Seven

PART SEVEN: DIANE

"Helen and Michael are changing right now." I said while stirring milk. "We're going to the mall to enjoy some time together."

Thankfully daddy and I made up yesterday when he arrived home. I just have to make sure that I won't mention the Evans again or else dad would go yelling like a lion. Who would know that such a loving a old man, be a devil.

Mama prepared the table (as usual) while I put the glasses of milk for Hellen and Michael. Mom is always on the go, I wonder if she ever gets tired of preparing so much early in the morning. She's a little bit like my older sister. Dad usually tells her not to work to much unyet she wouldn't listen.

When you gotta work, you gotta work. That's the platinum rule in the Xiao - De Villa family. We are a workaholic - religious - not - a - type - to - talk family.

"Wow. I can smell the sweet aroma of a wonderful Paella." My father said as he sits at the table.

"Well of course." I said. "Momma made them. But I think Grandpa Harry's Paella tastes better."

Everybody in the kitchen all laugh at my comment. Except for momma, though. She hates it when I compare her Paella with Grandpa's Paella. She gets all grumpy and you don't wanna hear my mother shouting. It's worst than dad's shouting yesterday.

"Who asked for your opinion, young lady." Mommy said.

"Nothing." I mumbled.

We all sat down as a family and my father was about to pray when my mother grabs his hand and stops him. What's going on.

"Where's Hellen and Michael?" Mom ask.

I was about to spit out the water I am drinking. Mama grabbed dad's hands for that reason. Hellen and Michael are just changing their clothes. The twins are kinda let's say ma kulit, when it comes to their nannies.

"You grab daddy's arm for the reason. Can't you see that the old man is about to eat and you stopped him from eating."

Dad chuckles. "Right. Where is Hellen and Michael. They're taking too long in dressing up."

"Oh, I think those two are being naughty with Manang Fe and Yaya Andie. You know that the–"

I stopped talking when I heard that the twins are coming down. The two are yelling, saying: Catch me Manang Fe, Catch me Yaya Andie. Again those two are really naughty.

They are not and never naughty with me since they say that I am very sungit, well I have you know that I am not sungit, this is just my normal attitude. My parents were very strict when I saw a child. Lucky for my children I am not that so strict.

When they arrive downstairs Hellen and Michael stopped running and shouting. They walked towards us and gave us a hug. I find this very charming just for your information. It's very rare to see the twins like this.

Every morning (in Canada) they would just sit in the table and eat their food saying Thank you Mommy for the food. The end. My heart melts at their sweetness towards us.

"For Grandpa Manuel / For Popong Ma-man." They give a tri-folded paper to my dad.

"For Granny Nessa / For Grandma Vanessa." They give a paper to my mother.

Lastly, they give a paper to me. "For the best Mommy Dianna Dominique in the world."

I opened the paper and my eyes almost shed tears after seeing the paper they gave me. It's a drawing of Daddy, Mommy, myself, Hellen and Michael. There was a message at the back of the paper and I'm guessing it's Yaya Andie's handwriting.

Dear Mommy Dianna,

We know that we are not the perfect children for you but we will always strive to be perfect for you. We're sorry for the times that we are naughty, we just want to have fun with you. You are always there for us when we needed you, so we'll be there for you.

We're very blessed and lucky to have you as your mommy. Advance Merry Christmas Mommy Diane. We love you.

With Love,

Michael Ekon Maximus and

Morgan Hellen Stephanie

I gave my twins a hug and kiss their foreheads while they giggle. I direct them to sit on their chairs. This is the best way to start your morning. I hide my laughter (I don't know why) while praying the Prayer Before Meals.

"That's why the two of you are late." Mom started a conversation. "You made a card just for us. Muchas Gracías, mijo y mija."

The children chuckle at their grandmother's comment.

"De Nada, abuela." They said in unison.

This is a peaceful and calm breakfast. I inhale the air outside from the balcony door, we don't need air conditioner here in the house since we have a lot of balcony doors and there is a lot of trees and plants.

It took a while to prepare the kids but it was successful. Mama said that it would be nice if I would take the twins shopping. Normally, the nanny would do the shopping but right now it's just us three.

"Mommy do have work today?" Michael asks.

I shook my head. No, obviously. If I have work today I won't take you shopping. That a ridiculous question, Michael. I take the list and hand it to Morgan.

"Morgan Hellen this will be your job." She takes the paper from me. "You will be my secretary for today."

"How about me, Mommy." Michael protested. "I am a much better secretary than Morgan." He said pointing at her sisters.

This is the problem when I take the twins shopping. If I give the other the shopping list, the other would disagree. If I give then both the shopping list, they would give me things that are not related. What would mummy do in this situation?

