Is this destiny?

~Reno~

It's mid-afternoon. Jeff is pacing through the living room of White family villa.

Oscar is trying to read the newspaper, but Jeff's pacing is distracting him. He thought more than once to go to his study room or somewhere else, but this is his favorite chair for afternoon newspaper reading, so he was reluctant to go. "Do you need to do that?" He looked at Jeff over the newspaper with a frown.

"Do what?" Jeff was obviously irritated.

"Your mother took her for out lunch. She is fine." Oscar lifted the newspaper and tried to find where he stopped with reading.

"Why did mom take only Anna, and told me to stay home?" Jeff scoffed. "Anyway, they are late."

"Your mom probably knows that you will not let her talk if you are there. And they didn't say when they will come back." Oscar closed newspaper, giving up on the idea to read it. Jeff is distracting him too much.

"They went to Sand Dune Resort. It's 25 minutes' drive one way, lunch should not take more than one hour. They are out for two hours already, which means they are ten minutes late!" Jeff summarized.

Oscar wanted to say something, but Jeff's phone made a sound and he was checking it frantically.

Jeff exhaled in relief and then frowned while looking at his phone. "They went shopping."

"See?" Oscar opened the newspaper.

Jeff headed toward the hallway. "I'm going to join them."

"What is your problem?" Oscar closed the newspaper again.

Jeff stopped hearing Oscar's question. "What do you mean?"

"They had lunch, and now are shopping. What do you think can happen? Security is there. Or do you think your mother will do something to her?" Oscar was annoyed.

Jeff thought for some time before speaking. "How long will they shop?"

Oscar shrugged. "Who knows? They are women. Why don't you find something to do?"

'As soon as we reached, mom took JoAnna out for lunch, saying that I will find food at home and she wants to have lunch with her daughter-in-law. And now they are shopping!' Jeff frowned and went to his room.

…

It was almost evening when JoAnna returned to the villa with Elanor.

Jeff rushed to her and pulled her in his embrace as soon as they entered the main door.

JoAnna hugged him back and giggled. "I missed you too."

"Look at you..." Elanor started and stopped talking when she faced Jeff's scolding gaze. "Why are you looking at your mother like that?"

"If you monopolize her, we will not come any more." Jeff warned his mother.

"Relax, honey... we had lunch and did some shopping. It was fun. Let's go... I want to freshen up before dinner." JoAnna coaxed Jeff and faced Elanor. "I had a great afternoon Nori. I will see you at dinner."

Elanor nodded enthusiastically "Yes, yes... definitely." Then she gave a piercing gaze to her son.

...

Back in Jeff's room, as soon as the door closed Jeff checked JoAnna. "Are you OK? Did you really have fun with mom? If she is too much, let me know..."

JoAnna laughed, "It's all fine. She is a nice lady. Don't worry so much."

Jeff sighed in relief and hugged her tightly.

JoAnna felt it was difficult to breathe. "Why are you acting like this?" JoAnna knows that Jeff is possessive, but this is more than usual.

Jeff shook his head. "My mom knows to be overbearing. I thought she might force you into something you are not comfortable with. And I was thinking that we will come here and be together... and she ended up taking you away and leaving me behind."

'Oh, so he is just sulking that he got left out?' JoAnna thought that he is very funny. "Nori was sweet and considerate. She didn't force me into anything. As for leaving you behind... I missed you a lot. But it's only today and tomorrow. After that we will be back home, just the two of us. Next time, can you not act like this?"

Jeff frowned, "What do you mean, next time?"

"Nori mentioned that tomorrow morning we are going and meet some people over breakfast..."

"No." Jeff interrupted her.

JoAnna sighed. "Remember? Tomorrow evening just the two of us... Why don't you use that time to spend with your dad? … Talking about your dad, I still didn't meet him."

"My dad? He is not fun to spend time with. Even if you meet him, you will not miss much."

JoAnna didn't know what to say to this. Jeff didn't want to share her even with his mother. She kissed him. "All right. I'm going to shower now... it's close to dinner time."

"I will join you." Jeff lifted her up and carried her to the bathroom.

…

When they came down for dinner, Elanor was already at the table. She greeted JoAnna with a big smile and asked her to sit next to her. Jeff sighed, he already expected this. When his mom likes someone, she goes all out. But he should be happy about this, right? Jeff sat on the other side of JoAnna, and staff rearranged the plates and utensils to accommodate this seating arrangement. Few minutes after, Jeff's phone rang. It was one director from White corp. If he is calling on Saturday evening, it must be important. Jeff left the dining room to take the call.

JoAnna and Elanor chatted when Oscar joined.

"So, you are JoAnna?" Oscar said with a wide smile on his face.

"Yes, Mr. White. Nice to meet you."

"Oh, please, call me Oscar. We are practically a family. Or even better... call me dad." Oscar was so welcoming that even Elanor was surprised.

JoAnna was not sure how to respond, so she only smiled.

Elanor giggled. "Dad... really? I asked her to call me Nori." She faced JoAnna. "Now I want you, Anna, to call me mom."

"She can call you whatever, it has nothing to do with me. But for me, dad is fine, right?" Oscar looked at JoAnna with anticipation.

JoAnna smiled and nodded. 'Isn't Jeff's dad a cold man who does not speak? That is what Jeff told me...' JoAnna remembered how Jeff warned her that his dad is cold, does not talk much and that she should not take it personally. 'Is this the same person?'

When Jeff returned to the dining room, he found JoAnna sitting at the table. On her left was Elanor, and on her right was Oscar.. Jeff's face darkened. 'Where am I going to sit? They took away all space that belongs to me!'