Life begins
1192 Words
Mr. Grande, after much effort in trying to speak to his daughter Sandra, was tired and decided to let her be. Lily advised him to let Sandra come to him in her own time.
The whole situation was painful enough for Mr. Grande. He understood Sandra, so he decided to let her be.
It had been a month since he stopped his efforts to reconcile with Sandra. He got home after his two-day trip to Chicago.
Lily was at the door waiting for him, and his heart burst with excitement. It had been a while since he had felt this way. Marie-Clair and little Sandra always waited for him at the door, all the time. He missed that, and the woman before him showed him everything he had craved for years after Marie’s death. In a way, she reminded him of his deceased wife. She was charming and lovely in every way, one of the first things that attracted him to her.
Immediately, as he reached her, he pulled her into a tight embrace. It was all he wanted to do all day long. She kissed him, sensual and short.
Fred didn’t pull back. Instead, he captured her lips again in a long, savoring kiss. He lifted her, without breaking the deep, passionate kiss, making his way up the stairs to his room.
The entire love scene between the couple was witnessed by Sandra, who had been on the balcony. She saw her dad kiss Lily and, for the first time, didn’t feel any type of negative emotion.
In fact, she was happy for him. For the first time in ten years, since her mother’s death, her dad had loved again. He was happy; he smiled more in two months than he had in ten years.
Sandra decided to let it go. She forgave him, and for the first time, she wanted to talk to him, to tell him she understood and that she loved him.
However, she had decided to leave this mansion and go to the city to live, work, and maybe even fall in love.
The decision she had reached in her head made the evening breeze that caressed her skin feel phenomenal. She felt free. For the first time in years, she felt free.
Sandra stared at the compound, the one she had seen every day since her birth. She was ready to get the hell out of here. In her mind, she needed to, she deserved to, and her dad owed it to her.
After the long, steamy evening Fred and Lily shared, they made their way to the kitchen, holding hands, chatting, and laughing.
Moments later, the movement halted as food was already prepared, ready, and set at the dining table. Sandra was seated at the end of the table, ushering them to sit with a wave of her hands.
The couple was flabbergasted but, nevertheless, sat at the table, hesitant but proceeding to eat.
They ate in silence.
Moments later, after they finished their meal, the maids moved the dishes to the kitchen, and silence followed.
A lot was going through the minds of Lily and Fred as they stared at Sandra, then back at each other with questioning gazes.
“Dad,” Sandra said, breaking the silence.
Fred was shocked. She hadn’t called him that in years.
He was lost for words.
“Yes, darling,” he replied after a few seconds.
“I wanted to apologize for my attitude towards your relationship with Lily,” Sandra said. “I was mad, but my attitude was unjustifiable,” she said sincerely.
Fred and Lily were beyond surprised, but without hesitation, they walked over to Sandra in sync and hugged her.
Extreme shock plastered on Sandra’s face. Her face flushed, drained of blood. She wanted to react but, hesitantly, hugged them back as tears streamed down her face.
She had always wanted an embrace from her father. Now, because of Lily, it happened.
All her anger and grievance faded, and all that remained was joy and her inner child exceedingly happy.
The family cried together, and minutes later, after they freed Sandra from the suffocating embrace, a laugh erupted as they wiped their tears.
The conversations that followed were apologies from everyone to each other.
The family laughed, discussed, and embraced.
For the first time in years, the Grande mansion was alive and filled with joy and love, and gloominess expelled. All thanks to Lily. Both Sandra, Lily, and Mr. Grande were grateful for the evening.
Sandra told her plans to her father, and without hesitation, he agreed, but on some conditions.
The next few days before her departure were great, and the family bonded like never before.
~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the day of her departure. Sandra arrived at the airport. Lily and her dad were with her until she boarded the plane. As they all waved their goodbyes, everyone was filled with tears.
Mr. Grande was eventually confronted with the reality of Sandra leaving him and being on her own. He was in tears as Sandra hugged him goodbye, but he was thankful for the improvement in their relationship; it was enough for him. Lily and Sandra had become very close, and their goodbyes were also tearful.
Sandra was ready for the new life that awaited her. It had always been her dream to work in the big city, particularly New York. She was beyond excited. For the first time after college, she would be away from home.
However, she was not completely free, and the condition her father gave her was strict, but it was better than staying and wasting away back home.
As she sat in the plane, she was given the window seat. She breathed in fresh air as she prepared for her new life. Her mind drifted back to the day she reconciled with her dad.
“I want to leave this home,” she took a breath as those dreaded words left her mouth.
Mr. Grande, who had been smiling, froze in place.
“Why?” he replied softly.
Sandra took a deep breath before she answered.
“I want to work and live in New York.”
“I’m tired of doing nothing,” she said. “I’d love to work at a software company, like I’ve always dreamed of,” she added.
Mr. Grande stared at her for almost a minute, and with a big sigh, he replied, “Okay, my princess.”
It was surprising to Sandra that he agreed without an argument, but she was happy regardless.
In the heat of the moment, Mr. Grande informed her that she was only going to New York on his terms. His condition was that she was to work only in a firm of his choosing. He also offered to pay for her housing and living expenses. She joyfully agreed.
Days after the conversation, Lily helped her secure a job at a software firm with good pay, owned by a relative of hers.
Sandra was genuinely happy as her dreams were becoming a reality. She didn’t know what life held, but she was optimistic about whatever it brought.
- Writer
