Ethan wasn’t on the best of terms with Vanessa yet. But it wasn’t worst either. After the lunch with her at her place, he had maintained a fair distance from her only so he wouldn’t discomfort her in any way.
Ethan was still in his deep slumber when his phone rang loud. It made him groan. Waking up to someone’s phone call wasn’t an ideal morning for him. Except for his mother’s phone call. He hoped it to be his mom or else there was going to be some kind of attitude in his voice.
He rolled over to the other side of the bed and grabbed his phone.
It was indeed his Mother.
“Hello, Mrs. Francis,”
“Ohho. Francis junior you better home tonight for dinner. It’s your father’s birthday,” his mom continued his name calling tease.
Ethan brought his phone to his face and looked at the date. He didn’t purposely forget his father’s birthday. He was too much immersed in Vanessa and the wedding invitation, to remember his father’s birthday.
“I swear I didn’t mean to forget, mom,”
“I am your mom now?”
“Puh..lez, Mom,” he pleaded.
He heard his mom giggling on the other side of the phone.
“I have covered for you. But if you want to make up to me, you better take off from work and come home right away,”
“Yes. Definitely. Anything for you, mom.”
“Then I’ll be counting on you to make dessert for the dinner,”
“What? I only said I’ll be-“
By the time he could finish his words, his mom had disconnected the phone call.
So his schedule for the day was rescheduled, visiting his parents' place to have the celebratory dinner on account of his father’s birthday along with his dessert making.
He groaned, lying back on the bed. He looked at the ceiling. It was completely white. Actually, his entire house held white paint. It was as if, he was obsessed with white color.
After a few minutes, he got out of the bed and did his daily routine. By the time he took a shower and got dressed, it was 11. He didn’t bother having breakfast. He took his car keys and exited his apartment.
He looked at his reflection in the elevator door. While he was examining himself, a girl in her 20s entered the elevator, two floors below his penthouse.
As normal as it was, Ethan ignored her. Although she was sending him some undeniable suggestive looks by staring at his reflection in the elevator door and biting her lips and winking at him.
He shook his head and looked down. He had already had enough with Vanessa and didn’t want another one to misunderstand his actions.
It wasn’t the first time a woman was ogling at him like this. He was used to this. If only he was a straight man, things would’ve been different.
He quickly exited the elevator when it reached the ground floor. He was quick to enter his car and drive away, making the woman from the elevator stomp her feet in disbelief. Which sane man would turn down a sexy woman!!
Ethan drove into his parents' house after driving for a long time. His parents lived in a rather quiet and almost out of the city kind of neighborhood. After all, it was their time to relax.
He honked loudly a few times before turning off the engine and exiting the car. It was his way of making his parents know that he was home. He did that even when he had a bicycle and motorbike. Over the years, only the vehicles kept upgraded, not is silliness.
“I'm home,” he screamed only to get a hit on his chest by his mom, making him startle.
“Ow, Mamma. That hurt,” he faked pouted.
His mom giggled at her son’s silliness.
“Oh shut up and just come inside. Why make noise?”
“For you to know that your prince has come home,” he winked at her. He earned another hit on the chest.
Smilingly, she grabbed his hand and dragged him inside the house to the living room.
“I can’t believe you still fall for his goofiness,” commented Senior Francis.
“How can I not when my baby is so cute,” she said pinching Ethan’s cheek.
“Ah… baby.. Seriously,” Senior Francis was tired from seeing the mother-son duo's lovey dovey nature.
Ethan’s mom laughed at her husband and walked to the kitchen.
Ethan walked to his father and gave a side hug, “Happy birthday, Dad.”
“Where’s my gift?”
“What?”
“Gift?”
“Oh come on, dad. Don’t demand for gifts like kids.”
“I can’t believe you came empty handed for my birthday,”
“Were you this crazy all the time?”
“Have a son exactly like you, then you will know how crazy you can go,”
This was exactly how Ethan grew up talking to his father. There were no formalities. Of course, they had love and respect for each other. But just not in the words, rather in their hearts. Everything that comes out of their mouth was way too informal for a father-son to be having.
“I thought you were coming for dinner,” his father said, walking to the dining area.
Ethan followed him behind, “I came in early to prepare your gift.”
Senior Francis turned back and sent a glare at his son which was met with a sheepish smile of Ethan.
Ethan went inside the kitchen and looked around. His mother was preparing every single favorite food of her husband. Senior Francis would be delighted at dinner time, Ethan thought.
“I’m hungry, mom.”
“Why? Didn’t have any breakfast?” she asked turning to him.
Ethan shook his head a no-no.
“There’s leftover from last night in the fridge, why don’t you try it?” Senior Francis said from the dining table. He was sitting on a dining chair and cutting fruits.
Ethan turned to his mom and pouted. She just shook her head and signaled him to go and eat the fruits that his father was cutting. As his mother’s words were a command, he walked to the dining table and picked the fruits and started eating.
“Tsk. That’s for me,”
“You can cut more,” Ethan said in his gobbled voice.
Senior Francis shook his head and picked more fruits to cut. After all, he was cutting the fruits for Ethan, just posing in front of his wife and son.
“So what’s going on?” Senior Francis asked.
