Chapter 3: Grandma's Brownies.

Sunday evenings we had lunch with my parents or Evan's. Recently we've been having it with both our parents and this time Evan's grandmother was going to be there. 

I was close to my family but no one ever supported my dreams of being an artist except Rain. Not even Evan though he said he did but he would often refer to it as a nice hobby which I translated into a pass time. 

Something not serious. 

But painting wasn't a pass time for me. It was a piece of my soul going into every one of my creations and no one seemed to see that. 

Evan parked his car in the driveway behind his parent's car. "Do you need a lift in the morning to work since your car is in the shop?" He asked.

I was barely managing to keep up with my lies. I hid my car from Evan because the front bumper was a little banged up. "No," I blurted and he had a confused look on his face. "Okay..." He dragged out. 

"I already made arrangements with a co-worker." I slid out of the car in a rush to go inside before I told more lies. 

I also hid the fact that I was offered a job. I would wait until after my first day before I told Evan. That way if I had to quit he wouldn't know. 

"Okay, babe," Evan called and followed me. He came to stand next to me and entwined our fingers as we walked up my parent's driveway. 

I was happy and grateful that my parents never sold the house once Rain and I moved out.

The house was well maintained. My dad always kept it freshly painted yellow with white borders. The trees in the yard were older than me and dad always spent time on the lawn, making it look so good that I would come out here, sit on the grass and sketch everything around me. 

On some days when I wasn't feeling quite myself, I went up to my old room and would sleep in there. My parents were always happy to have me and Rain home. They didn't like having an empty nest. 

Evan stopped at the door and turned to face me. "I should warn you about my grandmother," he said. 

"Why?" 

"She is a bit eccentric..." he had a nervous look on his face. "But she means well." 

"I love a little crazy," I shrugged and Evan looked at me sideways. 

"Do you think I'm crazy?" He smiled down at me.  

Evan and crazy were not two words that fit together. "You're normal and that's perfectly fine." I smiled, ruffling his hair and he caught my hand. "I have more than enough crazy for the two of us." 

He gave me a peck on the lips and moved to open the door for me to walk into the house first. It smelled like home. 

We walked into the dining room to see Evan's family was already seated while my mother brought out the bottles of red wine. "Hey sweetie," she greeted. 

"April, "Evan's mother smiled. She came over and gave me a peck on the cheek.

"Hey Carrie," I hugged her and then moved to do the same with Edmond her husband. Edmond and Caroline were nice people. I got along with them ever since I met them because I was often pretending to be someone I was not. 

"This is my mother Violet," Carrie introduced a little old grandma with glasses and grey hair that was examining a fork. 

I loved her already. 

"Hi," I greeted her and she looked a little startled at first. 

"Mom this is Evan's fiancé," Carrie said, softly. 

"Oh hello," Violet stood and hugged me. "Such a pretty young thing," she cupped my chin. "Is my Evan behaving," she leaned in, "I bet he can't keep his hands to himself," she whispered.

"Mom," Carrie's voice came as a warning.

"Oh come on we're all adults." Grandma waved her hand, dismissing Carrie's objections. 

"Sup 'rents," Rain walked into the living room, "and in law's," she smiled. 

"Hey Rainy," Carrie smiled over at her. 

"Sup," Violet said. 

"Sup grandma," Rain grinned.

My father walked into the room with a platter of related chicken and potatoes. My dad mostly did the cooking on Sundays since he was the head chef for the most lavish restaurant in the city. 

"That smells amazing, dad," Rain complimented. 

"Thanks, honey," he said and put the plater on the centre of the table. 

My dad placed a chaste kiss on the top of my head and moved to sit down next to my mother. He held her hand under the table and she smiled at him. They were cute together and I wanted what they had. 

Evan's hand got too sweaty after a while. 

But I wondered if I was being too hard on him sometimes. My idea of a soul mate was someone that was perfect for me but is anyone ever able to live up to the next person's expectation of perfection. 

I grabbed Evan's hand under the table and entwined our fingers. I would give it a shot. He smiled and turned to look at me. He loved me and that was perfect enough. 

During dinner, though I wanted to try holding Evan's hand it got too sweaty and I decided to let go for a while. I wiped my sweaty palm on my jeans. 

"Everyone I have an announcement," Evan said. 

I looked at him curiously and he was grinning from ear to ear. "I got an opportunity to work in Los Angeles under an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for a month." 

"Try saying that ten times fast," Rain snickered. 

"That's so great, congratulations." I jumped on him and he hugged me.

"Yeah, it is. If I do well I might get a chance to work at his surgery and we can move to Los Angeles." 

I blinked rapidly. Move. I didn't want to move. My parents and sister were here. I was more than fine with staying in this city. My parents looked at my face and I clenched my jaw. 

