30

Lauren Hart
We were welcomed by my overly excited parents and no, they weren’t excited to have me there, it was my boss. My dad did crush me in a hug and asked about my wellness. But again, my mom had put my boss on a higher pedestal.
Ignoring them, I roamed my eyes inside the house. Nostalgia hit me hard. The place where I had spent my childhood was the same as I had left it. Our house was not huge but it wasn’t small either. It was cozy. Though the furniture was not at its usual place, it was arranged differently. But the table, chair, and couch were the same I had stubbed my toe in many times. I almost giggled when I recalled making my mother run after me in the living room many times. I would use the furniture as a shield to save myself from her beating whenever she heard complaints about me.
My thoughts were broken when someone called my name. It was Laura, my older sister, who was descending the stairs and had a big smile on her face. Unlike me, who wore a business jumpsuit, she was wearing a beautiful below knee-length dress, makeup, and her waist-length hair tied in a ponytail. Her dangling earrings added glow to her beauty. Her straight body posture added to her height. She’s the girl that never broke rules and did whatever my parents asked her to do.
This is what my mother wanted me to become a prim and proper lady-a lady that must behave like a lady.
I smiled as well. No matter how much I disliked her for being our parent’s favorite, I missed her. She’s my sister after all. She’s not evil, she had never hurt me intentionally. It’s my parent’s love for her that made me dislike her. Insecurity always overpowered me, distancing me from my sister.
I squealed and hugged her tightly. “How have you been?” She asked, grinning ear to ear.
“Better than ever!” I didn’t miss to fit the sarcasm for my parents to hear.
“You know I missed you?” She said. “You forgot me after shifting to New York.”
“No, I didn’t,” I added quickly. “Just work kept me busy.” I shrugged my shoulders. She smiled before tilting her head and looking past me.
“And who that might be?” She asked in confusion.
“Oh, he’s my boss, Sean Peterson,” I replied.
“Oh.” She smiled widely and walked past me.
“It’s nice to have you here, Mr. Peterson. My name’s Laura.” She extended her hand for a handshake. And Sean didn’t take long to grab her hand.
“Laura Hart. A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.” He rose her hand and kissed the back of her hand.
My jaw dropped to the ground. Did he just kiss her hand and called her beautiful? Well, she is but he never complimented me! Never-ever!
Laura laughed, her cheeks turned pink. “Oh, thank you, Mr. Peterson.”
“Call me, Sean, Laura.” He replied, not leaving her hand.
My jaw ticked and my eyes narrowed at them. It was his first time meeting my sister and he seemed impressed by her and asked her to call him by his name. I worked for four years with him and he only asked me to address him by his name just a week ago.
It was sure he was flirting with her. Jerk! Player! He changed his mind when his eyes landed on a beautiful woman.
I scoffed. “So much for ‘attracted to me’!”
Why was I getting irritated? I had cleared him to stay away from me. And he could date whosoever he wanted, for all I care!
Okay, anyone but my sister!
I didn’t want my crush to date my sister.
And yes, I was getting jealous. Jealous of my own sister. She was everything a woman should be. And she flipped Sean’s heart just by her one look.
“For heaven’s sake, let go of your hands!” I muttered under my breath, getting impatient.
“So, what do you do?” Sean asked her sweetly.
“I help my parents with their clothing store.” She replied with the same sweetness.
You crush snatcher!
“Mr. Peterson, let’s have a seat and have a proper conversation, shall we?” For the first time in life, I loved my mom’s interruption. Love you for this, mom. For this once!
“Yeah, sure, Mrs. Hart and please call me Sean,” Sean replied and mother smiled at him.
We all settled ourselves on the couch. I sat beside Sean then my parents talked a while about work with Sean. Laura didn’t forget to make her presence felt by indulging in the conversation and my mother didn’t forget to praise her perfect daughter. Then the topic shifted to me.
“I hope Lauren is doing her work properly? She isn’t giving you trouble, is she?” Mom asked Sean.
My jaw ticked again. For heaven’s sake, I was no more in school! She didn’t have to ask him that! Just like that my love for her disappeared in thin air.
“Mom, this is irrelevant here-” I was cut off by her.
“Where are your manners? I didn’t ask you, did I?” She snapped in disbelief.
