Geneveive Tessa Robert
I agreed to attend the monthly meeting of the company because it’s been a while since I've been actively involved in any programme. Also, due to my kids and the interior design building construction, I wasn't available to assume my full responsibilities as director of my assigned department, which was administration. Dad wasn’t bothered because I was his daughter, after all, but James? He reminded me that I was still a remote employee of the family. After the long talks and a long speech I had prepared as a comeback and the public relations officer sharing new updates on our branch in Nashville and a client’s successful contract with the company, Dad brought the meeting to an end. Everyone clocked around me, asking about Hope and Nicholas. They weren’t familiar faces because our branch in the United Kingdom was run by a relative, so I never had the chance to pop up here until we relocated. I just smiled and shook hands with most until a familiar voice greeted me. James. ‘Silly! I didn’t see you in the meeting, so, when did you come here?’ I asked, laughing. He smiled, placing his hand around me. ‘Few minutes ago. How was the meeting? I hope Mom didn’t bore you with the marketing strategies that worked and didn’t for the month. That’s her forte.’ ‘She didn’t bore me though, but I noticed some employees were nodding idly even when they didn’t understand half of what she said.’ I laughed. ‘Dad’s report was the usual motivation speech and routine checkup on every head of department. There’s also a party tonight. Will you be coming?’ James shook his head. ‘I won’t. These British ladies enjoy their fellow men more than the reserved American gentlemen like me. So, I will rather watch over the twins, read a book, and sleep.’ I laughed, ‘I am not going to allow you to stay home with the twins. Mum will be taking care of them while you, Vera, and I will be having great fun. You should invite your friends too. I am sure you have made a couple since you moved here.’ ‘Vera? I don’t want to come. Your friend is in big trouble, and I want none of her issues tonight.’ He said, following me outside the room. I noticed everyone had left, including our parents, while we talked. I had been so engrossed with our conversation that I didn’t notice. I looked at James; he had changed the colour of his hair to dark brown, and honestly, it fitted him, although I still preferred the natural colour, which was brown. I focused on the issue on the ground. Vera had told me what happened between them. She wanted to be friends with him and nothing more, but my little brother wanted more. She had been clear right from when he approached her, and he agreed until one night he professed his feelings. She had been angry and said a lot of unkind words to her. James had been a gentleman and walked away. She couldn’t bring herself to apologize and had been avoiding him until she discovered her relocation to the United Kingdom had been approved. I advised her to apologize to him and stop making James feel guilty. He was human enough to have fallen for her again, but that didn’t justify him breaking their ‘no commitment rule', and she shouldn’t blame him still. Love was no respecter of persons. I arranged my words as I settled in his office, taking the cup of creamy coffee from him. ‘Vera told me what happened between you guys. I don’t want to intervene because I warned you, but you’re my little brother, and I am not pleased about the fight going on at the moment. James, if Vera is truly yours, someday she will be, but for now, I think you should let GP. It’s like fighting a lost battle. I know she insulted you for loving her. That’s wrong, and you did great by not responding. So, please, tonight, when she apologizes, accept it and move on. ‘ He raised his head and said, ‘I will, sister. I hope I will find someone who can love me just like you did with that fool, Kyle. By the way, he’s getting married to that supermodel, Avaline.’ Avaline? He was getting married to her. He couldn’t even wait two or three years before moving on! I couldn’t believe it, and suddenly, I brought out my phone and went straight to Ava’s social media page. The photos of her wedding dress were the first thing that greeted me, followed by pictures of several outings with Kyle and another with Dahila and Katherine. Nice. One happy family. I logged out before their memories affected my mood. If he wanted to get married, then so be it. It wasn’t my business, and that’s what I told James. ‘I wish him the best, James. We are divorced, and from the looks of things, I don’t think we will be coming back together anymore. I am fine taking care of the kids by myself, and I have you, mom, dad, and Vera here with me. I think that’s enough for me.’ I said, taking a long sip of the coffee. He stared affectionately at me. ‘Are you sure you will be fine?’ I nodded. ‘Yeah, I will be fine. I need to check up on Dad. He wants me to do some designs for him before I return to the kids. Vera must be exhausted by now.’ He chuckled. ‘Your friend can handle them, so don’t worry. By the way, Dad has a lot of ideas, so you might want to order a lot of food because you won’t be given a break until you are done.’ ‘What?’ I asked, standing up. ‘I didn’t know that’s how Dad worked these days. I will just try to complete the designs and leave immediately before he dumps another job for me. I am still on a break.’ ‘Big sis, I officially welcome you to Robert’s headquarters,’ he laughed, hugging me. I fell into his arms, comparing my life suddenly with Ava’s own. She had finally gotten the man.Kyle KingThree hours have passed since Uncle David scheduled our meeting. I dialled his number again, but it was switched off. Xavier had long given up on Uncle David's showing up. He was talking to one of the bartenders in Lourdes, probably trying to get a girl’s number or maybe secure a spot in their exclusive karaoke night.Last week was drama-filled. The wedding had to be shifted to next month because Ava was pissed at the entire world for trying to ruin her image after the seminar. She fought more with me and spent almost all the money in our joint account until I was forced to remove her as a signatory. Did she learn her lesson? No. She came to the company, embarrassed me, and made sure everyone knew how I was trying to get her pregnant because my dumb ex-wife couldn’t do it. She also called me names I can’t even whisper in my heart. Mom sided with her this time around, and I ensured I reminded her about the playboy incident. If she repeated that act, I was going to personally
