I'm not, Cazz, you're stories have been great. Everyone's have been different and all interesting to read. I don't envy the judges, it is a hard one to judge. They've done a great job!
Wow, I didn't expect Brielle to be in first place. All stories have been so interesting to read, and everyone has done really well so far! Good luck to the rest of the ladies in the final!
id love to do the bachelorette, but male contests arent that popular.
most of it is done in game, and it would favour people who dont know how to edit well. i might be able to post it on tumblr OR in the stories section> im not sure.
I contacted Reuben on the phone.
"Hi, Reuben, I can't wait to see you on our next date?"
"Hi, Kimmy, I am looking forward to seeing you too."
"Are you okay after the Rose Ceremony? It must have been hard for you."
"It was hard." I heard Reuben sigh heavily. "I did build a relationship with the other two, but I felt I made the right choices in the end."
"I have always trusted that you would. So, how are you feeling about meeting mum and dad?"
"I'm keen to meet them, although I've already met your mum briefly. How about your brother, will he be there?"
"No, unfortunately, Greg is away on a uni placement in the country. He was keen to check you out though. He is so protective."
"Oh? was he now? I look forward to meeting him to ease his mind."
"Don't worry he trusts my taste. Before we go there, I want to take you to my favourite place. Somewhere I used to go when I needed to think and get away from reality for a time. Do you have a fishing rod?"
"No, that is one thing I never owned but always wanted. Not that my father ever had time to take me fishing."
"Not to worry, I've got it covered."
We met at mum and dad's then left the car there, grabbed two rods, the bait box and walked down the road to a little spot on the banks of a large river.
"So what do you think?"
"Wow, this place is amazing, Kimmy."
"Isn't it? I used to come here a lot to think, and still do occasionally. Although now when I'm feeling uptight I tend to go jogging, that always clears my mind."
"Are there any fish in there?"
"Yes, heaps, I'm hoping we will catch our dinner for tonight. Mum cooks a wicked fish dinner."
"You always find something fun to do, Kim. I love spending time with you. I'm looking forward to this, I've never gone fishing before. It's something completely new to me."
"I'll help you bait up first but after that, you have to do it yourself. Deal?"
"What is the bait?"
"Worms, and maggots!" I laughed.
"Are you joking around with me?" Reuben asked.
"No, not at all, there are cockles as well...so perhaps we'll start with that."
Reuben reluctantly twisted the cockles around and attached it to the hook. "That wasn't too bad."
"Okay so now it's done, cast out into the middle, but be careful not to hook the ducks or swans. Unhook the line by moving that lever over and hold the line with your thumb against the rod, otherwise it will unravel. When you cast, release your thumb and let the line run until you feel the weight hit the bottom then flick back the lever to lock it in place. That gives you more control and if you lightly rest your finger on the line like this, you can feel when the fish are biting."
"Okay, here goes."
First up, Reuben dumped the line into the bank a few times, but by after a while, he cast out really well.
"There you go, you are a natural."
"Now all I have to do is catch one. It's quite relaxing just standing here isn't it?"
"That is why I love it so much."
After a short while, Reuben's eyes opened wide. "Ooh, Kimmy, I think I have one, this is exciting.
I looked at Reuben and smiled. He was like a child with a new toy. Unfortunately it was only an old box.
"What is that? Maybe a treasure in a box or something?" Reuben and I laughed. "Oh well, I'll keep it and look later."
"Shh... we don't want to scare away the fish," I whispered.
"Keep trying, there have been lots of nibbles."
"I know and they keep stealing my bait, the beggers."
Then I got a strong bite and reeled in a big fish. "Ooh looks like we have fish for dinner after all."
After that, I caught a couple more. "So what do you say, ready to face the parent interrogation now?" I laughed.
"I'm looking forward to meeting them and trying this famous fish dinner."
We arrived at mum and dad's place and they invited us in.
"Hello again, Reuben, Meet Kim's father, Nolan."
"Good evening Mrs. Hastings, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Sir. I really like the layout of your place, it actually inspires me. It's like bringing the outdoors inside and I like that idea."
"Thank you, Son, it's a design that I modified so we could enjoy activities all year round."
"I'm sorry that Greg isn't here to meet me. Kim says he's at University. What is he studying?"
"Greg is studying Environmental Management, specialising in Flora and Fauna Conservation. He's on a field trip," dad answered. "But I appreciate you asking."
We sat us around the fire pit and Reuben served us with a glass of good red wine that he brought with him.
"Don't you drink, sir?"
"Not much, it interferes with our fitness regime. We have the occasional one, but Katherine indulges more than me."
"Especially when is a great wine like this one." mum laughed. "Thank you, Reuben," Then, out of the blue, she asked. "How do you think you will be able to keep up with Kim’s sporting commitments if you do end up together?"
"I like to keep fit also and I have thoroughly enjoyed all the dates that involved outdoor hikes and activities, so I'll always include some sort of activity in my daily routine, it's the only way to cope with any pressures some days. Kimmy is committed to different sports and I certainly won't expect her to stop any of them, in fact I'd like to either join or watch her compete. You both look like you have set an incredibly good example for your daughter."
“Why thank you, Reuben.” Mum smiled broadly.
"Yes, Reuben and I have enjoyed all our outdoor activities and he's kept up with me, most of the time," I laughed.
"Anyone hungry? The fish you caught, Kim, made a great meal," said mum.
"Kimmy told me you whip up an awesome fish dinner, Mrs. Hastings. I can't wait to taste it."
Mum served us the meal. "You can call me Katherine, Reuben. In fact I'd prefer that."
"That was everything that Kim described it would be, Mrs. Hastings...er I mean Katherine."
"Yes, Kathy's fish dinner is un-equalled by any bought stuff," dad said.
Afterwards, we let the food settle and chatted a bit more.
"Anyone for a swim?" I asked. I went upstairs and changed, giving mum and dad a bit of time alone with Reuben.
"I didn't bring bathers," Reuben said.
"You look about my size," Nolan said. "I always keep a few spare pairs for guests. Often they don't intend to swim but end up wanting to. Here, use these. You can go and change in the spare room."
"Thank you kindly, sir,"
"Please, just call me Nolan. Sir is a bit formal for us."
When I came down, I joined them on the side of the pool.
"So, son, how will my daughter fit into your future plans?” dad asked Reuben. I threw my hands up and rolled my eyes.
“Kim adjusts to any lifestyle and she has a natural beauty inside and out. People are drawn toward her kindness and honesty. I know she will be a huge asset to both my life and our livelihood if we end up together." Reuben smiled at me.
After the swim, it was getting late but the weather was still very balmy.
"Do you play cards, Reuben?" Dad asked.
"Yes, I play many different games. Shall we?"
In the middle of a game and without warning, mum asked Reuben quite a personal question.
“How interested are you in having children in the future?” she asked.
“Mum,” I frowned at her and nudged her under the table.
“It’s okay, Kimmy, happy to answer your mum’s question. I love children and I am keen to start a family, in time. That is why I am going to build my business until it is running smoothly as soon as I can. That way it will free up time to spend as much quality time with my family as I can. Being brought up in a wealthy family, my parents did not have as much time as they would have liked to spend with me. That has made me determined not to let that happen with my own children when the time comes.”
We played a few more rounds and then it was time to go.
"We have to get going, mum and dad, thanks for everything," I said and hugged them both.