I was about to snap back but decided against it and then crossing my arms across my chest I looked away. That’s why I didn’t want to visit them. I could never be a good daughter to them because I could never become their puppet.
I felt Sean adjusting himself on the couch then he chuckled. “Trouble? Yes, she has been giving me a lot of trouble.”
My head snapped in his direction and found him looking at me. He had a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. I narrowed my eyes at him. He was making it harder for me to sit with my parents. How could he say that?
“I knew it!” Mom exclaimed.
“Lauren, is it true?” Dad asked in disbelief.
He then winked and faced my mom. “Relax…I was just kidding.” He chuckled. “She does her work with perfection. She’s so perfect that I don’t ever want to replace her as my P. A.”
Dad laughed. “Oh, I thought she still is the same as she has always been.”
“Perfect? I doubt that.” Mom scoffed.
I eyed her in annoyance. What’s her problem? Why could she never be satisfied with me?
“She’s always been the one who messes up a lot. I can’t tell you how many complaints I have heard about her. Be it her school, neighborhood, friends, or relatives; everybody has something to complain about her.” She glanced at me then at Laura. “But my Laura, she has always been nice. I have never heard complaints about her.” She smiled at her.
What an awesome way to embarrass me in front of my boss!
My eyes were settled on my mother yet I felt Sean’s eyes at me. I didn’t look at him; I knew his gaze must be filled with teasing.
No one was there to support me. Every single person sitting there had something to laugh about me. I had no say in the situation and I for sure didn’t want to sit between them to be a source of laughter to them. So, I tried to stand up but was stopped by a hand that tugged my wrist.
I frowned at Sean. He gave a nod asking me to sit and gave a gentle squeeze to my wrist. And what he said next flipped my insides.
“Mrs. Hart, in case you are thinking I’ve complaints about her then you are wrong. She has never done anything to complain about. She has been working with me for the last four years and she has always done her work to my expectations. She handles work pressure effortlessly. I’d even say she’s one of the best employees in the company.”
He took a stand for me! For me!
For the first time, I didn’t explain myself, somebody spoke for me.
My heart skipped several beats, for a second I thought I’d pass out and I almost did when Sean faced me and passed his stunning smile to me. My mouth opened and closed on its own, no words came out. I couldn’t form them. I was thankful for him to take a stand for me.
God, why he has to be so nice? I was seconds away from falling for him.
“Oh, that’s surprising because I never expected that I would ever hear anything positive about Lauren.” Mom’s voice reached my ear, making me look at her. Still can’t praise me? Huh!
“Oh, that’s great to hear.” My dad spoke up. Thank god, at least he felt good after hearing about me.
“Mom, Dad, I think we must leave. We have a long route to cover.” I interrupted.
“What, No! It’s not safe to drive at night.” Mom exclaimed. “Mr. Peterson, I think you should stay a night here.”
“Mom, it’s not a good idea,” I said.
“Yes, Mrs. Hart, it’s not a good idea. It would be a hassle for you and-” Sean tried to speak but mom cut him off as well.
“Oh, Mr. Peterson it won’t be a hassle at all. It’s almost dinner time and Laura cooks delicious food. You can’t leave without tasting the food cooked by her. Besides, we want to spend some quality time with Lauren before you both left for New York.”
Why did she have to bring Laura in between? Was she playing matchmaking? Oh, I won’t ever let that happen.
“Okay. Considering Lauren hasn’t visited for so long, she has every right to stay here. I am not a cruel boss.” Sean chuckled. I lightly nudged Sean, gaining his attention.
“I don’t want to stay. Please.” I mouthed, begging him. But before my pleading could reach his ears, my family jumped in excitement.
“It’s settled then, you two will stay the night.” Mom said. “Laura, show Mr. Peterson the guest room to freshen up then come join me in the kitchen.”
“Yes, mom.” The obedient daughter replied quickly.
“And Lauren you too help me in the kitchen.” Mom said to me.
“Why? I too need to freshen up.” I argued.
“Who told you not to freshen up?” She asked in annoyance. “Go fresh up then join us in the kitchen.” She ordered.
My nostrils flared when Laura stood up and approached Sean and sweetly asked him to follow her. Seeing them together was torture. Every passing second my temper flared.
