The doorbell rings. Elma's in the laundry room.
The Amazon delivery scheduled for today
is here.
I open the door but instead of the delivery guy I was met with a familiar face and new one.
My heart sinks. My hair is barely combed. I'm not even dressed properly and my mother in law is here.
"Hiiii" I say with a big smile.
I was greeted by Elma's mom and a strange man. I never saw him before. He had Auburn hair and wrinkled skin. He wore a grey suit with a black shirt inside. Very classy. He had hazel eyes and a warm but serious look on him.
"Oh Nai. Look at you. Lost weight I see?"
I chuckle. "If you say so Mom" she told me to refer to her as 'Mom' the last time I saw her.
"Ooh Nai,this is Elma's father"
"Don't get too confused. She inherited most of her mother's genes" he bellows.
"Please come on in"
Well there goes his serious aura.
I scramble to pick up some toys on the floor and remove some books. "Please have a seat. I'm so sorry about the mess. If I knew you guys were coming over I would have-"
"It's fine hun. We just wanted to check in and see how you guys are doing" says Elma's mom.
"I'll go get Elma"
"Elma your parents are here."
"What? My parents? Are they mad?" She shakes me.
"No. They seem well...like parents."
She heaves a sigh of relief and steps out with me.
"Mother, Father how have you been?"
"Elma, you have your own family. I can't believe my little girl has grown this much" Elma's father says.
"Well you couldn't stifle the girl and keep her forever dear" Elma's mom tells him.
"Where are those little ones?"
"They're playing inside their rooms." Elma replies.
"I'll go get them. Would you guys like some tea?" I ask.
"Sure would. Thank you Nai."
"Isn't she just a darling?" Elma's mom says to her father.
While the kettle's on and Elma catches up with her parents, I go to grab the kids from their bedrooms.
"Haru, granny and grandpa are here to see you"
He smiles and gets off the bed.
"Be polite and remember your manners"
"Yes mommy Nai"
The twins are rolling a big ball in their nursery.
"There they are!" Elma's dad exclaims.
I pour the tea and serve them.
Elma's mom picks up Haru and squeezes him tightly.
"Haruuuu granny missed you. Look how big you got"
Elma's dad has both of the twins on his lap pinching their cheeks.
When Elma's mom put down Haru, she squeals how precious they are.
She picks up Yuka and cradles the baby
to her chest. She babbles.
"Ara what do we have here? You have my eyes. All of you do. They have been passed from generation to generation."
"I hope they haven't inherited your family's crazy too" Elma's dad says.
"Elma can you take her from me?" She punches her partner in the face. I'm surprised he didn't bleed.
"Hey no fighting in front my kids" Elma yells.
Dragons don't get married or anything like that so I doubt those two are still together.
She holds and pinches Ryou"s nose.
"I'm so blessed to have cute grandchildren. I want to squeeze all of you and put you in my pocket."
"But I won't fit" Haru says to her.
My phone rings loudly. I check the number to see it was my aunt.
Elma's mom gasps. "Eh? What was that noise?"
"It's just her phone mom" Elma tells her.
I rejected the call with a polite text to her.
"I'm sorry about that"
"Outside we saw some people riding in these metal boxes. Very intriguing world" Elma's dad says.
"Oh those are cars" Haru tells him.
"Dragons are much faster than that, boy" his grandad replies.
"So mom, how's Granny Telne?"
"She's okay. You dare not call her a granny though" The room erupts in laughter.
"Who's that?" Haru asks me quietly.
"Your great grandmother."
"Woah I didn't know there were super grandmothers."
"Shhh" I say grinning at his childish comprehension.
"Oh? What's this? My leg feels warm all of a sudden." There's a strong stench coming from Ryouma sitting on his granddad's lap.
He looks up and babbles. Then burst into tears.
Elma takes him suddenly. He latches on to her and she and plays with his hair. He calms down a little.
"He had an accident. I'll change him"
Elma quickly disappears into another room with him.
"I will bring a cloth. I'm sorry about the mess" I say to Elma's dad.
"Do you need help? I'm coming." Elma's mom follows her into the bedroom.
...
"You're doing a good job"
"Really?"
"Raising 3 kids is not an easy thing. In this world there's need for more committment and presence on the parents' part."
Elma smiles as she powders up Ryou.
"I can't do it without Nayura."
"You two make a good team... Are you prepared to lose her?"
"Way to ruin the mood mom"
She continues. "I cherish every moment with her. I don't regret marrying a human."
"You two are extremely close. Your dad and I
live separate lives but only because we're dragons."
"I'm trying my best"
"From mother to mother I'm proud of you, daughter." She embraces Elma.
...
"Actually I think we all should go out for lunch. What do you say, Elma?"
"Sounds wonderful. I know this teppanyaki place near the bank. They have a kid's menu too."
...
We all had a wonderful and interesting lunch. The parents seemed to enjoy the fast skills of the chef. They even wanted to challenge him but that was against the restaurant's policy.
"Thank you for your hospitality Miss" Elma's Dad told me.
"Oh don't mention it" I meekly say.
"Keep in mind , if anything happens to my grandkids I'm coming for ya" I think I might faint. He's looking at me in the eye.
"DAD! Don't threaten Nai like that. She's a sensitive girl. If anything happens, the Gods forbid, I'm to be held responsible."
"Serious like your old man Elma...you know your dad likes to joke around" Elma's mom says.
"Hahaha oh. Nice one" I awkwardly say.
"Well ciao. We'll see you guys another time."
The dad opens a portal and they both enter it.
Om our way home Elma speaks up "Nai I hope my dad didn't scare you as much."
"Nah he seems like a good granddad"
"It's just his sense of humor. Don't take it personally."
"No I wouldn't. Your parents are comforting to be around somehow. I lost mine and seeing yours makes me happy."
"You're the sweetest"