Five

I dressed Mina the next morning in a grey shirt, grey tulle skirt, grey tights, and her little pair of grey high top converse. I dressed myself in a grey wide scoop neck tee, grey skinny jeans, and I slipped on my grey low rise converse. Even though today show be a happy day for Mina going to Romania to meet her great grandmother, she seemed sad and distant.
"Hey baby what's the matter," I asked her as I helped her pack some of her toys for the trip.
"Daddy wisn't coming wit us is he," she asked.
"Daddy's coming. He's upstairs packing some toys for him to have on the airplane," I had noticed that since she started talking yesterday, she hadn't said a single word directly to Jack.
"Mina are you ready to go bye byes," Jack asked as he came into view of her. Mina stared at him. It was like she didn't know how to talk to him. Mina ran past both of us and out the door.
"I hope she's alright," I told him as I stood up, grabbing Mina's toy bag.
"She's hasn't said a word to me. Did I do something to scare her into not talking," he looked so hurt that Mina was only talking to me.
"I don't know. I've tried asking her, but all she does is start to cry when I mention it. I'll try to teach her some Romanian words on the trip that she can say to you. Maybe that'll help," I offered.
"You might be onto something. Let's go before we miss our flight," I followed Jack out of the house and loaded Mina into her car seat befoe we left for the airport.

---

When we landed at the airport in Bucharest, I found the old family driver waiting for us. Jack grabbed our luggage while I carried Mina's sleeping form over to meet up with him.
"Boris I thought you'd be retired by now," I greeted him warmly.
"Oh young Mistress Mirela I was a young lad when I started. Your family was about to leave when I started working for your grandmother." he replied.
"Boris I would like you to meet my husband, Jack. This little sleeper is our daughter Cosmina," Jack shook Boris's hand.
"We best be off so you three are not late for dinner with Madam Lupei," Boris took our bags from Jack and led us to the family car.

We pulled up to my family home I saw Jack's jaw drop. The huge looming façade that was so familiar to me. I knew I was home again. When we were last here, I had Grandmother be at her townhouse in Bucharest. The family castle was in the forests of the mountains. I stepped out of the, Mina still asleep in my arms. Boris got the bags while Jack carried Mina's diaper bag. Boris guided us into the grand entrance hall, causing more awe to come out of Jack.
"Welcome home, my darling granddaughter. I have missed you so much since your last visit to Romania. What is the occassion of this visit my dear," my grandmother greeted us. She was a small woman. She looked so much older than she did four years ago. But she still had life in her old bones. Her eyes shined with youthful spirit. I remember her spoiling me when I was Mina's age with pretty dresses that let my blue eyes pop.
"Grandmother I brought my daughter so you could meet her," Mina was waking now, "I'm sure you remember Jack. He and I are married now."
"I got the announcement of your marriage at Christmas. I was battling the flu and could not travel to see you get married. Cosmin told me he had presented you to Jack. Congradulations. Jack you are one lucky man to have my beautiful granddaughter as your wife and the mother to your daughter," she was always one to gush over anything good and happy.
"I'm also here because a lot of things have been changing with me and I feel like there is something wrong with me," I told her the other half to reason I was here.
"I will discuss what's plaguing you after dinner. For now you three should change out of your travel clothes. Camelia please show them to their suite for their stay," the young maid my grandmother summoned bowed before us and led us up the grand staircase to our room, Boris followed behind us with our bags.
"This where you shall stay Lady and Mr. Barakat. I shall return to guide you to the dining room for supper," Camelia cutrsied before she left the room with Boris in tow.
"This will take some getting used to. You never told me you came from wealth Mir," Jack commented.
"We are not a wealthy family Jack. We just have power to keep the castle. Besides, any wealth that is left by Grandmother will go to Uncle Cosmin since he's the one that represents our family on the hunters' council," I explained.
"Oh just an old blood family. Now it makes sense on why you tend to very up tight and formal around your grandmother," Jack was just plain teasing me.
"I was raised by my mother to be proper when around the Lupei family in the castle," I clarified for him as I got myself and Mina ready for dinner.
I wore a dark wed skater dress, soft black tights, and a pair of black suede pumps. I dressed Mina in a black and white dress, black tights, and black sequin ballet flats. The three of us went to dinner and we ate with Grandmother, Uncle Cosmin and his wife Georgeta, and my Aunt Stefina and her husband Anton. Jack was grilled by Aunt Georgeta and Aunt Stefina while Uncle Anton made goofy faces at Mina so she could smile and know he was family.Uncle Cosmin, Grandmother, and i discussed how the week was going to hopefully play out. I was hoping to have a normal vacation so Mina wouldn't worry over me.
Never count your chickens before they hatch.

Notes

Mir's family is going to be really uptight at home in Castle Lupei. It will be interesting how long Jack can maintain being mature when Mina wants to play and run around. I'll be having fun in Romania with the next two chapters.

Mina and Mir's travel clothes: http://www.polyvore.com/mina_mirs_travelling_outfits/set?id=72031748
Mina and Mir's Dinner outfits: http://www.polyvore.com/mina_mirs_dinner_outfits/set?id=72055189

Love,
ToxicxDancefloor