"Sue...!"Everyone is extremely shocked and looks towards the bed. She opens her eyes and turns to face them all, looking slowly to the doctor, then the nurse, Ford next, the Chairwoman next with a hint of a smile and then finally on Sue."Sue." She repeats, a little more firmly and tears starting to form on the edge of her eyes and then fall down and disappear on the pillow holding her head up.The chairwoman stands up from where she sat and walked to the bed. Slowly, she lays her hand on her daughter."Is it really you? My daughter? You know how much I waited for you? You left your mum alone to go through all these alone, Holly, I missed you." She bent down and enveloped her daughter in a bone crushing hug but still gentle in its own way.Sue and Ford wondered if they should stay there as the scene was one very personal between them as family. But then Sue noticed that even though she was being hugged by her mother, Holly still had her eyes on her, and the tears still dropping and d
Upon arrival at the Mason Family Residence, the large gates are opened for Ford to drive through, with Sue sound asleep in the car. He makes real less noise so he won't wake her up before he goes to geg Ashley.He gets down from the car and enters the mansion.Inside just reeks of immense wealth, if not for the family's humility, they would have had everything made in gold and still be stinking rich.Ford enters the house just as familiarly as any body will enter his or her own house, but in Ford's case, where he grew up. He took the staircase straight up to his mom's room so as not to disturb anybody in the middle of the night as well as leave there before Sue wakes up in the car.Opening the room's door, he inhales deeply, taking in the scent he has come to like. His mom always has the strawberry automatic air freshener on in her room so not just any smell can penetrate and ruin the way her room is. Ford looks around and doesn't see anyone, neither Ashley nor his Mom is in the room
Next morning, Sue emerges from her room, closes the door on Ashley's loud wailing, and goes over to Ford's with her face full of exasperation."Are you okay?" He asks her. She smiles in an almost sad way. "Could you possibly help me find something for Ashley to wear? I got all the clothes, shoes and bags from yesterday but she's refusing to wear anything. I'm exhausted." Sue plops on the bed, visibly tired.Ford laughs. "You're the fashion designer." He teases while pulling her up. She allows herself to be pulled up and walked back to where she had left Ashley.Surprisingly, Ashley was dressed. Although wrongly, she had worn something. She wore a small teddy bear crocheted crop top and a high waist jeans on her head."Ah." Ford sniffles, unable to hold in his laughter. Sue sighs. "All she wanted was to choose her own clothes. Imagine what she will be like as a teenager." Sue sighs and puts the clothes right on her body.Ford stays and watches with a brown striped and long piece of clo
"I'll be your granddaughter, Grandma." Sue says softly and half hugs the woman. "Whatever it takes to make sure your daughter goes back to being your daughter after letting go of her grief."The woman used all of her willpower to hold in her tears. "Thank you very much darling." She sniffles and gives Sue a full shoulder up hug. She stops sniffling after a little while and looks at Sue. "Then it won't be too much if I asked if you could help me with her moving back home?""Not at all. Let me get things and get a last word with Ford... Eh. Mr Mason." They are acqainted on a professional basis so it won't be nice to call him formally in front of someone that he'll have work and business with in the future."Sure. I'll go get the car around and waiting in front of the building." She smiles with a small pat on Sue's forearm, a nod at Ford's direction and then she exits the room, a wide, relieving smile dancing on her lips.Sue picks up her bag and sighs. "I really want to do this for the
Sue sits down beside Holly on the bed and holds her hand. "Hi.""Hello darling. How're you doing?" Holly asks Sue.Sue smiles warmly. "I should be the one asking you that. How're you feeling?""I'm fine. Just perfectly ready to go home. I mean, I've been lying down for quite some time I heard." She teased and proceeded to sit up.She had been on her back for nineteen years so the doctor had said her legs will be numb for quite some time. For now, she'll be on wheelchair until she regains the strength to stand up on her own two legs once again.Sue helps Holly comfortably unto the chair and quickly goes to help Jean to pack the bags. For someone who stayed in the room for nineteen years, she had surprisingly little to pack.Sue didn't have to wonder for a long time. "I know what you're thinking. She doesn't have much here right?.." Jean laughs, visibly happy. "I always came here to pack her things evening of everyday and brought whatever she was going to need the next day as well. So I
Sue looked closer at the image and noted that all three ladies were clad in graduation gowns, holding flowers and certificates.Holly was in the middle, smiling widely like the other, holding her certificate in her hands, linking hands with a younger Sharon and she also linking hands with the third girl who was smiling widely, yet timidly in a slight way.Sue was only more puzzled. How come Sharon never mentioned her friends?But then, Sue thought again. She wasn't her actual daughter so maybe it was only normal she didn't know about it. But now that she knows that she and Holly had a connection, Sue is more than interested to find out what they were and why they never kept in touch, nor saw anyone of them show up now that she's awake from her coma induced accident.With the unanswered questions still ringing at the back of her head, she moves on to the next few pictures. There was a picture of Holly's marriage to a man. He was really handsome and had a toothy smile with all his white
