Simon's Bride
42. Just friend

Anna looked at Leon who was still chattering in front of her. The boy put his hand in a glass jar, took out the candy that was inside. Simon sat on the single sofa beside the long sofa that Anna was sitting on with Leon.

"They'll all be home in a minute. Family members Daddy Alric, Uncle Vincent, and Daddy Claude .. invited Mam Ann to dinner with all of us" Leon said.

"Eve tomb?" Anna asked, but her eyes glanced at Simon.

"Yes. Hamilton's grandfather said Leon had to persuade Mam to come, as well as Mrs. Sanders and Mrs Luna."

"At Leon's house?"

"It's not exactly in my house ... I guess Joanna was afraid the place was a bit cramped with the presence of the children." For the first time Simon spoke.

"So where?"

"Next to it .. our hotel restaurant. That place is quite large."

Anna seemed to think. Luxury beachfront hotel owned by Bernard family.

"Mrs Luna and Mrs. Sanders is coming too" Simon added.

"really?"

Simon and Leon nodded together.

"Mam is coming. Daddy's going to pick you up here" Leon said.

"Prepare before 7. Mrs Luna and Mrs. Sanders will be picked up by Bruno."

Anna looked at Simon. The man did not ask for his willingness. Leon asked that. Simon just gave a statement, that he will be picked up before 7.

"Come, Mam ... Leon will be sad if Mam is not present. Mrs. Sanders and Mrs Luna, too" persuaded Leon.

Anna smiled a smile. "Allah ... Mama is coming."

Leon clapped his hands, Anna glanced at Simon, the man laughing as he stroked Leon's hair in a frenzy. When their eyes were fixed, Anna immediately turned her face away. He saw the sparkle again in Simon's eyes. The eye light that made his heart feel restless again.

**********

Anna has tried all the best dresses she's got. She didn't have much, but somehow, imagining how the whole Simon family made Anna feel she had to at least get a little dressed up.

The choice fell on a light gray dress. The dress was sleeveless, with a zipper on the back of the dress. The top and bottom of the dress are held together by a waistband and also a fastening tape tied to the side. The bottom of her dress fell gently around Anna's hips, covering up to a few inches below her knees.

Anna turned her body in front of the mirror.

"I think it's pretty ...."

Anna then brushed her hair back. He held his hair together to the back of his neck, then clamped it with a silver hairband with a crystal decoration. The thin makeup sweep on her face made Anna's eyes seem more alluring.

"This make up isn't too thick, is it?" he asked, then smiled foolishly because there was no one there that he could ask his opinion.

Anna took a deep breath, then said to herself in the mirror.

"Don't make this dinner a burden, Ann. You're just fulfilling a dinner invitation from a friend of yours."

After saying so, Anna felt her feelings better.

He picked up his little bag, checked his phone, then stepped out into the living room. Ann had just sat down when the sound of Simon's car had arrived in front of her yard. Anna immediately stood up, took the key and went out to the veranda.

He saw Simon just come down. Anna immediately locked the door and turned to step towards the car.

Simon whistled, smilingly looking at Anna with sparkling eyes.

"You're ready for it."

"You said before seven. I don't like being late."

Simon opens the door for Ann. The woman was followed later by Simon. He drove his own car to pick up Ann.

"You shouldn't bother. Just have Bruno come by, and then we'll pick up Mrs Luna and Mrs. Sanders. The three of us will fit in one car."

Simon was silent, not responding to Anna's words.

"Are Mrs Luna and Mrs. Sanders's been picked up?"

"It."

The rest of their journey went through in silence. Busy with their own minds. Simon wondered if Anna was nervous. But he answered the question himself. Anna did not seem nervous at all. He was on time, confident and seemed unperturbed by the fact that all members of the Simon family would be present.

Simon felt Anna's attitude was inversely proportional to her current state of being. Joanna laughed at him. Saying that he was like a man who had first gone out on a date, changing ties up to three times.

Joanna asked if it was really that hard to impress Anna.

They arrived at the hotel courtyard. Someone opened the door for Simon and Anna. Simon handed the keys to Valet's officer, who nodded his head respectfully.

Simon waited with his arms outstretched toward Anna. Anna welcomed the hand as she flashed a small smile.

After their hands clasped each other, and they stepped together into the lobby, Simon whispered into Anna's ear.

"I'm afraid I'll forget to say this .. You look so beautiful, Ann."

Anna turned her head slightly, smiled a smile of thanks and praised back.

"You too, Simon. You look handsome and dashing with your tuxedom."

Simon narrowed, neither a face of shame nor a hint of blushing when Anna heard his praise, nor was there the slightest shiver in the woman's voice when she praised him back. Anna behaves like a friend who comes to dinner with her friend's family.