Don't lose your temper. I kept chanting over and over in my head. 

Evan was putting me on the spot yet again. Like how he never really mentioned marriage and then one day decided to get down on one knee in front of so many people. 

I knew I could have said no but we were in a good place in our relationship and if I said no it would have made things awkward between us. 

"Can I speak to you for a second, sweety," I said.

"Sure." He stood and I pulled him out of the dining room. 

"What's wrong?" He asked once we were in the living room. 

"Don't you think we should have spoken about this in private?" I asked. 

He put his hands on either side of my face and smiled. "This is all a part of that greater plan, babe. I'm going to go down to Los Angeles and I'm going to get that job for us." 

If it was for us why was I only finding out about it now? He made plans for us and it seemed like I never got a say.

Was I supposed to live my entire life with him making these big decisions for me. 

He walked back into the dining room and I was not done with that conversation as yet. I walked in behind him to drag his happy-go-lucky ass back into the living room.

"I made brownies," his grandmother put a tray of brownies on the table. "Try them April," his grandmother said and I shot Evan a glare letting him know this was not over before I moved to grab a brownie. 

"I love my grandmother's brownies," Evan said, "I missed these. Thanks, grams." He took one from off the tray. 

Everyone reached for a brownie and I bit into mine. It tasted chocolaty yet it had a strangely familiar herbal taste to it... The last time I had a brownie that tasted like that was spring break.

"Woah grandma," Rain's eyes widened, "now you. I can hang with." 

"Mom what did you put in these?" Carrie questioned, licking her lips and running her tongue over her palette. 

"I put cocoa powder, flour, sugar," Violet listed the ingredients trying very hard to remember, "oh and this boy next door sells herbs he swears are good for health." 

"What?" Carrie choked. 

"Everyone, stop eating!" my father said. 

Rain continued eating with a sly grin on her face and my dad pulled the brownie away from her. "Oh come on Richard," Rain whined. 

"Young lady," he warned and she crossed her arms and settled back into her chair like a child. 

"What's wrong?" My mom asked looking at all of us. 

"I'll explain later, Kate," my father said. 

"She put that good shid in this," Rain chuckled. 

"What?" My mother looked lost and the Sterling's looked embarrassed. 

"That dope," Rain tried to explain and my mother was still not getting it, "Mary Jane?" She looked at mom in disbelief. "It's marijuana, mom." My mother's eyes widened and she put the brownie down.

"I am so sorry," Carrie said, "she is getting old and that's why we want her to live with us." 

"That's perfectly fine, Caroline," my mom smiled. "Everyone just stay here for a while," she moved to leave the dining room, subtly clearing her throat. "I'll get some water." 

Carrie whispered something to her mother and grandma didn't seem to care. "It will be fine. I make a batch for myself all the time," Grandma said and everyone turned to look at her. 

"Nice," Rain commented, and dad glared at her. 

My phone beeped and I pulled it out to see an unknown number calling. I swiped my finger across the screen, bringing it to my ear. "Hey, tiger," came his voice. 

"How did you get my number!" I blurted and Evan looked at me. 

"Who is that?" Evan asked.

"Call centre agent," I said and moved to go into the living room. 

I heard the man laugh over the phone and my blood got hot. "You like getting on my nerves don't you?" 

"And you like smashing into people's cars don't you?" he retorted. 

"What do you want?" I tried to keep my voice low. 

"To tell you to dress professionally tomorrow. No jeans. A dress. Something that will show off your little figure." 

"I knew it, you're a pervert." 

"That's not nice," somehow I knew he was smiling, "I'm going to be your boss. So how about you don't call me names." 

"To your face or in general?" I questioned and he laughed. 

Evan walked into the living room. "Okay thank you very much, sir," I said. 

"Your boy toy is in front of you isn't he?" He questioned. 

"Yes, that is exactly how it is at the moment." 

"Oh and also put some make-up on that money maker, sweetheart."  

"How about you go fuck yourself!" I uttered through clenched teeth. I heard the man laugh and this time I was positive he was getting kicks from making me angry. "You know what..."

"Okay okay," Evan came over and grabbed the phone out of my hand. 

Evan put the phone to his ear. "We do not want anything you are selling. Thank you kindly."

Evan looked at me strangely and then at the phone. "What did he say?" I asked. 

"They hung up," Evan said. 

"I heard that young lady. You know what to do," my mother called and I sighed walking over to the swear jar on the coffee table. 

This was how my mom extorted money from dad, Rain and me. We all had a problem when it came to language except mom. 

I fished a dollar out of my pocket and put it in the jar and Evan chuckled. "Shut up," I glared at him and he came over and wrapped his arms around me.