Chapter 60: Chapter 60

Allesandro

"Edith, wake up princess." I shook her from sleep. "Go away" she squeaks and pulls back the blanket to cover her face. I slide besides on her bed and hug her. Caressing her wild tendrils softly, I whisper in her ears. "Don't you wish to see your family?" She peeks out her head from the blanket and looks at me in shock.

I chuckle at her funny face and kiss her forehead. "Good Morning, Sweet Cakes... I forgot to tell you yesterday after going busy in the hospital, today is my dad's birthday and your complete family is visiting. Won't you wish to come to the party and meet your parents?" Her eyes immediately tinkle in happiness. "It is half past nine now." I check on my Rolex and tell her. "Get ready we will have to start in an hour from now for us to reach the party in time."

She sat on the bed abrupt and was gaping at me inconceivable. I simper and walk to my room to get her the gown that I had customarily got designed from Newyork's top fashion designer. It is a black gown that falls just below her knees with bodice covered in white beads that fits her shape like a second skin accentuating her curvaceous body. To match with it I bought her a silver necklace with a heart pendent and studs.

When it comes to Edith I go in detail even about minute things. I am always planned about her no matter the amount of busy schedule I run every day. My girl would always be dressed up to nines. She is my vision and also my pride. The clock will stop and admire her beauty for she is as charming as a sin. "Here, pack this and put this on for the party. It would look beautiful on you." I hand her the gift box covered in silver paper. Her hands immediately go to her lips. She often does that when she is deeply in thought or feeling anxious.

I exhale a sigh and walk back to her bed placing her in my lap. "Don't bite your nails Sweet cakes. What is it that you are worried?" I hold her hand and gently bring it down from her lips. "I want to know the colour of the dress so that I could plan the jewellery." I chuckle. "Its black, and you don't have to worry about the accessories. Everything including your footwear is already arranged." I peck her lips and then walk to the door.

Before leaving I turn back and tap on the door to ask her attention. "You have exactly fifty minutes left." I show her pointing to my wrist watch. "Be quick and dress casual for the flight journey. Remember no plunging necklines and the attire should be able to cover your skin completely." With the way she was looking at me I knew I had blown her top but I had no way to avoid it. I do not like men ogling at her like an apple pie.

****

Edith wishes my father a happy birthday followed by me. Mom and dad greet us. My dad gives me a half hug to pat my shoulder with his free hand and my mom in her usual way kisses both my cheeks not mindful of what age I have attained. With experience I ran to a conclusion that I can't change my mama's psychology. My mom will always remain the same irrespective of my age like I am a boy of six. My parents then come to Edith giving her a hug each and of course my mom for a bit more touchy that she is to her children would also plant a kiss on her forehead.

Edith's father Allen Rodriguez and dad had been childhood friends just like me and Charles. Edith is my childhood sweet heart and I love her to bits. No matter the number of twirls and turns my life took over since my birth one thing remains constant - my love for Edith. I cannot damage our decades old family bonds for the sake of my selfishness. Every person from both our families thinks the affection I hold for her is that of a brother towards his sister and that's the secret I'm not going to divulge to anyone in this world even after I am buried six feet under.

Pouring myself a drink I was waiting for Edith to reach the lawn where the party had already started. I appointed a make-up artist and a hair dresser for her specially for the occasion. She should always be impeccably dressed with not a hair out of place. I do not know what this feeling is, may be it is my adoration, my admiration or it is my interest but every man present in this party should turn back and look at her. And she would be a beauty only to aspire but not to own. I know I am the meanest schadenfreude but that's how I am.

She doesn't know about my feelings for her and will never know but she is the beat of my heart. Like a demon's life in a parrot described in fairy tales, my life vests in her happiness. I am unfeeling, harsh and austere towards everyone in this world but for her I turn loving, affectionate and indulgent.

Just like how I imagined her in the dress she walks into the party like an enchantress. The party suddenly goes to a pin drop silence watching her. Some girl besides I think cracked a joke and she was in all giggles commendably attracting the attention of every man in the party. Women were jealous arrested by her beauty people around stop talking and whisper praises looking at her in an acclaim. Lighting a cigarette I tuck my other hand into my brown jacket and enjoy watching her at a distance.

