Chapter 6

 In Durham, Maria dragged Beatrice's luggage into the house while Beatrice walked in with the less heavy ones. Mr Edward was the first to notice them sneaking into the house.

"Beatrice Edward '' Mr Gabriel Edward yelled as the two rats sneaking in got scared and stood still. Mr Gabriel who was happy he was able to catch them, walked out of the kitchen where he had sighted them.

"Why is my favorite holding the heavy bag while you are strolling with your hands free?" Her father said and she was speechless. Maria started grinning like an old cat when she saw that she was supported by him. 

"Dad, look at this, this is a heavy bag," Beatrice said as she felt wronged. "Can you quantity that nylon with this heavy luggage?" He replied instantly before he collected the bag from Maria and rubbed her head.

"How are you my darling, how was school?, Hope your project wasn't stressful?" Mr Gabriel said as he pulled Maria to the side to seat and kept checking on her body like she was a pet. Beatrice stood at the same spot like a mannequin, with her jaw wide opened.

Sam, Beatrice's younger brother walked in with a headset on his head and he was busy with his gadget, "good afternoon dad" he said and raised his head. He was shocked that his sister is home with Maria.

"Sister" Sam shouted and ran to Maria and hugged her, "I missed you so much that I have lost a lot of weight and I'm dying" Sam said with a pout and Maria laughed and rubbed his curly hair.

"Did you miss me that much?" She asked and they both laughed not considering that someone was standing out.

 Seeing Sam has also been bewitched by Maria, Beatrice's final hope was crush, she thought she mattered more to them than Maria but now, it is the direct opposite. She looked at them and pouted.

She was happy that her family accepted her friends and she could see the joy within them. At least his father was opening up a lot these days.

For the past decade, her father had reduced his relationship with people. He just derives joy from his work and doing the house chores.

With Maria here, things have changed and he had been smiling more often and related with the outside world better.

"I'm the real daughter of Edward here, she is Sebastian Maria not Edward Maria, look at me here, I'm Edward Beatrice" she said and they all turned to look at her.

"I might as well request a change of name for her" Mr Gabriel said and Sam laughed at them as Beatrice glared at him till he kept his mouth shut.

"Yes, I can change my name so easily and I will be an Edward sonner" Maria said and Beatrice yelled, "hell no" and the rest laughed at her.

"Dad, why do I feel like Beatrice stinks of jealous?"Sam said and Mr Gabriel sniff toward her and covered his nose and Sam started laughed at his expression.

"Go and freshen up, you stink, your journey must be rough" Mr Gabriel said as he walked to her chasing her away, Beatrice glared at Maria while Maria stuck her tongue out at her.

Sam smiled at Beatrice before he walked to her and hugged her, "I miss you, chew gum" he whispered to her and she chuckled.

"Maria, Go with her and shower, food will be ready in 10 minutes, don't drown in the water" he said and walked to the kitchen. Maria followed Beatrice to freshen up in her room.

The room was clean when they got in and they were both surprised. Beatrice understood what had gone down in her room, she opened the door and yelled Sam's name and she heard his laughter from his room.

"Why did you shout his name?" Maria said as she started to bring out her toiletries and body wash and other necessary items. Beatrice placed her bag on the bed as well and brought out her items.

"He brought home his girlfriend when dad was not home and allowed that girl to stay in my room, who does that, I bet he is still keeping it from dad that he has a little girlfriend back at school" Beatrice said and Maria could hold back her laughs when she heard the family drama that does unfold daily.

"It's not kind of you to laugh, Maria, it's my room we are talking about, don't laugh at all, Maria" Beatrice said and glared at her. Maria went into the bathroom and took her bath while Beatrice was arranging her luggage into her wardrobe.

Maria came out after Beatrice was done arranging her wardrobe and cleaning up the room properly. "Finally, the water goddess decided to make an entrance after her glorious bath" Beatrice hailed her and Maria laughed.

Beatrice didn't waste time to freshen up and walked out and started dressing up. "What are you going to do when your return home?" Beatrice suddenly asked as they were checking updates on their phone. 

"Nothing, I will be with my mother for a few red carpets and I will take their picture and see if I can work on them and entice a few rich women in mum's circle" Maria said nonchalantly.

"What a nice definition of nothing, that something, girl" Beatrice said and turned and looked at her, "I need a job that will get me enough cash before another semester, the school isn't going to provide us with materials anymore" she complained.

"Just any job right?" Maria said and Beatrice nodded. "My cousin, Joy, needs a nanny at the moment, you can just take up the job till we resume and trust me, the pay is nice" Maria said and Beatrice was surprised at her suggestions.

"Why doesn't she have a nanny? Your brother is rich enough to hire one, why do you want me to apply now?" Beatrice asked and Maria smacked her head. "Think of this as an opportunity to get your money and play around with a little girl of  close to 6 years old," she said.

