Meeting Stepfather

SCARLETT

I sat across the coffee counter, clearly invested in my phone until it was snatched from me.

“Hey! Give me that!” I yelled at Tessa, my best friend who had just deprived me of my phone.

“Quit whining, you've been watching his interviews for an unhealthy length of time,” she said, throwing her arms in the air. I adjusted in my chair, trying to reach out to my phone.

“It's just one interview.”

“It's not just one. I don't really see the appeal behind the addiction to this man,” Tessa blurted out.

“Of course you wouldn't understand, he is Simon Laurent, the billionaire businessman,” I mentioned excitedly.

“Yes, and?” Tessa asked, visibly rolling her eyes at me.

“C'mon you're no fun, can't you see?” I started, “He's sexy, hot and makes me we..”

“Okay, enough. Spare me the horrid details, I have work to do anyways,” Tessa finalized and returned my phone.

I smiled faintly and was about to return to the interview when I received a call from my mom.

“Hey mum, what now?” I asked curiously.

“Come home , now!”

“Wait, wh…” she already cut me off before I could complete my question.

I say goodbye to Tessa and head back home.

For as long as I could remember, it has just been I and mom since my dad died. I met Tessa in 6th grade and we've been inseparable since then.

Outside the house, there were three strange SUVs packed in the driveway. What in god's name was going on here?

Taking in a deep breath, I found my way into the house and heard my mom's voice accompanied with a masculine voice. Hold up, I know that voice.

I rushed into the living room and came face to face with my mum sitting with THE Simon Laurent. It was my first time seeing him outside TVs and billboards, and god the pictures didn't do him enough justice.

As much as I would love to get wet over his appearance, I was more interested in getting to know why he was in my freaking living room.

“Scarlett, you're home,” mum said, breaking me out of my chain of thoughts.

“Wait, what's going on here?” I asked calmly, my mum smiled at Simon then looked back at me.

“I am engaged, Scarlett,” she said smiling.

My knees went weak instantly, I held onto the couch for support, I stared back between my smiling mum and Simon who just sat there sipping his coffee like all was right in the world.

“To who? Him?” I finally mustered the courage to ask.

“Honey, that's basically how this works, I've known him for a year and …”

“A year?!” I yelled, cutting her off. “That's how long you've kept me in the dark?” My voice, already breaking up.

Mum got up slowly and moved towards me, pulling me into a hug I didn't want right now.

“I know baby, I'm sorry, but we love each other and we're going to move in with him and become a family,” she added and I quickly disengaged myself from the hug.

I stared at Simon who finally dropped the cup as if finally getting into the discussion. At this point, I didn't know which hurt more, the fact that my mum kept a secret from me or the fact that Simon was about to become my stepfather.

“Do I even get any say in this?” I asked, throwing my hands in the air in frustration.

“There's not much you can do or say,” Simon finally spoke. I should've been angry at his statement, yet I stood here thinking about his voice telling me to strip and bend over. God! Scarlett, focus!

“I was talking to my mom and not you,” I shot at him. I expected him to yell at me but instead he kept his calm expression, not saying anything to me.

“I won't tolerate you talking to him that way, I'm sure you two will get along soon,” she said sternly.

Simon stood up abruptly and walked up to my mother, drawing her in for a cheek kiss.

“Cynthia, I have to leave for a meeting. The moving trucks are on their way.”

The silence that took over the house after he left was overwhelming, I stared back at my mom in total disbelief and shock.

“What is going to happen to the house?” I questioned not breaking eye contact with her.

“It's already on the market, honey.”

“Great, so you got engaged to Simon Laurent and sold the house without letting me know, real nice,” I blurted out and she looked at me. Some sort of disappointment flashed across her face.

“Tell me Scarlett. What were you expecting me to do?”

The question hit me harder than expected. Mum had always prioritized me since dad died and now it was her chance at happiness and I wanted her to what? Remain lonely? I felt very selfish, mostly because part of the reason I didn't want her to marry Simon was because of my fantasies with him.

“I'm sorry mum, I just want you to be sure of your decision.” I added and hugged her.

“I know baby, I'm sure and I'm happy.”

***

The truck came with a lot of workers, they moved swiftly, packing up items and boxes into the truck and separating those we didn't need. I sat in the living room basically giving instructions while things were moved into the truck.

“Hey! Be careful with that!” I yelled.

“It's labeled socks ma'am,” the worker replied.

“Those are expensive socks, dummy,” I snapped back at him before he left.

Mum came down the stairs looking like she'd just finished a hectic exercise.

“Mum, you look awfully tired,” I chucked softly.

“Well, I wouldn't look this way if you decided to help me and stop sitting here doing nothing.” she breathed out.

“I'm not the one that woke up and decided to move,” I murmured. “ Besides, I'm managing the workers and giving instructions.”

She just stared back at me in defeat and went back inside. I stared at the almost empty house, I had been here all my life and it had become a vital part of me.

Somehow, I felt sad that I would be leaving but some part of me couldn't wait to be close to Simon. Hell, I shouldn't even be thinking like this, he's basically my stepfather. Who am I kidding? Something about that even intrigued me more after all it was just a crazy fantasy I wasn't actually going to fulfill.

Once everything was done, I picked up my phone and texted Tessa to let her know what just happened.

Of course, she made fun of everything. I smiled faintly and sank into the couch for the last time. I really hope I don't regret this.