Family

“I smell chocolate muffins!”

Stephanie heard the loud and cheerful voice of her 5-year-old sister in her living room.

She hurriedly pulled out the microwave tray of chocolate muffins from the oven and placed it on the tiled kitchen cabinet.

She removed the oven mitts from her hand and rushed into the living room with her apron on.

“Mom, Dad!”

She rushed to them, and they both hugged her. They all giggled, and as soon as they disengaged, Princess jumped down from Sebastian’s arm.

She rushed to Stephanie and jumped on her the same way she did on Sebastian.

“My little Princess.”

Stephanie threw her in the air, and they both giggled. She hugged her tightly and planted a kiss on her head.

“She is so chubby now Mom.”

Princess's chubby cheeks flushed, and she hid her face in Stephanie’s shoulder shyly. Her reaction made all of them laugh.

“Where is Mary?”

Stephanie looked around for her other sibling.

Mary was born ten years after Stephanie was born.

“She rushed to your bathroom to pee. She wouldn't stop bugging us about it when we were driving down here.”

She came out of the bathroom after her dad Philip, finished talking.

“Stephanie!”

Mary ran into Stephanie’s hands and hugged her.

Stephanie lifted Princess with her left hand and hugged Mary with her right hand.

“My 14-year-old sister is looking like a woman now!”

They all laughed, except Sebastian, who had a faint smile on his face.

He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do or say. He just stood there, watching the happy family.

“We are yet to pack the bags from the car. Can you assist us?”

Stephanie’s mom Sarah, said to Sebastian, and Stephanie looked at him. Then she remembered she was yet to introduce him to her family.

“Oh God, I am so sorry. I was too happy that I forgot to introduce you to my family...”

“You don't have to introduce him, Stephanie. We know Owen already.” Princess butted in. An awkward silence grew among them, and they all exchanged looks.

Stephanie gulped hard and broke the silence.

“Mom, Dad, this is Sebastian, my friend. Sebastian, this is my Mom, Dad, and my siblings.”

She pointed to them as she spoke.

“Sebastian? What of Owen?”

Princess looked at Stephanie, and Stephanie kissed her cheeks in response.

“Nice meeting you all.”

Sebastian lowered his head as he spoke. They all greeted him, and after they did that, Mary gave Stephanie a familiar look.

“No,” Stephanie whispered, and Mary laughed out loud.

“I will bring the bags in.” Philip told and headed out of the house.

“I would assist him too.”

Sebastian walked to the door, but Stephanie stopped him.

“You don't have to do that. You are my guest, and you should be treated as one.”

“It is not a problem, Stephanie. I’d love to help.”

He walked out of the house, and Sarah looked at Stephanie with a large grin on her face.

“He is a nice guy. I am happy...”

“Mom, there is nothing to be happy about, okay? It is not what you think.” Stephanie butted in.

She heaved a sign and dropped Princess carefully.

“Are there chocolate muffins in the kitchen?”

Mary ran to the kitchen, and Princess followed behind her. Her little but neat ponytail bounced as she hopped happily.

“You can't continue like this, you know? It is a year now. You need to move on.”

Stephanie exhaled and looked at her Mom tiredly. Sarah was at it again. She never stopped bugging Stephanie to get a new lover after Owen.

“Please don't start Mom. I have told you countless times that, I am not going to have another lover. I love the way I am now.”

“You are 24 years old Stephanie. It isn't normal to be a single Woman at this age. You have to move on honey.”

“Mom, would you care for some chocolate muffins? I am not ready to start this conversation now.”

Stephanie walked to the kitchen and met Princess, eating one of the muffins already.

The whole of her mouth was stained with chocolate.

“I told her to ask you first.” Mary reported, and Stephanie smiled.

“It is fine, let her have it. I made eight cups.”

*

Sebastian assisted Philip by carrying out the bags in the car. He lifted two of the medium-sized travel bags in his two hands, and Philip carried the last bag.

“Tell me, son, how long have you been friends with my daughter?”

Sebastian looked at Philip and smiled widely.

“We became friends yesterday sir.”

Philip arched his grey brows and looked at him.

“Yesterday, Oh wow. I thought you have been friends for so long.”

“Not at all, sir. We met at the Rockefeller Center.”

“Hm.”

Philip nodded as he took the lead. He climbed up the porch, and Sebastian was right behind him.

They got into the house, and they dropped the bags in the living room.

Stephanie placed the muffins on the center table. She waved at them, and they walked to them.

They all sat except for Sebastian.

“Stephanie, I have to go now.”

He rubbed his thighs nervously as he talked. All eyes were on him.

“What? No, don't go. The muffins are ready.”

“It’s fine Stephanie.”

“Do you have anything you want to do back home?” Sarah interfered.

“Not really...”

“Then you are having dinner with us,” Sarah said in a final tone.

Sebastian looked at Stephanie and saw her narrow her gaze at her mother.

“Okay, Ma’am, thank you.”

Stephanie looked at Sebastian and stood up. She walked up to him and pulled him by the hand.

Sebastian looked at Sarah in confusion. He wanted to know why her daughter reacted to her offer like that.

They got outside the house, and Stephanie stood on the porch. She still held his hand.

“Sebastian, please don't mind my Mom. She is one of the troublesome ones. If you have anything to do at home, please don't hesitate to attend to it.”

Sebastian smiled and shook his head.

“No, Stephanie. It's fine. Your mother is a nice woman. To be honest, I love your family as a whole. I wish I had one like this.”

Stephanie realized she was still holding Sebastian’s hand, and she slowly let him go.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? You don't have to be sorry. You didn't do anything bad.”

Stephanie nodded and heaved a sigh.

“Let’s quickly go back. Princess can finish eight muffins in five minutes.”

Sebastian let out a sweet laugh as Stephanie spoke.

“She is so cute.”

“Thank you. Let's get inside already.”

Stephanie walked to the door, and before she could open the door, he held her hand.

“One more thing...”

Stephanie looked at his hand and gave him a nod slowly.

“Who is Owen? I’m sorry if I'm intruding on your privacy. I am curious. Princess called me Owen.”

Stephanie gulped hard and lowered her head. She withdrew her hand from his carefully and looked at him.

“He is nobody.”

She walked into the house and left Sebastian outside.

Sebastian knew he had touched a spot he shouldn't have.