Sue sets out to find and bring Jean and Holly to the table for a brunch to make up for the breakfast they missed and lunch.She found them both in what looks to be Holly's room. On the wall are numerous pictures, polaroids and her marriage frame.She looked so beautiful and younger in it."You looked beautiful in that gown." Sue commented on the wedding picture. Holly smiled."It was one of my many happy moments."Talking of happy moments, Sue took a seat on the bed and watched them both unpack and sort things out. Occasionally helping to pass something or drop something, Sue asked the question that had been bothering her."I came across that big room with pictures. They were all beautiful. Every single picture had a ton of memories."Jean chuckled. "Holly was quite the picture taker. She took after me in that you know?" She winked.Sue laughed slightly. "I could tell. You had quite a lot of pictures of yourself too." She turns back to meet Holly. "I also happened to stumble across yo
Alexa trudged home with a ton of bags trailing behind her, filled with male and female children shoes, all wrapped neatly in their boxes and placed in several different coloured shopping bags.She snaps at the gate guard to open the gate for her, and then the maid shearing the garden flowers to come help her take the bags inside.She is so irritable that everyone who heard her voice coming from the outside cleared out before she could enter and fire them for every little and stupid excuse she can find.But unfortunately, a young maid still becomes a victim of her anger. As she tries to dash out of sight before Alexa catches her, Alexa yells at her."YOU! Over here."She peeped to see if she was the one and sees Alexa looking at her like she dared her to disobey her. She walked slowly to meet her, her head bowed."What's your name?""It's Sc...""I don't want to know. You're fired!" Alexa suddenly shouts. "Another fucking maid here"The maid was open mouthed. "What did I do ma'am?" She
* Years later*Sue opens the door, laughing widely and happily."Welcome home guys. I'm happy to be hosting the Christmas Dinner this year. You guys should come on in."Darlene comes in first, Harry behind heTwor and then Tanya, all of whom give her hugs as they enter, all of them beaming."It's been quite a while Mum." Sue remarks as she hugs Darlene.Darlene tips her hat, "what can I say? I've been out traveling the world with my husband. All my children are old enough to take care of themselves so I deserve some respite.""Speaking about that, where's Wade?""I'm guessing he's fighting with the baskets we came with. They are yours by the way and my babies. Where are they?""Inside, with their Dad. He seems to be the only one they take clothes from these days, just like Ashley when she was little. I learnt to adapt." She smiles, her beauty showing no sign of fatigue or fading.Tanya walks around, smiling at the beautiful frames on the wall, saying nothing.Harry is on a call on the c
At the party after the wedding ceremony, everyone puts on their dresses according to the theme as decided by Holly and Darlene.And Egyptian times were known mostly for the gold in their clothes and fine linens so there was a flash of gold coming from everywhere.But when Sue came in, there was no gold that matched hers, none was as luxurious and elegant as her own, along with the modest yet exquisite accessories laid in her hair.And none shone the brightest.It was really giving the Cleopatran vibe as everyone expected.As they will say, Sue ate and left no crumbs.When it comes to the time to throw flowers, every single person was arranged behind Sue, all, or most, eager to catch the flower and decide their future for themselves in marriage.At the back, it included Tara, Raya, Marshall was forced there by Ford against all his own wishes, Tanya and Harry, forced in there by their mum, Darlene and Holly too, giggling like children how they would not mind a man at their age, Ella, Ear
Dignitaries from fear and near, important people from inside and outside the country all attended the wedding.It was tagged that one wedding that will be me remembered for years to come.Holly and Darlene really outdo themselves, making sure that everything is in place and then leaving Sue and Ford to just simply enjoy their day.Very early in the morning, people have started to arrive and upon closer look, they are no ordinary set of people.There was a special guest that threw everyone off the bat.Very early that day, a long black limousine shows up, bearing a ton of gifts and simply a letter with it.At the time, only the residents and family members are around, also the working staff, doing last minute touches to the outdoor wedding venue.Sue receives the flowers and the other gifts and then the letter. She thanks the deliverers and tears open the letter, she reads the letter to the slow widening of her family's eyes and surprise.Even she herself had to gasp."This is signed Sa
