I'm yours

Part 28

While cooking lunch and baking a cake with Rachel, Beth was forced to tell her life story to Rachel on which she almost started crying. Again. Beth started wondering if there was something they could talk about without making Rachel cry. “So, uh, how did you and Vincent meet? If I may know.” There was a pause until she heard her sniffling. ‘You’re kidding me, right?’ Beth asked herself while turning to Rachel, ready to apologize for asking. “Ugh, don’t worry, I was cutting onions. They always make me cry.”, ‘Why am I not surprised? Stop it, Beth, you’re being bitchy. Wait, I have an idea; why don’t you ask her to lend you some of her feelings, since you got none?’ Beth stopped peeling carrot she was holding and sighed. Seriously, was she just…? Jesus, it’s been a long time since she talked to herself.
“We met in high school.  I remember it as it was yesterday. Vince was rebellious, but also did well at school.  It all started when he sat behind me and kept poking me in the back with his pen until I took it from him and broke in half. He didn’t leave me alone since then.” Rachel said with a smile and maybe even chuckled while remembering. “You are together since high school?”, “Yes. As I said, he didn’t leave me alone. We even went to the same college together.  He was quite a pest in the beginning, but once I got to know him…” and now she giggled. “That is so nice to hear.” Beth commented and continued peeling the carrot. It really was. When you’re with someone you met as a girl and you love each other even after all those years behind you… Cute as hell.

By the time boys came back from the meeting, Rachel and Beth were done with the lunch.
“Welcome home, darling. How did the meeting go?” Rachel greeted her husband while Beth rushed to hug Sebastian; she felt an urge to hug him tightly. “I’m glad you’re back.” She muttered into his shoulder and kissed him. “Did something happen?” he asked confusedly on which Beth simply shook her head. “No, I’m just happy you’re here, that’s all.”, “Hey, Ciel! Oh, how great you’re here, I missed you!” everyone turned to Ciel’s awful imitation of a girly voice and gave him a questionable look. “What? I want someone to welcome me, too.” He answered and went upstairs to his room to change clothes. “Yeah, I think I’ll change, too.”, “Can’t wait to eat, I’m starving.” Vincent and Sebastian talked mutually while walking upstairs. “Well, I’m about to set the table.”, “I’ll help.”

Not even half an hour passed after lunch when guests arrived. Beth wasn’t sure if it was arranged or not, but they sure were family. “Elizabeth, this is my sister, Francis Midford, her husband Alexis Leon, son Edward and her daughter, your namesake Elizabeth.” Vincent introduced his family to Beth. “Hello, I’m Elizabeth Brant, it is nice to meet you.” She introduced herself and smiled at each of them. When they sat down on the couch and started talking about general themes, Beth studied each of them. Francis, if she remembered correctly, seemed as a strict woman mainly because of her indifferent face and upright seating. Her blond hair was tied in a bun with one long, curled cowlick falling down. She wore beige Capri pants and a white sleeveless blouse, which made her look elegant. At least from Beth’s point of view. Edward, her son, was kind of flustered and kept his head away from Beth, talking to Ciel about something. His sister, Elizabeth, looked very cute with her long, golden-blond curls falling down to her waist. To make the image perfect, she wore slight pink dress which reached her knees and the matching shoes. Beth felt weird calling a 20-year-old girl cute, but damn it. At least she looked 20. And to finish her study, the father, Alexis, was the most relaxed one in the family. He was cheerful and casually talked to Vincent, laughing his heart out. His hair was grey, but had indications of blond hair.
“Beth, could you come and help me, please?” Rachel kindly asked Beth and she nodded while standing up and followed her to the kitchen.

“Okay, quick introduction.” Rachel said in a lower voice than usual while preparing tea and coffee. “Francis seems stringent, but is actually quite respectful, if you’re consistent of being respected, though. She’s a sincere critic and doesn’t know to embellish the truth. Deal with it somehow. Her husband, Alexis… everyone calls him Alex, except Francis; she calls everyone by their full name. Anyway, Alex is in one word, carefree, since Francis is there to take care of everything.” Beth wasn’t sure why was Rachel telling her about them, but she was thankful; not everyone would do that.
As Rachel kept talking, Beth opened the cookies Rachel handed her and shook them out into the bowl. “Edward is proud, just like his mother, but can’t quite ‘stand’ girls. Especially those like you. And me.” To simplify the sentence, Rachel showed with her eyes to Beth’s breasts. “Oh… Well, that explains a lot.”, “Yeah. And Elizabeth, who everyone calls ‘Lizzy’, is kind of childish, despite her age. She is 19, in case you wondered and Edward is 21.” Rachel finished with preparing beverages and talking at the same time and sighed at the end. “They always drink the same, so there is no point in asking.” She smiled and gave one tray to Beth, on which were cups with tea and cookies while she carried the other one, with coffee, sugar and milk.