DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE SHOPAHOLIC SERIES. THEY ARE SOPHIE KINSELLA'S MASTERPIECE
BUT, THE PLOT IS ALL MY IDEA.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW :D
CHAPTER 2: CATERED TROUBLE
I see a boy of about nineteen with messy sandy-colored hair and blue eyes. He politely greets us then he shakes Luke's hand and then mine. He smiles at Minnie and she smiles shyly back.
I lead the way to the dining room and wait until everyone is seated. I think I should attempt a little conversation. "So, er, Albert-"
"Jeremy." He corrects me politely. Oh fuck. Jeremy, that's it. Minnie and Luke both give a little giggle. Oh, it's funny, isn't it?
"Right. Jeremy. What is it that your parents do?" Then I take a long gulp of champagne. Jeremy finished chewing his steak before answering. "My father is a businessman. My mother already passed away so my grandma takes care of me. She owns a small restaurant."
"Oh God. I'm sorry to hear that your mother passed away. That must've been awful." I say slowly. I feel really bad for this boy. Wow, I can't even imagine losing my mum. I gulp and take another swig of champagne. I should not be thinking about this.
"Yes, ma'am. But my granny acts like my real mother. Her cooking cheered me up, really. It was hard to believe she's my mum's mother." He gives a little chuckle. "My mother can't even chop an onion." I freeze. Relax, Becky. There is no fucking way that anyone would know.
Luke smiles and leans closer across the table. "You know, we're lucky that my wife can cook. Becky probably takes after her mother." He turns and smiles at me. I smile weakly back.
"Yes, Mrs. Brandon. This chicken tastes really good." He says to me with a big smile. Again, I smile weakly back. I can't keep this up anymore. "It almost takes like my grandma's specialty."
We all watch him take another bite. "In fact, it tastes the same. And, the same vegetables in the salad are here too. And, that's my granny's recipe for pasta too." Oh, fucketty fuck. I feel the color being drained from my face. Luke slowly turns to me and has a look of confusion on his face. I hastily look away and make the mistake of catching Minnie's eyes. She was nearly in tears.
Oh God. What have I gotten myself into? I take another gulp of champagne. Jeremy looks at me with confusion, too. "I-I don't know. I found the recipe off the internet…"
"My granny's original recipe is on the internet?" he looks awestruck. I can't blame him. Luke suddenly stands up. "Becky, can we talk in private?" I attempt a little laugh and fail. "We're having dinner, darling." He looks at me with his mouth open. "All right. Just for a while. Do excuse us." I say to the two teens. Jeremy still looks confused but nodded. Minnie had a tear already rolling down her cheek. I can't believe it. I disappointed my own daughter.
Luke takes me to his study. I close my eyes and ready myself for his sermon. Then I open them again and see that Luke was angry. "Becky, please tell me that you did not steal the recipe of Jeremy's grandmother's food."
"I didn't!" I say indignantly then I add a bit sheepishly. "I-I-I bought them. I bought the food from her restaurant." Luke stares at me silently, opening and closing his mouth as though he can't find words to say.
"Becky, I thought you cooked them not bought them. Why didn't you just tell me?" he says angrily. "And to think that I even told the grandson of the woman you bought the food from that you could cook. Why did you do it? Why did you have to lie?"
"I don't know!" I reply. "I don't know, okay?! I just don't." Luke's face softens a little and he rubs his temples. "Becky, come here." I move closer to him as he hugs me tightly. Then, he laughs.
"Luke! This isn't funny at all!" How could he laugh? Oh no, he's really getting old. "Becky, it's just that at forty-seven, you still manage to do this." I narrow my eyes at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, this! You're still the same when you were twenty-five!" He laughs again. I look around and punch him lightly on his shoulder. "I can't believe you just said my age out loud!" He laughs a little louder. "So what? I'm fifty-four!"
I try silencing him. I cannot let him tell other people that we're old. "Maybe we should go back to the dining room. So what's our story?"
"Let's tell that boy Jeremy that I cooked the food at my friend Suze's place and took his granny's food, which Suze ordered, by mistake."
"Right." He nods and we head back to the dining room. We can see Minnie crying in Jeremy's arms and he gently comforts her. Luke told him the story and everything goes back to normal. Which isn't any better because it's still a bit awkward.
But still, we manage to finish the dinner without any other dramatic scene, thank fucking God. Finally, Jeremy says that he should go because it was getting late. Minnie asks us to give them privacy and I agree, encouraging them even. While Luke , he only reluctantly agreed. Luke is so unfair. I mean, can't he remember how he was when he was a teenager?
He finally relaxes as Minnie comes back. "So mum, dad. What do you think of him?" I give her a very big smile. "He's lovely darling! Really wonderful." I look at Luke and poke him on the shoulder. "I think he is nice, Minnie. Very well brought up." And, I believe that I didn't let my daughter down as she beamed at us and hummed a song which means that she was happy.
And I am, if she is.
