Tied To You

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To my readers: Since I didn't update last week, you will be getting a double update this week!

A Good Transition

"This is my favorite place in the house, its my nook, I find solace in this place. I go here to escape. Sometimes I'm in here for days because I get so lost in the books I read." Michael looked at the sparkle in her eyes. He was in her realm, finally he was able to see apart of her, this aspect of her life that's not documented in the media. Ava opened the door revealing a loft style home;  the ceilings were high and the bookshelf on the east side of the wall stretched to the top of the ceiling. Her loft had a small second story that had a bed and side table but that was it. The lower part of the loft was a living space with nice comfortable couches, multiple rugs, and bean bag chairs, plus a bathroom tucked away on the side of the loft.

"This place is nice." Michael said as he looked around Ava's nook.

"Dad had this custom house built for my mom when she was pregnant with me as her painting nook, but then when I was born she stopped painting to focus on me and brother. Dad turned it into maid quarters when we had only a few workers here, then when the number of people working here got bigger dad turned it into a guest house. About two years ago, dad turned this into my nook. You will always find me in this place if I am not inside our house." Ava said as she tidied up the books she completed.

"Well this concludes the house tour. Let's go check to see if breakfast is ready." She said as she grabbed Michael's hand not letting go of it as they walked back into the house.

"Perfect timing Ava. Your dad just arrived from his jog, and breakfast is ready. While you were giving him a tour of the house I had Manang Rosie and Mang Ramon take Michael's blazer to the cleaners." She said to the two as they walked into the dinning room. "Michael, would you like me to start you off with some coffee or juice." Ava's mother asked.

"A glass of mango juice. Would be nice please." He said smiling back at Elena who saw the intertwined hands of the two.

"Sure thing. Why don't you guys have a seat while everyone makes their way down for breakfast." The two smiled and headed for the dining room. The table was neatly dressed with a velvet table runner where all the food was neatly arranged as well as the fine china. Michael pulled out the chair for Ava and helped her get seated before sitting in the seat right next to her.

"You know, you have a wonderful family." He said to her. "My family is nothing like yours. Sure we look good together but we only do it for the camera. We are super dysfunctional, we don't even sit together at the table or even go home. The house is practically empty that you can see dust mites." Ava didn't expect to for him to say that. She always thought that the Carter's were one big family because they always seemed like a happy bunch at functions, events, and parties; even at the family dinners the Montenegro's host once a month. At that moment, Ava realized that you can never really judge a book by it's cover.

Moments later everyone was arriving to the table, the first to arrive was Karlie, who was carrying Elie on her side. She looked surprised when she saw Michael, but quickly brushed it off after her boyfriend Evan came down. Evan unlike Karlie, kept asking questions to Ava as to why Michael was at the house and what his intentions were coming.

"Kuya, you act like you didn't see him yesterday. You guys were all buddies yesterday and now you're interrogating him like a criminal." Ava giggled as she called her brother's bluff.

"It's weird seeing him in our house." He said scratching his head.

"Well get use to it man, cause you're going to see more of this handsome face here a lot." Michael sarcastically said as Evan playfully punched him in the shoulder. It was amazing to see that everyone liked Michael. She always thought Michael was very introverted, but after getting to know him, he's actually a nice extroverted guy. It's no surprise why Cora loves him.   Alvin Montenegro arrived to the dining room in his work attire, before he sat down everyone greeted him good morning, as he took Elie and placed her on his lap. As they ate Michael kept silent,he wanted to observe the Montenegro's and their family dynamic. He couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous. There was a lot of laughter and smiles at the table. Michael knew that this was going to be a transition for him, but he knows it's going to be a good transition.

"You're awfully quiet there Michael." Alvin Montenegro said as he sipped his coffee.

"Honestly, I am not use to this. Everyone smiling, laughing and enjoying the meal. I barely see my family cause we are all so busy." He said not trying to reveal what's happening in his family.

"I always tell your dad to make time for family even when things get busy. Having a good family dynamic is what makes everything less conflicting it also helps build strong relationships, but your dad has a different way of dealing with his own family that is very unconventional." Alvin said.

Michael had to admit to himself that he was very jealous of Ava and her family. He envied everything about her family, but that jealousy went away as he soon realized that he will be apart of this family more than ever. At that very moment, as he looked at his wife-to-be sitting beautifully in front of him conversing with her family, he knew no money could buy the love the Montenegro's have for each other. The contract that him and Alvin came up with him wasn't worth it anymore because this time he's going to focus on investing in himself rather than on other people.