Chapter 30: Chapter 30

"It's going to be okay," Marcus whispered in her ear.

"What if she throws a tantrum?"

Marcus winced. "Do you think my mother is that dramatic?"

"I am sorry," Jane muttered touching his face.

"Well then, let's go inside. Dinner is getting cold." He said leading the way.

"Wait, what? You cooked?!" Jane jogged to meet up with Marcus.

"Nope, my mother did." He opened the front door only to be greeted by a bunch of petals on his face.

"Emily," he said the name slowly trying to control his anger.

Jane and Emily giggled.

"Ha-ha." He said humorlessly. "I am glad you both found this funny." He mumbled and stomped into the kitchen.

"I did plan to pour you a bucket of flowers also but you laughed with me, so you are safe to go in."

"Thank you, ma'am," Jane replied with a smile and walked into the house.

"You have a nice home." Jane complimented.

"Yeah right," Emily mumbled rolling her eyes.

The house was nothing close to their mansion. The house was simple but comfortable. The living room was decorated pink. "Certainly Emily's work," Jane mumbled to herself.

Marcus ran out of the kitchen chewing on some biscuit bread with his mother right behind him spanking him with a spoon.

"I told you it is for our guess why–" she stopped short and smoothed her hair on seeing Jane. "Oh hi, Jane." She said maternally. "Sorry about our unmannered behavior," she scowled at Marcus. "Marcus is just being a leech."

"It's okay Mrs. Rebecca."

"Please sit down." Mrs. Rebecca said, leading Jane to her dining table just by the corner of their living room. "Oh my, we have never had a guess of your status in our home before, you cannot imagine how excited we all are."

Jane flushed as she followed Mrs. Rebecca and sat on the chair Marcus pulled out for her. "Thank you," she mouthed to him and he winked at her in response.

Mrs. Rebecca excused herself and dragged Emily along to get dinner while Marcus busied himself with hammering random nails on the table.

"Marcus for god-damned sake you are frightening our guest!" Mrs. Rebecca yelled from the kitchen.

"No mother," Marcus yelled back. "I think she enjoys it."

Mrs. Rebecca came quickly to the living room giving Jane an awkward smile and dragged Marcus by the ear to the Kitchen.

Jane smiled earnestly. She loves the relationship between the Connellys, their lives seem to be simple just like their home and it made her fall more in love with Marcus. She had known mostly the professional side of Marcus; she knew nothing about how he behaved around friends and family so she was happy to have the experience.

Mrs. Rebecca, Marcus, and Emily emerged from the kitchen with a big bowl of rice, full chicken, more biscuit bread, and vegetables.

The Connelly family seems to know nothing about table manners. They talk and joke while eating, Emily and Marcus fought almost throughout the time while Mrs. Rebecca tried to make them behave mannered.

"Miss. Jane you have to–"

"Jane," Jane interrupted. "Just call me Jane ma'am, please."

"Jane," Mrs. Rebecca echoed with a smile. "Jane, would you please forgive my children? They are always like this.”

“Ma’am, you have a beautiful family, I don’t think you should be sorry, I think you should be grateful.”

Mrs. Rebecca stared at Jane mystified. “It is certainly true what Marcus said, you are not like the others.”

Jane beamed. “Thank you, ma'am," she replied.

“Oh for god-damned sake would you two stop it?!” Mrs. Rebecca yelled at Marcus and Emily who were arguing about who is the favorite child.

Emily scowl at Marcus and focused on her food. Marcus glanced at Jane and grinned crookedly.

“By the way Jane,” Mrs. Rebecca said stuffing her mouth with a spoon of rice. “Marcus said you have something to tell us, would now be the right time, or would like to wait till we are done with dinner?”

“I will like—” Jane was about to say she would like to wait but Marcus interrupted her.

“She would like to say it now!”

She gave Marcus a ‘this is not over yet’ look.

“Why Miss Jane, don’t you have something to tell my mother? Something only you would say all by yourself?”

Jane’s eyes instantly turned pleading to Marcus. He couldn’t be trying to say what she thought he was saying. He wouldn’t let her do this by herself, will he?

“Go on Ma’am it’s not good to keep your elders waiting,” he said mockingly.

“Coward,” Jane mumbled under her breath.

