turkish, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Indian, Greek, Thai, Japanese, French,....everything.

Nathan leans over and whispers in my ear,

"I know you're gonna love this. There are all sorts of cuisines to chose from you little foodie." He teases and pecks me below my ear, sending shivers around my body as I turn to smile at him.
But Nathan's mum is staring right at us in the most disapproving look ever and suddenly I lose appetite.
For everything.

The dinner.
The party.
The cruise.

I want to go back---No.
I want to go home!

Home in Los Angeles.
Back in our safe, penthouse where it was just me and Nathan.
In our little world.

"Madamè?" A voice says and I blink to see a female waiter staring at me.

"Pardon?"

"What cuisine?" She asks in an excellent French accent and I shrug.

"Well---"

"She loves Italian. And I'll have French." Nathan says, saving me and the waiter smiles contentedly as she moves to serve Nathan and another waiter comes to serve me.

He plates arancini, osso buco alla milanese, and finally pasta with Bolognese sauce.

"That's enough." I say to the waiter and he nods before leaving.
Nathan turns to my plate and chuckles.

"They're going to think you're pregnant again." He teases in a whisper and just as I giggle at his joke, his mum cuts in,

"My word. Are you going to eat all that?" She asks and everyone turns to me.
Betty, Fred and Nathan begin to chuckle at her remark.