"Well, it was lovely to meet you, Reuben and good luck in your future ventures and we wouldn't mind at all if they include our daughter." Dad winked and shook Rueben's hand and mum briefly hugged Reuben.
"You are welcome here anytime, Rueben. Don't be a stranger," mum said quietly.
Reuben took me home and walked me to the door.
"Kimmy I think your parents are lovely and they've done a great job raising you."
"Yes, they are not bad at all, for parents." I laughed. "Thank you for bringing me home, Reuben, they really liked you too, but..." I winked. "Not as much I do. In fact--."
"I just have to do this, Kimmy." He leant over and kissed me, quite passionately. "Goodnight, beautiful Kimmy. Thanks for a fantastic date." I was about to tell him how I feel, so I hope I'll have another chance to do that soon.
Don't they? I have just finished this, thanks, Jojo Once it's on paper like this I read it through several times, and add or take away bits and pieces, to get it reading smoothly. Hope that's okay, Jojo.
yes i dont judge them til everyones are in. sometimes you need fresh eyes the next day to realise you hated something you wrote. so edit as much as you want
I was waiting for Rueben to arrive on a bench near the place that I had wanted to take him today. I saw him approach me from the footpath in the distance. He smiled at me, I returned it and practically started running toward him, I was excited to show him my home town. When we collided, we shared a long and passionate kiss.
"Hello Brielle, it's so wonderful to see you. And wow, your dress is beautiful!" Rueben said.
"Thank you Rueben, and it's really nice to see you too. I must say that you are looking extremely handsome as well." I flirted.
"Oh, I wanted to look presentable to meet your family today. And thank you." He replied
"Trust me, with my family, you could show up in a garbage bag and they probably wouldn't care." I giggled. He laughed too.
"So Brielle, where are we going today?" He asked.
"Well, I decided to take you somewhere peaceful and beautiful that's nearby. I'm hoping you will really enjoy it." I said
"You could take me anywhere. All I want is your company, and that itself is enough." He smiled. I returned the smile.
"Shall we go?" I asked him.
"Yes we shall." He replied.
After walking a short distance, we arrived at the botanic gardens. Although it is a beautiful place, there is something specific inside that I wanted to show to him. We still enjoyed the sights on the way there anyway. We came to a glass room filled with plantation, trees and flowers. We entered the room, it was a little humid. But Rueben still stopped and put his arms around me and admired the beauty around him.
"Wow, I had never been in a butterfly room before. It's amazing Brielle." He whispered in my ear.
We continued on slowly along the path, until we stopped to admire some of the butterflies. I noticed that some butterflies had made themselves comfortable on Rueben's shirt.
"It seems you have made some friends, they must like you." I laughed.
"I think they like you as well, they must be attracted to all things beautiful." He said charmingly.
"Aww." I said blushing.
"Hold still for a moment, I think you have one stuck in your hair." He chuckled.
He removed the butterfly that was tangled by gently threading his fingers through my hair.
"Thank you." I smiled.
"You're welcome." He replied.
We had stood and talked for a while, and I slowly started to notice that the butterflies where started to stick to him all over his body. He had tried to gently brush them off, but they kept coming back in large groups.
"Uhh, I think they like me a little too much today, they must really like the smell of my cologne." He said.
"Wow Rueben, how much cologne are you wearing right now!?" I joked.
"Just a nice amount, I wanted to make a good first impression to your family, I didn't expect to receive this much attention from the butterflies. I can't even move, I'm scared I might squish someone." He said a little frantically.
"I'm beginning to feel itchy all over though, do we keep going in hopes that they might fly away?" He asked.
"I think that will only attract more..." I said, unsure of what to do.
His face lit up a little, and in that moment he started to shake vigorously. It startled me at first but after I saw him flailing his arms about, I just couldn't contain my laughter
After the butterflies had been shaken off, we picked up our pace and almost rushed out of the butterfly garden. We exited feeling a little overwhelmed.
"Well... That was the most un-peaceful experience I've ever had with a supposedly peaceful species." He laughed.
He noticed a fluttering from his shirt pocket and released a purple butterfly he had picked up from the butterfly room.
"Oh, uhh, I sure hope that wasn't a rare butterfly." He said sheepishly.
"Um, not too sure about that one. We can only hope that it wasn't. So, that didn't really go how I thought it would... But I'd like to make it up to you. Perhaps this place will be a little more relaxed than the last. We will rent some bikes to ride there, if that's alright with you." I said.
"That's fine, lets go." Rueben said.
We arrived at a small venue where there was a high tea being held. I figured we might be able to calm ourselves, drink some tea and eat some cake. We sat down at a dainty little table and somebody came and placed a tiered tray of small cakes for us to share.
"So about tonight. Who will I be meeting and who should I expect 'the talk' from?" He asked.
"Tonight, you'll be meeting mum and dad, my two sisters, Jasmine and Charlotte, and my twin brother, Matt. He is most likely the one you will be chatting with tonight." I answered.
"Okay. What is he like? Will it be a brutal questionnaire? Or just a general talk?" He asked.
"My family are all pretty laid back and chilled, I think you will be okay. I mean, if you want to win my mum over, bring her a cake and she'll love you forever" I giggled. He giggled back.
"One more question, if you will. May I ask, why are we at a high tea?" He asked.
"I figured we could come here and calm our nerves about tonight and about what just happened too. And I thought that it might be something you like to do too." I smiled.
"Oh darling, I've never even been to a high tea before. Just because I live in the city, it doesn't mean I go to a weekly high tea event. It's more something my mother would do." He laughed loudly.
"Oh so my high tea event is too posh for you, Mr. Church?" I said in a posh voice as I imitated a posh person and stuck my little finger up as I sipped my tea.
He laughed even louder than before.
"You're just cheeky, you are. But I really like your sense of humour. You make me laugh, and I really appreciate that. Especially when I live a very serious life, I'm serious about 90% of the day and the other 10% is where I can have my fun and giggles." He said. "But, on that note. Shall we pinch some cakes and go? I don't want to be late to meet your family." He said cheekily.
"It's probably best we leave, the producers put some time aside so we had this place to ourselves. The bakery is about to open so bunch of ladies might flow in that might be more the age of my grandmother. I've come unprepared, I haven't got my best pearls on for that!" I laughed. He laughed too.
We grabbed a napkin each and wrapped up some cakes each and left the building.
"Could we stop somewhere to get your mother a gift?" Rueben asked.
"Sure, where do you went to stop?" I questioned.
"Well, you mentioned that your mother likes cake. Perhaps we could stop there?" He suggested.
"Oh, sure. I know of a really fancy patisserie not far from here." I said.
We arrived at the patisserie and began to look at cakes. The smell has sweet and my mouth began to water a little.
"Does your mother have a flavour preference?" He asked, still looking for a cake.
"Not really, as long as it's a cake. She likes all cake." I replied.
After looking for awhile, he chose and paid for the cake and we left to go to my parent's house.
We arrived at my parent's house in the early evening.
"What's your father like?" He asked suddenly.
"He is the very opposite of serious, always cracking a joke or having a laugh... Are you ready?" I asked.
He nodded and I knocked on the door.
I heard my mum's voice ring out "Oh, they're here!"
Not too long after, my mum and dad appeared at the door and opened them to let us in.
