Being jet lagged is never a good thing. Earl stretches over and over again, unable to go back to sleep despite the pounding headache he's got. He stands up from the bed and checks his phone for anything he has missed.He sees two missed calls from Evans and a message from Ella.He smiles, wondering what they both needed to tell him late in the afternoon.He calls Evans first. "Hello? I missed your call. Why did you call?""There's no how are you doing today for me?""If I say it, will you not stress me out? I already have a big enough pounding in my head, not to add your troubles to it." He comments passively, tutting."Fine. Do you remember Sue?" Evans asks, point blankly, sounding somewhat excited, like he's holding a secret in his hands.Sue? How? The same Sue?"Which Sue?""Come on. The fashion designer from Dallas, she's in Atlanta now."Earl frowns, wondering how Evans knows her and why there's so much excitement in his voice when he talks about her. "Yes, I know her. What is i
Surprised, Earl drops his phone, not expecting to suddenly see Sue jump into the frame.Apparently, Ella was just as surprised because she glanced immediately at her side to see the newcomer and then saw her brother's phone drop. She just had to laugh.Earl picks his phone back up after a few seconds."Miss Sue. How have you been?""I have been fine. You never even called to tell me you were in Atlanta." She gives him an eye roll, too excited to actually care about anything else other than her new status as someone's fiancee. "But I found out from your siblings the other day. I would have stopped by but I had somewhere else to be at the time."Earl manages a smile. "I arrived just late yesterday morning. I was planning to let you know but just needed to get rid of this jet lag first."Sue laughs. "I understand. You can take your time. By the way, I haven't forgotten our drink. Now that you're here, it's making things better for us to meet. You can let me know when you're available. I'
In the peaceful villa of the McCartneys', on an uneventful Sunday afternoon while everyone is going about their businesses, Jean looking through all the photos in the house, removing some old frames and placing new ones in their places, cleaning the already dusty frames and all in all, spending time with the frames, memories and pictures of her past and present family members.Jeffrey opens the door, very slightly and peeks in to see if there's anyone inside. When he sees Jean, he opens the door wider and steps inside, a small plate of fruits, diced watermelon, cut in shape apples and grapes. She smiles up at him from her seat as she takes the plate from him."Thank you very much. I had completely lost track of time."Jeffrey smiles as he stands behind her to get a good view of what she has been up to for hours now. "I could tell. Whenever you disappear like this, you're by something that holds memories. Remember the time I saw you tending to Grandma's flowers in the garden?"Jean ch
Jean pats her shoulders while holding back her own tears. She also wonders who it is that wants her daughter dead.She basically just came back from the brink of death. Who could possibly have been waiting for nineteen years to kill her? Or did she offend so recently that could want her dead? What did she do that was so bad...Jean's phone starts to vibrate furiously on the dresser. She picks it up and sees that it's Sue calling. She sniffles slightly, not wanting to let Sue know about it, or at least, not now so as not to worry her and her family."Hello?" She picks it up, holding back her sobbing bravely."Hi grandma..." Her cherry voice comes over the phone, sounding so happy and contented with whatever is going on around her lately. Hearing how happy she sounds and Ashley's light giggling in the background is what undoes Jean's sniffling again.Sue frowns in the car where she's going home along with Ford, calling Hans, her own personal driver, to bring her car home on her behalf si
Inside the house, an hour later, Ford and Sue with the regular snide comments from Jeffrey makes dinner for everyone in the house. It's been decided that they will stay overnight.Thankfully, they have spare clothes, Ford in the trunk of his car and Sue and Ashley while they came to spend the weekend over, they had left some clothes behind and they will be enough for the next day.After an hour after the security men had dispersed into the bushes, they all arrange again outside. Ford leaves Sue in the kitchen and goes to attend to them.As Ford had been vague as regards to what they should come back with, he had said anything that they found interesting in the woods should be brought back with them, and they had done just that.There was a pile of 'interesting' things that they had brought back. But amongst the pile of things brought back, some things stood out. In the middle of the pile of torn clothes, snake skins, weird looking bugs, needles?, pinwheels, old liquor bottles, mats, a
"He's a jealous man." Ford comments"Yes but he's very loyal. He's like a son to us sometimes. You should have seen the way he stomped off earlier with the gun in his hands. He had seemed so manly..." Jean comments, winking at the end."Ew, Mum. Don't talk about Jeffrey like he's your crush or something.""Well, he used to be." Jean admits while Holly looks at her, mouth agape.Sue only laughs.They continue bickering until dinner is over and they pack the plates. While Holly is told to sit down, doing nothing, Ford and Sue clean up the plates while Jean reclines on the chair from earlier, not long before she falls asleep again."She has been shocked enough today. Positively, " Holly hints at the rings "and then negatively too." She glances at her leg. "She needs her rest. I'll help her inside and come back out.""But your leg..." Ford starts"Stop it right there. I can still walk, it just stings a bit that's all." She says and stands up, she winces a little but still tried to walk st
Next morning, Holly groans on every movement, even those that doesn't have to do with her legs. It just strains at ever little movement and her leg hurts.She manages to get dressed even before Sue for their visit to the hospital. Thankfully, Sue can drive other cars apart from hers so she drives Holly's car to the hospital, leaving Ford to drop Ashley off at school and then go to work.Sue helps Holly into the car and closes the door behind her as she walks over to the driver's side. "We'll get there soon hm? Doctor Sachs will check the wound and give it expert treatment, we'll go grab lunch outside and you'll tell me the end of Angela's story, deal?"Holly laughs lightly. "You're just curious about Angela aren't you?""Yes I am. But I can hold my curiosity until we leave the hospital. I hope it doesn't hurt too much?""Hurt is not exactly the word for what it feels like, more like throbbing in a way I don't like? When I move, it hurts but when I don't, I can just feel it's presence
Ford gives a small laugh as he sets his phone down on the table. Sue and Holly together seem to be a terrible combination together. He knows that the Charles will not get reinstated and he smiles knowing that she's fine taking care of herself even in the face of violence. He swivels his chair to face Marshall who's seated on the couch in front of his table. Ford goes to join him, bringing out the folded photo from his pocket and lays it on the table. He takes his phone once again. "Call the number for me.""470 357 9138" Marshall dicatates the ten digits phone number to Ford while holding the picture up to his face so as to see it clearly.Ford nods and dials the shooter's number.The call is picked on the sixth ring. "Hello?" A gruff male voice speaks on the other end of the call."We found your picture in the woods. You're the shooter from yesterday." Ford states, as a matter of factly."And you are?""A family to the woman you shot. Why did you shoot her at first and then leave y
* 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