Closed What's in a name?

[Alec Maxwell]

She called her over the weekdays never to forget their said meeting arrangements. As if she wasn't busy enough with events happening in Autumn. She wanted to know what was the sudden meeting about but this woman wouldn't tell her. But knowing her and her tone for since she was a baby. This woman was annoyed at something. Dress in her Saturday best, Alec took her confident stride inside Captains Restaurant in Queenstown. Her parents favourite restaurant where she was born and grew up. Although, she was surprised they didn't meet at the Queenstown Golf Club where her father spend his retirement or she should say, break, every weekend.

Let's be honest, Alec's parents will never stop working until they die. It seem, it was a motto for every Wihongi member but not hers. Oh, she knows the family history very well. All members of the Maxwell family and its spouses (including new ones) has access to it's hundred year old archives and let's just say, their side ain't that pretty either. As she stopped by the host table, she caught a glimpse of blonde hair sipping her drink. Alec rolled her eyes and let the host know that she had found her date for today and walked herself toward her mother. "Mother." She greeted with her lazy tone and sat opposite Carabella Wihongi. Mother, loyal wife, socialite and most importantly, a helicopter mum.

Alec didn't wait for her mother to speak and waved down a waiter to order her usual drink, an Old Fashion. She ordered it with precise top shelve spirit, while looking at her mother. "So, what brings me here? Dad's not here, so, this must be a secret." Alec wants to annoy her mother, like she always does.

 

[Carabella Wihongi]

One child was all she ever wanted, a child that will bare the Wihongi last name, she thought a boy would be that ending. But once that sonographer told them the gender, it seems she wanted to try for another one but it never happened again. She and her husband thought their daughter can retain her last name even when married, if she was willing. But until two weeks ago, Carabella thought Alec was using Wihongi as her last name. In her hand was a business card with her daughter's self-made business, an event company that is being talked about in her circle of friends.

Her friends had asked her why the sudden change of last name and that they weren't invited to Alec's wedding. Carabella simply smiled at them. But inside, she was fuming. She immediately arranges a meeting with her daughter and as she sat at their favourite restaurant, Carabella took a sip of her mint julep. Waiting. A few minutes had passed and when she heard her daughter's familiar voice, she stared at her. Poker faced. Carabella waited until Alec ordered her alcoholic drink. "Kia Ora, Tamāhine." She greeted Alec. "Kao, this is not a secret meeting. Simply don't want pāpā to get disappointed of what you've been doing." Carabella placed Alec's business card on the table silently and grabbed her own drink to have a sip.