Brainstorming would be much easier if their wouldn't be a lot of people here in SM Megamall, it's good to be advance than to be late. Standing in line makes my legs tired. And of course, brainstorming, I would look like an idiot thinking for too long.

"I won't give you both the list because the both it you would just get things—foods that are not on the list." I said.

"Yep." Morgan agreed. "And Michael is sitting in the trolley. There's no way that he will be mom's shopping assistant."

Michael pouts and crosses his arms. What mummy and daddy said are true, twins do argue a lot, just like Maria and I, although we are not twins but the same story, were still siblings and siblings do fight a lot. Some fights are nonsense and some have a sense.

"Mommy can we make shopping faster. I want to go home now. I wanna sleep." Said Michael.

"Of course you little nugget. You are not the one doing the shopping. Of course you will be bored." Morgan teased.

Just then, a wonderful idea pops into my mind. What if I put them together in the trolley and they will be both my shopping assistants-secretary. Morgan and Michael wouldn't escape when they are both in the trolley but the problem is Morgan is too big and all the things we need to buy will not fit.

Great the biggest idea erased, now what will I do. Michael will be bored if I let Morgan do all the work, this was supposed to be a children-mother bonding, what is the meaning of a bonding when the other is not having fun. This is a conundrum.

By the way my shoulder is aching because of the handbag it would be nice if I will put it in the children's seat in the trolley. There is only one thing left to do. I hope they will be mature enough to do it.

"Okay," I stopped walking. "What if the two of you will help me with shopping."

I take the list from Morgan and rip the paper into two pieces. I carry Michael out of the trolley and hand them both the list. God, please help me that my children will be useful right now. I don't want them running off and getting some things that are not part of the list.

"Me and Morgan Hellen will do the shopping?" Michael asks and I can see the glimmer of joy in his eyes which make me joyful inside.

"Sí." I nodded. "Sí, pero debes prometerme que solo obtendrás lo que esté en la lista. ¿Puede repetir eso?"

"Solo obtén lo que esté en la lista". They said in unison.

The children jump in joy. This is going to be great. Well, I hope that this is going to go well, they promised me that they will get what is on the list. And they are already 3-years-old, toddlers at that age must have perspective just like me when I was young.

Four hours of shopping that compromises: an hours of getting what is on the list, another one hour of buying the twins some things thy want and the rest of it is traffic. Well, I really don't know what time we spent on the mall but all I know is at 9 o'clock straight we went out of the house and we arrived at home just in time for lunch and that's 1 o'clock.

My grandparents are coming tomorrow morning and they want to eat some Spanish Foods. They want me to cook for tomorrow that is why we went shopping. Well, after all the hard work in the mall my tired legs deserve a rest.

"Your grandparents will be so happy when they will taste your cooking, Dominique." My dad taste the paellas i cooked for lunch.

"Well, I practiced making Grandpapa's family recipe of the paella and it turn out to be a big hit." I smiled as I took a bite of the paella I cooked.

"Our little mija." Mama said dramatically. "You are not a little girl anymore, you are all grown up and ready to go to college."

Dad and I look at mama at confusion. You want me to go to medical school in Oxford again. Hell no way will I go back in time. Medical School is like dying everyday especially if your professors are really strict. Mama mía, who would like to go back in time, that's ridiculous. Even the great Albert Einstein can't do that, no one can.

Also, I am not a teenager. I am a fully grown 33-year-old woman with an ex-husband and obedient twins. My Mamá is afternoon-dreaming dreaming again. Menopausal, that explains why my mother is so dramatic.

"Obviously your little girl is not a little girl anymore. She has a degree in Law and Medicine, a CEO of De Villa Group of Medics and a mastermind surgeon who always helps our patients in De Villa Hospital."

Aw, shucks, don't make me flush with flattery papa. I already know that. By the way, thanks for reminding your wife Vanessa De Villa that I am not a toddler nor a teenager.

Mama sniffs and wipes her nose with her white-colored handkerchief. "I wish I could just go back in time and—"

"Okay, okay, okay, that's enough. Enough with the drama, you must eat lunch before the paellas go cold."I bawled at my mother.

"How about the twins, are they going to eat the paella?" She ask.

I sigh silently before speaking. "Didn't I tell you that they already ate at SM. The twins are in the room playing with Manang Fe and Yaya Andie."

Mom finally sits down and eats the paella and I can tell that she is enjoying it just when she puts a spoonful of the food into her mouth. Really, when it comes to food Mama never says no matter how terrible it tastes.

I crack my knuckles and stand near the swimming pool. From now on, I will have a peaceful life with my family.

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