Part Fourteen

Waking up in bed that morning, Peter found himself thinking about Asa and how disappointed she was in him when she found out he was planning to move and then about Cindy and how he had taken her virginity, and then about Phoebe and her worries that she would be alone. Not sure how he could reassure Phoebe that she wouldn't be alone even more, Peter got out of bed and made his way to his bathroom where he had a shower and got dressed for the day ahead before making his downstairs toward the dining room where he could hear part of Phoebe and Cindy's conversation.

"And your Dad just invited her to stay the night?" Peter overheard Cindy say.

"Yeah, she showed up at the event," Phoebe responded as Peter realised that they were talking about Naomi. "Was like hi, it's good to see you, kind of thing," Phoebe continued. "Like she always has been when she comes in and out of my life and then Dad came outside and he sees Naomi trying to talk to me and then the next thing I know he invites her to stay at the manor."

"Maybe he was just being polite?" Cindy suggested.

"Or maybe she got her claws into him already?" Phoebe responded. "You remember what Aunt AC and Aunt Elsa said about Dad and Naomi," Phoebe reminded the brunette. "They used to get together and then argue and then break-up and then they would make up, get back together and then argue and then break-up and on and on it would go."

"But that doesn't mean that they're together..." Cindy pointed out.

"It could explain why Dad thinks it might be complicated to get with Mom," Phoebe suggested. "His words, not mine."

"But he went out on a date with Wendy..." Cindy said.

"So," Phoebe shrugged. "Aunt AC used to tell me Naomi used to encourage that stuff with Dad and then go crazy about it after."

"Really?" Cindy said in surprise.

Surprised that his adoptive sister had told his daughter so much about his love-life, especially about her parents and that he might have to have a word about it to her, Peter found himself about to listen in even more only for a voice to interrupt him.

"You just gonna stand in the doorway or can we go in?" Asa said, getting Peter's attention.

"Err... Yeah..." Peter shook his head, not wanting to mention that he was eavesdropping on their daughters.

"You girls are up early," Asa said as she entered the dining room, followed by Peter.

"Blame Cindy," Phoebe commented. "She woke me up."

"Only cos you would have slept in." Cindy fired back at her.

"Is it always this lively in the morning?" Naomi said in an annoyed tone as she entered the dining room.

"Most of the time," Peter told his ex-girlfriend while Phoebe ignored her mother and sat down at the table with Cindy.

"Hi Naomi, it's nice to see you again," Asa said politely to Naomi.

"You too," Naomi scowled. "You're still hanging around here then?"

"Well, it was working for us and our jobs and the girls enjoy each other's company, so we decided against not switching it up." Peter interrupted not wanting an argument to erupt between the two blondes.

"Whatever," Naomi said as she sat herself down at the table.

"So, Naomi, how long will you be staying in the city?" Asa wondered.

"I don't know. A couple of days, maybe a few months," Naomi said as she poured herself some coffee. "I broke up with Matthias. So, I thought I'd come and see Phoebe, and then I dunno, Madrid, Paris, the Bahamas, who knows?"

"Well, that sounds nice." Phoebe coldly said.

"But I really would love to spend time With you," Naomi told her daughter.

"Most people usually do." Phoebe sarcastically spoke.

"And I'm sure Phoebe is more than happy to accommodate you," Peter said not wanting to deal with a mother-and-daughter argument so early on in the day.

"I can't, I'm working remember?" Phoebe fired back at Peter. "Someone grounded me."

"Well consider yourself ungrounded," Peter said. "To spend time with your mother," Peter said in an effort to make things easier for Phoebe and Naomi, only for Phoebe to roll her eyes at her father. "Same for you, Cindy."

"Come on, we'll have loads of fun. There's a spa, we can go to the mall and go clothes and jewellery shopping." Naomi encouraged her.

"Fine," Phoebe said in annoyance, realising she would not get her own way before demanding. "Cindy is coming too..."

"I..." Cindy awkwardly spoke. "I don't..."

"Yeah, sure, whatever..." Naomi said before excitedly looking and Phoebe and saying. "We're gonna have sooo much fun!"