Chapter 16

I felt everything wet so I opened my eyes only to find I was again woken up by pouring water. As I sit up. I saw Ashton brushing his hair and all dressed up in a dark blue suit with a red tie and his coffee color shoes and of course, his black sunglasses as he spoke, “I am seriously sick of waking you up like this. Can’t you wake up like a normal person?” I chuckle and say, “Trust me, this is the only place where I need to wake up this way even, I don’t know why. I have slept in so many hotels and I wake up there without alarm but it’s different here. I guess I am too comfortable here.” Ashton shook his head in amusement and came to me and kissed me on the forehead, “Okay baby, now get out of the comfy zone and go get fresh then come downstairs.” I salute him and go for a shower.

I dress up in a pastel blue color blazer with matching pants and a white t-shirt inside and pastel brown heels. I went downstairs and saw Ashton pouring milk into the porridge so I went to him, “Ashton, I don’t want to eat porridge, You didn’t make breakfast?” Ashton looked at me, “I have to make a whole dinner for tonight so I thought about skipping to cook breakfast.” I look at him with confusion, “We can order for dinner.” Ashton looked at me like I have grown two heads and he spoke in a disappointed tone, “You forgot again and here I was expecting you to help me cook dinner. My family is coming over for dinner and they only eat home-cooked meals.”

Oh shit, I forgot that. “I am sorry, Ash. I forgot. I promise I’ll help you with the dinner. I have two trials today but I’ll try to come home in the evening. Can we please go to a restaurant for breakfast right now?” Ashton shrugged, “Okay fine but don’t forget your promise.” We were both eating breakfast while talking about our routines but suddenly Ashton spoke, “I need to talk to you about one more thing on a serious note.” I nod my head for him to continue, “I know you don’t feel comfortable around my family but just a reminder for you that you are Loretta Harvey and not Jennifer Lewis. You don’t need to feel guilty towards my family about lying and all. Look, the Loretta in you has always been honest to them and they have always loved that Loretta so just be that, Loretta. You don’t have to feel nervous. They treat you like family so you gotta do the same. I hope you are getting what I am trying to say. I just wanna say that we are family and that makes my family your family and your family my family.”

He is maybe right. I’ve gotta stop the uncomfortableness in me because it’s about my whole life now. I can’t stay like this forever. I don’t even remember what Jennifer Lewis was like, the only person I’ve been to is Loretta Harvey. “I understand your concern, Ash. I’ll try to work on that and I am sorry you must’ve been through a hard time because of me as well.” Ashton laughed, “Of course, I’ve been through a hard time. My wife can’t even cook an egg and I have to come from the office just to cook an egg for her.” I laughed as I remembered those times.

I enter my office, go to the shelf and took out two files, and then sat on the chair. Only an hour is left and this case is pretty complicated. How am I supposed to fight this case in an hour, I’ll need to make a proper presentation. It’s all because of Stacy. Actually, Stacy’s brother is getting married to Lucy’s little sister in like two days and both of them are busy shopping and here I am a substitute for Stacy’s case. I’ve to fight my case as well in four hours. Thank God, I am already prepared for that at least.

I call Stacy and on the third ring she finally picked up, “Stacy, this case is freaking complicated. I have no clue about some points here.” Stacy sighs and spoke, “Okay, just put the phone on speaker and open the file, I’ll try to be as simple as possible.” I and Stacy studied the case together and it was pretty simple just the clients made it difficult by adding not needed clues. After the first trial I was exhausted, but I had to drink two cups of coffee because I had one more trial in 30 minutes.

After the second trial, I got a text.

Kathy:

Our flight is leaving tonight at 8 pm for Hong Kong.

I’ll pick you up from your house and yeah, I haven’t told Mom and Dad that you’re coming.

It’s a surprise for them.

Oh, no. How can I forget about Hong Kong? Thank God she hasn’t told Mom and Dad.

Me:

Kathy, I am so sorry but I think I can’t make it tonight.

I guess I’ll just come tomorrow morning on the first flight to Hong Kong.

Just text me the address of the hotel you guys will be staying in, and I’ll probably surprise them there.

Kathy instantly answered back.

Kathy:

This is not fair after getting hit by you for not taking you to Hong Kong but whatever.

I’ll text you once we reach there.

