Chapter 87 - A PRESENT FOR THE 'GOVERNESS'

Emma could smell Melvina as she sat waiting on the beautiful couch, even before she appeared through the doorway to the sitting room. Her scent always reminded her of something fresh; a fresh Bloomington flower. She committed it to memory to ask of the name of the older woman's skin products. She thought her soap or perfume, whichever one it was, was refreshing.

"Emma.." Melvina called tentatively, as if tasting the name for the first time on her tongue. But Emma knew it was none of that. The beautiful older woman was just surprised, very suprised to see her at her home.

When the little girl, Eva, had dispersed, perhaps running into her room, she had queried Maya endlessly about the family which seemed like royals and why she, Maya, seemed close to them.

But Maya had just told her that the family were popular and kind to everyone in the county; and so the county inhabitants, like she, liked getting acquainted to them.

She had nodded on agreement, but hadn't quite believed her. If her narration had been true, then why was the name, Melvina, almost non existent on the lips of other students like Jackson, who was the course representative of their class. But she hadn't mentioned that. She had just nodded as if she had agreed totally, before walking into the mansion of a house. There was still a lot of time to find answers. 

She would snoop around if it was necessary. She didn't know why she was so concerned about this, that it stayed on the front lane of her mind; and this alone, that is, its relentless to stay on her fore mind, made it more interesting. She would find out, she had decided as  she stepped into the spacious living room which could pass for a hall even. She always did.

"Melvina..Good afternoon." She greeted, sure that it should be mid day by now. She hadn't come out with a wrist watch or her phone. It was funny how she could stay a day without scrolling without her phone this days. She had been a phone freak, the social media aspect especially, before coming here. Everything seemed to be changing. The place was changing her. Her friends too. She had noticed that Maya didn't really have a social media presence, not into it actually, which she also found weird, but still kept mute.

"Good afternoon beautiful." Melvina replied, taking a seat adjacent to her.

Maya was nowhere to be found.

"Where is Maya?" She asked, scanning the sitting tro and fro, her eyes resting on the doorway finally.

"She is inside with Eva. I guess you must have met my little daughter." Melvina said, smiling her signature smile which made Emma feel at home, and safe.

"Yes, I did." She replied.  "She's a bundle of beauty and joy." She added, bitting her tongue from saying that the little girl looked like her boyfriend. 

"Oh, I'm pleased to hear that. It might interest you to know that she likes you too." Melvina stated, smiling widely. She had been befuddled at first, when Eva had run up to her some minutes ago, singing that she had got another beautiful friend with red hair. She had managed to quieten her little girl before asking her to tell her about her new friend. After Eva's take, she had known it was Emma. Only her had that type of red hair which flowed to the waist. Well, except Sheila.

"Oh, really. Beautiful then." Emma said, hoping to see the little girl again. Perhaps, she might ask the little beauty if she knew her boyfriend.

"Yes. So why are you here? I was suprised when Eva described you as her new friend who was visiting." Melvina mentioned, folding her hands together.

"To give you this." Emma answered, fishing out a jewelry set from the short hand bag she had carried whilst coming.

Melvina smiled in appreciation, amazment tainting her eyes, as she collected and looked upon the gift box.

"You got me this? Why?" She asked, wanting to know the motive behind the gift. Of course she trusted the human, but she was still curious.

"For being my first friend in a strange land." Emma replied, averting her gaze shyly, from the older woman.

"Emma..it wasn't necessary. This costs a whole lot." Melvina said, happy about the goodness of her son's mate, but also informed about the cost of the jewelry set on her palms.

"It's not a problem." Emma said truthfully. She hadn't bought it. She had seen it in her bag while unpacking some days ago. Her mother must have put it there. She had been moved by the gesture, but still thought it a nice gift for her first friend.

"If you say so then. Thank you. I appreciate your friendship too." Melvina stated with a smile, which earned her a shy smile from Emma.

"Care to join me in the kitchen? Let's catch up on the happenings in your life these few days." Melvina mentioned, extending an invitation to Emma who accepted wholeheartedly with a nod.

The duo stood up gingerly, before walking towards the entrance, with  Melvina leading the way. 

Emma could hear the voices Maya and Eva down the hallway. It seemed to her that they were having recitals; perhaps Eva's homework from school. She thought, as she walked behind Melvina.

"Hungry?" Melvina asked, as they stepped into a wide spacious kitchen.

"Yeah." She replied, knowing she could be herself around the older woman.

"Okay then. I'm about to cook. You could watch and tell me about your past days here." Melvina said, already bringing out certain ingredients from the cupboard.

"Sure." Emma answered, as she sat on a stool near the kitchen counter, watching the older woman move lightly tro and fro the kitchen environs, all the time, wondering and pondering on how much the older woman reminded her of Derek. Their mannerisms were almost the same.

"So tell me, Emma..How was Friday? Maya had mentioned about a party sometime yesterday while tutoring my daughter on her assignments." Melvina said, staring at the redhead who had insisted on helping her dice the carrots,after some minutes of a comfortable silence in the kitchen.

She knew the whole story, but she wanted to hear it from the human's mouth.

"Okay." Emma said, dropping the knife. She needed to sit, to unburden this so much of a load.

"On Friday….."

She was about saying what had happened last night, when all of a sudden, she saw Derek trudge into the kitchen, looking all haggard and sickly. Her mouth dropped open, when she heard his hasty question. 

"Mom, Is Maya back?" He had asked Melvina, not noticing her presence yet.