“Nothing much. Actually…” Ethan remembered Jake’s wedding invitation. His parents knew Jake. They actually knew all of his friends, including Arthur and his relationship with their son.
“What is it?” Ethan’s mother joined them for a breather from her continuous cooking preparation since morning.
“Actually, Jake is getting married. He has sent his wedding invitation.”
“Jake McCarthy?”
Ethan nodded his head.
“Are you attending?”
“I'm not sure.”
“Why?”
“Don’t worry, Eth. If you run into that someone, you can just ignore and enjoy the wedding and come back OK?” His mother tried to soothe him with some soft and encouraging words. Seeing her son sad was the last thing she wanted to do.
Both of Ethan’s parents were very well aware of their son’s sexuality and we’re very supportive when he came out to them when he was in high school.
“I’ll think about it mom,” Ethan said in understanding. He was indeed hurt by Arthur but he couldn’t avoid his other friends just for Arthur’s memories' sake.
After the wedding invitation talk, Ethan had got to work on his dessert for his father’s birthday, German chocolate cake.
Senior Francis walked into the kitchen, “I heard what happened at the Wilson’s party.”
Ethan nodded his head without looking at his father.
“Vanessa is a nice girl you know,”
“Did he tell she’s not?” Ethan's mother asked.
“I didn’t say it that way. He could have had a little patience and explained it to her.”
“We had a talk after the party. We aren’t on bad terms but also not on very good terms. We are just fine.”
“Ethan I really hope you will find someone to love and to be loved and settle for life soon.” With those words, Senior Francis left the kitchen.
“You know he is only looking out for you,”
“I know, mom. But what can I do if I don’t feel connected to anyone? I can’t live my life with someone who I cannot love with my everything.”
After dinner last night, Ethan had crashed at his parents’ place. It’s not like he had to worry about clothes and stuff. It was the heavy traffic in the city that worried him. Driving on his own was a bad idea. He wouldn’t even be able to sit freely and do his stuff. He should have his eyes and hands and legs working along the way back home or to the studio.He drove into the city and passed the bridge and drove through a busy long street, but he felt like the route to his office had got farther.He checked his phone to see if he had any phone calls or messages. But to increase driving boredom, his phone was dead.
Arthur sighed, leaning onto the couch.“Amy, we are going shopping not new York fashion week,” he screamed loudly.His daughter has been taking more than an hour to pick clothes to wear to go for shopping. She wanted to buy a new dress for the wedding. She wanted to look prettier than the bride. And Arthur had accidentally become her chauffeur and assistant for the day, to shop and pack her things for the weekend wedding. And his daughter was driving him crazy even before the shopping began.
The flight to Bonnet Island Estate was still 50 minutes away from taking off. Arthur and his little family were in the waiting lounge for the first class passengers.Emily was seated on the couch, having a cup of coffee, and reading a magazine. Arthur was right next to her, with Amity sleeping, leaning onto his chest.The little princess had dozed off to sleep as soon as she was showered and dressed. Her parents realized that early morning flights are definitely not her thing.
Ethan settled in his seat after boarding the plane. When everything was set the flight took off and the passengers started to relax in their own seats.Ethan unfastened his seatbelt and adjusted his position while taking out his phone from his pocket.He unlocked and checked a few messages and replied to them. Ethan wasn’t much of a reader, so the reading book wasn’t something he would do. Especially on a plane. And listening to music, unless it’s work, he’s least bothered about it. He sure loved high beat EDMs during his college days. But now, that didn’t interes
Ethan got off the taxi in front of the Bonnet Island estate which was booked for the wedding. It was one of the greatest wedding destinations in the US. As what he had heard from his parents, it was the biggest estate in the US and a perfect destination for an intimate wedding. Ethan couldn’t even imagine getting married ever.The sun had grown bigger in the day and Ethan’s shined because of it. He could barely keep his eyes open. He paid for the taxi and walked inside the estate with his luggage, covering his eyes.The estate was vast and the mansion in the estate for the bride an
The voice had made both, Ethan and Amity freeze in the spot. As though they were in sync, they turned to the voice, together.Arthur and Ethan had finally come face to face after a long time. And one thing that was sure to both Arthur and Ethan was that Arthur had a woman beside him. But Ethan didn’t.“Papa, Mommy,” Amity broke the silence, making both and Arthur and Ethan look at her.She
Ethan walked into the party that was being held in the garden with Amity. She had filled in a lot more about her life with her parents to Ethan by the time they reached the party.“Ethan…. My man,” Jake screamed his lungs out as soon as he saw Ethan walking inside.There was a wide smile spread across Ethan’s face when he saw the joy on his friend’s face. It had been a long time since Ethan had met with his friends. He had not deliberately found excuses to skip all of the reunions his college friends had made. But now, he couldn’t miss his best friend’s wedding. It’s his big day.
The Bachelorette Party.That is what all the brides and grooms look forward to. Be it arranged marriage or a love marriage, a bachelorette party is a must. After all, it will the last party where they can be themselves without bothering to maintain anyone’s dignity or whatsoever. It is only and only about them, for both, the bride and the groom.The groom’s bachelorette party was arranged at the exquisite bar of the estate and all of Jake’s friends and cousins had already gathered.