God, Lauren he isn’t yours! Stop fucking getting jealous!
Being in the kitchen with mom was another torture of the day. Instead of the food, she kept on grilling me over and over again, leaving me to burn completely.
I had been cutting the carrots mom asked me to when out of nowhere she touched my hair. “Why have you cut your hair short? You have lost your shine. You know hair is the beauty of women?”
I slammed the spatula on the counter. “Mom, it’s just hair. It’ll grow again, besides I like my hair short.”
“Yeah, why don’t you start wearing manly clothes as well? Should have been a boy instead.” She said distastefully.
“Your bad luck, I am a girl and I enjoy every second of being one.” I passed her a sarcastic smile, flipping my hair with my hand.
“How insolent can you be? Do you behave the same way with your boss?” She tilted her head while asking so. “No man will ever want to have you if you don’t change your attitude.”
“I won’t change for nobody! A man must accept me the way I am if he wants me.” I retorted.
“God, this girl! I can’t tolerate you!” She lifted her hands in the air in surrender.
Laura chose the moment to enter the kitchen. My jaw ticked when I saw her; she had been with Sean, doing god knows what! I couldn’t keep an eye on her since my mother strictly wanted me in the kitchen.
“Oh, thank god Laura you are here. I was getting irritated.” Mom taunted me. “Laura, I’ll be back, till then start cooking your specials.” She then left the kitchen.
I scowled and turned back to cut the carrots.
“Don’t mind her. You know she has always been like this.” Laura’s soft voice made me sigh and I faced her.
“Then why is she always polite with you? What I did that got her irritated with me?” I crossed my arms across my chest as I leaned against the counter.
“Uh, because you break the rules?” She chuckled as she put the pan on the stove to cook her special dish-whatever it was. “Could you please pass me the oil?” She asked me.
I picked up the oil dispenser and slowly made my way to her. I extended the dispenser for her to hold and when she did I didn’t lose my hold on it.
“What do you think about Sean?” I asked. Frowning, she gently grabbed the dispenser and chuckled.
“He seems nice and-” She smiled secretly, increasing my suspension.
“And?” I raised my eyebrows.
“He’s hot!” She shrieked lowly. “Don’t you get affected by his hotness while you work with him?” She asked me.
I knew it! She felt something! Well, bad for her.
“You feel attracted to him, don’t you?” I asked suspiciously. Uneasiness developing inside me with every passing second.
“What?!” She looked at me as though I had grown two plus two horns.
“No! We just met, Lauren.”
“Then why were you sticking to him back there?” I asked bluntly.
“I wasn’t. Mom asked me to show him the guest room and asked me to make sure he feels comfortable, that’s what I was doing.”
I rolled my eyes. “Have you ever…just for once…tried going against mother?”
“You are more than enough to do that.” She laughed. She then began to pour oil into the pan to start cooking and I went back to cutting carrots. But I was still apprehensive. Did she really not feel anything for him?
I had to confirm.
“Laura,” I called her. She looked at me from over her shoulder. “Do you really not feel anything for my boss?”
Smiling, she approached me and held my shoulders. “Why would I feel anything for someone my sister has eyes on?”
My eyes turned wide and swatting her hands away I distanced myself from her. “What are you talking about? I don’t have an eye on anyone, especially not on my boss.”
“I saw it, Lauren.” She chuckled as she crossed her arms across her shoulders, studying me. “I saw how your eyes fired up when I was talking to him.”
“No, I-” She cut me off.
“I am your sister, Lauren. I can study your expressions quite well. Though you speak your heart out but sometimes when you don’t, your face brings out what’s happening inside that head of yours.”
“Uh…” I couldn’t come up with anything. She was right actually. And she wasn’t bad at all. It’s me who took it the wrong way.
She, out of nowhere, hugged me. “Nice choice by that way. Mamma will be proud of you.” She patted my back.
I pushed her away. “You are getting it wrong. Nothing is going on between us. And mamma will never be proud of me!” I huffed.
“Your choice of boyfriend might do wonders! She’s very much impressed by him.” She winked.
“He…he-” I huffed. She won’t listen. “Talking about… boyfriend…what about you? Do you have one?” I asked as I wiggled my eyebrows.
“Yes, but…he’s busy; I am busy…we don’t have time for each other.” She shrugged her shoulders.