"Hello darling, oh I've missed you so much sweetheart! And who is this strapping young man?" She questioned.
"Mum, this is Rueben. Rueben this is my mum, Megan." I introduced them.
"Such a pleasure to meet you madam." Rueben said.
"The pleasure is all mine Rueben. Won't you come in darlings, it's starting to get a little chilly." She ushered us inside.
"Hello Mr. Quinn, it's a pleasure to meet you." Rueben took my fathers hand and shook it firmly.
"Likewise, and you can call me David, no need for the formalities here, mate." He laughed.
"Sure thing, David." Rueben said.
"Mrs. Quinn? This is for you. I wanted to give you a gift."
"Oh, darling, you didn't have to do that. Oh! A cake?! Oh, I think we are going to get along well, you and I." Mum said.
The rest of my siblings had heard of our arrival and headed into the hallway to greet me and meet Rueben.
"Hey man, my name's Matt. I'm Brielle's brother." Matt stated.
"Hi Matt, my name is Rueben. It's nice to meet you at last, how are you?" Rueben asked.
"I'm good mate." Matt replied.
We all gathered in the lounge room so we could sit down and talk together. Even my dad's cat had come out to see what was happening.
Both Rueben and I were showered with questioned about what we have been doing. My sister, Jasmine pulled me away briefly.
"OH! EM! GEE! Where do get myself one of them? He is SOOO hot" She whispered and directed her gaze to Rueben.
"I find him very attractive too. But you can get your own, he's mine." I laughed.
"Haha. Does he have a brother, by any chance?" She said with her fingers crossed.
"No, sorry you're out of luck there." I replied.
"Dam, it was worth a shot." She laughed.
After we had all gotten caught up, mum and dad had called us to eat. We all sat at the dinner table and engaged in conversations.
Shortly after we had finished, my brother had asked Rueben if he would join him outside. Of course, Rueben agreed and followed him out.
[/b]RUEBEN POV[/b]
I followed Matt outside into the cool night air.
"Hey Rueben, how are you mate?" He asked.
"I'm very well, thank you." I replied.
"So, I just wanted to ask you a couple questions. I'm a little confused about how this whole thing works..." He mentions.
"Oh, I'm happy to clear up any questions you have." I said in a kind manner.
"Yeah. Well um, you might know that Brielle's last relationship really took an impact on her. And I know that in the Bachelor, you date other girls too. How does that work? Having more than one girl going at once?" He asked.
"It can be difficult at times, especially when I have so many hearts on the line. All of these girls are falling for me and at the end I have to choose the one that I feel the strongest connection with." I replied.
"Well, you got all these other girls, what makes Brielle different to them? Why did you choose her in your final four? He quizzed.
"They are all different. Brielle, she's a beautiful girl and she makes me feel happy, whenever I'm with her. She has a good sense of humour, and I find that important in a relationship, along with loyalty, honesty, respect, and affection, and I feel that Brielle fits all of those descriptions." I answered with confidence.
He nodded, but seemed unsure about me.
"Brielle mentioned that you are a busy man. How are you going to fit her into your day?" he asked.
"I wouldn't have joined the bachelor if I wasn't willing to make time for a future partner. I have plenty of time after work and on my days off too" I answered.
"Yeah, okay. Can I ask, do you love her?" he asked. I knew that this question would pop up eventually.
"Unfortunately, I am unable to answer that due to specific rules with producers, but my affections for Brielle are strong and care very much for her, and I know the connection we share is growing more and more with every moment we spend together." I answered.
He nodded, smiling a little this time. I had hoped I had reassured him in a way that he knows my intentions with him sister are good.
"Well, thanks for clearing that up with me, do you wanna go back inside?" He asked.
"Its no problem, Matt, and sure." I replied.
[/b]BRIELLE POV[/b]
Rueben and Matt had made their way back inside and sat at the table where we all were sitting. Rueben gave me a smile and it kind of let me know that things were all good with Matt outside. My mum had brought through the cake that Rueben had picked and cut us all a slice. We indulged into the cake and stated how nice it was. Rueben was talking to my mum and I'm sure she was probably saying something embarrassing about me, that's just how she is when she has guests over.
It reached the end of the night, and it was time to say goodbye. Rueben had shook hands with my dad and brother again and thanked my mother for the meal, he also said goodbye to my sisters as well and said it was nice to meet them all.
I walked him to the footpath.
"I had such a lovely time meeting your family, Brielle." He said.
"I'm glad you did. I believe they all really liked you."
"You think?" He said.
"Yeah." I replied.
"Well, it's getting late and I should probably head off. Goodnight Brielle." He said.
"Goodnight Rueben." I said.
We shared another kiss and he grabbed my hand and held it in his. He smiled at me then walked backwards and took off down the street.
I headed back towards the house and spotted my two sisters sitting on the outdoor bench.
"Well, that was a bit cute." Charlotte says.
"Were you watching us?" I questioned.
"No, of course not, we came out when you guys said goodbye." She answered.
"Okay. What do you think about him?" I asked.
"Well, I think he's a really nice guy and he seems like he's really in it, he speaks highly of you. And he's attractive, so that's a bonus. Ha! But, at the end of the day, it's really what you think of him. It doesn't matter what we think Bri. How do you feel about him?" Charlotte asked.
"I feel very strongly for him and to be honest, I love him... But I'm scared. I'm scared about the end of all this. There's always that chance that I won't get chosen..."
Sorry for the novel, kinda got carried away with it
Reuben and I met in the parklands close to my parent's house and chatted while we played chess.
"Hi Reuben, how are you feeling after the rose ceremony?" I asked.
"I found it quite unpleasant and stressful actually, Mel. I'm glad it's over finally, and I can focus on you."
"I felt for you, what an awful position to be in."
"I'm looking forward to meeting your parents," Reuben said. "Do you have brothers or sisters?"
"No, like you I'm an only child. They are looking forward to meeting you also. No doubt you'll have the royal treatment along with questions. I hope they don't cross-examine you too much."
"Hey, Mel I've got no doubts they will, but remember, they will want to be sure I'm right for their little girl. We both were brought up the same way, and am quite used to that. Don't worry, I'm ready."
We looked knowingly into each other's eyes and smiled. Then I made my move.
"Checkmate by the way," I laughed.
"Hey! you distracted me," Reuben smiled, "But I can't complain, you are a nice distraction, Mel."
Mother and Father met us at the local parklands and I introduced Reuben. Mother, Father, this is Reuben. Reuben meet Catalina and Dondre."
Reuben and Father shook hands firmly. "How do you do, sir." Reuben said. "I have heard so much about you, I am looking forward to getting to know you both better. Looking at you both, I can see where Melody gets her gorgeous looks."
"Ooh, he is a charmer, Melody."
"Mum, he's standing right there." I felt my face burning."
"It's alright, Melly," Reuben reassured me.
"Actually her name is Melody," Mother said.
"Of course, I'm sorry."
A small awkward pause followed and as always, my father smoothed over everything.
"Cat if Reuben wants to call Melody that don't give them a hard time, my love. I don't call you Catalina every time."
"I apologise, Reuben I didn't mean anything by that, it's just what her name is and everyone always wants to shorten it."
"I understand and I don't mind at all." Reuben looked at me and winked. That reassured me that he was handling things well.
"So young man, I hear your father runs a successful real estate company."