My mom walked to her giving a warm hug and welcomed her into the party. Just then my dad walks in with his friend Allen Rodriguez and his wife Arianna. Her happiness was endless meeting her parents after six months. I could see that in her eyes. Her father held her face between his hands and tilting his head down he kissed her hair. There was so much affection, warmth ventilating from his eyes but it was fine-drawn hardly able to decipher unless closely observed. I knew my presence was required there but if I am an obstruction to the father-daughter association then I prefer to stay away and watch their happiness staying remote than to intervene and disrupt their joy.

Watching Edith and her dad so near to each other I construe she was the exact replica of him including the hair. Their association was vehement. Her mother joins in their merriness and kisses both the cheeks of Edith. She is the princess of the house. Indeed.

The party turns to a full swing. Abigail couldn't join as her boyfriend had a performance. He is a country famous guitarist. I was occupied in my thoughts when I feel a pat on my shoulder. "Hey bro how are you and how is life?" I turn back and see Charles's delighted face. Both of us go in a bro hug and exchange pleasantries.

"I hope you are having fun time dealing with my drama queen sis." He speaks rather sarcastic. "Yeah, a lot of fun, every day is like a roller-coaster ride for me with her. I feel I have all of a sudden become a dad but my child is not two. She is twenty years old." He busted out in chuckles shaking his head at me. I take a sip of whiskey from my glass and continue. "Some days go with drama, some pass with attitude and some with her stubbornness but every day is unique filled by her all new different antiques."

Just then Edith walks to the bar and I abruptly stop on my narration, do not want to pluck the hairs of the puppy.

"Hello Princess" Charles walks to her and hugs his sister. Her lips extend in happiness but she quickly covers it rather narrowing her lips to a little zero. "You did not speak to me for a complete week you did not call me not even a Skype. I'm angry upon you." She folds her arms to her chest and turns to the other side pulling up a poker face. "Such a drama queen..." Charles murmurs looking ahead to no one in particular and it was hell a lot difficult for me to control my smile. "I was busy little sis." He somehow comes with a reasonable answer. "You always tell the same thing." Edith scowls and turns her attention to me. Charles shrugs indirectly telling me its your turn to deal with her now.

"I am feeling thirsty." She fans on her neck as if the action would release her parched throat. "Can I have a drink?" She asks the bar attainder eyeing the display of bottles in the rack ahead. Before he could speak I stop him with my finger held up. Seated was a huge coke bottle besides. I point to him the bottle and the glass. He answers me nervously. "Yes sir" and fills her glass of coke.

"Don't you feel how cold it is the weather outside?" She tugs her Gray colour leather jacket closer. "If I drink this..." She points to the glass of coke on the bar table. "leave about thirst I would start shivering." I do not reply her but stop the waiter passing by. "Go to the kitchen and tell the cook to prepare a cup of hot chocolate within two minutes. If you don't both yours and cook's job is lost." The waiter trembles in his voice and replies. "Okay sir and sprints away like he had seen a ghost."

I smirk enjoying the impact of my power on others. I'm ruthless. I know but that's how the world works. Charles becomes the silent spectator enjoying the show between me and his sister. "Not bad bro. She listens to you. You succeeded in taming the hissy-fits of my dramatic sister." I shook my head bringing a fish finger into my mouth cautious not for Edith to hear me. "Don't ask me how difficult it was to succeed in the job."

The waiter walks back to us within two minutes with a glass of warm cocoa. "Edith, drink up!" I point to the mug on the tray but the expression she showed me then would be worth capturing in a camera and securing for a life time to keep smiling. Her face was scrunched as though she saw something nasty, lips puckered out like a little girl of three deprived of Strawberries and nose flaring in anger. She turns around abrupt and stomps away from us.

"That was a good caper she pulled." Charles speaks under toned to me. I empty the glass in my hand at a go eyeing the beautiful curvaceous woman walking away from me. She is intoxication stronger than the strongest drink in the world.

"Sweet fucking Jesus! That was not a good but a mind blowing caper she pulled." I tell Charles in a stupor.