A Step Closer to Love

“Hello ma’am” Mark said as Everly opened the door.

Everly’s eye went up and down his body like she was accessing him. “Who are you and how may I help you?” she said with a smile on her face.

She had been unable to stop smiling ever since Arabella agreed to help her in the morning. She had so much fun in the kitchen while trying to teach Arabella how to make some snacks.

The women in her club complimented Arabella’s manner so much it made her feel so good, she even felt like she was the one who had trained her all this year.

“I am Mark and I am here for Arabella,” Mark said.

He had insisted to come pick her up at home saying it was bad manners to allow her to come to the venue all by herself. She did not want him to do so but had to agree since he was not giving up the idea.

“Oh, she did not tell me she was expecting a guess or else I would have prepared something for you” Everly said ushering him in.

She wondered where she had met such an eye candy because she never left the house. “Come in” Everly said.

She had just seen her guest off and now she was already entertaining another one. She felt her house bubbling with life and it reminded her of why she wanted more children. If she had other children aside from Kieran she was sure that at least one would be interested in spending time with her.

“I will let Arabella know that you are here,” Everly said and walked into the kitchen where Arabella was standing sipping a cup of water.

“You did not tell me you had a date?” Everly accused and saw Arabella’s face go white with shock.

“Oh my god,” she said while quickly dropping the cup to the countertop. “Is he here? what is the time?” she said and her face scrunched up because it was still an hour away from the agreed time.

“What is it?” Everly asked her eyes falling on the clock that Arabella was staring at.

“I still have an hour before the date”

“So it is a date,” Everly said in a teasing voice.

“No, it is not” Arabella jumped to defend herself.

“Then what is it when two beautiful people go out together?” Everly asked. “You know you are a genius so you should know”

“I am not a genius” Arabella murmured.

“So where did you meet him?” she asked wanting to know everything about the man sitting on her couch now.

“At the hospital when I went in for treatment” Arabella said taking up her cup and downing the whole content into her mouth.

“And he is interested in you isn’t he?”

“Apparently so because he asked for a date and I just agreed so he would let me be,” Arabella said.

“It’s so nice to be young” Everly said taking a handful of Arabella’s hair and tucking it behind her ears.

“I better get going” Arabella said dropping the cup to the kitchen sink behind her.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Arabella?” Everly said stopping her before she left the kitchen.

“If he asks you out, you should accept it and date as much as you are when you are young” she added.

“Mom, do you always give bad advice?”

“Mom, why do you always give bad advice?” Kieran asked as he walked into the kitchen.

“What do you mean by bad advice?” Everly muttered.

“How can she date him just because he asks her?” he asked walking towards the kitchen and opening it.

“Two mature people can date, Arabella is mature and can choose whoever she wants to date” Everly said in a deep voice.

She hated it whenever her son decided to tell her off on any matter. What was so bad about her advising a young girl to date and live a little?

“Shouldn’t they first get to know each other before they jump to the dating stage?” Kieran asked pulling out a jug of juice.

“Why should they waste their time getting to know each other when they can get to know each other as the date?” Everly stroked her chin as she tilted her head to watch her son.

“What an outdated thing to say” Arabella finally jumped in.

“Outdated?” Kieran scoffed as he turned to her. “Are you just going to trust anyone and begin to date them?” he added walking to pick a glass.

“I think we are all getting ahead of ourselves. This is just a friendly dinner date between the both of us so no need for us to begin to debate about the right time to date” Arabella said facing Everly.

She knew that the woman only wanted her to have a good time and wished her the best. It was obvious from the way she treated her.

“And you Kieran, your mom gave one of the best ideas ever, if you like someone and you want that person you should ask them to date you and if you don’t need to know a person before you can date, we aren’t in the nineteenth century” she added facing him before walking away.

“She just schooled us both didn’t she?” Everly asked with a small laugh as she faced her son.

“Seems as though” Kieran said taking a sip from the cup he had poured for himself.

“I better go keep our guest entertained” Kieran said returning the jug to the refrigerator and walking out of the kitchen leaving Everly alone there.

“I should give him some muffins and something to drink” Everly said going to rummage through her store of pastry.

“Hello, you are that doctor from the other day, I did not know you always provided home services for your patients too,” Kieran said as he sat down a few seats beside him.

“What?” Mark said confused as to what he was implying.

“I am Kieran” he said stretching his hands to him.

“Mark”

“I know you and your name too,” Kieran said and then took a sip of his cup resting his back on the couch.

“Are you Arabella’s brother?” Mark asked trying to make a conversation and ignore the hard stare coming from him.

“No,” Kieran said crossing his legs and taking a sip of his juice.

“What?” it would be understandable if he was her brother and staring at him like that but if he was not then what is his deal?

“You asked if she is my sister and I replied you” Kieran said with a sarcastic smile.

“You did,” Mark said nodding his head.