Under His Protection

“Good morning Mama” Michael greeted so casually in the busy kitchen, several female eyes turned to their direction, Laura almost wanted to shrink behind Michael’s back when she saw the naked shock on their faces.

“Good morning…” Laura muttered softly, avoiding their curious gaze, she did not know how to perceive their reaction towards her, she quickly felt that she overdressed for breakfast since they were still in their pajamas, ” ….. sorry for the intrusion”

A grave silence greeted the both of them, Laura became aware that the room adopted a complete stillness, the middle aged woman in the counter looking from Michael to her was probably his mom.

“Everyone…..” Michael addressed the four women in the kitchen, ” this is Laura my wife”

Everyone gasped at his announcement including Laura, ” Laura I would like you you to meet my mother, Venita. My younger sister, Celia. And our youngest Marcella”

“Nice to meet you all, my name is Laura Van-Lerie….” She said, avoiding their questioning look.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

The woman named Celia was the first to recover from the shock, she gently closed the pot and smiled brightly in Laura’s direction, ” Hi, nice to meet you sorry of you feel unwelcomed it is just that we were quite shock to find my brother here finally home with his wife, as he said” she turned to look at the others, ” Mother, little sis did you hear that? This is Michael’s wife”

Laura felt her cheek flamed, she should have expected this since Michael brazenly announced that she is his wife to her and the family.

“I heard him” Michael mother glared at her daughter, cleaning her hand with the apron she wore, she walked towards Laura, ” iam this idiot boy mother, I don’t know what kind of magic he used on you but welcome to the family Laura”

Her throat was lump with emotions when Michael mother enveloped her with a motherly embrace, ” thanks ma”

“Ma? You can call me Venita or venny, whichever you feel more comfortable using, please feel free at home in our modest house”

“Of course” Laura replied, with a warm smile, being grateful to Michael kind-hearted mother.

“Laura?” One of Michael sister called, she seems to be the last who recovered from her surprise, ” how odd brother, you married a woman who has thesame name as that rich princess you have a big crush on before, your boss youngest daughter that…..”

“Oh shut up Marcella” the elder sister said, placing her hand on her sister’s mouth, she turned and smiled apologetically towards Laura direction who reciprocated it, ” please forgive our youngest sister with her loose mouth, don’t mind her earlier statement, my name is Priscilla but you can call me Celia, it is so nice to meet you Laura”

Laura raised an eyebrow in Michael direction who just stood there scratching his neck while blushing furiously with a mocking smile, so his family were aware that he had a thing for her even when they have not seen her?

“Breakfast is ready” Venita announced, placing the freshly cooked food on the table, ” everyone please seat”

Michael held out a chair for her, she muttered her thanks to him while he took the chair next to hers, he scooped a good amount of food in her Plate, ” that is enough” she told him when her food almost covered the whole plate.

“You need to eat for two people remember?” He reminded her calmly.

Celia and Marcella gasped across to her with their eyes as wide as sucer, ” You are pregnant?!”

“Uh… uh..” Laura started, swallowing hard.

“Yes she is” Michael completed with a smug tone, ” listen we will answer all your questions once breakfast is over”

“But iam dying with curiousity here” Marcella protested, while digesting her food, ” Now I know why mother cooked extra special today”

“Shut up marcey! Give brother and his wife some privacy, I sure they will answer all our questions when they are ready” Celia reprimanded, then she turned to Laura with a warm smile and begging eyes, ” I would like to be his/her godmother, can I?’

“Hey!” Marcella protested beside her elder sister, ” that is my line”

“Enough girls!” Their mother groaned, ” let the poor woman have her breakfast peacefully without the two of you putting pressure on her shoulder in choosing the godmother of their child, she smiled at Laura and continued her food.

“I won’t mind if you choose me” Marcella inserted smoothly again, receiving a tap from Priscilla.

“That is it!” Michael took their plates from the table, ” mother we are going to have our breakfast outside” he didn’t wait for Laura’s reply and marched out f the dining table, Laura excused herself apologetically and joined him outside.

“That was rude” she informed him, when she found him waiting for her in the porch of their house.

Michael sighed deeply, sitting on the step of the varenda, ” I just want to be alone with you and have out breakfast peacefully without my sister’s bombarding us with questions”

“I like your sisters, and your mother most especially”

Michael smiled gratefully as she sat beside him, he gave her the plate, ” iam glad to hear that my love”

They sat in the porch eating their breakfast without tables or chairs, this was way different from the usual form of breakfast back at the mansion, but Laura liked it more this way, it feels like they were just Normal couple from the neighborhood.

“Why did you tell them that iam your wife?”

He turned and stared deeply into her eyes, her heartbeat loudly as he stared into her soul, ” for me Laura, you are already my wife, of course we need to make our Union officially by having a proper wedding ceremony, but first I need to ask your father’s permission to marry you”.

“What if he doesn’t give his consent?” Looking at him Laura could see that he had thought about it, Michael stared at her with a sad smile, ” Be positive will you? But if that happens I will still marry you with his consent or not”

************

Later at noon, Michael went to the kitchen to look for something to eat while waiting for his sister’s and Laura who went to the town for ” sisterly bonding” according to them, he wouldn’t be surprised that they would hit off right away.

Once he made his presence known inside the kitchen he saw his mother sitting on the kitchen table sipping coffee, he was about to silently retreat when he heard her speak, ” may I have a word with you son?”

“What is it?” Michael reluctantly turned around to face her questioning gaze.

“What the devil are you thinking? What kind of dangerous game are you playing son? She asked so calmly as if they were discussing the weather, Michael frowned at her, not sure of what she meant, ” what are you talking about mother?”

She eyed him like a mother who knows everything, ” what madness had possessed you to kidnap that woman on thesame evening of her engagement party?”

Michael heart sank at her word, his mouth suddenly become dried, he stared at her with unblinking eyes, ” Hhow did you know that?”