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From the way Alina spoke about her mother, Dereck didn’t expect her to be the one fighting for Alina’s happiness over what she wanted for her daughter. Then again, with Dereck joining the family in a way, she was getting what she wanted.
Lewis rose from the couch, his hand folded in a fist as Dereck’s eyes grew alert. He stopped directly in front of Dereck. “If you hurt my daughter again. I wouldn’t go easy on you.”
“I expect nothing less, sir.” Dereck had to lean his head back to look up at his future father-in-law, but as a man, he believed eye contact was important in those conversations.
At that moment, the door opened and Dina entered the apartment with a wild mass of hair seemingly consuming her.
“Dina, you’re back,” Dereck rose from the couch as his sister entered the sitting room. “Allow me to introduce Laura and Lewis, Alina’s parents. They’ll be staying here for a while.”
Dina scrunched up her nose and mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear. “So you don’t have a problem with them staying with you, but I’m not allowed to stay here?”
“Dina!” Dereck’s tone was commanding. “It isn’t like that. I explained to you why I wanted you to stay at a hotel.” When Dereck said the words, he instantly regretted it, knowing it gave room for Dina to elaborate on the situation. He didn’t want Alina’s parents to know their daughter was having a hard time with his family, not after finally getting closer to earning their full approval.
Dina must have known how inappropriate that conversation was at that moment because she simply flung her hair to her back and mumbled, “Whatever,” before walking out of the room.
Although Dereck had to apologize to Alina’s parents on Dina’s behalf, he was happy Dina held herself back, for once.
45
Alina was in the midst of dunking a pickle into the jar of peanut butter when the light for the kitchen flickered on and Dina’s figure appeared in the doorway. She froze in the middle of her dunk, her lips smeared with peanut butter.
She could have only assumed how she looked with her hair wild and tangled, her bathrobe open to reveal the oversized nightgown. The feeling of being caught doing something she shouldn’t have was prevalent, even though she had more right than Dina to roam the kitchen late at night.
“If this is what pregnancy looks like, I think I’m going to pass,” Dina said, entering the room and going to the fridge. Alina said nothing as Dina stuck her head in and reemerged with the leftover chocolate cake. It was Alina’s – of course, since Dereck rarely ate sweet snacks, being health conscious. Dina had to know the cake was Alina’s, yet it did not deter her from cutting it into a gigantic slice.
“Can’t sleep? Is the room not comfortable enough for you?” Alina took the remainder of the cake and returned it to its place in the fridge as Dina took a spot on the table with her slice of cake and fork.
“It’s satisfactory. I just don’t sleep well sometimes,” Dina answered before sticking her fork into the cake and filling her mouth with the moist delicacy.
Alina’s first thought was that maybe Dina did have a conscience, a conscience that kept her awake after her terrible deeds. Then she shook the thoughts away as she watched her dive into the cake. Dina didn’t appear to be someone affected by other people’s emotions. It was most likely the sweet she had no problem consuming at night.
“I know what you mean.” Alina took her jars of pickles and peanut butter from the counter and joined Dina at the table. With Dina staying in the apartment, it was a good opportunity to get to know her better. “When I’m in the middle of a painting, I usually wake in the middle of the night to add some feature to my art. Knowing that I have something to perfect just keeps me up.”
Dina simply raised her head, “Cute how you think our jobs are of the same caliber.”
Dina’s words caused the pleasant smile to fade from Alina’s face. “You may not see it as such, but my job is as important to me as yours is to you.” There was a determination on her face now. One that refused to be put down by this woman any longer. She still tried to keep it respectful, though. After all, having constant squabbles with Dereck’s sister would only make it difficult for everyone involved.
When Dina didn’t respond, Alina took it as a win and settled herself more on the seat. From what she knew of Dina, she wouldn’t allow anything to slide if she believed she was right. It was different when she was rightfully opposed. Dina wouldn’t object, but she wouldn’t acknowledge being wrong, either.
“So when do you think the New York restaurant would be completed? I’m looking forward to it. I won’t have to drive to Connecticut to get that five-star taste of Johnson’s restaurant anymore.” Alina dunked her final mini pickle in the peanut butter and pushed the entire thing in her mouth, licking her fingers after.
Dina looked at Alina wide-eyed, her face void of emotion. “Would you do me a favor and please stay away from my kitchen? I’m afraid to let you anywhere near the food.”
Alina froze, her last finger still layered with peanut butter. A self-conscious feeling caused her to use a tissue to clean her pinky finger and then snap her jaw tight. “The doctor told me to gain some weight.”
“What for? You’re already big as is?” Dina blurted out and Alina lowered her head. “As is to be expected. You are carrying my brother’s child.” Then a soft smile spread across Dina’s face. “When Dereck was little, he used to eat everything and anything in sight. Mom would blow a fuse whenever she caught him in the kitchen, so she brought him to a nutritionist.” Dina paused to lick some chocolate from her fork. “I think that’s her biggest regret. After Dereck’s discussion with the nutritionist, he took an interest in health and decided he wanted to become a doctor.” She chuckled. “Ironic, isn’t it? Our mother is to blame for her only son denouncing the family business. If she only accepted him as the little chubby gourmand, then she would have had the heir she always wanted.”
There was a bitterness in her voice and Alina knew, though Dina didn’t show much emotion, that the story had an impact on her. Alina stared at her, feeling a connection. “I know what you mean. My mother fought so hard to convince me to become a doctor. What she didn’t realize was the more she pressured me, the more I despised the profession. I left Maryland the first chance I got to start my art career.”
The women remained silent for a while, remembering their childhood and the pressures of their parents’ expectations until Dina spoke again. “Did you get pregnant to get my bother to stay with you?”
The question came out of nowhere and initiated a coughing fit in Alina. After she recovered from her shock, she set the record straight. She understood how Dina could come up with that claim, but she needed to make it clear immediately. “I would never do that. Dereck and I indeed had problems, but I will never use an innocent child to try and salvage our relationship.”
Dina stared at her, looking deeply into her eyes before pushing back her chair and rising from her seat. “I’m going back to bed now. Good night,” Dina said as she bolted out of the dining room.
“Goodnight,” Alina said as she disappeared into the darkness, leaving the empty plate on the table. Alina shook her head and cleaned up their snacking area before returning to her room.
Before she joined Dereck in bed, she paused to stare at his peaceful demeanor. Lately, he seemed to be overexerting himself, trying to prove to her she was more important than his job. Alina appreciated all the effort he was putting in, but couldn’t shake her unsettling feeling.
