CHAPTER 20

Lucy stood up and approached April, "Sister about earlier I am sorry I didn't mean it and about the card..."

April sneered in her heart, in her past life when Lucy and Rachel would always apologise like this. She would immediately take the blame herself even when she wasn't in the wrong.

"I am glad it's all cleared up, now if you will excuse me." April didn't want to hear her insincere apology or see her false tears.

Lucy was momentarily stunned but she quickly composed herself as she could see Martin watching their interaction, "If it's all good then give me a hug sis and stay for dinner. Mrs Kitty is cooking your favourite."

April smiled back and dodged Lucy as she reached out to hug her, "What's my favourite food?"

Lucy's arms were outstretched and she dropped them at her side she was enraged but didn't show it, "Sis just come sit down, we can chat like old times. Father wants you to stay too."

April looked to her father, he was still standing not too far away and he seemed to be contemplating something. She wanted to stay for him but also didn't want to be around Lucy and Rachel. Wanting to know their true motive she sighed and gave in, "Sure."

Rachel then stood and walked towards them she hugged Lucy and smiled towards April, "Come then and sit down."

Even though Lucy smiled at April, she could feel no warmth or earnestness from it so she just nodded. April went to her father and held his arm and walked past the dramatic duo before entering the kitchen.

This would be the first meal she would have in her family home in this life and she wanted to allow Lucy or Rachel the opportunity to fall flat on their faces. It didn't matter which of them it was as long as they wouldn't bother her for a while her aim would be achieved.

April lead her father to his seat at the head of the table, April then took the closest seat to his right and sat down. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rachel and Lucy stop for a moment in their tracks before continuing walking to their seats. Rachel sat beside her father in the left and Lucy sat beside her mother.

Tom approached and set down some cutlery for April smiling cheerfully, "Now you remind me even more of your mother." He then backed away and said, "Excuse me."

April smiled and saw her father raise his head and take a proper look at her.

His laughter lines beside his eyes showed as he smiled in response to Tom, "Now that Tom mentions it, you could be your mothers double."

April cheerfully smiled back at her father, she felt his heart that had disappeared shone through his eyes.

Rachel was not happy with what was going on this evening she had no upper hand ever since April had come home. Ruining the moment between father and daughter she announced, "It's your birthday soon and we have decided on your present but if you would like anything else do let me know."

April saw the light dim in her father's eyes and it was like the moment they had shared never existed, to begin with. Sighing she responded, "What present have you decided on for me?"

Mrs Kitty arrived with a trolley and laid out two meat dishes and three side dishes of vegetables on to the table. April saw her sneer at her before she returned to the kitchen.

She never knew what she did to these people for them to despise her so much. But for every little thing, they had done or would do she would pay them back a thousand times.

As April waited for the answer she served her father and herself. There was sirloin steak, lamb chops, broccoli, asparagus and chipped potatoes. This was a normal dinner here in the family home but she had never been part of it.

When her mother was alive they would cook together while waiting for her father to finish work but it was always home cooking not this extravagance on a normal day. Her mum was the definition of humble.

Rachel saw her serve her father and couldn't help to clench her fists. She relied on the fact that the father daughter has such a bad relationship to take a firm hold of this family. Where did this sudden bond come from?

"Well... Rather than letting your mother's paintings get dusty and just sit around, the nine in your father's study will be auctioned for Charity."

April smiled at this, "Nine? Doesn't my father have ten of my mothers paintings in his study?"

"Yes we will keep one of course, but we will send it to get appraised with the others." Rachel smiled brightly.

"Oh, I see." April took a sip of water seeing Rachels happy expression she turned to her father, "Father I, of course, do think we should give to charity but if it's for my birthday couldn't I take my mother's paintings as a gift to my new residence?"

Martin looked up from his plate and glanced at April, "They are yours as much they are mine if you want to take them away then you may."

April nodded and smiled as she started to eat happily.

Rachel and Lucy were left with their mouths open like two fish gasping for air, "But... But what about me?"

April turned her head to Lucy, "What about you? It's my birthday and my mother's paintings. What has it to do with you?"

"But... My final art piece, what will I do... Aghh." Lucy was about to open her mouth to confess to wanting to use Kathleen's painting for her final art piece but her mother pinched her leg making her cry out in pain and stop talking.

"Now that's settled... Tom please take my mothers paintings and place them in my car please." April announced cheerfully.

