Chapter Twelve
At seven Sienna arrived wearing a red dress. All his mom's friends pounced upon her, admiring her dress and hair. Vincent wasn't visible anywhere nearby. He had excused himself and gone out the moment they all poured in. How his father tolerated them was beyond his understanding.
Julianna felt sad when Sienna dressed up and went to Vincent's house for a party. She kept imagining Sienna wrapped up in Vincent's arms and felt extremely jealous.
Her mind was going crazy and she had to occupy herself with something to keep the random thoughts at bay. She went to the kitchen and thought of making dinner for herself and her parents. She first read how to operate a cooking range and when she understood the basic operation, she checked the well-stocked pantry.
She picked up a packet of spaghetti and read the instructions. Placing water to boil on the fire, she went to the refrigerator to get some eggs. Checking on her phone, the method for making scrambled eggs, she proceeded with the task at hand.
After a long time, her spaghetti was ready sprinkled with mozzarella shreds, shallots and bell pepper slices and garnished with scrambled eggs. Happy with her first dish, she called her parents to dinner.
"I was about to order something. You've made us dinner?" Said her dad, appreciating her efforts.
Her mom kissed her cheek and sat at the table. "This is delicious, sweetie," she said.
The doorbell rang and she rushed to open the door. She froze at the sight of Vincent standing at her doorstep.
He came inside and her parents stared at him with their jaws dropped. "Sienna's not at home, son," said her father.
"I know, she's at my house. My mom and her friends are with her. I escaped. I don't like such parties," he said, eying the food.
"Come join us for dinner. Julianna's first attempt at cooking," said her mom.
Vincent's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? I've got to taste it then. Serve me Anna, " he said, sitting down beside her, ready to tuck in. Her parents looked at each other. He never came home when Sienna was present.
Julianna served him a plate of food and he tucked in. "I love it," he said, with a grin.
Julianna's dad chuckled at his over enthusiasm. He saw how happy Julianna looked with Vincent around. He started having second thoughts on the upcoming wedding. Was he making a mistake and ruining the lives of his daughters? Surely he could find another investor if Leroy Martin pulled out.
After dinner Julianna went to the kitchen to rinse the dishes. Vincent helped her. Julianna's mom couldn't believe that Vincent could laugh and wash dishes with Julianna. He left his own party, his own fiancée to happily eat a simple spaghetti dish and wash dishes afterwards? She just couldn't believe her eyes. She went to the living room to her husband.
"Those two look so cute and happy together, washing dishes, Geoff," she observed.
"I know. I was also thinking the same thing. Are we making a mistake by separating two souls who love one another?" He asked his wife.
"Maybe but what choice do we have?" Asked her mom.
"Let's see if we could find another investor," said Geoffrey McCoy. His wife agreed.
Vincent stayed with them for an hour more, chatting happily. Then he took his leave before Sienna returned and went to a pub. He wasted some more time and returned home late at night.
"Where were you, may I ask?" Asked his mom furiously. She had been waiting the whole time for him. She was embarrassed to find that he had disappeared from the house.
"Anywhere but here. Why do you care? You had fun with your showpiece daughter in law. Didn't you?" He said, with equal frustration.
"Don't you dare talk to me in that tone Vincent, " she threatened.
"You dictate my life and I will do what I please," he said, going upstairs to his room.
He had to get out of this house. He couldn't take in his mom's meddling nature anymore. He was an adult and needed his peace of mind.
The next day he contacted his friends at the university and hunted for a good apartment that he could buy for himself. He settled for a beautiful penthouse with amazing views of the nearby Lady Bird lake and the Austin skyline. Happy with his choice, he went home to pack his stuff.
He was midway with his packing when his mom barged into his room,"Where do you think you're going?" She yelled.
"I'm moving out, mom," he said, as calmly as he could.
"What the hell! You're not going anywhere," she ordered.
"What's wrong? Why are you creating such a racket?" Asked his dad, as he walked up the stairs from his study.
"He's packing and moving out of here," wailed his mom and Vincent rolled his eyes.
"Mom please don't create a scene. I'm just staying at my own place. I'm an adult if you've forgotten. I will visit you both when you need me to," he said, begging them to understand.
"I can't believe he's really moving away from us, honey," she said, looking at her dad.
"Let him, Christina. It's natural when children grow up into adults. You can't hold him down. Let him go and live his life," said his dad.
"He can go and live alone but he will have to marry Sienna. Steve's joining your university. If you don't behave well like a good fiancé with Sienna, he will report to me and I will disown you. Mark my words," she threatened and turned around and left.
His father made an apologetic face at him and left too.
Vincent packed his stuff and kissed his mom's cheek. "Mom please don't be upset. I'm just living in another place. I'll be here whenever you call me, " he said and his mom smiled and hugged him.
"Ok, you've grown up, I guess," she said, giving in at last. He hugged his dad too. "Take care dad, I'll be here to see you both nearly everyday," he promised. His dad patted his cheek lovingly.
It was difficult being the only child of your overprotective parents.
He left for his apartment with a guilty and heavy heart. He needed a little space to breathe. His mom was encroaching onto his personal life and he needed his peace of mind.
The rest of the day he arranged his stuff in his new home. He was very excited to have his own place at last. His best friends Bronson Summers and Steve Clement also joined in. They brought dinner with them and the three friends enjoyed an evening together.
