Chapter 2

Michelle made a call to the cleaning agency the next day and they sent some workers to come clean up the mansion. She gave them instructions to follow concerning each room. While she was at it, her phone started to ring. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was her mom, so she dismissed the workers to go ahead with the various tasks given to them before picking up the call.

"Hello mom"

"Hey honey, how are you doing?" her mom asked as soon as she heard Michelle s voice.

"I m fine mom. What about you? You don t sound so good" Michelle asked when she noticed how low her mom s voice was.

"I don t feel so good, honey. I think I caught a cold"

"You know what? Don t move, I m on my way"

"Honey, you don t have to worry. I ll be fine"

"No mom, just hang up now. I m coming over"

Michelle quickly ran upstairs to her room and went straight into the closet to get something to wear. After some minutes of searching, she settled for a denim jumpsuit and platform heels. She picked up her purse and car keys and hurriedly left the house.

"Thank God it was only a cold" Michelle said as she walked out of the hospital with her mom.

"I told you it was nothing to worry about" Her mom replied.

Michelle s mom, Leah Stewart is a middle aged woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is beautiful with a fair skin and doesn t look her age. Michelle got her looks from her mom.

Michelle drove her mom home. Her mom lives in a white and grey beautifully built traditional bungalow. She had a few maids that attended to her, as she lives alone.

When they arrived, Michelle asked one of the maids to prepare breakfast because they didn t eat anything before leaving for the hospital.

They had muffins and hot chocolate for breakfast. After having breakfast, they went to the living room.

"How is Derek?" her mom asked.

"He is fine, mom. I was doing some clean up before you called"

"Really? And why is that?" Leah questioned.

"We are expecting Nathan, Derek s elder brother in a couple of days"

"Oh, I see"

Michelle was about turning her attention back to the TV screen when her mom asked.

"What about you and Derek?"

Michelle didn t understand why her mom asked that. She thought she just told her that they were both doing fine.

"What about us?" she questioned back.

"Honey, you both have been in this relationship for over four years now…"

And?" Michelle asked, trying to understand what her mom was driving at.

"And you two aren t saying anything about taking your relationship to the next level. You re not even engaged yet… What is going on?" Leah sighed then continued.

"I mean, if you both are sure about how you feel, then what s the delay?"

"We aren t in a hurry mom"

"Right" Her mom replied with sarcasm.

"Look Michelle, I know that you two love each other but you aren t getting any younger… Have you ever taken any time to think about that?"

"I have, mom… but that doesn t matter" she replied.

"Okay. What about Rebecca?"

"What about her?"

"Has she finally accepted you as Derek s girlfriend?"

Michelle s face drop at that question.

Rebecca, Derek s mom has never liked her one bit. Although Derek isn t worried about that, Michelle is. She can t understand why after all these years Rebecca still doesn t like her and she isn t comfortable with the fact that the woman who would someday be her mother in-law hated her to the bone.

"Not yet" She sadly replied.

"Don t you think that s the reason Derek hasn t said anything about your relationship?"

Michelle rolled her eyes at that, wondering where her mom was getting all these imaginations.

"We re fine with our current status" She told her mom.

"Are you sure about that, honey?" Leah asked with a skeptical look.

After that question, Michelle wasn t so sure about her reply anymore. She began taking into consideration all her mom had said. She concealed her thoughts with a smile, not wanting to go any further with the conversation because she doesn t want to start having doubts about Derek or what he feels for her.

After spending some time with her mom, when she was certain that her mom was feeling better, Michelle went home.

The house was spotless just how she wanted it. She took off her clothes and went into the bathroom to shower. While in the shower, she kept thinking about what her mom told her earlier. She was aware of the fact that Rebecca hated her, but she hasn t ever thought that that could be a reason why Derek hasn t taken their relationship to the next level. Although she wants that so bad, she doesn t want to question him about it or push him into doing it just because she asked. She wants Derek to propose out of his own will, when he is ready.

She got out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and went into the closet to get something to wear. She wore a navy blue T-shirt dress and headed for the kitchen to make dinner before Derek gets back from work.

She decided to make Lasagna and strawberry smoothie for dinner.

While she was making dinner, Derek walked into the kitchen.

"Hey" He greeted, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Hi" She replied and turned around to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

She gave him a slow but passionate kiss. He smiled into the kiss and said,

"I love the aroma"

She smiled and gave him a quick kiss before turning her attention back to the meal she was preparing.

"How was your day?" Derek asked.

"Fine. I took my mom to the hospital"

"Why? Is she okay?" Derek asked with concern.

"Yeah, it was only a cold"

"Are you sure?" he asked to be certain because he cares a lot about Leah. She s like a second mom to him.

"Yes babe. There s nothing to worry about"

After that, there was silence in the room, not an awkward one before Derek decided to speak.

"I can see the house is spotless"

"Yup. The cleaning agency sent some workers over today"

"You re really excited about Nathan s coming?" he asked.

"Yeah. Do I need a reason not to be?... I miss him and you know he s a close friend" She replied, putting off the stove and walked over to Derek, who was now seated on one of the island chair, placing her arms around his neck.

"Mmm" Derek only exclaimed.

"You know what?" she continued.

"I m thinking of having a little welcome party for him"

Derek raised an eyebrow at that.

"Is that necessary?" he asked.

"Yeah" she happily replied.

"Aren t you starving?" she asked changing the subject.

"I m famished"

"Good. Then, go upstairs, take a shower and come back down for dinner"

"Why don t we shower together?" he asked with a smirk.

"Nope. I just showered a while ago"

"No, you didn t" he replied, abruptly carrying her over his shoulder.

Derek, put me down! I need to get the table ready" She said feigning to be upset.

"We can do that later" He replied and carried her upstairs.