Sinners and Saints II

Chapter 18

Olivia munched slowly on her lunch amidst the awkward silence in the dining room. The maids were standing erect like statues right behind the table just in case anyone needed anything. Not like anyone would. There was barely any space left on the huge table for anything else. There was so much food that she was a hundred percent sure they weren't going to eat them all. The silence was really weird, but maybe it was better that way. Maybe all she needed was the silence to play on till she was out of the house. Maybe Sommadina's silence was to her own benefit.

"Olivia,"

Okay, that was exactly not what she wanted. Why did her name have to be used to initiate a conversation? She slowly looked away from her food, raising her head to meet Randy's who was busy wiping his mouth with a napkin. She watched him raise his glasses up his nose bridge.

"So, Rafael told me you finally got a job at everyday news."

Oh did he?

"That's amazing." A tiny smile spread through his chubby cheeks. "I don't strike you as someone who is interested in journalism."

"I uh, I used to do a lot of writing in the past but recently, I picked an interest in journalism after what happened to me."

"You mean after you went to jail." Olivia slowly turned to Sommadina whose eyes were still glued to her plate. She didn't exactly lie. She let out a really silent sigh as Randy's voice brought her attention back to him.

"Journalism is really a tough one I must say, especially in a country like ours. Journalists aren't really heard or given a chance to do their job. It's a big risk."

"Try talking her out of it Dad," Rafael cut in, chewing slowly on his bean cake. "That's if she even listens."

Olivia slowly let out a nervous smile.

"Rafael, you told your mother over the phone that you had something important to tell us, something special." Randy relaxed in his chair, rubbing his palms together with his eyes on Rafael. Rafael smiled a bit and then turned to Olivia. "I guess we can hear it now, right before dessert?"

Olivia returned Rafael's smile when she felt his hand reach for hers on the table, he squeezed them. Of course she knew what the news was. What she also knew was that Rafael couldn't wait to break the news about their engagement to his parents.

"Well Dad," he turned to Sommadina. "Mum," He turned back to his father. "Olivia and I have decided that we would want to spend the rest of our lives together." He had the brightest smile on his face as he looked into Olivia's eyes, causing her to reciprocate. He was so proud of her. "We are getting married."

Everyone turned when they heard Sommadina's loud scoff.

"Over my dead body."
She didn't even wait a second to be against it. A huge scowl covered her face.

Olivia held her breath.

"Mum?" Rafael turned to her, frowning too.

"Is this it?" She glared at Olivia with so much disgust in her eyes. "Is this what you wanted? What you had mapped out from the beginning?" Sommadina dropped her knife and fork with a loud click sound.

"Mum," Rafael rubbed his brows. He knew exactly what was about to happen. Just how much did his mother have to drink this time?

Olivia looked around the room, trying to figure out if it was her she was really talking to. It really was her.

"First, you made him get you out of jail for free, and then into his home and now you want him to get married to you."