Monica’s POV
“Monica my dear” I heard Aunt Ella’s voice behind me and I broke the hug with my kids and husband. Rising to my feet, I wiped off the tears that spilled on my cheeks with my index finger, smiling at Aunt Ella who was already walking towards me “Oh my dearest baby, it’s so good to see you” Aunt Ella said, engulfing me in a bone-crushing hug.
“Aunt you’re going to break her bones if you continue that” Nicholas warned but Aunt Ella didn’t even listen to him.
“It’s so nice to have you back my dear. I’m so happy to see you. It’s a huge relief that you’re okay” Aunt Ella said, her voice trembling as she sobbed in my shoulders.
It was nice knowing that I had people who cared and were worried about me. It felt good to know these people and be a family to them.
“It’s okay aunt. Please don’t cry” I said, rubbing her back with my palm as I tried comforting her.
“I’m just happy. I was worried sick about you. When I heard you were kidnapped, I panicked so much but I’m happy that you’re finally back home to where you belong” she said, still hugging me tightly like I was going to disappear very soon.
It was nice having a place you could call home. A place you could come back to and meet the people you love and the people that love you. This was indeed my home and my family and I was glad to be back as Monica with memories.
Aunt Ella gradually released me, breaking the hug as she sniffed, using her hands to wipe off the tears under her eyes “I’m sorry, I just got a little emotional” she said and I smiled.
“Did you know?” I asked, speaking about the fact that I have my memories back.
“Know about what?” Aunt Ella asked.
“Did you know that I’ve got my memories back?” I said and she stared at me frozen
She slowly turned to look at Nicholas who had Mason and Macy in his hand, holding his hair and playing with it while giggling.
“Is this true?” she asked Nicholas whose smile broadened on his lips and he nodded his head in an up-and-down movement, indicating the authenticity of the news.
“yes, Aunt I remember everything. I got my memories back” I said, another series of tears gathering in my eyes.
“Oh dear, that’s good news,” Aunt Ella said, engulfing me in another hug as we both laughed and cried on each other’s shoulders.
“Aunt can you please stop making my wife cry” Nicholas uttered with a polite yet cold tone “She’s been crying since she got her memories back and I’m starting to get worried about her eyes” Nicholas added
“Come, darling, let’s leave this boy to take care of the kids. I want you to tell me about all that you remember. Your trip to Germany. What happened when you woke up after the surgery” Aunt Ella asked, holding my hand as we both went to the kitchen.
She walked past Nicholas while I walked beside her. Nicholas just stared at us in shock “Are you just going to leave me here with them?” Nicholas asked but I didn’t give a reply because Aunt Ella’s discussion was taking my attention.
“Come on, I’ve been taking care of them while you were not around” Nicholas complained further and Aunt Ella turned around, staring hard at him “You’re making noise Nicholas. Monica needs some time off the kids so help her with them” Aunt Ella said and I almost laughed hard when I saw the disbelief look on Nicholas’s face.
“To my lovely wife, my backbone, the honey in my life, the woman that makes my life spin in positive direction, to Monica Sterling,” Nicholas said, raising his glass in the air in a toast
“To Monica” everyone uttered in unison as they all clapped while Anthony cheered.
I looked around the dining table and a smile appeared on my face, seeing all the people I loved and those who have supported me, cheered me on, and never left my side.
From the left side of the table sat Anthony followed by Fiona then Uncle Karl. On the right side of the table sat me, then my mom then Aunt Ella followed by our cook Patricia.
Seeing the lines forming by the side of Uncle Karl’s head, it was obvious that whatever Nicholas was saying from my right hand was very amusing to Uncle Karl.
Nicholas sat at his usual spot at the table. He sat at the top of the table while I sat by his right-hand side and Anthony sat on his left.
“Monica, should I tell you something that happened while you were with Ethan?” Anthony said an amused smile on his face.
“Okay, what’s it? What happened? I hope it’s isn’t something very bad?” I asked worriedly
“No Monica not at all. It’s something very funny. While you were with Ethan, Anthony was so devastated that he would always_”
“Anthony” Nicholas instantly yelled, his eyes widening as he halted at Anthony “You punk, don’t you dare say anything”
“Calm down Nicholas, it’s not what you’re thinking,” Anthony said then shifted his gaze to me ” He would always carry a bottle of alcoholic wine and sit at the gate drinking himself into a stupor. He said he was waiting for you to come back home. It was so funny. He looked so ridiculous back then” Anthony said, laughing and talking at the same time
“You did that?” I asked, guilt creeping into my heart.
“I was too heartbroken to face the fact that you were with Ethan. To not feel rejected, I started drinking heavily and imagining you coming back to the house and back to my life. I’m sorry I was drinking heavily but it was the only way to escape the pain I felt in my heart” Nicholas explained and I felt really bad
“it was a secret between me and Anthony and whenever I remember it, I find myself laughing because it’s very amusing but it seems it just made you sad and for that I’m sorry” Anthony apologized, clearly seeing that his so-called secret didn’t make me laugh like he had expected.
“It’s okay. I’m not angry. At least now I won’t be going back to any other man because I’ve come to stay here forever” I said, holding Nicholas’s hands and imagining what he might have gone through while I was with Ethan.