"Yes, sir, the business is expanding rapidly and soon I will be taking over the townhouse side of things in Myshuno. That is where my business headquarters will be and later we are expanding into Sulani and beach housing."
"Sounds like a very well-to-do venture, young man."
"Mother, Father, can we go home now and have a drink before we take Reuben to our special place?"
We arrived at my parents house and they took Reuben into the theatre room. A barman had four exquisite red wines waiting for us.
"I'll just go and change, my love. Please excuse me for a moment, Reuben."
"Of course, sir."
"Do you like classic movies, Reuben?"
"I like all types of movies ma'am?"
"Mm...polite too, I am liking this young man more and more, Melody."
Father joined us and mother decided to give us a toast.
"Here's to the future, and welcome, Reuben to the Chisolm household."
"Thank you, and I'd like to toast to you both for raising a beautiful daughter."
"Cheers to that," Father added.
"Do you like classical music, Reuben?"
"Yes, Ma-am I enjoy many different types of music including classical."
"Do you play an instument, Young man?" Father asked.
"Yes, sir I play the guitar and the piano and I must add, Mel...I mean Melody is a gifted pianist also, I have heard her play."
"That is good to hear. All those lessons you hated so much, Melody paid off," Mother said.
"I didn't hate them, Mother it was just that I also wanted to do other things as well, but the piano took up a lot of my spare time."
After that, we watched a movie and after a couple more drinks, everyone was more relaxed.
It was later in the afternoon and I knew that we had a table waiting at our special place.
"Let's go and show Reuben our heritage, now." I collected the glasses and gave them to the barman. We headed off in a chauffeur-driven limosene. The drive took an hour but when we arrived, Reuben's eyes widened. We pulled up in front of our ancestor's castle. Dusk had turned the old stone-work a pinky-purple and it looked like a fairytale.
"This is Chisolm Castle, Reuben," I said. "It belonged to my maternal Great, Great, Great Grandfather. It is now a heritage site and is used for weddings and private functions. People can actually stay there and have meals in the traditional style. This is where we are going to have our dinner."
"Wow! I had no idea this belonged to your family," Reuben mouth dropped. "I haven't been here before but I've seen advertisments and been past it several times. I've wanted to experience this for ages, but never had the time."
"Well now, young man, you will see it in it's full glory, I had the same reaction when Cat first showed me this castle after we were engaged."
Mother, Father, Reuben and I were all feeling a little tipsy, so we asked the guardsman at the entrance to take a picture of us all.
The intention was to have a sensible shot, but it ended up being a bit of a fun shot and the drinks we'd had added to Mother and Father relaxing even more, resulting in a rather casual shot in the end, but it broke the ice and everyone enjoyed the next few hours.
"Come in, we'll show you around, Mother said."
"This is the throne room and they have kept maintaining all the original furniture and decor," I said.
"Were your relatives royals? This looks like a castle for a king." Reuben looked around in wonder at the tall walls and the original tapestries.
Mother started giving Reuben some of the history of our family. I just hope he doesn't become bored.
"Way back there is royal blood apparently, the Duke and Duchess of Chisolm, but my Great, Great Grandfather was considered an Earl or Marquee to them, but back then to secure that job they had to be of royal blood. He handled the land allocations that were provided in a particular county at the time, which was going through some unrest."
"Try out the throne, Melody and Reuben, visitors are not normally allowed, but we are. Your mother and I have had some photos taken on there."
"Really? Mother never allowed me to before."
"You were a child then, Melody, now you are a grown woman."
I went up the dais and sat on the throne; Reuben followed me and took my hand.
"Your Majesty, you are looking fine in your gold attire," Reuben bowed and kissed my hand.
I giggled. "Reuben, my handsome knight, take me away on your white horse, never to return to the pressures of royalty."
We both hammed it up for a while.
"Let's leave the love birds alone for a while, Dondre." Mum tried to whisper but we heard everything.
"We heard that, Mother." As they walked off, we heard them both laughing.
"Meet you in the private drawing room, you two when you are done there."
Once they were out of earshot, I said,
"Oh, oh that will be question time, there I bet."
"Relax, Mel, I can handle them, they are a lot like my parents, even more laid back actually."
"Really?"
We headed to the drawing room and when we arrived, Father gestured for Rueben to go and sit with him.
"So, Reuben. Do you mind me calling you Reuben?"
"Not at all, Sir."
"In that case you can call me Don."
"My friends call me Lina, so you can call me that also, Reuben."
Reuben and I exchanged looks and smiled.
"How far are you away from continuing your father's career, or taking over, Reuben? I just want to be sure our little girl will be looked after in the way she is accustom to."
"That is a natural question, and I am happy to answer. I am partnering with my father now, and have done CEO courses so I feel I am well prepared to take over when the time is right."
"I don't mean showering her with gifts of jewellery and clothing, just that you will be there when she needs you as she will for you."
"I understand that completely, sir...I mean Don"
"Although a little bit of jewellery never goes astray, particularly rings," mother laughed.
Reuben chuckled also.
"Mother...stop."
"Well, we've seen a lot of the inside, shall we check out the stables, now then I think the food will be ready," I said.
"Will the stables be of much interest to Reuben, dear?" Mother said.
"Of course they will, Cat, you can tell him about how successful you have been in dressage."
"No, Don Reuben doesn't want to hear about that."
"I am interested, Lina. I play quite a bit of polo when I get the chance, so have always loved horses."
"There, you see, dear."
We went outside to the stables where they still keep the horses as part of the experience of staying in the castle.
"Cat almost got to the olympics once, didn't you dear?"
"Really? What an achievement," Reuben said.
"Oh go on, Don this is not about me. You haven't mentioned you mother much, Reuben. Tell us about her."
"Oh, mother was very focused on helping my father in the business, she did all the books because she is an amazing mathematician. She handles all the money in the firm and keeps my father on his toes."
We all laughed.
"Well I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a feast. I'm getting hungry now," I said.
We entered the dining room and a true feast was laid out for us.
"Oh my goodness, this is so authentic, even down to the medieval goblets." Reuben couldn't stop looking around the room.
"Yes and you are sitting where the Duke would sit when he ate his food."
"It's suits you, Reuben, sitting there in the royal chair," I said smiling at Reuben.
"Well this is all a bit special and I can't believe how much food is here."
"This is just the mains, there is a dessert to go yet," Mother said. "That is what I'm waiting for," she laughed.
"Who is that in the picture, Lena?"
"She is Duchess Chisolm. My great, great, great grandmother."
"She is really beautiful," Reuben added.
"Yes she is, it's where Melody gets her gorgeous auburn hair," Mother said.
"I thought the same thing," Reuben looked at me and winked.
"She certainly didn't get that from us." Mother laughed.
"Oh, boy I ate way too much," Reuben said.
"I think we all did," I added.
After eating we went to the den where the chessboard was. Father and Reuben shook hands.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Reuben Church the third. We are very pleased that Melody is part of your life and hold strong hopes that this will continue. Besides I would like to challenge you to a polo match sometime."
"You are on, Don." Mother went up and kissed Reuben on the cheek. He was a bit taken aback after the rough start they had.
"I have enjoyed your company, Reuben. Just be sure you don't hurt our little girl after all this, that is all I ask."
"I'll keep that in mind, Lena," Reuben replied. "I hope to see you both again soon."
