Unexpected Company
1144 Words
The kids were back in school and Crystal was feeling better. She had been busy getting the yard and house back under control. She had let things go a little bit when she was ill. Over the years she had come to realize she was not able to keep everything up herself, so she now used a landscape company on a monthly basis and brought in housekeepers to do a deep clean twice a year. She was bringing the housekeeper in a little earlier than usual, but the house needed it. Crystal walked through the house putting the final touches to everything. She loved her housekeeping company. Everything looked beautiful and smelled clean. Jacob had football practice and Emma was doing homework at her friend’s house. She had the afternoon to herself. She was thinking that she may take a long bath in her sparkly clean tub when she heard the doorbell ring.
She opened the door to come face to face with Janice. She was older and looked a lot thinner. She looked like she had had a rough life. Hello Crystal. Crystal stood there frozen. Janice? Are you going to invite me in? Yes come in. She did not know what to say so she offered her a glass of tea. While she poured the tea, her mind was overloaded with questions. The house looks nice. Thank you, Janice.
Janice what are you doing here after all these years. You were always straight to the point Crystal. I came to get my kids. Janice you did not just drop them off yesterday. It has been over eight years. Where have you been? Why didn’t you call or visit? I had to find myself. So, you said in your note. You do realize before you have children you should have already found yourself. Crystal, I did not come here for a lecture. Crystal was fuming. She typically went with God but was finding it hard. She looked at her and said tough s**t. You do not drop two small children on my doorstep and stay gone for eight years and expect to walk in and take them. They are mine. No Janice, that is where you are wrong. They are mine. I have paperwork to prove it. What are you talking about? Janice you never thought about how I was going to support them, get them enrolled in school, get medical care for them. Nothing. Janice sat there fuming. Here came the fake tears. Crystal had learned to detect if they were fake or real when Janice was a child. You can not take them from me. I did not take them from you. You gave them to me.
Crystal, I thought you loved me. Why are you doing this. Janice, I have always loved you, but I love my grandchildren as well and I am not letting you take them. I am sure they would want to be with me. Do they not ask about me? Sure, Janice when they first moved here, they asked why you left them, why you did not love them anymore, and why you did not call. After a few years they just quit asking. Janice still with the fake tears yelled but they are mine. Do not raise your voice in my home. Why the sudden interest in the children? It is not sudden. I have thought of them everyday since I have been gone. I do not believe you. I do not care what you believe. I will take you to court to get them back. Do what you have to Janice. I am not handing them over to you. I want to talk to them. Give me your number. I will talk to them tonight and see if they are interested in talking to you. I will wait on them. They do not get to decide whether they speak to me or not. That is where you are wrong. You gave birth to them, but I am their mother. How dare you! No how dare you waltz in here after all these years and think you are going to take them. Your number or nothing. Crystal held out a piece of paper and a pen. Janice snatched it and wrote her number down. She stood to leave. Janice do not try to contact them. I will call the police if I must. Janice stormed out fuming.
Crystal was shaking. What was she going to do? She was not going to let Janice come in and take her children after all these years. She called her lawyer. Her lawyer advised her not to let the children see her until they figured out why she had returned and where she had been. He would see about filing a restraining order.
That night when the kids got home, Crystal sat them down at the table. I have something I need to talk to you about. Both looked worried. You are not sick again are you. No, No I am not sick. Your mother stopped by today to see you. Both looked shocked. Jacob angrily said, you are our mother Nana. Thank you, Jacob. She wants to see the two of you. We do not want to see her! Emma was silent. Emma would you like to see or talk to her. I do not know. What do you mean you do not know yelled Jacob? Well don't you want to know why she left us? No, I do not. Not after all these years. She has lost her chance to be our mother. Emma, if you want to talk to her, I have her phone number. Thanks Nana. I will have to think about it.
Janice called. I told them Janice. They do not want to talk to you. Let it sink in and see if they change their minds. No, you make them talk to me. No, I will not do that Janice. I am going to come over. No, you cannot do that. I do not want to call the police, but I will. I am coming. Call the police. Crystal hung the phone up frustrated. She called her lawyer. He told her the restraining order had been issued but they did not have a way to serve it. He would call the police department and have them come to the house to serve it when she arrived. Crystal locked the doors and prepared for the confrontation.
Janice pulled up blowing her horn. You send my kids out here b***h she yelled. Jacob and Emma were looking out the window. She started yelling for them to come to momma. They shut the curtain and went to their bedrooms when the police pulled up. Janice was ranting and raving but once served with the papers she got in her car to leave but not before calling Crystal a b***h once again.
- Writer
