Chapter Four

                  Chapter Four

The smell of eggs woke her up from her dream she felt she had slept for a few minutes. When she fully opened her eyes gazing at her bedside clock she realized that it was already morning and the time was already after 09:00am. Jumping out of bed she headed downstairs.

‘Good morning mum and dad!’ Trish called out from the doorway as she made her way into the kitchen giving her parents each a kiss on the cheek. Last night was well spent and she was in a happy mood.

“Good morning to you too! You seem to be happy this morning, you must have woken up from a wonderful dream’ Her dad commented with a huge smile.

‘I was about to say the same too, the only thing she forgot to do was to brush her teeth first.’ Her mother said teasingly.

‘Mom, really! Did you have to embarrass me like that in front of dad?’ Trish made a face as she tried to smell her own breath in the hollow of her hand.

‘Since when have you ever felt embarrassed in front of me my princess?’ Her father asked laughing and putting down the newspaper he was reading he handed her his empty coffee cup for refill.

‘Since the moment she came home this morning.’ Thomas called out from the living room.

Startled by her brother’s words Trish dropped the coffee cup and saucer, she felt her color draining from her face. She was in a fairly good mood and was not prepared for any lecture from her parents especially her mum. Last night she had managed to sneak in her room through the window without anyone noticing at least that’s what she thought until her brother’s big mouth. 

‘Trish, how many times have I told you to be careful with my utensils? Her mother scolded. 

‘See now you have ruined my appetite, I can’t even finish this food’, Trish’s younger brother Tim shouted at her.

Relieved that her mother had not heard her brother’s remark of her coming late she rose up from where she was cleaning her mess and to create more diversion she took away her brother Tim’s bowl of oats from him and placed it on the sink without saying anything.

‘That’s enough! What is wrong with you this morning Trish? Surely you can’t behave like that in front of your younger brother. Tim stop talking with food in your mouth and finish your oats quietly’, Annie snapped at her kids , taking the bowl from the sink she placed it back  in front of Tim.

Trish simply frowned but inwardly she was glad her idea had worked.

‘Annie, I think you are being too hard on her besides accidents happen and Timothy don’t forget that Trish is your elder sister.’ Turning to her daughter he continued saying ‘Forget about them my Princess they woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Why don’t you hurry and freshen up breakfast is about to be served and we won’t start without you.’ Rising from his chair Ben said in a soft tone, caressing his daughter’s back.

‘I love you dad, you are the best.’ Trish kissed her dad’s cheek smiling.

Her brothers always felt a pang of envy whenever their father showed so much affection to Trish especially in their presence. Whenever the boys do one silly mistake their father Ben was always quick to scold them but when it came to Trish, he portrayed her as a saint and hardly reprimanded her and this irked the two brothers. 

‘By the way, what time did you arrive last night Trish, I waited up for you. Did you forget you promised to help me with my homework?’ Tim called out with a grin on his face.

Trish knew the reason her brother was asking had nothing to do with homework, he enjoyed whenever Annie their mother scolded her. Pretending not to have heard him, she quickly turned before her mother who was busy with the tray of scones could say anything and heading upstairs, she was swearing at her brother under her breath.

Registering the discomfort in her sister’s expression, Tim started laughing as he continued to eat his oats. Ben who was displeased with his son’s action gave him a stern look that made that smile to disappear quickly from his face.

Ben and Annie Dunn were happily married for 25 years and had three kids, two boys and one girl. Trish aged 19 was their first daughter followed by Thomas aged 16 and lastly Timothy who was aged 10. Ben was an Architect and Annie was a nurse and they both provided a comfortable life for their children. Ben loved his daughter so much that it made Annie and the boys jealous that whenever Trish made a mistake Annie was always quick to admonish her.

Once upstairs Trish let out a huge sigh of relief, she was glad that she had escaped narrowly from a confrontation that was going to turn out into an argument possibly of her parents. Her dad always had her side while her mother was more inclined to the boys.

The thought of the guy from last night made her smile. She had never been moved by a guy like she was yesterday, from his looks, the smell of his cologne to his appearance it was in her taste range.  Trish could feel all her senses awakening just thinking of him. Even though she was hurt that at first he had picked Connie it didn’t matter to her anymore because he came back and danced with her. That dance they had she felt a connection that she was sure he felt too. Trish wanted him and she wanted him so bad.

Soon after brushing her teeth and freshening up she decided to call Emma, hoping for some good news. She tried Emma’s phone several times but it was not reachable and deciding not to keep the rest of her family waiting she went downstairs for breakfast her spirit undeterred.