Intermission - Diana meets Holly (Part 1).

It was the perfect time, finally. It was a Friday, meaning Diana and Oliver’s mother wouldn’t need to worry about work the next day. On top of that, Mr. Allen had closed the hotel for the day to use the basement to conduct the experiments on the potion with Oliver. Diana was able to run some errands she needed to take care of and was free to finally go and meet her boyfriend’s family.

She felt like she was going to throw up her heart.

Oliver, of course, sensed this. He looked at her with worry, holding her hand and squeezing it gently.

“Should we leave this for another time?” he asked.

Tempting, and Diana appreciated his concern, but it was a terrible idea. She shook her head.

“No. No. We already made plans. Your mother expects me. If I cancel I’ll only look unreliable.” She **** a smile, trying to reassure him. “I’ll be fine. I said I’d win her over if I had to, and I mean to keep my word.”

She didn’t quite blame Oliver for not looking too convinced. She was speaking the words to convince herself more than anything else. The two got in her car and went on their way.

They were quiet the entire trip, and it was entirely due to how tense Diana was. She was so nervous she even neglected to ask Oliver how the experiments had gone.

Why? Why was she so nervous? Okay, yes, she was always anxious around strangers, but being with Oliver and the other girls was working wonders on her self-confidence. It was the result of the longing of a boyfriend and the warmth of a group of… friends. Yes, despite the age gap between them, Diana wanted to call them all friends.

Now, however, she felt like she was regressing. Fear and anxiety stiffened her brow, her fingers wrapped tightly around the steering wheel and her heart seemed to beat in slow but loud thuds.

She was just meeting a woman, that was all. There was no need to be so nervous! She was an older woman who… would judge her to see if she was worthy of her son.

…

It was stupid! She shouldn’t NEED her approval to date Oliver! He was already a man more than capable of making his own decisions. Hell, he would own his own house soon enough! Why should Diana care what his mother had to say!?

…

…

Oh, for fuck’s sake. Of course she cared! It was a waste of time trying to convince herself otherwise. After all… She was Oliver’s mother, not just some woman. Diana wanted to ease whatever concerns she may have, if possible. God knows Diana herself had those at first.

“My mom is… stern,” Oliver said with a shaky smile. “I can’t promise she will be easy to talk to, but I’m confident she’ll come to like you if you’re just yourself.”

“...Can you think of anything I can use to break the ice if things get awkward?” Diana asked.

Oliver gave it some thought, then his eyes lit up with an idea. “Ask her about ****.”

“****? She drinks, then?”

“Not much, but not because she doesn’t like it. Should get a conversation started between you two.”

It should. There weren’t many things Diana could talk about at length, but one of them was ****. Another was giving lessons or how to help a mare give birth, but she doubted that would be relevant.

They arrived at his home soon enough and parked outside. Diana followed Oliver into the house, quietly saying “Excuse me.”

“Mom? We’re here,” Oliver announced.

The first to answer, however, wasn’t his mother. Instead, the first thing Diana heard was very quick, soft steps coming from the stairs. A white and orange cat ran all the way to Oliver and began to rub itself on his legs, purring with its tail high up. Diana smiled.

“Cake, I assume?”

“The one and only internet celebrity, yes,” Oliver said, grinning and picking her up. “The one stealing all my spotlight.”

Cake meowed as if in response, and Diana couldn’t help but think it would’ve been funny if she had meant it as “Yes, that’s me.”

“Can I pet her?” Diana asked.

Oliver narrowed his eyes in thought first. “Um… Reach out your hand, but don’t touch her.”

Diana didn’t question it and did as told. Oliver would know his pet better than anyone.

When she reached out, Oliver moved the cat in his arms slightly closer, enough that Cake could stretch her neck and sniff her hand. Cake seemed warry but otherwise calm. Satisfied, Oliver nodded.

“Okay, you can pet her.”

Diana gently scratched the top of Cake’s head and around her neck. The cat let herself enjoy it with soft, continuous purring.

“Sorry. It’s just that when Mila, Grace and Sarah met her, Cake was very aggressive. Glad to see she’s growing up.”

Diana nodded. “Socializing animals is important.”

“Oliver’s been doing a great job raising her, but Isabelle is the one who takes Cake to play with other cats.”

Diana’s heart leaped to her throat. Even Oliver was taken by surprise since he had his back turned. There, standing under the door frame to what Diana believed to be the living room, was unmistakably Oliver’s mother. The resemblance was clear at a glance. Oliver’s softer features definitely came from her. His eyes, too.

Then from behind her came Oliver’s sister. Again, unmistakable. The young woman was practically his identical twin after all. The spitting image of their mother, as well. The most noticeable difference between the two aside from physical aspects was that the mother was eyeing Diana with a scrutinizing look while the sister openly gawked at her.

Neither reaction made her very comfortable.

The mother quickly reset her expression, however, now turning to look at Diana with a more approachable smile. “Diana, correct? It’s good to finally get to meet you. I’m Holly Brooks, Oliver’s mother. This is my daughter, Isabelle.”

“H-H-Hello,” Isabelle greeted.

Holly walked up to Diana and offered her her hand. Stiff as a board, Diana shook it. “Hello, Ms. Brooks. I’m very sorry I wasn’t able to come visit until now.”

“Please, I understand how work can keep one busy. It’s not as if I’ve been free to receive guests all this time. Good thing our schedules finally aligned.”

“Yes.”

There was no hostility coming from Ms. Brooks. At least, no open hostility. Diana didn’t know if she held any, even. Even without the connection between them, Oliver was better at reading people’s intentions than her.

“I’m sorry, Diana. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable, but would you mind if we talked alone? I’m the type to get the important stuff dealt with as soon as possible.”

With a stiff neck, Diana nodded. “I don’t mind. I believe that’s for the best, too.”

“Um… Alone?” Isabelle asked from behind her mother.

“Yes, alone,” Ms. Brooks repeated. “You three go upstairs.” Apparently Cake was counted there as well.

Oliver sighed. “Okay. Diana, call me if she’s bullying you.”

“I…”

“I’m not going to bully her,” Ms. Brooks said.

“With that look you shot her at first? Could’ve fooled me.”

Ms. Brooks flinched. “Upstairs, now.”

The twins retreated, but as they did, Diana managed to overhear one bit of their whispering.

“Holy crap, Oliver! She’s hot! Why is it always the hottest ones? Are you actually just superficial?”

“I…” Oliver’s shoulders dropped. “M-Maybe?”

Diana would have laughed if Ms. Brooks wasn’t standing in front of her. Yes, Oliver was very fond of her body, that was true, but Diana wouldn’t be here today if that was all.

That thought gave her some more confidence. Oliver liked her for who she was, and he believed that his mother would accept her for who she was, too. She could do worse than trust her boyfriend’s sharp instincts.

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