Simon pulls out a chair, then Anna sits down and then realizes she is placed between Simon and Leon, not next to Mrs. Sanders and Mrs Luna were guests at the dinner.

"This is not a formal dinner. May you all not be disturbed by the voices and behavior of these children" said Yoana.

"Of course not, Joanna. Don't worry about that. We're happy to be here with all your family members" Mrs said. Sanders.

Anna was grateful that she did not need to talk much, because throughout the dinner, she could be said to be monopolized by Leonard. Anna answers Leon's questions, helps the boy with the napkin and also has a busy serving Leon's questions. Everyone seems to not mind. Mrs. Sanders and Mrs Luna were thrilled to sit side by side with Mary and Catty.

Anna smiled, trying to enjoy dinner casually, but she did not deny that the nervousness she had been trying to hide, the longer she felt like her chest was full.

When the dinner ended, Anna was very grateful. He had reason to go to the toilet for a while. He needs space, breathes air and relaxes his chest.

"I'm sorry, I need to go back. Would you excuse me for a second?"

Anna saw Simon and Hamilton sitting nearby nodding. She was just about to leave her chair when the little girl Valencia whined she wanted to go back to her mother.

"Alright, let's get Mommy to deliver."

They went together to the toilet. Mary and Anna chatted intimately, most of them talking about Leonard. After finishing from the toilet and wash their hands in the sink. Valencia pulled the end of Ann's dress.

"Mam Ann .. may I ask you a question?"

"Yes? Sure can."

"Do you like my brother?"

Anna raised her eyebrows, then glanced at Mary who was just smiling while raising her shoulders.

"You mean Leon?"

Valencia looked to nod. His blue eyes looked at Anna seriously, waiting for an answer.

"of course. Your brother's very nice."

Valencia seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Mary laughed, then took her daughter with her, she also took Anna to walk together.

"Tell Mommy, why ask Mam Ann, Val?" ask Mary for her daughter.

"Mommy knows Leon really likes to play with us, right? but Mom saw that at dinner last night? Leon only noticed Mam Ann as a."

Anna's cleared her throat. "Is that bad?" ask Anna.

"No. Val is happy that Leon has finally found Mommy for Uncle Simon. Therefore Val asks if Mam Ann likes Leon or not."

Valencia chattered smoothly and did not realize that his words made Anna shocked and her face became blushing. Mary saw that and laughed.

"Ah, forgive my daughter .. Her words make you uncomfortable."

They arrived at the hall and walked towards the back table. Anna sat down and took her drinking glass. He could no longer hide his nervousness.

Is my presence so unusual? so a girl as small as Valencia even thought that there was something between me and Simon? Since when did I become Mommy's nominee for Leonard?

Anna finished her drink. Breathing out long breaths repeatedly.

Alric then leads Mary to dance. Hamilton took Mrs Luna, and Claude took Mrs. Sanders, because Catty has to hold Benita, her eight-month-old daughter.

Vincent and Joanna do not move to the dance floor. Anna thinks they might be watching the kids. Although not far from the table, several Nannies look ready with eyes watching their respective foster children.

"Uncle Simon, why don't you ask Mam Anna to dance?" ask Valencia.

"Val's right. Why is Daddy still sitting? If Leon was big and good at dancing, Leon would've invited Mam."

"Grt ... Daddy Simon will take Mam Ann. But later, let Daddy and Mam chat. Val and Leon are here" said Joanna.

Leon and Valencia approach Joanna, who is surrounded by Aislin, Alexa and Joice, and Catty, who approaches Benita in her lap. Vincent, Joanna's husband also sat not far from the group. The chairs are irregular. Bernard's family didn't seem to be as I had expected before.

"Aunt Catty, Mam Ann admitted that Mam Ann liked Leon. Mam Ann will be a cool Mommy to Leon" Valencia suddenly said.

Anna was so shocked, she turned her head and looked towards the Bernard family group across the table. Yoana looked surprised, Catty seemed to be smiling widely, while Vincent who never smiled, suddenly looked grinning in Anna's eyes.

Anna raised her hand, shaking her palm left and right.

"Ti-no, it-it ... Mam Ann is not ...." Having trouble speaking, Anna looked over. Asking Simon for help, the man sat back down and poured the wine back into his glass.

Yoana pityed seeing Anna who was wrong with a face that began to turn pale.

"I'm sorry Val, Mam Ann .. don't take heart .. It's only natural that children think so. Our Uncle Simon, never invited a woman to join a dinner with the whole family. It looks like you are the exception .. Of course because you are Leonard's beloved teacher. His words were supported by a nod by Leonard.

Anna's face slowly looked ordinary again. Joanna laughed in her heart.

Ck ck ck .. It looks like you really are just a friend to him, Simon!

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