Kyle KingThe wedding ceremony finally came and went. We travelled to Paris on Ava’s insistence, and I couldn’t say no. She had become less troublesome ever since our little fight. I was surprised she didn’t report me to the cops or her dad after all the threats. Well, she won’t. I had been letting her have her way, and finally, I showed her who the real Kyle King was.She rolled on the bed, smiling peacefully. We were still in one of the resorts in France and had planned to rest all day after spending the week on tour and in bed. I was restless, though. I have been thinking about the wedding and what Uncle David said to me before I travelled for this honeymoon.‘So, you are going to marry Ava? I thought you were slowing things down until you knew she was the right woman after Tessa?’I smiled, feeling indifferent to his statement. ‘ I am certain about Ava now, sir. The longer I wait, the longer I delay my chances of a second chance at marriage and having a child. I don’t want to die
Geneveive Tessa RobertAccording to an online page I read, the Hotel New Grand is the best place to book a room whenever you come over to Paris for a family vacation. Mom had suggested we celebrate the holidays in another country, and according to the votes, France was the pick. So, on a bright Friday morning, everyone hopped into Dad’s friend's private plane, and the next day we arrived in Paris.I couldn’t sleep through the flight because of the kids, but my mom assured me it was fine. They were almost two anyway! I was still worried, so I read through the historical novel I brought along and buried myself in it until I slept off.Mom’s voice woke me up. We were about to land. I scanned everyone in the suite: mom, dad, Vera, James, a cousin, Mary, and her kids. She was from Dad’s side of the family. I didn’t know her too well because her mom, Dad’s sister, never visited us while we were in Arizona. She was married to royalty, so it was pretty hard for her to visit family members in
Geneveive Tessa RobertI sent the last aspect of our project. Thankfully, it wasn’t a drawing but a summary of what everyone had done and our major inspirations. It was like a reference paper, but with insights into our work. I sighed, hitting the submit button on the website. We were done, finally. I sent a message to our Slack group and waited for their celebrations, which came faster than I expected.They jubilated with words, emojis, and prayers. They also thanked me for taking up the task of compiling our names and inspirations and making a great reference paper. I smiled, reading through the comments. It’s been a while since anyone praised me for my artwork or achievements. Mom thought I was wasting time on getting a skill I might never use, but I have always had a comeback since the interior building at Hoplas Designs was unveiled. She would later remind me in the coming years that she was the one who inspired me to take the art classes, and as always, I won’t argue with her.
Kyle King‘That’s the result. It says I am okay and you are, so tell your mom to exercise patience. We’ve only been married for two years. I am not in a hurry to get kids, anyway.’ Ava slammed the test results on the table. ‘If she can't exercise patience, then we go for a surrogate. I don’t manufacture babies!’I picked up the test results. Everything was okay, according to the doctor. The same thing that happened with Tessa was almost repeating itself again. I couldn’t understand why fate was playing tricks on me. All I wanted was a child and to get Mom off my back. She kept forgetting she had a grandchild already, and each time I reminded her, she claimed the child belonged to Seth’s family but not hers. She wanted a grandchild from me.Her friendship with Ava’s mom was strained due to her constant reminder that she had cheated. Mum felt that Ava's mum knew Ava couldn’t have children quick like she wanted but didn’t tell her because of the woman’s greed. I tried to intervene, but
Geneveive Tessa RobertI rubbed my temple as it throbbed. Hope was driving me crazy with her cries. I didn’t know what was wrong with her. Mom wasn’t here to help out. She had travelled to Arizona for a meeting and had left me in the hands of the nanny. A Mexican woman with an amazing British accent. I checked her temperature again. She was okay, so why was she crying?‘Probably, she’s growing a new tooth. You know, she just clocked four days ago,’ the nanny said, placing a bowl of mashed potatoes on the table.I nodded. That could be it. She was probably growing a new tooth and couldn’t endure it. But she was four years old! A four-year-old didn’t cry because of a new tooth. I rubbed my temple again and sent an emergency text to mom. I was out of options on what to do with my daughter. Nicholas was quiet, watching his sister. He merely stared and then returned his food. He didn’t understand what was going on. ‘I don't know if it’s a new tooth. She was perfectly fine this morning, an
Kyle KingThe hospital reminded me of the times I brought Tessa for tests and consultations with the doctor. Now, I was here because of something that troubled me. The letter that Ava brought. There was something wrong with it, and I knew why. I had a low sperm count issue, although I started private treatment after the first consultation with an old general practitioner. I had threatened him not to reveal anything, Tessa. So, all the years we visited the hospital, I collected the results and kept them from her eyes. Tessa believed every word from me, and sometimes I tweaked it to fit her questions. Now, Ava was playing a similar game. I knew she didn’t run any tests. A confirmation from Doc. Brown told me all I wanted to know. I scheduled an appointment to run another test and discuss it with him. The nurse on the seat was a new face. She looked like a high school leaver, but I could tell she wasn’t from the way she talked. She mumbled some words when I informed her about the appoi
Kyle King‘Alright, the results are out, Kyle. I think you should put a smile on your face. Your sperm count has increased over the years. I am not surprised. You kept to the treatments and were consistent with your appointments, even though you stopped after a while.’I exhaled, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulder. Indeed, that was what just happened. I had held the guilt all these years that I was the reason why Tessa couldn’t give birth, and finally, I felt guiltless. I had recovered along the line. But when?I asked. ‘When did I fully improve, or should I say recover?’He looked at the results and said, ‘You recovered four years ago, but it wasn’t as great as now. Why do you ask?’I shrugged. I didn’t want to bring up Tessa’s name since I noticed he didn’t talk about her.’‘I am just curious, that’s all. Thank you, doctor. You just helped me solve a big m