Mother and Father left us alone after that to look at the different parts of the castle.
Reuben and I ended up on the topmost balcony.
"Well, a bit of a rocky start, my mother has always been funny about people calling me Mel or Melly rather than Melody, but when we are together you can call me anything you want, Reuben."
"Is that a promise?"
"Hey, as long as it's something nice, 'young man'. How did you feel about them? I think they loved you."
"I really enjoyed their company. It's great that they can have some fun, look at that photo we took out the front of the castle."
We both laughed.
"I love this place, Mel, and want to come again, even stay the night. Are you up for it?"
"I think I would really like that."
"What did you say?"
"When the time is right, Reuben." I suddenly shivered.
"Come here, I'll keep you warm. I loved tonight, and I would love to come back here with you."
I'm not really the best at the writing, but I do certainly get a little carried away sometimes. All my photo taking and writing took a couple hours once I was done with it
You girls have done an amazing job! I had a little look at the pics and not the writing because I want to make sure I don't confuse ideas. My pics are taken, getting the writing done now!
@xJojox Also, sorry about the long wait. It's quite the big challenge and I want it to be lovely!
Comments
rooo thank you @abelhinha35 i was really surprised too, that was a pleasure to be with you on a competition.
most of it is done in game, and it would favour people who dont know how to edit well. i might be able to post it on tumblr OR in the stories section> im not sure.
I would love you to do that here also, Jojo. I already have a Sim for it, if it happens.
I would definitely be in for a bachelorette comp like this one, Jojo if you get enough interest. I love making male sims.
I contacted Reuben on the phone.
"Hi, Reuben, I can't wait to see you on our next date?"
"Hi, Kimmy, I am looking forward to seeing you too."
"Are you okay after the Rose Ceremony? It must have been hard for you."
"It was hard." I heard Reuben sigh heavily. "I did build a relationship with the other two, but I felt I made the right choices in the end."
"I have always trusted that you would. So, how are you feeling about meeting mum and dad?"
"I'm keen to meet them, although I've already met your mum briefly. How about your brother, will he be there?"
"No, unfortunately, Greg is away on a uni placement in the country. He was keen to check you out though. He is so protective."
"Oh? was he now? I look forward to meeting him to ease his mind."
"Don't worry he trusts my taste. Before we go there, I want to take you to my favourite place. Somewhere I used to go when I needed to think and get away from reality for a time. Do you have a fishing rod?"
"No, that is one thing I never owned but always wanted. Not that my father ever had time to take me fishing."
"Not to worry, I've got it covered."
We met at mum and dad's then left the car there, grabbed two rods, the bait box and walked down the road to a little spot on the banks of a large river.
"So what do you think?"
"Isn't it? I used to come here a lot to think, and still do occasionally. Although now when I'm feeling uptight I tend to go jogging, that always clears my mind."
"Are there any fish in there?"
"Yes, heaps, I'm hoping we will catch our dinner for tonight. Mum cooks a wicked fish dinner."
"You always find something fun to do, Kim. I love spending time with you. I'm looking forward to this, I've never gone fishing before. It's something completely new to me."
"What is the bait?"
"Worms, and maggots!" I laughed.
"Are you joking around with me?" Reuben asked.
"No, not at all, there are cockles as well...so perhaps we'll start with that."
Reuben reluctantly twisted the cockles around and attached it to the hook. "That wasn't too bad."
"Okay so now it's done, cast out into the middle, but be careful not to hook the ducks or swans. Unhook the line by moving that lever over and hold the line with your thumb against the rod, otherwise it will unravel. When you cast, release your thumb and let the line run until you feel the weight hit the bottom then flick back the lever to lock it in place. That gives you more control and if you lightly rest your finger on the line like this, you can feel when the fish are biting."
First up, Reuben dumped the line into the bank a few times, but by after a while, he cast out really well.
"There you go, you are a natural."
"Now all I have to do is catch one. It's quite relaxing just standing here isn't it?"
"That is why I love it so much."
After a short while, Reuben's eyes opened wide. "Ooh, Kimmy, I think I have one, this is exciting.
I looked at Reuben and smiled. He was like a child with a new toy. Unfortunately it was only an old box.
"What is that? Maybe a treasure in a box or something?" Reuben and I laughed. "Oh well, I'll keep it and look later."
"Shh... we don't want to scare away the fish," I whispered.
"I know and they keep stealing my bait, the beggers."
Then I got a strong bite and reeled in a big fish. "Ooh looks like we have fish for dinner after all."
After that, I caught a couple more. "So what do you say, ready to face the parent interrogation now?" I laughed.
"I'm looking forward to meeting them and trying this famous fish dinner."
"Hello again, Reuben, Meet Kim's father, Nolan."
"Good evening Mrs. Hastings, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Sir. I really like the layout of your place, it actually inspires me. It's like bringing the outdoors inside and I like that idea."
"Thank you, Son, it's a design that I modified so we could enjoy activities all year round."
"I'm sorry that Greg isn't here to meet me. Kim says he's at University. What is he studying?"
"Greg is studying Environmental Management, specialising in Flora and Fauna Conservation. He's on a field trip," dad answered. "But I appreciate you asking."
We sat us around the fire pit and Reuben served us with a glass of good red wine that he brought with him.
"Don't you drink, sir?"
"Not much, it interferes with our fitness regime. We have the occasional one, but Katherine indulges more than me."
"Especially when is a great wine like this one." mum laughed. "Thank you, Reuben," Then, out of the blue, she asked. "How do you think you will be able to keep up with Kim’s sporting commitments if you do end up together?"
"I like to keep fit also and I have thoroughly enjoyed all the dates that involved outdoor hikes and activities, so I'll always include some sort of activity in my daily routine, it's the only way to cope with any pressures some days. Kimmy is committed to different sports and I certainly won't expect her to stop any of them, in fact I'd like to either join or watch her compete. You both look like you have set an incredibly good example for your daughter."
“Why thank you, Reuben.” Mum smiled broadly.
"Yes, Reuben and I have enjoyed all our outdoor activities and he's kept up with me, most of the time," I laughed.
"Kimmy told me you whip up an awesome fish dinner, Mrs. Hastings. I can't wait to taste it."
Mum served us the meal. "You can call me Katherine, Reuben. In fact I'd prefer that."
"That was everything that Kim described it would be, Mrs. Hastings...er I mean Katherine."
"Yes, Kathy's fish dinner is un-equalled by any bought stuff," dad said.
Afterwards, we let the food settle and chatted a bit more.
"Anyone for a swim?" I asked. I went upstairs and changed, giving mum and dad a bit of time alone with Reuben.
"You look about my size," Nolan said. "I always keep a few spare pairs for guests. Often they don't intend to swim but end up wanting to. Here, use these. You can go and change in the spare room."
"Thank you kindly, sir,"
"Please, just call me Nolan. Sir is a bit formal for us."
When I came down, I joined them on the side of the pool.
"So, son, how will my daughter fit into your future plans?” dad asked Reuben. I threw my hands up and rolled my eyes.
“Kim adjusts to any lifestyle and she has a natural beauty inside and out. People are drawn toward her kindness and honesty. I know she will be a huge asset to both my life and our livelihood if we end up together." Reuben smiled at me.
"Do you play cards, Reuben?" Dad asked.
"Yes, I play many different games. Shall we?"
