PHIL

“What is wrong with you mum!” I ask for the umpteenth time. “How dare you set me up with your friend's mannerless daughter? That shameless little brat?”

“I'll never approve of your relationship with that girl Tabitha. She's not good enough for you son, she's not!”

“Tabby is more than enough for me. I love her mummy! I cherish her. She's the girl of my dreams. She's my perfect other half so the earlier you get used to that, the better!”

“You will never marry her son. Not when I'm alive! I won't allow that to happen!”

“Why do you hate her so much mummy? What have you been hiding from me? Make me understand and maybe... just maybe, I can rethink my decision.”

“You won't understand son, besides, I'm just looking out for you. I want what's best for you.”

After Tabby and I left last night, we went straight to our new house and I switched off my phone. I didn't want mum to reach me.

Tabby and I decided to stay there for sometime since her parents doesn't have any objection. Since mum couldn't reach me, she came to my workplace to confront me. She still insists that I'm not supposed to be seeing Tabby and she wouldn't tell me why Tabby is not good enough for me.

It's almost lunch hour and I'll be picking Tabby up from her office so that we may go out to grab something.

Mum doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave and I can't just find the right words to make her leave.

“You can leave now mum. I have a lot of work to do!”

“It's already lunch time, maybe we can go home and I'll prepare some real food for you.”

“I'm not stepping an inch out of this office mum. Just leave, I'll see you at home in the evening. Remember I'm just an employee here and I don't want to be sacked!”

“Come home early Phil. We have a lot of issues to iron out.”

She gives me a hug then pulls open the door to walk out. On her way out, she meets Tabby who's carrying a big package and when Tabby says hi, mum just throws her a hateful glance and disappears.

“Ahhw honey. What a pleasent surprise!”

I say as I stand up to hug her.

“Will your mother ever like me? Will she ever approve of me?”

“Don't worry your pretty head with such my love.”

I hug her and brush my lips into hers as I lead her to the couch.

“Sometimes I ask myself if she'll ever like me. You know...that mother in-law daughter in law perfect relationship.”

“I'd love that too my love but what do I do now? Mother seems to be hiding something from us and until she opens up, we can't do anything about it!”

“I'm worried...”

“Come on hunnie. Don't worry your pretty head so much.” I smile as I lower herself next to her on the couch. “What do we have here?”

I'm already unwrapping the package she came with.

“Wow! Grilled chicken and burgers? Don't I just love you?”

I give her a peck on the cheeks and I place the food on the table in front of us.

“By the way I was about to come but it seems you were hell-bent on surprising me.”

I smile.

“I just missed you honey so I wanted to make you happy...I love you honey.”

“Thank you for always loving me Tabby. I love you more..”

The food is delicious and we end up finishing everything. We later take some juice which has been in the office fridge as we chat.

Lunch hour is over and I need to get back to work while Tabby will be heading straight home since she doesn't have alot of appointments, besides, her dad is around so he's handling most of the clients issues.

****

“Dad sent me to you.”

Tabby says after dinner. We're already on the couch watching a very boring documentary all thanks to her. I'm not a fan of documentaries but I love movies to bits. But do I have a choice? I need to adjust a little bit so as to accommodate her needs to. Isn't that what good husbands do?

“Yeah. What did he say?”

I'm all ears.

I have a lot of respect for that old man. He has never disrespected me nor referred to me as poor since I started dating his daughter.

“He's offering you a managerial post in the office. He's offering double salary. He feels that you need more than they're offering you in your office.”

“But we spoke about this Tabby. My boss doubled my salary when I wanted to resign. Besides, can't work under you!”

“Honey, see... Dad wants the best for us. He might be a bad person and into drugs trafficking but deep down, he's a kind person, a caring father and protective over his children. All he wants is the best for me...the best for you..his future son in law.”

He beseeching eyes almost make me to say yes but as a man, I must stand my ground. The offer is mouthwatering but working under her? It's unheard of!

“I'll think about it.”

I finally say. I don't want her to prob me any further. I hate it when I have to look at her pretty face and see the sorrow in her eyes. That's called love...

“Thank you honey...”

She says and I smile at her.

I'm sure when tomorrow comes, I'll be having a better reply to her dad's quest.

“Let's go to bed. I'm sleepy already.”

“As you wish, your majesty...” I switch off the television and we walk hand in hand to the bedroom...