Part 20

Flavia returned home with Abigail on Friday afternoon with the intention of picking up a change of clothes for the weekend. But the two were surprised by the presence of a beautiful woman sitting on the Quirino family's living room sofa with a magazine on her lap. She looked more like a relaxing homeowner than a guest.

Seeing Flavia and Abigail's arrival, the woman wearing a sexy mauve dress put down her magazine and immediately got up from her seat.

“Who are you?” Abigail asked with a suspicious look. The woman gave Abigail a quick glance and then looked at Flavia.

“You, must be Flavia.” She said without hesitation. Flavia looked at the woman in front of her skeptically and then nodded her head.

“Hi, I'm Anastasia.” She said, extending her hand.

“You, Uncle Antony's girlfriend?” Abigail asked on behalf of Flavia who seemed reluctant to accept the woman's hand.

“You know me?” Anastasia looked back at Abigail with a shocked expression.

“No, I don't. I was just guessing.” Abigail replied casually.

“I thought you knew me. And you, who? I didn't know that Antony had a niece. All I know is that Antony is an only child and his cousins that I know of have no children.” Anastasia said again.

“I'm Flavia's schoolmate, not her cousin or uncle Antony's niece.” Abigail replied again a bit put off by Anastasia's attitude which she found suspicious.

“Oh, I see.” Anastasia replied in a condescending tone that made Abigail look at her with one eyebrow raised.

“Are you waiting for my father?” Flavia asked.

“Yes. I'm waiting for him. I have business with him.” Anastasia replied showing her smug smile again.

“But my father might still be back from work.” Flavia hoped she understood that she didn't like her presence. But the woman before her was her father's guest so she couldn't possibly turn her away, unless she wanted to get a bad response from her father.

“I know.” Anastasia replied, sitting back on the sofa and again acting like she was the owner of the house. “Your father is a busy man and luckily, I'm a patient woman so waiting is fine with me. Would you like to accompany me?” She offered, which was answered by Flavia's shaking head.

“Sorry, Abigail and I still have school work to do.” Flavia refused politely and after excusing herself, Flavia pulled Abigail by the hand to follow her into the kitchen. The family's head housekeeper greeted her upon seeing Flavia and Abigail.

“You're back. Can I make you something?” She offered, to which Flavia and Abigail immediately replied with shakes of their heads.

“The woman in the living room, has she been here long?” Flavia asked matter-of-factly.

“Oh that woman.” The head of housekeeping glanced at the front with an annoyed expression. “She's been here since an hour ago. Your father asked her to go home but she said she would wait for him because she had important business to attend to. I didn't dare to send her away, as I recall she was your father's lover.” The assistant chief said nervously.

“Leave it alone, let her wait until Papa returns. Abby and I have homework so we'll do it in my room. And tonight I'm going back to stay at Aunty C's so you don't have to prepare dinner or breakfast for us.” The middle-aged woman nodded her head in acknowledgement and said she would deliver the snacks to Flavia's room.

“Looks like it won't be long before you have a new mom.” Abigail said on their way to Flavia's room. “What style of wedding do you think that woman will have? For sure, she'll organize a very lavish party.” Abigail assumed.

Abigail placed her bag carelessly on the carpet and then flung herself on the bed. Her body lay on its side with her elbows resting on her head. Her eyes teased Flavia.

“What the hell are you doing? Who said my father would marry her. Obviously not.” Flavia said with annoyance.

“Why not. Just look at how that woman behaves. She's like a hostess instead of a guest. Doesn't that mean your father gave her permission to behave like that? Besides, look at that woman. She's very pretty. She's also sexy. I remember she's also a model. Your father is a widower and single. She also seems to be single.”

“Still I don't want her to be my mother.” Flavia replied irritably.

“Why not? Didn't you say you wanted a sister. Now that the bride-to-be is in place and the wedding is ready, why are you rejecting the idea?” Abigail asked again in an indifferent tone. She who was taking out a book from her bag did not notice the change in Flavia's face.