"What are the things I need, to be qualified for the post?" She asked and Maria glared at her and walked out on her. Beatrice was dumbfounded at her attitude.

She was confused if she said something wrong again. "Can't she be human and reply to my question before leaving me here looking like a fool?" she said and angrily picked up her phone and went after her.

She met them already seated at the dining discussing, she joined them and they started the meal. 

In-between the meal, Mr Gabriel questions them about their project. "How was it?"he asked and the girls looked up at him.

"Dad, it was cool, absolutely, the project that took few of our classmates 4 days, we did it over the night and it was lovely" she replied and Maria nodded.

Mr Gabriel smiled with relief and continued his food. Beatrice looked at everyone eating with joy and remember the headmistress' word.

"Dad, did mum also go into studying fashion like me?" Beatrice asked all of a sudden and Mr Gabriel chocked on his food, Sam quickly gave him water.

Maria who understood the reason for the question glared at her to keep quiet but Beatrice ignored her completely, as she looks forward to knowing the truth.

"Why are you asking?" Her father said after he was better and a lot calmer. "I just felt like asking" she said nonchalantly as she continued eating.

"Beatrice, tell me what's going on?" Mr Gabriel yelled at her. Beatrice looked up at him with a scorn.

"Nothing" she said calmly and finished her meal, the tension on the table was not getting lesser as Mr Gabriel was foaming and Beatrice on the other hand was calm.

"Beatrice Edward, you better start talking, what's up with you and the question?"Mr Edward yelled and Maria almost peed in her pant, she had never seen him like this or with this tone. 

Beatrice stood up from the seat, arranged it properly and picked up her plate. "If you are ready to answer me Dad, I'm ready to listen as well".

"Sit down there, Beatrice and tell me exactly what's going on here?" He spoke with authority making Beatrice stand still for a while.

She recovered from the shock and smiled, "you are not ready to answer my question and you keep asking my series of question, Dad, are you hiding something?" 

Sam stood up to shut her sister up but Beatrice signalled to him to stop. "You should better hide it well and don't let find out " she said and left. 

"Mr Gabriel, I think you should just take it easy on her, she will come around, she is probably on her period" Maria said as she stood up.

"I think I will go talk to her" Maria concluded as she lifted her cup, drank her water and left. Sam who has been standing since Beatrice left looked at his father.

"What's happened?" Sam asked and Mr Gabriel stood up from his seat and returned it back to the usual spot.

"Dad, say something" Sam said and walked up to him. "Are you keeping something from me?" He asked but Mr Gabriel ignored and started packing the plates.

"Pack up or get out" Mr Gabriel yelled at him when Sam held his hand to stop him. "Dad!" Sam was surprised by the tone he used for him. 

Sam was disappointed, he picked up his headset and phone and walked out of the house. Mr Gabriel's heart skipped a bit when he heard the door closed.

He didn't know if this is the right thing for his family, he doesn't want to break his family 

His mind kept wondering how Beatrice got suspicious or what happened that made he know that part of her mother.

What could he do?

He picked up his car keys and walked out of the house.

***

Goerge walked in making a call, he pulled off his suit as he was removing his shoe. Joy heard the movement and walked to him, collected his briefcase and suit.

Goerge, who was still making the call, rubbed her head and walked straight to his room. He walked down after freshening up.

He joined aunty Mimi and Joy at the dinning table. "Evening, Goerge" aunty Mimi said and Goerge bowed a little.

"Aunty, how are you today?" Goerge asked and she smiled in response. Goerge looked at his daughter who was smiling happily at him.

His heart was beating heavily and his body was shivering at the sight of her devilish smile. George mind was racing and he couldn't remember any deal that he broke that made his little devil smile at him that way.

Joy, who was happily making her father shiver with curiosity suddenly laughed. She could not longer hold her laughter as her father's reaction was too priceless. 

Aunty Mimi who understood Joy's mischievous activities laughed along with her making Goerge more scared.

Aunty Mimi left for the kitchen, Joy finally decided to make her father relax. She ran to the kitchen and help aunty Mimi bring in her father's food.

After few seconds, they walked out with Goerge's favourite meal. Goerge's eye balls popped out. The duo were grinning like cats as they saw that Goerge seems to like the surprise.

Goerge was about to dig in when he paused and relax. Surprises don't come easily, especially when the person in charge is a cunny little devil like Joy Sebastian.

"Joy Sebastian" he said and Joy's smile reduced but she quickly smile inorder to get her father's favor. 

"Job Sebastian, the only daughter of Mister Goerge Sebastian, to what do I owe this lovely surprise?" He asked and Aunty Mimi chuckled.

Both father and daughter can be so petty and funny. The daughter has been up and down since to make her dad favor her and in just a glance, the father caught her red-handed.

"I just found a new Nanny" she said with a silly smile and the father looked at her for few seconds before a loud response.

"No".