Tom hurried to carry out Aprils request, he was very happy that Kathleen's paintings would be safe now.

Dinner ended not too long after and April enjoyed her food as she watched Rachel and Lucy sit opposite her with two very gloomy faces. She ignored them and chatted every now and then with her father.

After dinner, Tom and Martin walked April to the front door. She wouldn't stay here if she didn't have to.

"Good night father, good night Tom. I'll call in again to see you both." April smiled and walked out, she didn't even spare Lucy or Rachel a glance.

April got into her car and turned to look at the back seat of her car. Her mother's paintings would be safe with her now, she would place them back in the family home one day when Rachel and Lucy no longer lived there.

April started the car smiling and waving at her father and Tom as she drove away. She felt her heart was lighter and she was slowly making things right.

After a short drive, she drove into Cerulean Condominium and parked her car. She put her keys in her bag and put her bag over her shoulder before getting out of the car. She opened the backseat of her car and took each painting out.

Tom had safely wrapped each painting in bubble wrap so they would be protected. April took three out, they were the smaller ones out of the ten. She then leaned her back against the car door to close it.

With the three paintings, she got to the lift and just as she was wondering how she would press the button she saw masculine long fingers press the button for her.

She looked up and saw Dean, his lips curled up in a blinding smile. His onyx black eyes shone like little galaxies.

"Let me help you." Dean was straight to the point and lifted the paintings straight out of her hands.

"I got it, it's okay." April went to take back the paintings but Dean held them up and out of her reach.

"Let me help you." Dean smiled down at her, he liked this part of her personality. She was strong and independent but he wanted her to let go and let him help her.

April smiled and walked to her car again leaving Dean wondering what she was doing. He watched as her ebony wavy hair that cascaded down her back swung in the air as she walked to her car, he wanted to feel it through his fingers. He held the paintings in his hands tighter.

April opened up the back passenger door and took out more of the paintings. These were much larger and awkward for her to carry. But she took two in her arms.

Dean watched as April lifted two huge paintings, her small frame disappeared behind the paintings. He laughed as he looked down and all he saw was her ankles and heels as she started to walk his way. Rolling his eyes he approached her.

Dean lifted the paintings out of Aprils hands and she was lost for words. These were large, heavy canvases and he lifted them like they were nothing, all with a silly smile on his face.

"You get the lift and the doors I'll carry them," Dean answered and headed for the lift leaving no room for discussion.

April tilted her head at Dean as he walked on ahead, sighing she followed. When she got to the lift she hit the button and noticed his strong arms and elegant fingers as he held the painting like it weighed nothing.

Bing

The lift arrived and April held the doors and let Dean in first then she got inside. She pressed their floors button and smiled back at Dean, "Thank you, you didn't have to help.."

Before she could finish Dean interrupted her, "Dont be silly we are friends and neighbours. We are supposed to look out for each other."

"Friends?" April pondered and didn't notice that Deans face immediately fell. She was thinking of their past life when she took him back to her small apartment and patched him up. She was about to speak when he cut her off again.

"Yes friends, we have eaten together twice now. You even cooked for me twice, the other was a meal I treated you to. We live next door to each other and your friends with my friends that makes us good friends." Dean rambled on as much as he could think of to make her agree they were at least friends.

April nodded, "Okay then friends." Then she remembered, "Next Saturday do you have plans?"

Bing

"You want to do something with me? I have no plans...zero." He beamed at her.

The lift door opened and April got out nodding to herself. Dean followed and if his friends were there they probably could make out a tail wagging as he followed behind her towards her apartment.

April got out her keys and opened her door.

"Where do you want these?" Dean asked.

"Over here in the art room." April lead the way and opened her door and Dean went in and set the canvases down as he saw where April indicated for him to set them.

Once he set them down he smiled down at April, "Was there more?"

"Yes, they are a bit bulky though." April felt bad for troubling Dean to this extent.

"No problem for me, give me your car keys and I will be back in no time," Dean replied quickly. He wanted to help her as much as he could.

April gave him her keys and walked behind him as she leads him out the door, before closing the door, Dean stood in front of her making her tilt her head in confusion.

"Dinner," Dean said it as a statement leaving April more confused.

"Huh?" She had a case of Deja Vu, didn't he once say this at breakfast time?

"I'm hungry." Dean smiled down, he knew he was trying his luck but he had too or they would never make progress.

"Sure I'll make us something it's the least I could do." Even though she had wanted to chase him, she did owe him for helping her out.