In the middle of a game and without warning, mum asked Reuben quite a personal question.
“How interested are you in having children in the future?” she asked.
“Mum,” I frowned at her and nudged her under the table.
“It’s okay, Kimmy, happy to answer your mum’s question. I love children and I am keen to start a family, in time. That is why I am going to build my business until it is running smoothly as soon as I can. That way it will free up time to spend as much quality time with my family as I can. Being brought up in a wealthy family, my parents did not have as much time as they would have liked to spend with me. That has made me determined not to let that happen with my own children when the time comes.”
We played a few more rounds and then it was time to go.
"We have to get going, mum and dad, thanks for everything," I said and hugged them both.
"Well, it was lovely to meet you, Reuben and good luck in your future ventures and we wouldn't mind at all if they include our daughter." Dad winked and shook Rueben's hand and mum briefly hugged Reuben.
"You are welcome here anytime, Rueben. Don't be a stranger," mum said quietly.
Reuben took me home and walked me to the door.
"Kimmy I think your parents are lovely and they've done a great job raising you."
"Yes, they are not bad at all, for parents." I laughed. "Thank you for bringing me home, Reuben, they really liked you too, but..." I winked. "Not as much I do. In fact--."
"I just have to do this, Kimmy." He leant over and kissed me, quite passionately. "Goodnight, beautiful Kimmy. Thanks for a fantastic date."
I was about to tell him how I feel, so I hope I'll have another chance to do that soon.
@xJojox
Okay, thanks, Jojo
I was waiting for Rueben to arrive on a bench near the place that I had wanted to take him today. I saw him approach me from the footpath in the distance. He smiled at me, I returned it and practically started running toward him, I was excited to show him my home town. When we collided, we shared a long and passionate kiss.
"Hello Brielle, it's so wonderful to see you. And wow, your dress is beautiful!" Rueben said.
"Thank you Rueben, and it's really nice to see you too. I must say that you are looking extremely handsome as well." I flirted.
"Oh, I wanted to look presentable to meet your family today. And thank you." He replied
"Trust me, with my family, you could show up in a garbage bag and they probably wouldn't care." I giggled. He laughed too.
"So Brielle, where are we going today?" He asked.
"Well, I decided to take you somewhere peaceful and beautiful that's nearby. I'm hoping you will really enjoy it." I said
"You could take me anywhere. All I want is your company, and that itself is enough." He smiled. I returned the smile.
"Shall we go?" I asked him.
"Yes we shall." He replied.
After walking a short distance, we arrived at the botanic gardens. Although it is a beautiful place, there is something specific inside that I wanted to show to him. We still enjoyed the sights on the way there anyway. We came to a glass room filled with plantation, trees and flowers. We entered the room, it was a little humid. But Rueben still stopped and put his arms around me and admired the beauty around him.
"Wow, I had never been in a butterfly room before. It's amazing Brielle." He whispered in my ear.
We continued on slowly along the path, until we stopped to admire some of the butterflies. I noticed that some butterflies had made themselves comfortable on Rueben's shirt.
"It seems you have made some friends, they must like you." I laughed.
"I think they like you as well, they must be attracted to all things beautiful." He said charmingly.
"Aww." I said blushing.
"Hold still for a moment, I think you have one stuck in your hair." He chuckled.
He removed the butterfly that was tangled by gently threading his fingers through my hair.
"Thank you." I smiled.
"You're welcome." He replied.
We had stood and talked for a while, and I slowly started to notice that the butterflies where started to stick to him all over his body. He had tried to gently brush them off, but they kept coming back in large groups.
"Uhh, I think they like me a little too much today, they must really like the smell of my cologne." He said.
"Wow Rueben, how much cologne are you wearing right now!?" I joked.
"Just a nice amount, I wanted to make a good first impression to your family, I didn't expect to receive this much attention from the butterflies. I can't even move, I'm scared I might squish someone." He said a little frantically.
"I'm beginning to feel itchy all over though, do we keep going in hopes that they might fly away?" He asked.
"I think that will only attract more..." I said, unsure of what to do.
His face lit up a little, and in that moment he started to shake vigorously. It startled me at first but after I saw him flailing his arms about, I just couldn't contain my laughter
After the butterflies had been shaken off, we picked up our pace and almost rushed out of the butterfly garden. We exited feeling a little overwhelmed.
"Well... That was the most un-peaceful experience I've ever had with a supposedly peaceful species." He laughed.
He noticed a fluttering from his shirt pocket and released a purple butterfly he had picked up from the butterfly room.
"Oh, uhh, I sure hope that wasn't a rare butterfly." He said sheepishly.
"Um, not too sure about that one. We can only hope that it wasn't. So, that didn't really go how I thought it would... But I'd like to make it up to you. Perhaps this place will be a little more relaxed than the last. We will rent some bikes to ride there, if that's alright with you." I said.
"That's fine, lets go." Rueben said.
We arrived at a small venue where there was a high tea being held. I figured we might be able to calm ourselves, drink some tea and eat some cake. We sat down at a dainty little table and somebody came and placed a tiered tray of small cakes for us to share.
"So about tonight. Who will I be meeting and who should I expect 'the talk' from?" He asked.
"Tonight, you'll be meeting mum and dad, my two sisters, Jasmine and Charlotte, and my twin brother, Matt. He is most likely the one you will be chatting with tonight." I answered.
"Okay. What is he like? Will it be a brutal questionnaire? Or just a general talk?" He asked.
"My family are all pretty laid back and chilled, I think you will be okay. I mean, if you want to win my mum over, bring her a cake and she'll love you forever" I giggled. He giggled back.
"One more question, if you will. May I ask, why are we at a high tea?" He asked.
"I figured we could come here and calm our nerves about tonight and about what just happened too. And I thought that it might be something you like to do too." I smiled.
"Oh darling, I've never even been to a high tea before. Just because I live in the city, it doesn't mean I go to a weekly high tea event. It's more something my mother would do." He laughed loudly.
"Oh so my high tea event is too posh for you, Mr. Church?" I said in a posh voice as I imitated a posh person and stuck my little finger up as I sipped my tea.
He laughed even louder than before.
"You're just cheeky, you are. But I really like your sense of humour. You make me laugh, and I really appreciate that. Especially when I live a very serious life, I'm serious about 90% of the day and the other 10% is where I can have my fun and giggles." He said. "But, on that note. Shall we pinch some cakes and go? I don't want to be late to meet your family." He said cheekily.
"It's probably best we leave, the producers put some time aside so we had this place to ourselves. The bakery is about to open so bunch of ladies might flow in that might be more the age of my grandmother. I've come unprepared, I haven't got my best pearls on for that!" I laughed. He laughed too.
We grabbed a napkin each and wrapped up some cakes each and left the building.
"Could we stop somewhere to get your mother a gift?" Rueben asked.
"Sure, where do you went to stop?" I questioned.
"Well, you mentioned that your mother likes cake. Perhaps we could stop there?" He suggested.
"Oh, sure. I know of a really fancy patisserie not far from here." I said.
We arrived at the patisserie and began to look at cakes. The smell has sweet and my mouth began to water a little.
"Does your mother have a flavour preference?" He asked, still looking for a cake.
"Not really, as long as it's a cake. She likes all cake." I replied.
After looking for awhile, he chose and paid for the cake and we left to go to my parent's house.
