BROKEN ALPHA'S WITCH MATE

Chapter 37: Campbell Family Day

In their room, Lynn's parents were lying side by side. It was Saturday morning, the birds were chirping their distinctive melodies and the yellow flickers of the sun were sneaking through the curtains to naturally light up their room. They were both awake, perfect time for their little talk. Lynn had been around for three days and the weekend was the last day until she went back to Ski city, far away from them with no one to look after her the same way they did.

The two were also worried about something else that they did want to speak openly about. Something that was like a taboo.

"Am giving up on her you know she is way older and so far no signs..." Said John.

"I thought we agreed this is what is best for her at the moment. Don't you turn your back on our agreement" Sophia argued.

He went quiet exhaling a lungful of air. His gaze was fixed on the ceiling while his wife's on him. She had that worried motherly look on her face.

"Right now we should be worried about introducing her to the family"

"Do you think it's possible they will accept her?"

"We have to try our best, she is asking questions and you know how unyielding she can be"

"I don't..."

A loud knock on their door startled both of them. Then came her voice, "Mum! Are you guys still asleep? Can I come in?"

"Yes dear come in, we're awake" Sophia sanction the two of them seating up on their bed, their backs supported by the fluffy pillows.

Lynn walked in, dressed in her gym clothes. Pink tights with a matching pink tank top, sports shoes on her feet with a water bottle. As a model she had to stay fit and that required some exercises once in a while.

"Good morning, you’re going out?"

"Morning, am going for the morning ran. Dad can you tag along?" She asked standing by the door.

The two parents looked at each other. They knew she was mocking their overprotectiveness whereby she was not even at ease to go outside the compound alone. Either her mother or father had to accompany her or anyone they really trusted.

"Okay, it has been a while" John said sliding off the bed, "can you give me a minute to prep"

"Fine, be quick about it" she said checking her watch.

"As you run I'll be preparing breakfast, what do you want..."

"Pancakes, with honey and lemon tea. Perfect!” Lynn said before walking out.

She left behind a smiling Sophia. Happy to have her daughter back in one piece and also the fact that she was faring on just fine without them. John emerged with a towel on his face and quickly changed into a track suit and some sports shoes. Daughter and father left the compound jogging in silence until they were a few meters away from the compound John sparked a converse.

"This is good" He said lagging behind a little. Lynn stopped to wait for him.

"You want some water dad?"

"No am good, it has just been long since I did this"

"Come on have some water. We can rest in the pack and do some yoga before we ran back" she suggested helping him drink the water, John took small successive sips before they went to the park to stretch.

A handful of people were there too, stretching in the glow of the early morning sun. Father and daughter did their work outs for close to half an hour before they left jogging side by side.

Lynn

It just felt relieving to run and get rid of all that tension I was feeling. Once again it was time to break my parent’s hearts by leaving. Despite their constant assurance I knew they wanted me to always stay by their side but since meeting Kai and Mona, there was that sense of responsibility to be there for them. Get to see them every day and create new memories...those two together with the people we got to interact with daily gave me an alternative family apart from mine of two.

"You're too quiet" Dad said.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything, I have this feeling you are mad at us or at someone everything okay there?"

"Am fine"

"You can tell me anything kiddo" he said as we slowed down when we approached the gate.

Dad was not going away unless I gave him something to nibble on. Sometimes that kind of care was much needed and other times it wasn't. Like that morning.

"You guys always make me feel guilty leaving" I said exhaling sharply and leaning on the painted black iron gates.

"We can't help it but it doesn't mean you have to pause your life for us. We always knew this times will come when you'll have to leave us my guess is your mum and I were not prepared"

"Will you guys ever be ready?"

"No, that's our problem now. You worry about getting yourself together, starting a family getting old you know..."

"Don't worry, grandchildren are on the way. Let's go before the pancakes get cold"

We walked in happily holding hands, mum was setting up the breakfast table in the front porch. We washed our hands by the tap and took our seats, attacked the pancakes with vigor like a bunch of rabid dogs, no one was talking. All mouths were busy chewing, burying our teeth through the three layers of eggs, honey and salad. Mum's cooking would have made me reconsider leaving and no matter how much I tried to learn from her I just couldn't get it to her level of perfection.

