Cottage
Cottage
"You're home?" She asked rhetorically as she looked at her mother who was sitting on her bed. "What about dad?"
Mrs King wore a long straight gown and her hair tied neatly at the back of her head. Her face was bare and she looked really relaxed which made Chloe realise she had been inside the house for a while.
Mrs King smiled at her while Chloe held the towel around her chest firmly. "Hmm.. Your father is still at the hospital though."
"How was school? You must be glad it's Friday." Mrs King said before standing up.
"Come sit here. I'll help you dry your hair." She offered as she held out the dressing chair for her. Chloe walked there nervously and gently sat down. She could tell this was just small talks until her mother said what she was there to really say.
"School's been great." Chloe finally answered as she unwrapped her hair.
"It must be difficult working and schooling at the same time. You also keep record of both your brothers business. I'm surprised you still look really pretty and healthy despite it all." She said with a warm smile that made Chloe blush as she looked at her through the mirror.
"I just like to keep myself busy." She admitted honestly. She didn't know whether it was abnormal for her to always want to be busy. She couldn't imagine herself lazying about for even an hour. She was either going through documents or school work or reading other kind of books online. That was the kind of life she led and she liked it.
"You are just like me. I also like to keep myself busy. Although sometimes I feel like breaking down, but I have to be strong. But it makes me sad sometimes. I feel like I am not there for my kids. For my little princess." She looked pointedly at Chloe through the mirror.
"I wouldn't ask for a better mother. Seriously." Chloe assured her.
Mrs King sighed in relief and began to help her blow dry her hair.
"Your hair is quite long. I think you are going to look even prettier with a short Bob." Mrs King said in a suggestive tone.
"I... like my hair long." Chloe swallowed.
"Oh dear, I'm just saying. You would look pretty whichever way you choose." She said with warm smile that made Chloe relax. The last thing she needed was for her parents to dictate her looks for her.
"You want to tell me somehing right?" Chloe asked when she could no longer bear the tension.
"I wanted to have a little mother–daughter moment with you first but since you noticed..." She let go of her hair and went to rest her butt on the vanity table so she was looking at Chloe's face directly.
"You are going out tomorrow." She announced.
"Aren't we all going out to grandpa's house together?" Chloe asked as confusion flashed in her face.
"Of course we are. But I am talking about you. Just you. For the blind date." She said with a grin.
"This is your ever first date and I'm going to specially make you look pretty. I am so excited and proud of you!" She said before hugging her gently while Chloe sat stiffly on the spot.
Firstly, she was really going on the blind date. Secondly, her mother thought this was her first time dating. If they found out about David, they were going to be heartbroken.
"Let's go shopping in the morning, okay?"
"Mum..." Chloe called softly so her mother pulled away to look at her face. "What is it? Do you feel unwell?"
"Can I..." Chloe swallowed hard as she tried to find the courage to tell her mother what she truly wanted.
"Can I... not go?"
"Oh honey! I know you are nervous and it's normal for you to be. Just sleep on it. You'll be fine by tomorrow okay? I love you baby." She placed a kiss on her head and touched her shoulder gently before leaving the room.
***********
"Do not open your eyes." Leo instructed Mia.
"Your hands are over my eyes so yes, I don't think I can open them" Mia responded dryly.
They were both out on their 'date'. She wore a free blue gown which didn't cling to any part of her body and ended just before her knees, with a pair of black ankle boot on her feet.
Since she couldn't use the make up products, she wore powder and lip gloss and left her hair to flow about. On her ears, she wore a pair of silver teardrop earrings.
Leo wore a red shirt and tucked it in his black pants. Guys were always simple.
His hair was styled neatly to the back compared to the messy way he usually left it. Mia had been a bit uncomfortable when she saw his hair since it reminded her of Louis but she quickly pushed the thought away from her head.
They had driven for almost half an hour until he stopped by a beach side. Immediately she got down, he had covered her eyes.
Mia walked carefully as Leo led her from behind with his hands still covering her eyes. She was really eager to see the surprise he had talked about.
"Do not open!" He said again as he removed his hands away from her eyes.
She stood there and heard him fiddle with some keys before she heard a door open.
They were in the front of a house, she noted. Whose house?
He took her hand this time and led her inside before gently closing the door.
"You can open it now." He instructed.
Mia took in a deep breath before she slowly opened her eyes to meet darkness. She wanted to ask why the place was dark when she suddenly heard him flick the light switch and the whole place lit up.
Her mouth hung low in awe as she looked around the place.
It was a small cottage, the wooden wall was painted in pure white. The yellowish white curtains where pulled to the sides, revealing the glass windows which enabled them looked out at the beach. At one end, there was a large counter with cupboards and a sink which showed the place served as a kitchen, she could also see a gas cooker there. There was a fancy wooden table and chairs which served as the dining table and on top on the table, she noticed some dishes were arranged and covered.
There was a small bed covered with a pure white bedsheet at the other end on the room. The place looked small but homely.
A big smile appeared on her face. 'I could live here forever.' She said in her head.
"I am glad you like this place." Leo said with a smile, seeing how happy she looked.
"Where is this?" She asked him curiously as her eyes kept going round.
"My place." He informed her, taking her by surprise.
"I have always wanted a house by the beach side but wasn't always around so I couldn't build one. Last year, Richard told me about this place. The owner was putting it up for sale and relocating abroad so I bought it. The renovation was completed last week."
"How come I didn't know about this?" She asked in amazement as she went to the window to look at the sea waves.
"I'm glad I didn't tell you about this before now. I would have missed this look on your face." He said as he watched her move about.
"What are those?" She asked, pointing at some stuff she could not identify beside the bed.
"Wait! Is this a camera?" She asked as she took it out of a bag. "It looks expensive."
He had never seen this side of Mia before. She looked really happy and was talking nonstop with a smile on her face as she admired everywhere.
"The food must have gotten cold. I thought we would come here immediately I was done preparing it but we delayed a lot. When we are done eating, I am going to be using that on you." He said, pointing at the camera in her hand.
"On me? You... want to hit me with it?" She asked in confusion and saw him laugh before stepping closer to her to take it from her.
"You, my darling, are going to be my model tonight." He concluded with a kiss on her cheek that made her blush.
He looked deeply into her eyes before pulling away from her reluctantly.