THE sun had just dipped below the horizon, casting the world in shades of twilight as the Petersons house buzzed with activity. The dining room was a picture of elegance, adorned with flickering candlelight and the rich aroma of a meticulously prepared meal.
Amelia’s family, the Redfords, were already gathered, chatting and laughing in anticipation of the evening’s event.
The men were discussing with each other, like wise the women, while Amelia busied herself chatting with Zoey on the phone, keeping each other company.
“Mummy,” Amelia suddenly called at her mom.
“Yes dear,” Mrs. Redford replied as she looked away from Mrs. Petersons whom she was having a conversation with, and then at her.
Amelia moved closer, bringing her mouth close to her mother’s ears and then she whispered things to her.
She laughed.
“It’s alright,” her mother said and Amelia nodded.
Mrs. Petersons smiled.
“I hope all is well? That smile is kinda suspicious,” she laughed. Mrs. Redford and her daughter laughed as well.
“Don’t mind all these youngsters, let’s continue please,” she said.
Soon, she finally looked up from her phone and gazed around, her eyes searching everywhere for Jeremy, he still was nowhere to be found, and they have arrived the house over fifty minutes ago.
Worried and puzzled, she got up and then began walking towards the grand entrance of the building, still searching frantically with her eyes.
“Where could he be?” She soliloquized, “I hope he received the invite as well,” she said.
She walked out of the building and headed for the garden, just then her phone rang and she answered immediately, it was Zoey.
“Hi girlie, the latest bride to be,” Zoey squealed into the phone.
Amelia sighed.
“Ahh! Zoey.”
“What is it again? Aren’t you having a swell time over there?” Zoey asked.
She sighed again.
“I don’t even know,” was all she could say.
“Come on girl, spill it. What is it?”
“Okay he is yet to be here, and it’s almost an hour behind the scheduled time,” she said, using her left hand to wipe out water from a Thuja plant close by.
“Okay, okay. Chill baby, he would be there soon, probably work or something. You know he is a very busy man,” she said in order to pacify her.
Amelia breathed deeply.
“I hope so.”
“I know so.”
“Alright then, I need to go back before mom begins looking for me. I left for the garden.”
“Okay. Have fun girlie, can’t wait to hear the gists.”
They laughed.
“Ohh please. Get off my phone,” and with that, she hung up. Then she turned, and made her way back to the dining.
Jeremy, though running late, finally arrived, stepping through the grand doorway with a sense of obligation.
He straightened his tie and took a deep breath before entering the room, his eyes scanning the familiar faces.
A wide smile appeared on Amelia’s face instantly, she felt like a child who had been waiting for his parents to show up, and finally did. Instantly, she became restless on her seat, grinning from ear to ear.
His father, Petersons, greeted him with a warm but concerned smile.
“Jeremy, glad you could make it,” he said, clapping his son on the back.
“Sorry I’m late, Dad,” Jeremy replied, trying to match his father’s enthusiasm.
“Got caught up at work,” he said and the smiles on Amelia’s face deepened.
Petersons’ eyes narrowed slightly as he studied his son’s face.
“It’s alright. I’m just glad you are here.”
Then he turned to the other man and women in the building, and greeted them warmly. He turned to Amelia.
“Amelia how are you?” He asked as he stooped low and pecked his mother’s cheek.
“I’m fine thank you. Glad you are here,” she said wriggling her body like an earthworm.
He nodded and finally sat down next to his mom.
“Okay I get this is a family gathering, so where is Tarmah? She is on summer holidays,” he asked.
They glanced at each other, and Mr. Redford cleared his throat.
“Well Jeremy, this gathering really doesn’t concern her,” he said and Jeremy shrugged his shoulders, wondering who the hell it concerns then.
As they all gathered around the expansive dining table, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in his chest. He smiled and made polite conversation, but his thoughts were elsewhere, tangled in the complexities of his life and the sudden resurgence of Amelia.
“Jeremy, would you like some more wine?” Amelia’s voice broke through his reverie, her eyes filled with hopeful anticipation.
He nodded, forcing a smile.
“No please, thanks,” he politely rejected and she shrugged her shoulders.
Throughout the meal, Petersons couldn’t help but notice the tension in Jeremy’s posture and the distant look in his eyes. He leaned over to his son, speaking in a low voice.
“Are you alright, Jeremy? You seem a bit off.”
Before Jeremy could respond, Amelia interjected, her tone cheerful but firm.
“He is fine, Mr. Petersons. Just a bit tired, I’m sure. It has been a long day for all of us.”