"Mm" mumbled dad wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"Sorry it's been long since I cooked"

"Very sweet, don't get me wrong" He said.

"Thank you, see what you're missing Lynn? Hope you've have perfected your cooking. No daughter of mine will be eating junk food"

"Not as good as you but am really trying. You guys want to go out today. The bill's on me"

Mum looked at dad for sanction. It was amazing to see how dad was still the chief decision maker. Something I hadn't learnt yet, at least not with Kai. My principles seemed a little bit rude.

"There are a few things for old bones..."

"Don't use age as an excuse to have fun"

"I think we should give it a chance. Am not that old John" mum said rolling her eyes and tucking her hair. She was beautiful for her age with a great skin and curled hair.

Dad and I laughed so hard when she got on her feet and took that spin. Mum was still in shape, she had to be. The mother of a model, there were a few features of her that I inherited.

"Sit down, you've made your point" Dad said leaving his seat, "I think we're going for a family date..."

"Whoa!" Mum marveled, “The last time he took me on a date dogs had flight” she teased sending us to a frenzy of laughter.

"Thank you so much dad!" I said kissing his cheek.

"The museum and some good food in the restaurants and much more"

"Ice cream"

"Of course and ice cream. Go prep we meet here in half an hour"

***

At eleven Dad pulled over in the front gate of Hillwood museum. Not a big fun of history but I was a little curious why he chose such a venue and also as long as we got to spent some quality time together as a family I was up for anything. The instructor took us for the grand tour explaining every artefact and it's historical importance stage by stage. Dad looked curious unlike mum and me. In the near future the real purpose of that visit would come out.

After the museum we headed for dinner in some fancy hotel. They had a table for three in a small tent in the middle of an evergreen lawn and flowers, a fountain and a cool breeze bringing unmatched serenity. A waiter came to pick our orders. A gentleman in a black half coat, white shirt, black bow tie and matching black shoes.

"Welcome to Westgate hotel what can I get you?"

"Hello, get us some wine as we settle on what to eat" Dad said.

The waiter left us to a banter. Mum was cracking jokes about my childhood and I was seated there laughing and embarrassed at the same time. To me getting to know my childhood was progress to meeting my bigger family that had been kept a secret for my entire life. It even got me thinking that perhaps my parents were banished from the family for breaking a taboo. Maybe they were not supposed to get married and the two went ahead to get married so no one from either side on the family wanted anything to do with them?

"Nice wine, what will you guys eat?" I asked before taking another sip of the red wine.

"Get us wet fry salad and rice" Dad said, I assumed that went for mum too and it was my turn to make the order.

"Wings with some French fries and tomato sauce"

"Coming right up"

As he went to get our orders the banter continued. We talked about our memories, it got so boring and mum found a way to talk about me again. Then came the advice about marriage, I knew she was trying to bring Kai to the topic, who was quiet by the way. And I wasn't even worried about him ghosting me because somehow he was going to come up with something mind-blowing besides, we weren't lovers were we?

Food was brought and we enjoyed it silently, seeping from our glasses of wine once in a while. It was just fun to hang with them one last time before going back to Ski city. We later went for the massage with orchestra music that sounded good as those giant hands kneaded my body from the neck to the waist and down to the legs.

"Ooh, feels so good!" Dad moaned, "Why have you people never brought me here?"

"Because you're busy hiding in your comfy house" I teased.

"That was cold but true. Now that we are alone John we should think of going out more" suggested mum.

"Once a week won't be bad for this old bones" Dad said, he had a straw connected to his lips seeping his drink as they worked on his back.

At a half past five we left the hotel, happy, relaxed and full. Mum and I were in the back seat of the family van, Dad was busy in the driver’s seat and good old country music was roaring in the car. It had been a great few days stay. And I realized, to even cherish them more I needed to be away most of the time despite their fears.

"We want you to let you know that we are okay with you being away, you don't have to feel the guilt of leaving us" Mum said in a deep emotional voice, the kind that made me just want to stick around, "A good parent should be willing to let their children explore the world on their own. Because that's what they have been preparing them for the rest of their lives"

"Thank you guys" I said hugging mum.

Finally, I was leaving home with their blessing. Perhaps things were going to go well for me. Just a hunch.