“I really want a sister.” Her friend's soft reply made Abigail stop her movements. “In large numbers, if my stepmother is willing to give birth to them.” She continued. “But I also want a stepmother who is to my liking, and not the one I want.” She said in a whining tone as if she was about to cry.

Abigail froze. A second later she approached her best friend who was sitting on the bed. “If you don't want her, who do you want? Does your father have another candidate?” She asked curiously. Flavia shook her head slowly.

“I don't know. All I know is that I want your aunt to be my stepmother.” She said firmly with a sharp gaze directed at Abigail. Then the girl's expression changed to a pleading one. “Didn't you say you would help me get Aunty C?” She asked with an ignorant smile.

“Me? When did I say that?” Abigail asked with her forehead wrinkled as if trying to remember. As she recalled, she had never said she would help Flavia to get Claire as her stepmother. Although there was no denying that Abigail had been trying to match her only aunt with Antony Quirino. “My aunt is not something I can easily give to someone else. Besides, does your father want the same thing as you?” Abigail looked at Flavia with a mocking smile.

Flavia shrugged with a sad face. “I hope he can like Aunty C. Ever since I've known her, I've really liked Aunty C and I really hope she wants to be my mom someday.” Flavia looked at her best friend expectantly again.

Abigail rolled her eyes, but then looked back at her best friend. “Before your wish comes true, you must first confirm your father's feelings for my aunt. And if you want my aunt to be your mother, then ask your father to marry her. It's that simple.”

“Yes, that's what I want too. But how do I ask my father about his feelings and how do I tell him that I want him to marry your aunt?” Flavia asked in a desperate tone.

Abigail again shrugged her shoulders. “Well, that depends on your efforts. He's your father, not mine.” Abigail replied casually.

“Abby...do me a favor. Aren't you usually the human with the most ideas?” Flavia coaxed again.

“Thank you for complimenting my intelligence.” Abigail replied with a smug expression. “But for now, I really don't have any ideas. If your father really likes that woman downstairs, we have no hope of getting my aunt and your father together.” Abigail replied as she flung her body on the bed. Her eyes looked up at the ceiling.

“I don't want to give up, but I don't know what to do either.” Flavia said softly.

“I don't think it's possible for your father to be interested in my aunt if the competition is the woman below.”

“I want Aunty C anyway.” Flavia said stubbornly.

“The woman below is prettier than my aunt. Are you sure you won't regret having a mother with the qualities of my aunt?” Abigail tilted her head and looked at Flavia mockingly.

“Abby, I'm talking seriously.” Flavia who was getting annoyed now patted her best friend's hand.

“Me too.” Abigail said with a serious face.

“You actually have a plan, don't you?” Abigail urged her best friend.

“I do, but I'm not sure it will work.”

“What way?” Flavia asked enthusiastically.

“How about we hypnotize your father. We make him forget about the woman downstairs and want my aunt.” It was a quick suggestion that made Flavia widen her eyes.

“Hypnotize?” asked Flavia incredulously. Abigail nodded. “Abigail, seriously. Who could hypnotize my father anyway?”

“A hypnotist, of course.” Abigail replied casually. “There are so many hypnotists on television. Let's just hire one of them. You're rich, you can ask your grandmother for money to hire them. I'm sure if you explain why, your grandmother will give you a lot of money.”

“Don't be crazy.” Flavia snapped as she looked at her best friend with annoyance. Obviously Abigail's suggestion made no sense to her. Abigail laughed at Flavia's expression. She got up from her bed and put her arm around her best friend's shoulders.

“Okay, let's find another way.” She said later. “We'll make them meet often. Isn't that how they fall in love with each other? After they fall in love with each other, they will definitely get married.” Abigail replied still in her casual manner.

Flavia nodded in agreement. But was falling in love really as easy as flipping an egg on a skillet? Flavia didn't know. All she wanted was to make her absurd wish come true.

Flavia finally took a deep breath and then lay down on the bed with her gaze fixed on the ceiling.