EPISODE EIGHT
THEME: Family’s Love
GABRIELLA DAMIEN HOME
“Surprise!” Multiple voices screamed out as he opened the door.
Jaylen groaned inwardly at the sight. “Granny!” He whined.
“Come here my baby.” Gabriella Damien called out to him with an outstretched hands. “Oh baby, I am so proud of you.”
Rubbing hard at his face, Jaylen moved further into the open arms of his grandmother. He should have been suspicious of the extra food she said that she had prepared. But his shady mind had made him believe she was just too excited to see him. He had been away for three months.
Looking around at the rest of the family, he couldn’t explain the feeling that came over him. His depressive state dissipated at the sight of them. Jaylen felt betrayed when he saw Rosalyn in their midst.
“You?” He called out in surprise.
Rosalyn raised her hands in surrender before pointing at Gabriella. “She made me do it.”
“Won’t you say hello to your favorite aunt?” His mother’s sister, Penelope hijacked him from Gabriella.
Every member of his extended family are seated, smiling at him with a proud eyes. Going round to hug and kiss every one of them, the only people not present were his mother’s parents. They couldn’t make it due to their own vacation.
“I can’t believe your name and face is all over Chicago’s billboard. I’m so proud to have you as a nephew.” His favorite uncle Collins said.
“Well I took after everyone of you. I can’t help coming from a smart family and not being smart.” Jaylen noted.
“You are such a flattering goose.” His other aunt Jasmine said. “We all know Collins here isn’t any smart.”
“Watch it Jas!” Collins warned, as the rest of the family all burst out laughing.
“Can we eat already? I am starving!” Penelope whined, as always she was quick to complain of food not being dished on time.
Clapping heartily, Gabriella grinned widely. “Let’s all eat now please. I’m starving too.”
Jaylen got dragged to the end of the table where he sat facing every member of his family except some others. He wondered how his life would have been without them. His journey to Chicago had been a tough one for him.
However, everyone of them had stood their grounds and made it so easy for him that he hardly remembered his miseries. The fear of not being wanted in his new found home like his old home made him very paranoid.
But he had been proven wrong when they all stood by him whole heartedly. All through his holidays in college, he was always spending it with either one of them. Going on silly vacations with Collins and Benjamin acting like his father and giving him guidance to living as a man. His aunties and grandparents doted on him more than the other grandchildren and always making a fuss over him. Their attention overwhelms him every time.
Looking towards Rosalyn, he couldn’t thank her enough for being so dedicated to the growth of Moon Stone Group. Day and night the both of them had thrown their back outs to get it to where it was in the span of five years. His dream to make his company top rated in the whole of America would be achieved with his supporting systems that comprises of his family and his most trusted business agent Rosalyn.
Flashes of nights where he and Rosalyn had to stay back at their little office then to prepare proposals to hand over to investors. Gabriella and the aunties would come along with food packs enough to feed a whole clan. He never had to spend his money on anything extra as they understood how tough it was to start up a business and they stood by him till the very end. His designer wears during his early days was bought by his uncles. He lacked nothing at all.
Jaylen smiled to himself. His life wasn’t bad after all, he had what others pray and beg for. Love! And that was enough for him.
“Why aren’t you eating?” Jasmine asked amidst mouthfuls.
Jaylen shook his head. “I am about to aunt. Thank you.”
They all ate amidst small talks. After dinner they all sat in the large living room having random talks. After helping out with the dishes, Rosalyn held her bag set to go.
“Thanks so much, Rosalyn.” Gabriella called out to her. “Darling, it’s nice having you here.”
“Always a pleasure, ma’am.” Rosalyn nodded as she hugged the old lady lightly.
“Call me Gabriella.” She insisted.
Rosalyn smiled shyly. “Alright Gabriella.”
“You should act your age Granny. You are in no way young.” Jaylen groaned as he rolled his eyes at his grandma.
“You are just jealous.” Gabriella teased.
Jaylen laughed. “Let’s go Rosa, I would flag down a taxi for you.” He headed outside as Rosalyn said her goodbyes to the rest of the family.
Rosalyn paused a bit when she noticed him kicking his feet against the grass as he stood by the drive way. Having spent five years with him, she could read every of his expression and moods. And when he stays throwing his foot out that way, he obviously had a lot in mind.
“Care to share?” She asked behind him.
Jaylen looked behind him trying to hide the discomfort in his face although he had been waiting to be asked that question all day.
“Thinking about them again?” Rosalyn questioned.
He nodded his in affirmation. There was no need lying to her. Rosalyn knows everything about him and she knows his deepest secrets. One of the reasons he respects her so much was because of her ability to stay true.
“Call them.” She advised.
“I can’t, not until they do so themselves. And they haven’t done so in months.”
“You haven’t been around for a while so what if that’s the case?”
“Mom would have texted. Maybe, they have forgotten me.”
Rosalyn placed a comforting arm on his shoulder. “Don’t be like that, Jaylen. They love you and you know that deep within you-” The arrival of her taxi cut her short.
“You should get in. I would hate for you to get to work late tomorrow.” He offered, opening the car door for her.
“Yes boss.” She joked, laughing as he closed the door.
“Bye.” He waved at her as the taxi drove off.
Taking in a long breath, Jaylen glanced towards the sky. The stars shone too bright, almost like they had something to tell him.