We arrived at my parent's house in the early evening.
"What's your father like?" He asked suddenly.
"He is the very opposite of serious, always cracking a joke or having a laugh... Are you ready?" I asked.
He nodded and I knocked on the door.
I heard my mum's voice ring out "Oh, they're here!"
Not too long after, my mum and dad appeared at the door and opened them to let us in.
"Hello darling, oh I've missed you so much sweetheart! And who is this strapping young man?" She questioned.
"Mum, this is Rueben. Rueben this is my mum, Megan." I introduced them.
"Such a pleasure to meet you madam." Rueben said.
"The pleasure is all mine Rueben. Won't you come in darlings, it's starting to get a little chilly." She ushered us inside.
"Hello Mr. Quinn, it's a pleasure to meet you." Rueben took my fathers hand and shook it firmly.
"Likewise, and you can call me David, no need for the formalities here, mate." He laughed.
"Sure thing, David." Rueben said.
"Mrs. Quinn? This is for you. I wanted to give you a gift."
"Oh, darling, you didn't have to do that. Oh! A cake?! Oh, I think we are going to get along well, you and I." Mum said.
The rest of my siblings had heard of our arrival and headed into the hallway to greet me and meet Rueben.
"Hey man, my name's Matt. I'm Brielle's brother." Matt stated.
"Hi Matt, my name is Rueben. It's nice to meet you at last, how are you?" Rueben asked.
"I'm good mate." Matt replied.
We all gathered in the lounge room so we could sit down and talk together. Even my dad's cat had come out to see what was happening.
Both Rueben and I were showered with questioned about what we have been doing. My sister, Jasmine pulled me away briefly.
"OH! EM! GEE! Where do get myself one of them? He is SOOO hot" She whispered and directed her gaze to Rueben.
"I find him very attractive too. But you can get your own, he's mine." I laughed.
"Haha. Does he have a brother, by any chance?" She said with her fingers crossed.
"No, sorry you're out of luck there." I replied.
"Dam, it was worth a shot." She laughed.
After we had all gotten caught up, mum and dad had called us to eat. We all sat at the dinner table and engaged in conversations.
Shortly after we had finished, my brother had asked Rueben if he would join him outside. Of course, Rueben agreed and followed him out.
I followed Matt outside into the cool night air.
"Hey Rueben, how are you mate?" He asked.
"I'm very well, thank you." I replied.
"So, I just wanted to ask you a couple questions. I'm a little confused about how this whole thing works..." He mentions.
"Oh, I'm happy to clear up any questions you have." I said in a kind manner.
"Yeah. Well um, you might know that Brielle's last relationship really took an impact on her. And I know that in the Bachelor, you date other girls too. How does that work? Having more than one girl going at once?" He asked.
"It can be difficult at times, especially when I have so many hearts on the line. All of these girls are falling for me and at the end I have to choose the one that I feel the strongest connection with." I replied.
"Well, you got all these other girls, what makes Brielle different to them? Why did you choose her in your final four? He quizzed.
"They are all different. Brielle, she's a beautiful girl and she makes me feel happy, whenever I'm with her. She has a good sense of humour, and I find that important in a relationship, along with loyalty, honesty, respect, and affection, and I feel that Brielle fits all of those descriptions." I answered with confidence.
He nodded, but seemed unsure about me.
"Brielle mentioned that you are a busy man. How are you going to fit her into your day?" he asked.
"I wouldn't have joined the bachelor if I wasn't willing to make time for a future partner. I have plenty of time after work and on my days off too" I answered.
"Yeah, okay. Can I ask, do you love her?" he asked. I knew that this question would pop up eventually.
"Unfortunately, I am unable to answer that due to specific rules with producers, but my affections for Brielle are strong and care very much for her, and I know the connection we share is growing more and more with every moment we spend together." I answered.
He nodded, smiling a little this time. I had hoped I had reassured him in a way that he knows my intentions with him sister are good.
"Well, thanks for clearing that up with me, do you wanna go back inside?" He asked.
"Its no problem, Matt, and sure." I replied.
Rueben and Matt had made their way back inside and sat at the table where we all were sitting. Rueben gave me a smile and it kind of let me know that things were all good with Matt outside. My mum had brought through the cake that Rueben had picked and cut us all a slice. We indulged into the cake and stated how nice it was. Rueben was talking to my mum and I'm sure she was probably saying something embarrassing about me, that's just how she is when she has guests over.
It reached the end of the night, and it was time to say goodbye. Rueben had shook hands with my dad and brother again and thanked my mother for the meal, he also said goodbye to my sisters as well and said it was nice to meet them all.
I walked him to the footpath.
"I had such a lovely time meeting your family, Brielle." He said.
"I'm glad you did. I believe they all really liked you."
"You think?" He said.
"Yeah." I replied.
"Well, it's getting late and I should probably head off. Goodnight Brielle." He said.
"Goodnight Rueben." I said.
We shared another kiss and he grabbed my hand and held it in his. He smiled at me then walked backwards and took off down the street.
I headed back towards the house and spotted my two sisters sitting on the outdoor bench.
"Well, that was a bit cute." Charlotte says.
"Were you watching us?" I questioned.
"No, of course not, we came out when you guys said goodbye." She answered.
"Okay. What do you think about him?" I asked.
"Well, I think he's a really nice guy and he seems like he's really in it, he speaks highly of you. And he's attractive, so that's a bonus. Ha! But, at the end of the day, it's really what you think of him. It doesn't matter what we think Bri. How do you feel about him?" Charlotte asked.
"I feel very strongly for him and to be honest, I love him... But I'm scared. I'm scared about the end of all this. There's always that chance that I won't get chosen..."
Sorry for the novel, kinda got carried away with it
Reuben and I met in the parklands close to my parent's house and chatted while we played chess.
"Hi Reuben, how are you feeling after the rose ceremony?" I asked.
"I found it quite unpleasant and stressful actually, Mel. I'm glad it's over finally, and I can focus on you."
"I felt for you, what an awful position to be in."
"I'm looking forward to meeting your parents," Reuben said. "Do you have brothers or sisters?"
"No, like you I'm an only child. They are looking forward to meeting you also. No doubt you'll have the royal treatment along with questions. I hope they don't cross-examine you too much."
"Hey, Mel I've got no doubts they will, but remember, they will want to be sure I'm right for their little girl. We both were brought up the same way, and am quite used to that. Don't worry, I'm ready."
We looked knowingly into each other's eyes and smiled. Then I made my move.
"Checkmate by the way," I laughed.
"Hey! you distracted me," Reuben smiled, "But I can't complain, you are a nice distraction, Mel."
Reuben and Father shook hands firmly. "How do you do, sir." Reuben said. "I have heard so much about you, I am looking forward to getting to know you both better. Looking at you both, I can see where Melody gets her gorgeous looks."
"Ooh, he is a charmer, Melody."
"Mum, he's standing right there." I felt my face burning."
"It's alright, Melly," Reuben reassured me.
"Actually her name is Melody," Mother said.
"Of course, I'm sorry."
A small awkward pause followed and as always, my father smoothed over everything.
"Cat if Reuben wants to call Melody that don't give them a hard time, my love. I don't call you Catalina every time."
"I apologise, Reuben I didn't mean anything by that, it's just what her name is and everyone always wants to shorten it."