Petersons nodded, though his concern remained. He decided to let the matter rest for the moment, but he resolved to speak with Jeremy in private later.
As the evening progressed, the conversation flowed around the table, filled with stories and laughter. Jeremy did his best to participate, but his heart wasn’t in it.
He glanced at Amelia, who was engaging in animated conversation with his mother. She seemed so happy, so certain of their future together, and it weighed heavily on him.
After dessert, the Redfords made their goodbyes, thanking the Petersons for a lovely evening. Amelia lingered for a moment, then she joined her parents and walked to their car.
“Mum, dad,” she called as they got to the parking lot, and they turned to her.
“I won’t be going with you guys,” she said.
“Why?” Her mother asked.
“I will wait behind for Jeremy, I might even spend the night at his place,” she said.
Her father nodded his approval and ordered the chauffeur to open the car door, while her mother pulled her closer.
“It’s alright daughter, but be careful not to ruin things,” she said.
Amelia nodded.
“Sure mom, sure.”
She smiled.
“Take care of yourself then,” they embraced.
“You too mother,” she said as she stepped aside to watch them leave.
Meanwhile, the minute the guests had departed, Petersons turned to his son.
“Jeremy, let’s have a chat in the study.”
Jeremy followed his father down the hall, the weight of the evening pressing down on him.
The study was a sanctuary of dark wood and soft leather, filled with the scent of old books and the comforting presence of familiarity. Petersons closed the door behind them and gestured for Jeremy to sit.
“Alright, son,” he began, his tone gentle but firm.
“What is going on? You have been distant all the while.”
Jeremy sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“It is complicated, Dad.”
Petersons took a seat across from him, his expression one of patience and concern, he knew it, he knew all wasn’t well with his son.
“Try me. Maybe I can help.”
Jeremy hesitated, unsure where to begin.
“It’s about the only woman I have ever loved,” he said and his father’s eyes widened.
“Amelia?” He asked.
He scoffed.
“Ah what? Ohh father…” he scoffed again, “cut the crap! You know I don’t love her. It is not her,” he said and Petersons chuckled. Problems.
He leaned forward, his eyes searching his son’s face.
“Jeremy, you need to be honest with yourself and with Amelia. If you are not ready or if it’s not what you truly want, you need to say something. It’s better to address it now than to let it fester.”
Jeremy nodded slowly, appreciating his father’s straightforward advice.
“Of course I know that.”
“So who is this woman? And what about her?” He asked.
“Dad I have never loved a woman as I did love her, but she betrayed me, she lied to me and you know father, how I so much hate lies,” he said.
His father nodded.
“I know. Calm down and talk, what exactly happened?”
“She is a member of the underworld, or should I say was, but she portrayed to me a different identity and I fell in love with it. Now, I don’t know if everything about her, the good traits which had made me love her, are all lies. I can’t tell.”
Mr. Petersons sighed deeply.
“This is a very delicate issue,” he said.
“I know right.”
“How did you find out?”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Well Amelia had visited one night and had met her, you know women, there and then, she spilled it. I confronted my woman and she didn’t deny it.”
“Has she explained herself?”
Jeremy chuckled.
“Explain? What the hell is she explaining?”
“Ohh please son, I know you to be hot blooded and stubborn, give her a chance to explore herself, even if only once.”
He looked at his father.
“You think it is a great idea?”
“I know it is a great idea son, come on. Even if it is once. If you really do love her, then give her that chance” he said.
He hesitated for a while, giving it a thought. His father let him do his thing. After a while, he sighed.
“Fine dad, I will think about it,” he said.
His father laughed.
“Stubborn son, took exactly after me,” and they burst into laughter.
“So how about Amelia? And this whole charade coming up?” He asked.
Jeremy shrugged.
“It is nothing I cannot handle,” he said.
“Okay, if you say so. You need to get going,” he said and got up, “except you want to spend the night here.”
Jeremy smiled.
“I might as well do,” and he got up.
Still chatting, they walked out of the study and towards the living room, the sound of their footsteps muted by the thick carpet. As they turned the corner, a familiar laugh reached his ears. His mother’s voice mingled with another, lighter, more musical. Jeremy’s heart skipped a beat. That laugh, he knew it well.
He stepped into the room and froze. There, sitting on the sofa and chatting animatedly with his mother, was Amelia. Her long, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, her eyes sparkling with delight. She looked entirely at home, as if she belonged there.
Jeremy frowned. He thought she had left with her parents.
“Amelia, what are you still doing here?” He asked.