Purple Romance

Mirabel got out of the car and followed behind as Joel picked the things they bought from the car booth. His mother and sister soon rushed out of the house. Jane and her mother looked at Mirabel excitedly and she got startled when she turned to see them.

''Sister in law'' Jane said and hugged Mirabel. Joel shook his head and went ahead leaving them alone. He had something more pressing to deal with.

''Sister in law?'' Mirabel relaxed under the girl's embrace and Jane soon stepped aside.

''You are Mirabel, right?''

''Aunt, you are the one who called me earlier, right?''

''Yes, you are even prettier than the pictures we saw, right Jane?''

''Right. I told you, elder brother has eyes for good things''

''You are welcome. I am Joana, Joel's mother but you can call me aunt''

''Yes, aunt''

''Let's go inside. I saw that Joel carried some things inside. Did you buy them for us?''

''Yes, aunt'' Joana and Jane held her hands on either sides as they walked back into the house.

''You didn't have to bring anything. We are the ones who suddenly called you to come''

''Aunt, they aren't expensive things. Don't be burdened by them. I just picked some tonics and tea for you and the family''

''What a kind girl you are. I already like you''

''Sister in law, I heard you are studying at City B University? That is my dream school''

''Really?'' Mirabel looked at the girl.

''En, I was to go there and study Electric engineering but my parents said those are heavy courses for girls''

''Electrical Engineering is an interesting course and it needs a lot of time and constant studying but I believe you will be able to do it. There are a lot of women in that field lately''

''That's right. I knew sister in law was going to support me''

''Mark, Joel's girlfriend is here'' Joana said and pulled Mirabel to the hall where Joel's father and Mr. Payin sat watching football.

''Oh, uncle'' Mirabel recognised Paige's father and bowed.

''You are Jordan's little sister, right?'' Mr. Payin equally recognised Mirabel.

''Yes, you remember me?''

''I do. Are you with Joel?''

''It happened that way''

''That's good. Joel is a good boy. He will protect you''

''Even you know her?'' Mark asked and looked at Mirabel, ''I heard that boy got himself a woman. Looks like he got a good one. If Payin knows you, then I have nothing against you. You are welcome to the family, young lady'' Mark said in his usual funny tone.

Mirabel looked at him and felt that he was probably the coolest father in the world. Other parents will scrutinize their son's girlfriends and ask a lot of questions but he didn't seem to care at all. She wondered if it was because he had too much confidence in his son's choice or he simply didn't care much about what his son did.

''You think my father is cool, right?'' Jane saw through Mirabel and whispered to her.

''Oh, he is so cool'' Mirabel answered.

''Wait till he scolds Joel when he makes you sad. No matter what my mom and I do, my father will always support us''

''I hope you didn't scare her, dad'' Joel said walking down from the stairs. Mirabel looked at him and felt he had a different aura coupled with the simple round collar ash colour t-shirt and black chevron pants that stopped at his knees made him look so different but in a good way. He looked like the boy next door in that simple home outfit. She felt her heart beating fast just looking at him. It was no wonder that he worked in the fashion industry. He could make even rags look good on him.

''Sister in law, you are being too obvious with the way you are looking at my brother''

Mirabel heard her and came back to her senses and saw that everyone was looking at her and smiling. She touched her lips and noticed a bit of saliva and flushed. The elders in the room who saw it all pretended to not notice. They didn't want her to feel shy.

''Son, today I realised I gave birth to a perfect man'' Joana whispered to Joel and he smiled and went to stand next to Mirabel.

''Dad, uncle, I want to formally introduce my girlfriend to all of you. She is Mirabel. Mira, these are my family members'' he wrapped his arm around her after the introduction.

''Hi, everyone'' Mirabel said shyly.

''If this boy does anything bad to you, let me know. I will discipline him for you'' Mark said and Mirabel nodded her head.

''Yes, uncle''

''Are you really going to snitch on me?'' Joel looked at her and she nodded making everyone to laugh.

''It's time for me to go and help Kate close her store. The boys are busy writing their final exams and she is alone'' Mr. Payin said and stood up.

''Are you running off because my daughter in law has finally made an appearance? Why don't you bring that son in law that you always brag so much about?''

''That son in law is your daughter in law's brother'' Mr. Payin said to Mark.

''Wait, does that mean we are family and also in laws?'' Jane asked looking at the two old men.

''Silly girl'' Joana said and turned to Mirabel, ''food is ready. Let's move to the dining hall. Payin, my regards to Kate'' she added.

''I will let her hear of it. have a nice family dinner. Mirabel, feel at home'' Mr. Payin said and went out leaving the family alone.

''Let's all move to the dining hall'' Jane said.

''Mom, dad, Mira brought some gifts. She brought some health tonics for mom and tea for dad'' Joel picked the bag he had placed on the dining table over and started removing the things.

''You bought a lot of things. You really didn't have to do that'' Mark said, ''but, thank you for your kind gesture''

''You are welcome, uncle''

''Jane, here is yours. It's the compact headset you always wanted''

''Whoa. Sister in law, you are the best'' Jane held unto the box feeling so cheerful.

''Mira must be hungry, let's go and eat. The gifts will be opened later'' Mark stood up and they walked over to the dining table.

Joel pulled out a chair for Mirabel before sitting by her side. She smiled at him and he whispered into her ears.

''I saw that you were drooling earlier on. Am I that edible?''

Mirabel coughed and her face and ears turned red. She turned and glared at him before looking away. It seems she was getting to know really shameless things about him today.

''Mirabel, I asked Joel for the food you like and he said you love to eat vegetables, so I prepared a lot of vegetable side dishes for you. Eat as much as you want'' Joana said and pushed a plate of braised vegetables towards her.

''Thank you, aunt'' Mirabel picked a few of the vegetable with her cutlery and they started eating.

''So, how did you two meet? Who fell for the other first? Who confessed first? tell me sister in law. I am really curious about your love story'' Jane asked the questions one after another.

Mirabel looked up and saw Joel's parents also looking at her. It seemed Jane just asked the questions that both of them wanted to ask so badly. Mirabel's face flushed as she looked at the couple in front of her.

''Mom, dad, you two will scare her'' Joel said and touched Mirabel's hand.

''We are just curious. You are not the type to associate with women. I only women you probably have been around are your secretary, Paige, Carlien and us your family. So, we are really curious as to how you two met and became lovers'' Joana said frankly and Mirabel looked at Joel. She had always wondered how he stay incognito from the public even though he was in the fashion world but it seemed his image was even more mysterious than she had thought. She felt that he must value his privacy so much to be able to stay hidden like that.

''We knew each other because of Paige and Jordan. Mira and Jordan are family and their relationship is like us and Paige's family''

''So, you two were introduced to each other by Paige or?'' Joana asked curiously.

''No, he saved me. I found myself in a situation one time and he saved me. Actually, he has been saving me a lot since then''

''So, you fell in love with my brother because he was your knight in shining armour?''

''I liked her first'' Joel said firmly and Mira looked at him, ''I was the one who fell for her first and I realised my feelings for her were different during the time I was on my trip to Cosmos''

''Whoa, so romantic. Mom, I never knew my brother had such romantic bones in him''

''He is my son after all'' Mark remarked.

''So, when will you two get married?'' Joana asked.