Thank god she had one. I thought mother was controlling that too.
“Then you should explain this to mom.” I frowned.
“Lauren, I can’t. She needs me, work needs me.” She sighed.
“Dad is there to help her, you know? They both have been running the business together since we were kids.” I pointed out. They had opened their own clothing store when I was seven.
“Time has changed, Lauren. Our business is expanding and they need a helping hand. And I am always willing to help, besides they pay me more than a job will ever give me.” She joked at the end.
“Then you better set your priorities right, Laura. You are getting old, you know? Mom will not be happy if her favorite daughter doesn’t get married on time.” I blinked my eyes teasingly.
She laughed and slapped my shoulder. “You will never change!”
“I intend to annoy mom a little longer.” I laughed as well. I missed this. My mom had brought differences between us otherwise we could have been like other siblings who can’t survive without sharing their secrets.
At the dinner table, Sean sat wearing the clothes he had been wearing because dad’s clothes didn’t fit him and he felt much comfortable wearing his own.
I was forced to sit beside mom and Laura was asked to sit beside Sean. She passed me an apologetic look and I scowled at mom. I will not let that her play matchmaking!
We began with soup and Sean teased me by giving me glances while having a conversation with Laura. He was trying to make me jealous; what he didn’t know that I was already on the peak of jealousy-which I should not be.
Nevertheless, I gave him the benefit of doubt and narrowed my eyes at him while slurping the soup prepared by Laura. I had no idea that made a sound while eating but my mother pointed it out.
“Don’t make noises while eating! These are not table manners, Lauren.” She scolded me and then chuckled nervously at Sean. “Hehe, she can be a handful sometimes.”
“I can understand.” He chuckled back. Huh? What does he understand?
“Lauren, at least behave when having food.” Dad scolded.
“What are you talking about, Jordan? She never learned to behave!” Mom said to dad.
What did I do wrong? A slurping noise, that’s what I made, that’s it. That too by mistake!
They were again doing it and that too in front of Sean. What must he be thinking about me?
Okay, I had had enough.
“You know what, mom?” I placed my spoon on the plate. “You are right, I should not have done it. I should have done the right way instead.” I smirked at her. I picked up the soup bowl in my hands. “And this is the right way.” I passed her a mocking smile and drank the soup from the bowl in one gulp.
I heard her gasp beside me and heard Sean coughing. I placed the bowl back and ran my tongue over my lips.
“The soup is tasty, Laura. I loved it.” I praised her as I continued filling my plate with other food items.
“Lauren, slow down, the food isn’t going anywhere.” Mom scolded. Ignoring her, I kept on filling my plate and ate the way I wanted to.
After dinner, dad took Sean out for an after-dinner walk and mom sent Laura with them and like a puppet, she did what she was asked to. Mom then dragged me to the kitchen and gave me a deathly glare.
“When will you learn to behave? You always embarrass me in front of others! What your boss must be thinking about us? Can’t you see what impression you are leaving behind?” She scolded.
“Why it has to be always about what you want? And did you give a thought to how embarrassing it becomes for me when you interfere in everything? What my boss must be thinking of me?” I cried in exasperation. “Why don’t you leave things as they are. Why do you want things to go your way?”
“Because what I do is best for you all. And why you are the one that always opposes? Laura never opposed me.” She pointed out.
“That’s because she’s afraid of you! You don’t let her live her life. You have made her your puppet! Can’t you see you are ruining her life? She doesn’t have time for herself, she is missing a lot in her life just because of you!”
“Enough!” Her voice raised, making me flinch. “How could you accuse me of running my own daughter’s life! Am I ruining your life, tell me? Haven’t I given you the so-called freedom you wanted? Unlike you, Laura knows her responsibilities, she chose to be a good daughter and helps me with everything!”
“Then keep your lovely daughter glued to you for all I care!” I retorted. “Don’t try to make me a puppet as her.”
“I can’t believe you are my daughter!” She said in distaste.
“Unfortunately, I am. Deal with it.” I retorted and walked past her and walked out of the house to breathe in the fresh air but when I saw Laura and Sean laughing together, I stomped my feet and ran to the nearest park and sat on the bench under the huge ancient tree that was lucky enough to survive the cruelties of development.