Now, this is what it feels like to have a supporting sister. Oh no, it’s 7 pm. I really gotta rush back home. As I reached home, I saw Ashton coming downstairs in a white tee and trousers, and an apron. “We don’t have cheese at home. Could you bring some from the supermart? I can’t step out because of that soup on the stove.” I put my bag on the couch and nod, “Yeah sure, I’ll bring it.” Ashton came behind me, “Look cheese means cheese only. No more chocolates and chips, okay?” I wave my hand, “Yeah, yeah.”

Ashton didn’t tell me which cheese to buy. Whatever, I’ll buy all of them. I put cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and cheddar cheese in the basket. Now time for late-night snacks. I take 7 large packets of Pringles, Doritos, and Lays. Now I go to the candy bar. Ooh, my lovely lollipops. Oh, and there are my KitKats. After driving home, I went inside the house with quiet steps. Once Ashton saw me, I start running to my room and lock it.

“Lory! Open the door!” Ashton shouts from the other side of the door. “First promise me, you won’t scold me.” I heard Ashton sigh loudly as he said, “Yeah, fine. I won’t.” I slowly open the door with one hand while hiding my snacks in the other hand at my back. The moment he entered, he snatched the goodie bag from me, “I told you not to buy. You know they are not good for your health.” I open my mouth to say something but he stopped by putting his hand on my mouth, “No more arguments. Now go be ready while I am cooking.” I push his shoulder angrily on my way to the closet.

I get ready in a neutral color cardigan with light blue regular-fit jeans and black boots with a white long sweater. When I went down, I just enter the kitchen and pour myself a glass of water. Ashton closed the stove and said, “I am going to get ready and the only thing you have to do is take the dish out of the oven in 5 minutes.” I kept drinking water without saying anything. Ashton again spoke before going upstairs, “I’ll take that as you’ll do it.” I have decided I am not going to talk to Ashton until he gives me my goodies back.

We were all in the dining room right now.

I was sitting between Clara, Ashton’s brother Nichola’s wife, and their son Harry. Harry is 5 years old and you could say that I am a second mother to Harry. Whenever we meet, Harry only spends time with me and sometimes he even comes here on his holidays. I was feeding Harry when Professor Maddox spoke, “Lory, how’s everything going as a lawyer?” I put my spoon down and sheepishly smile, “It’s going pretty all right, Sir. I and Stacy are fighting each other’s cases more than we go for our cases.” He shakes his head, “How many times am I supposed to say to stop doing that? None of my students has ever done this kind of thing. I’m gonna complain about you both to the higher-ups now.”

He picked up his phone from the table, before I could say anything Nichola spoke, “Dad, we do not come here to scare her off. Look, she is so nice and competitive. You should be proud that she is so much at such a young age.” Professor just shakes his head while I hold Nichola’s hand, “You are the only one who understands me. You know how much I love you, right.” Nichola smiles showing off his dimples. The dimples run in the family.

Clara breaks our hands apart and turns towards me, “Oh really, baby. You are going to him again so don’t come to me when he eats your chocolates.” I laugh and turn towards Harry, “Look, your mother is getting jealous.” Harry laughs and pats Clara’s back. Nichola winks at me, “Oh, come on Clara. No need to be jealous.” Ashton holds Clara’s hands, “Come on, Clara. I made cookies for you and thought maybe you could share with them but you don’t have to.” Clara smirked at us and start eating. “Ash, you didn’t tell me about the cookies. You’re such a traitor.” Harry turns to me and spoke, “Even you didn’t tell me about your trip to Hollywood. You’re also a traitor.” He pouts and folds his hands. Clara laughs, “Serves you right.”

I turn towards Harry and then hold both my ears with both hands, “I am sorry Harry. Please forgive me. I did forget it. How about I take you to meet Tom Holland?” Harry stands up from his chair and starts running around the table, shouting, “Yeah, Spiderman. I am a Spiderman.” The whole table started laughing at Harry’s spider man acting.

This is what feels like a happy family. The only difference is that it would just take one truth to break apart this family. Why is it that I am welcomed by every family but not my own? Even though Ashton thinks that I am a part of this family but I still don’t think I can be a part of this family based on a lie. I want to start anew with them by being honest. I have thought everything through and decided to tell them the truth on my birthday next week.