Chapter 17
“Family is the biggest part of the glue that holds you from breaking.”
~~~
My feet sunk into the ever soft beach sand. A tickly, warm, and soothing sensation washing over me. Staring at the sky-blue ocean put me in a relaxing meditative state. It was the best escape from reality and I couldn’t have enough, heightening my desire to hide out there eternally.
“Do you like it here?” Mom’s hands wrapped around me, a smile adorning her lips.
It had been ages since we took a family vacation and when Ashlie brought up the idea of a weekend getaway, everyone was quick to conceding to the much needed break.
“I love it. I can picture myself living here. It’s too peaceful, exactly what I crave for right now.”
“All this shall come to pass and do you know what will surpass the misery you had to go through?” I shook my head. “How you faced it head-on. You’re so brave, my dear. Getting Matthew behind bars will safeguard and redeem the lives of so many people.”
“Seeing it in this light gives me hope and the will to keep going. I wish everything works out as you’ve said.” I held on to her tightly. “I certainly needed this, thank you.”
“I’m happy to hear that.” She rubbed her fingers on my back in a comforting way. “Shall we go in? The game is about to start.”
Huddling around the table, we split into a team of Ashlie and I versus our parents. The first game was questions and answers of funny riddles.
“The great difference between a man and a woman saying ‘smell this’ is?” Dad asked with a hint of humor, earning cackles from us.
I cupped my chin, voicing out the first reply that came to mind. “She means it?”
Mom shook her head. “Not even close.”
“When a woman says ‘smell this’ it usually smells nice,” Dad answered after several failed attempts, leaving us in stitches.
“I have four keys, but no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter, but can’t go inside. What am I?” Ashlie asked, giving me a high five at the puzzled expressions on our parent’s faces.
“What’s that supposed to be now?” Mom queried.
Ashlie laughed out loud before saying, “It’s a keyboard, duh!”
It led to another round of titters before moving on to the next question. Hours flew by with us competing in diverse games and switching partners periodically. It was as refreshing as the word itself, almost like life had gone back to normal.
Spending quality time with family had always been vital to me. I believed in building bonds, memories, and most importantly, being there for each other.
Dad rubbed his hands together. “Are you ready to race me to the beach?”
“We’re always ready,” we chorused in unison.
“Alright, I’m giving you a twenty seconds headstart.” He set the timer, his finger hovering over the button as he said, “And the race starts now.”
We sprinted to the door, giggling like we’d gone bonkers as we ran down the hotel lobby to the stairs. Mom pulled us to a halt, suggesting we take the elevator to the ground floor so we could win the race for the first time.
As the door to the elevator closed, Dad zoomed past us and we cracked up. We were on the fourteenth floor and by the time he got to us, we would be halfway through our drinks.
Once we were on the ground floor, we bolted out of the building, panting and sweating as we covered the lengthy distance to the agreed spot. Much to our surprise, Dad was sprawled under a sunbed, casually sipping on his drink like he’d not just run down fourteen flights of stairs.
I clasped my knees and hunched over as I tried to catch my breath. Ashlie was lying face up on the sand, chuckling at the twist of events.
“You must be kidding me. How’s this even possible?” Mom inquired, her hands akimbo as she breathed in and out.
“A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do,” a smirk played at his lips as he replied, handing us chilled cocktail drinks as we spread out on our sunbeds.
“You’re a cheater.” Mom pointed an accusing finger at Dad, amusement dancing in her eyes.
“So are you three,” he retorted and we burst out laughing.
* * *
“Where are we going?” I asked Matthew for the umpteenth time. He took me off-guard when he prodded me to call in sick for work.
“It’s high time you joined the family business and met my grandmother.” Excitement filled his features, it was apparent she was dear to him.
Toning down the anger radiating through me, I said, “You should have told me in advance.”
“Don’t be such a downer. She’s very excited to meet you, I’ve told her a lot about you.” He reached out to touch my hand but I withdrew it.
Bobbing my head up and down, I turned away from him and looked out the window. The car was moving too slow for my liking so I asked the driver to speed up.
“You know . . .” I zoned out his voice and mulled over his previous words. His grandmother. Their family business. A smile etched on my face, finally. He was about to hand me his secret organization. Just like that. It was almost unbelievable.
He suddenly tapped on my shoulder and raised an eyebrow when I stared at him. “Are you listening to what I’m saying?”
“Yes, I can’t wait to meet your grandmother.” My cheeks stretched with a fake smile. I no longer cared about the past, how he made a fool of me and all.
“That’s music to my ears. We’re already here,” he said as the car pulled to a stop in front of a tall dark gate. It was exactly what I expected the first time Kayleigh mentioned Matthew and drugs in the same sentence.
The CCTV camera at the top of what seemed like a satellite rotated in all angles before we heard a buzzing sound and the gate automatically unlocked itself. A compound heavily guarded came into view and we drove around two mini-roundabouts before the car came to a halt.
“Granny,” Matthew exclaimed when she received us at the entrance. They exchanged a hug before she turned to me. “You must be Shannon?”
I nodded, taking a step forward when she beckoned at me. “Welcome to the family.” She afforded me a smile.
“Thank you.” I pulled on an enthusiastic grin. If only she knew.