She looked at Mrs. Rebecca and Emily who had their eyes fixed on her waiting.

“Umm…” She cleared her throat. “I umm,” She glanced at Marcus to see if he was now willing to help her. He wasn’t. She turned back to Mrs. Rebecca. She suddenly wondered where all the noise that surrounded the table a few minutes ago went.

“Go on Jane dear, I won’t bite.” Mrs. Rebecca’s voice was maternal, more maternal than she had ever heard.

Jane took a deep breath. “Marcus and I are an Item.” She said in a rush.

Emily spat the water she had been holding in her mouth for this moment. Marcus, Mrs. Rebecca, and Jane all stared at her in disgust. “I would just go and use the bathroom.” She said embarrassed and left.

Mrs. Rebecca turned to Jane. “When you say ‘an item’ you mean in a relationship?”

Jane nodded looking down.

They all fell silent. Jane raised her head to see Mrs. Rebecca glaring at Marcus while he pretends to be lost in his dinner. Her eyes turned apologetic towards Jane “I am sorry Jane.” she said.

Jane felt faint. ‘What could she be sorry for, is she sorry to tell me that her son is off limits? Or is she sorry to tell me that Marcus is a player and this is just one of his games?’ Jane heard her heart beating loudly—too loud she was sure both Marcus and Mrs. Rebecca could hear it.

“I am sorry Marcus made you do this,” She continued. “Marcus certainly does not know he is supposed to keep you away from difficult situations.”

Jane realized she had been holding her breath and finally breathed out.

Mrs. Rebecca grinned, the kind of overly wide grin Marcus gave her any time he is shy or embarrassed. “Shall I say welcome to the family then?”

Jane blushed; Mrs. Rebecca stood and went over to hug Jane. “Thank you for making my boy happy again.” She whispered to her. She left after scowling at Marcus again.

“So Ma’am Jane,” Marcus began leaning into Jane.

“DO NOT,” She said raising her hand to stop him. “Do not talk to me.” She voiced angrily.

Marcus' face turned sheepish and apologetic. “I’m sorry,” he said pouting with a puppy eye.

Jane tried being adamant but kept glancing at Marcus who was still pouting so close to her face.

“Why would you do that?” She asked frustrated after obviously losing the anger game.

“I am a coward,” He mumbled tracing her face. His touch was making it hard for her to remember why she was angry. “Would you please forgive me?”

Jane bit her lower lips thinking. “Only on one condition,” She said eyeing him.

He narrowed his eyes to look at her. “What condition?”

“Kiss me,”

Marcus grinned sheepishly, the same grin his mother had a few minutes ago.

“Please,” Jane begged.

Marcus braided his fingers into her hair, securing her face to his, and brought his lips to hers.

They had not been kissing for up to 30 seconds when Emily appeared from the hallway.

“Cough, cough,” she said loudly to get the attention she wanted.

Jane made an angry mental note to talk to Emily silently. If only the girl knew how long she had been waiting for Marcus’ lips to touch hers again.

Marcus groaned also not happy with Emily’s action. “I swear I would sell you one day,” he mumbled leaning back into his chair.

Emily ignored Marcus and went to Jane. “Hey Jane,” She said, all her goofy attitude replaced by maturity.

“Great, Adult Emily is back,” Marcus murmured.

“Yes, Emily,”

“Can I talk to you alone, please?”

Jane found it hard to believe it was the same Emily who was sitting at the table with them. ‘She sounded so mature and sweet and matured and sweet and…’

“Ye-e-yes of course,” Jane stammered.

“No of course not!” Marcus exclaimed.

“Would you mind coming to my room please?” Emily asked, completely ignoring Marcus.

“Yeah sure,” Jane answered, standing on her feet.

“Do I not have a say in my own girlfriend’s life?!” Marcus shrieked.

Emily felt her stomach sing for joy when Msrcus referred to her as his girlfriend out loud.“You should have thought of that, before backing out on me,” Jane mumbled and followed Emily.

After the brief moment she shared with Emily, Jane didn’t have anything against the girl anymore; as a matter of fact, she just took more liking to her. Emily made her promise never to break Marcus’ heart, she told her stories of Marcus’ ex—a story Marcus never wanted to talk about. By the end of their little conversation—which Marcus kept interrupting, she was sure she and Emily would be good friends.