"I understand and I don't mind at all." Reuben looked at me and winked. That reassured me that he was handling things well.
"So young man, I hear your father runs a successful real estate company."
"Yes, sir, the business is expanding rapidly and soon I will be taking over the townhouse side of things in Myshuno. That is where my business headquarters will be and later we are expanding into Sulani and beach housing."
"Sounds like a very well-to-do venture, young man."
"Mother, Father, can we go home now and have a drink before we take Reuben to our special place?"
"I'll just go and change, my love. Please excuse me for a moment, Reuben."
"Of course, sir."
"Do you like classic movies, Reuben?"
"I like all types of movies ma'am?"
"Mm...polite too, I am liking this young man more and more, Melody."
Father joined us and mother decided to give us a toast.
"Here's to the future, and welcome, Reuben to the Chisolm household."
"Thank you, and I'd like to toast to you both for raising a beautiful daughter."
"Cheers to that," Father added.
"Yes, Ma-am I enjoy many different types of music including classical."
"Do you play an instument, Young man?" Father asked.
"Yes, sir I play the guitar and the piano and I must add, Mel...I mean Melody is a gifted pianist also, I have heard her play."
"That is good to hear. All those lessons you hated so much, Melody paid off," Mother said.
"I didn't hate them, Mother it was just that I also wanted to do other things as well, but the piano took up a lot of my spare time."
After that, we watched a movie and after a couple more drinks, everyone was more relaxed.
"Let's go and show Reuben our heritage, now." I collected the glasses and gave them to the barman. We headed off in a chauffeur-driven limosene. The drive took an hour but when we arrived, Reuben's eyes widened. We pulled up in front of our ancestor's castle. Dusk had turned the old stone-work a pinky-purple and it looked like a fairytale.
"This is Chisolm Castle, Reuben," I said. "It belonged to my maternal Great, Great, Great Grandfather. It is now a heritage site and is used for weddings and private functions. People can actually stay there and have meals in the traditional style. This is where we are going to have our dinner."
"Well now, young man, you will see it in it's full glory, I had the same reaction when Cat first showed me this castle after we were engaged."
Mother, Father, Reuben and I were all feeling a little tipsy, so we asked the guardsman at the entrance to take a picture of us all.
The intention was to have a sensible shot, but it ended up being a bit of a fun shot and the drinks we'd had added to Mother and Father relaxing even more, resulting in a rather casual shot in the end, but it broke the ice and everyone enjoyed the next few hours.
"Come in, we'll show you around, Mother said."
"This is the throne room and they have kept maintaining all the original furniture and decor," I said.
"Were your relatives royals? This looks like a castle for a king." Reuben looked around in wonder at the tall walls and the original tapestries.
Mother started giving Reuben some of the history of our family. I just hope he doesn't become bored.
"Try out the throne, Melody and Reuben, visitors are not normally allowed, but we are. Your mother and I have had some photos taken on there."
"Really? Mother never allowed me to before."
"You were a child then, Melody, now you are a grown woman."
I went up the dais and sat on the throne; Reuben followed me and took my hand.
"Your Majesty, you are looking fine in your gold attire," Reuben bowed and kissed my hand.
I giggled. "Reuben, my handsome knight, take me away on your white horse, never to return to the pressures of royalty."
We both hammed it up for a while.
"We heard that, Mother." As they walked off, we heard them both laughing.
"Meet you in the private drawing room, you two when you are done there."
Once they were out of earshot, I said,
"Oh, oh that will be question time, there I bet."
"Relax, Mel, I can handle them, they are a lot like my parents, even more laid back actually."
"Really?"
"So, Reuben. Do you mind me calling you Reuben?"
"Not at all, Sir."
"In that case you can call me Don."
"My friends call me Lina, so you can call me that also, Reuben."
Reuben and I exchanged looks and smiled.
"How far are you away from continuing your father's career, or taking over, Reuben? I just want to be sure our little girl will be looked after in the way she is accustom to."
"That is a natural question, and I am happy to answer. I am partnering with my father now, and have done CEO courses so I feel I am well prepared to take over when the time is right."
"I don't mean showering her with gifts of jewellery and clothing, just that you will be there when she needs you as she will for you."
"I understand that completely, sir...I mean Don"
"Although a little bit of jewellery never goes astray, particularly rings," mother laughed.
Reuben chuckled also.
"Mother...stop."
"Well, we've seen a lot of the inside, shall we check out the stables, now then I think the food will be ready," I said.
"Will the stables be of much interest to Reuben, dear?" Mother said.
"Of course they will, Cat, you can tell him about how successful you have been in dressage."
"No, Don Reuben doesn't want to hear about that."
"I am interested, Lina. I play quite a bit of polo when I get the chance, so have always loved horses."
"There, you see, dear."
We went outside to the stables where they still keep the horses as part of the experience of staying in the castle.
"Cat almost got to the olympics once, didn't you dear?"
"Really? What an achievement," Reuben said.
"Oh go on, Don this is not about me. You haven't mentioned you mother much, Reuben. Tell us about her."
"Oh, mother was very focused on helping my father in the business, she did all the books because she is an amazing mathematician. She handles all the money in the firm and keeps my father on his toes."
We all laughed.
"Well I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a feast. I'm getting hungry now," I said.
"Oh my goodness, this is so authentic, even down to the medieval goblets." Reuben couldn't stop looking around the room.
"Yes and you are sitting where the Duke would sit when he ate his food."
"It's suits you, Reuben, sitting there in the royal chair," I said smiling at Reuben.
"Well this is all a bit special and I can't believe how much food is here."
"This is just the mains, there is a dessert to go yet," Mother said. "That is what I'm waiting for," she laughed.
"Who is that in the picture, Lena?"
"She is Duchess Chisolm. My great, great, great grandmother."
"She is really beautiful," Reuben added.
"Yes she is, it's where Melody gets her gorgeous auburn hair," Mother said.
"I thought the same thing," Reuben looked at me and winked.
"She certainly didn't get that from us." Mother laughed.
"I think we all did," I added.
After eating we went to the den where the chessboard was. Father and Reuben shook hands.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Reuben Church the third. We are very pleased that Melody is part of your life and hold strong hopes that this will continue. Besides I would like to challenge you to a polo match sometime."
"You are on, Don." Mother went up and kissed Reuben on the cheek. He was a bit taken aback after the rough start they had.
"I have enjoyed your company, Reuben. Just be sure you don't hurt our little girl after all this, that is all I ask."
"I'll keep that in mind, Lena," Reuben replied. "I hope to see you both again soon."
Mother and Father left us alone after that to look at the different parts of the castle.
"Well, a bit of a rocky start, my mother has always been funny about people calling me Mel or Melly rather than Melody, but when we are together you can call me anything you want, Reuben."
"Is that a promise?"
"Hey, as long as it's something nice, 'young man'. How did you feel about them? I think they loved you."
"I really enjoyed their company. It's great that they can have some fun, look at that photo we took out the front of the castle."
We both laughed.
"I love this place, Mel, and want to come again, even stay the night. Are you up for it?"
"I think I would really like that."
"What did you say?"
"When the time is right, Reuben." I suddenly shivered.
"Come here, I'll keep you warm. I loved tonight, and I would love to come back here with you."
@xJojox Also, sorry about the long wait. It's quite the big challenge and I want it to be lovely!