Chapter Five

Evening came when they pulled up in the driveway, and walked up the stairs of the walkway. Horace rang the doorbell, the door opened and his mother stepped out and have him a big hug.

"My son, my little baby boy here for christmas." she almost squeezed him to death.

"Hi mom." he struggled to breath.

"Hello ." Clarabelle smiled.

Horace's Mother spoke in sarcasm. "Oh hello."

So when they walked to the door everyone walked in, Mrs. Horsecollar almost slammed the door on Clarabelle but Horace stopped it and let her walk in. Clarabelle started to get suspicious of how Horace's own mother was acting towards her, interupting her when she talked to Horace and constantly giving her the evil eye. Horace's Father however was actually nice to Clarabelle, he greeted her like she was his daughter.

"It's good to see ya' both here." He smiled.

"Likewise Dad." Horace smiled.

Both Father and Son walked to the backyard and started a conversation.

"So any problems with Clarabelle lately?"

"Well not really, Clarabelle and I have little arguements every now and then but it's all good."

"Glad to hear it, but I don't think your mother isn't"

"I think she's just getting used to us dating still."

"I hope it's just that."

Later at the dinnertable, Horace's mother was staring at Clarabelle with a glare like an angry tiger. Clarabelle was lucky Horace's Grandmother was there to keep the peace.

"Dad, everyone I have something to announce."

Everyone was silent.

"I am getting married and Clarabelle is my fiancee."

Suddenly the whole room turned silent except the sound of a plate smashing to the ground. Everyone turned to Horace's mother, she was showing a crooked smile and her right eye was twitching.

"Oh clumsy me..." she was trying not lose her temper "I'll clean that up."

But everyone turned back around and began to congradulate Horace. Horace's father patted his son on the back, proud of the engagment.

His Grandmother cheerfully asked. "So how did you propose?"

Both Horace and Clarabelle began to tell the story and as they were telling the story they were blushing the many shades of red.

Horace's grandmother was so happy she hugged the couple and then asked. "Now let's see a kiss from the two of you."

Mrs. Horsecollar stopped in the middle of her sweeping, she turned around slowly to see. Horace and Clarabelle, extremly shy kissed each other on the cheek.

"Oh c'mon Horace give her a real kiss don't be so timid." his Grandmother shouted. Everyone cheered and kept encouraging Horace.

Horace blushed bright red and finally kissed her passionately on the lips, everyone clapped and cheered. Horace's mother on the other hand was so furious no words could describe it. Later on the drive back both were very quiet they didn't know what to say, Clarabelle didn't want to bring up Horace's mother especially because Horace never brought up her father .

"You're Grandmother is very lively." Clarabelle attempted to break the silence.

"That's my grandma for ya'," Horace laughed. "She's always wants to make the best of her life."

"Your dad took it well."

"That's a sigh of relief."

Clarabelle looked down, she looked dissapointed like if she had lost a game. Horace held her hand trying to comfort her, he knew something was wrong. "Something wrong?"

Clarabelle was uneasy to say anything, so she thought up a quick lie. "No I'm fine,I'm just tired that's all." She wanted to tell him his mother hated her, even though she already knew her father hated him. Christmas was over and the two were in their own homes resting peacefully and pondering on the things that happened and wondered what was yet to come.