Chapter 26: Chapter 26

IT HAPPENS

Sophie's parents Fred and May Fernandez had never grown used to the disrespect shown to them by their family members. Their only crime was falling in love and getting married. Fred had always had a mind of his own and always went for what he wanted. He had met May at her father's garage when he went to have his car checked, it wasn't love at first sight. May had always had a way to engage people in a conversation, especially her father's client. She insisted that they didn't have to get bored while waiting for their car to be serviced.

Though some clients were not interested in talking, a high number of them didn't mind, some just listened while others conversed with them. Fred had always preferred taking his car to the mechanic by himself and on that fateful day as the rain splattered on his car and the thunder rumbled from a distance, Fred drove to his mechanic's workshop to have the brake of his car serviced, it had nearly failed on him some hours ago.

“I would have sent someone to get the car .” Adam, May's father said as soon as Fred alighted from his car.

“I had nothing important to do.'' Fred wrapped his arms around his body, his teeth clattered together as he spoke.

“Coffee.'' May appeared from no way and handed a huge cup of hot black coffee to Fred. “I have sugar and cream in case you want some.” her eyes sparkled as she spoke. Weaving her way through the tools scattered around her father's workshop she handed out more cups of coffee and what amazed Fred was her attention to details and how she knew what to put in everyone's coffee.

The coffee went to work immediately, he felt warmer and his stiff joints loosened up. “Great coffee.”  he smiled as May made her way back to them.

“May.” she extended her hands to him

“Fred, nice meeting you.”

“Same here. Welcome to our garage.” she flung her hands wide open as she spoke.”

“Thank you, but I'm a regular here.”

“My daughter.” James interrupted. “She just returned from the university last week

“Oh!” his eyes swept over her

“She is in charge of entertainment here.” James continued bringing a smile on his lips and that of May

Fred stared from father to daughter, lost in their joke. Two hours later, Fred understood what her father meant. He had never laughed so hard in his life and before he left he asked her out for a  coffee date. “No strings attached just as friends,” he added for clarity

Their first date went so well that Fred asked her out for a dinner date, they both enjoyed spending time with each other, not just for their great conversation, hearty laughter but also because they had so much in common.

Two months later, Fred asked her to be his girlfriend and she gladly accepted. He invited her to meet his parents over lunch but they made jokes about her being the daughter of a mechanic and a gold digger trying to clutch a wealthy billionaire herself.

“Enough,'' Fred screamed when he couldn't take their cruel jokes anymore.

“You can do better than this.'' Helen spitefully looked over at May.

“You should  be the last one to look down on anyone considering your past.”

Helen strode out of the dinner table tripping over things in her wake.

May sobbed silently and her body shook in between sobs. Holding her hands, David led her away from the dining hall to a small living room in his quarters. Still holding her hands he assured her of his unwavering love for her and also apologized on behalf of his family. When she had calmed down. He took her home, with a promise to call her later.

**************

“Did you have to treat her that way?” David confronted his family as soon as he got home.

“We had to put her in her place.” his mother Rosaline said as a matter of fact.

“What's wrong with you guys, can't you see that May is a nice girl. Must we all be blinded about wealth and prestige and forget about humanity?" Fred combed his hands through his hair. He felt sad that his family still thought this way even in the 21st century.

“You always bring disgrace to this family, can you get a girl worthy of us. Just like my fiance Ella." David said shaking his head in disapproval

“Yes, why can't you.” his father added, he had been silent all this while.

“Even you, father.” Fred shook his head in disappointment

“I will never accept that girl into my home, so you better end whatever is going on between you too now.'' Rosaline retorted she was tired of her kids bringing in low lives as their chosen life partners. First, it was Helen, now Fred, only David was walking in the chosen foot part and was already engaged to their business partner's daughter.

“I would rather give up all this, '' he gestured towards the mansion. "I would rather be penniless than give up on my love for May. Can't you see she lights up my world.” his voice choked and he rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index fingers.

Fred sometimes wished he wasn't born into such wealth and affluence, he just wanted a normal simple life.

With so much squabble and resistance, Fred won the war against his family and they agreed to support him in his marriage to Mary. The wedding was a small family affair just as Fred and May wanted, even his parents were happy, at least they wouldn't have the whole world knowing that their daughter-in-law is a mechanic's daughter.

Two years after their wedding they welcomed their first and only child Sophie, however, May still was not treated fairly. She was verbally abused by the matriarch Rosaline and her daughter, Helen. Fred had to step in again and threaten to sue them if they continued their meanness towards his wife.

May avoided the family members who couldn't tolerate her presence, so she and Fred started their own small company away from the Fernandez corporation. Though it was nothing compared to his fathers, he still found satisfaction in doing what he loved. He had even insisted on leaving the mansion but May pleaded with him to let them stay, she didnt want their family separated because of something as meaningless as a family argument.