An 'unwelcome' visitor

“Oh, my goodness! I cannot believe my eyes! I must be seeing things.” Diane exclaimed in blatant joy and surprise, rushing over to hug Nicole.

The two women hugged for what felt like an eternity, and as they hugged, Nicole and Harold’s eyes met.

She winked at him sultrily, her eyes heavy with promises of what was to come, but he averted his gaze from hers nervously, wishing that she hadn’t come.

The whole ruckus alerted Mrs. Collins, and Harold’s sister, Evelyn, who came outside to see what the ruckus was all about.

“Alright, ladies. I guess this means that the vacation has to be postponed. I have to get to work urgently because something just came up, anyway, so I’ll see all of you later. Have fun.” Harold said.

He hopped into the idling car to make a hasty getaway from the awkward situation he knew was about to unfold with the presence of his mother and sister, leaving Diane to deal with their luggage.

Diane didn’t mind that the vacation was cancelled though, because she was overjoyed to see her childhood friend after so many years.

“I don’t understand. What’s with all this luggage? Who’s going somewhere?” Mrs. Collins asked.

Her sharp gaze took the whole situation in, and she decided in her mind that the luggage was for Nicole who had probably come for a visit.

Evelyn, however, knew exactly who the luggage was for and her mouth formed into a sneer as she looked Diane up and down.

“Well, well, well, it must be incredibly great to be a lazy slob who lazes about all day doing nothing, yet you can go on expensive vacations at the snap of a finger,” Evelyn said derisively, the jealousy coming off her in droves.

Nicole took in the whole situation at a glance and understood it for what it was immediately. 

It was clear that despite how much Harold pretended that he didn’t want to see her and that he and Diane were happy, the reverse was the case, or at least their marriage was far from happy.

It was obvious in the way his mother and sister were embarrassing Diane in front of her, and how Diane’s face was flushed with embarrassment. Well, that was a surprise and welcome news to her. 

 “Mrs. Collins, Evelyn, this is my best friend, Nicole. I don’t know if you remember her, but she was the chief bridesmaid at my wedding…” Diane began to say, but Mrs. Collins cut her off.

“We don’t need your family history, All I want is for you to stop wasting my son’s hard-earned money as though money grows on fucking trees, or at least,”

 “Hello, ma’am. It’s so nice to meet you once again. I can beat my chest and say that you haven’t aged a day in the five years since I last saw you. You still look as beautiful and radiant as you did on Diane’s wedding day.” Nicole gushed, directing her words at Mrs. Collins, who looked her up and down.

It was clear that she was pleased by the words, but because Nicole was a friend of Diane’s, she wasn’t about to start being friendly with her.

“Thanks, dear, but I can't say the same thing about you. I don’t even remember seeing you before.”

“Oh, that’s alright. I've got a very forgetful face, so it’s not a surprise to me that you don’t recognize me.”

“If you say so. Come, Evelyn, honey. Let’s go back inside.” Mrs. Collins said to her daughter, and with one last annoyed glance at Diane and her visitor, the two went inside.

“Jeez, what a surly bunch! How do you cope with those people, Diane?” Nicole asked.

“Shhh … don’t talk about them like that. They might overhear and it will cause me more problems. They don’t like me as it is, but that’s by the way. Enough about me. How come you didn’t tell me you were coming back home? We still spoke the day before yesterday.”

“I wanted it to be a cute little surprise.”

“It was the greatest and best surprise ever. I’ve really missed you, and I haven’t had another close friend since you left five years ago. Please tell me you’re back to stay.” Diane said, clasping Nicole’s hands in hers.

“Of course, I’m here to stay. I missed you as well all these years, and I’ve only realized just how much I missed you now that I’ve seen you again.”

“Oh, you don’t know how happy it makes me to hear that, Nicole.” 

“Trust me, babes. I do know. Anyway, I brought you and your husband some gifts. Let me give them to you now so I don’t forget. I’m sorry I ruined your vacation.” Nicole said ruefully, rummaging in her bag for the said gifts.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Harold and I can always go on another vacation.” Diane replied. 

At that moment, they arrived in the living room where Evelyn and her mother were seated.

“I got some gifts for you, Mrs. Collins, as well as for you too, Evelyn. Your name is Evelyn, right?” Nicole asked, smiling winningly at the both of them.

In the next instant, Nicole brought out a number of wrapped gifts from the small luggage that she was carrying and handed them over to Mrs. Collins and Evelyn, who were both visibly surprised.

Diane was surprised as well. How on earth had Nicole known to bring gifts for Evelyn and her mother?

"Thank you for the gift. Diane, look at your friend and learn from her. Don't just be rude. " Evelyn said. 

"Now that your friend is here, you seem to have something to say. I'm willing to give you space to be alone. But don't forget to make dinner.” Mrs. Collins added, and left with Evelyn, leaving Diane and Nicole alone.

"How did you know to bring them gifts?" Diane asked at last.

"Oh, I didn't. I actually got the gifts for your mom because I plan to go over to visit her later in the day, but I decided to give them the gifts as a way of pleasing them. I can tell that my presence here annoys them. I'll replace the gifts before I visit your mom."

"Oh, that's nice of you, Nicole, but I'm afraid it wouldn't work or please them. I get them expensive gifts all the time, but they are determined to hate me, no matter what I do. Anyway, it's still a nice gesture from you."

"Yeah. Oh, I got gifts for you and Harold as well." Nicole said, bringing out the gifts. 

Diane 'oohed' and 'aahed' over her gifts and then checked Harold's own, which turned out to be a perfume.

"Thank you so much, my dear friend."

"Well, try out the perfume and see if he'll like it." Nicole urged, so Diane did just that.

"It's actually really nice. There's something about it that I can't really put my hand on at the moment. Wait, let me think ... Ah, I know now what it is. I think I perceived this exact scent on Harold a few days back. You know I've got a nose for scents. That's so weird."

"Oh, come off it. It's not that weird. This brand is a classic one, so it's not that surprising that he wears it sometimes." Nicole scoffed.

"You're right. Anyway, you must be famished. Come, let's go to the kitchen. I'll whip up something for us to eat. I haven't eaten this morning as well." Diane said getting up and linking her arm with Nicole's as they headed to the kitchen together, with Nicole already planning in her mind just how she was going to win over Mrs. Collins and Evelyn to her side.