It's Ford's turn to facepalm, although there's a hint of hidden laughter on his face. "We'll deal with you two later. Let's attend to the reporters so we can get some rest, what do you think?"Sue nods, agreeing. "Please.""Attention please. Come this way if you have questions. We'll answer them to the best of our abilities."This grabbed all attention towards the couple who stand side by side, Ford's large hands enclosing Sue's in his. "So we heard you have questions for us?""Is a wedding really happening? I mean you're two influential families. Don't you want to give a chance to others?"They all laugh."Well, what can we say when fate drew us to one another? I can't swap her for the world and I'm sure it's a mutual feeling." Ford responds, gently squeezing Sue's hand.Sue nods slowly by his side, her smile infectious."Another question. What will happen to your businesses when you marry? Ms Sue has her own company and you do yours and Ms Sue's family has hers too. It's a lot. Woul
For the next few weeks, all Holly and Darlene saw of their children and grandchild was video calls and posts on their social media accounts.They had tons of fun, not wanting it to end.They visited many states, including Dallas where everyone got to go to a Cowboy festival where they had rodeo drives and roasted pigs and kicked up as many dusts they could on themselves and others while riding horses and when simply running around, having fun.For the first few days after the incident that shook the whole family so much, Ashley was a little sad and scared. Every minute, she would shake without reason, like a sudden gust of wind was blown on her and it worried everyone so much until they went on their vacation where Ashley was always within eyeshot. Everyone had eyes on her and others, ready to make another lesson of anybody who tries to try shit with them as an individual and as a family as a whole.For a whole month, they visited every amusement park, every theme park, every Five Mi
Ford stands with the Chief of the Police Force as they both watch the body get covered and the ambulance leaves with the other.The chief barks out orders to his men and they respond with gusto and then he faces Ford and smiles warily. "What really happened here?""They both had kidnapped my daughter and sister. I wanted to teach them a lesson but I didn't even get to. Brian got his hand shot off by Angela while she fell through that window all on her own. I guess the guilt from shooting her partner was too much but I don't think she'd want to die so the falling must have been an accident." He explains, meeting the Chief's eyes very bravely and squarely."Hm, I see. So that's what happened. We'll get the body to the morgue while the man will be taken to the hospital. I never thought I'd see a severed hand like that, it looked so roughly pulled or torn apart. Do you know about that?"Ford shakes his head. "As soon as Angela fell, I and my assistant both left the room, hoping we could s
Angela backs towards the window while Sue walks forward as well, scalpel in hand.*Hours later, Ashley is asleep with Sue holding her close to her chest, rocking her as she sleeps.She doesn't even notice when Tanya comes into the room, her face wet with tears, tears of mixed feelings.Sadness and Happiness at the same time.Tanya sits beside her and touches Sue's shoulder ever so slightly. "You know it is not your fault right? Those bastards must have known one way or the other that whatever happened was a result of their own choices."Sue tries to smile. "It's not that actually but thanks for being here with me..." Sue glances at Ashley as the girl snuggles closer to her, putting her head on her inner arms. Sue turns to Tanya and smiles appreciatively. "You know, I never had the opportunity to adequately thank you for what you did even after you got beaten while doing it. I really owe you a lot."Tanya smiles widely. "You don't need to thank me. It's what any human would have done,
James picks up Ashley from the ground, trying to calm and stop her from crying and at the same time, noticing the soft bump on the door.The door opens and out comes Marshall, who barks at one of the two men who came up with him. "Call the authorities! Immediately." He goes back in and closes the door behind him again.James tried to peep in through the open crack but he didn't see anything other than Marshall's body blocking the door and the light in the room.Who had been shot?No one knows, all except those inside.*Holly laughs excitedly as she licks off the upper part of the ice cream she's holding, and Darlene cracking jokes jokes beside her."And then I go, oh my goodness, I didn't switch on the electric cooker after putting the water on for over two hours..."Holly only laughs the more. "How did you not know?""Seriously. I felt like an idiot. All after bragging that I can make a world known chef. A world known chef who forgets to switch on the cooker.""Yeah, you're well on
Terribly shaking and nervous as she stares at the dark muzzle of the gun pointing at her head, Angela walks straight for the door after pulling the key out of her chest.Shakingly, she puts the key in the lock and turns it open."Open the door."Angela pulls down the knob and opens the door just as Marshall and two men enter the boutique.All the noise and ruckus has attracted people who weren't there just minutes before and now there were people peeping in through the boutique's glass windows.Angela steps out first, Sue follows behind her and then James.When the crowd sees the gun, there's a collective gasp.Marshall walks to meet her. "Would you like me to handle that?"Sue smiles at him, "Don't worry, I've got this. I'm sure if I don't kill her, I can at least ruin her pretty face." Sue says quite loudly and just as much as she knows people's weak points, she'll bet everything that Angie's weak points is her looks.Her hands still up, Sue nudges her into the other room, she enters