CHAPTER THREE
1119 Words
ARLENE
Emmaline stared daggers at me. Bianca had taken the children upstairs on my grandmother's orders to prevent them from whatever was about to ensue. They were not prepared to see their cobra of a grand aunt in her venomous grace.
“I said what the hell is she doing here?”
She questioned with a venomous rage.
“I invited her” my Nana replied in a very casual tone.
“Why would you do that?” She sounded betrayed. Her attention was now on my Nana who looked like she could care less about whatever vendetta there has been.
“Why wouldn't I?” Nana turned to her, “She is a member of this family!” She asserted.
“A whoring member!” Emmaline fired hotly.
“You will watch your words!” Nana warned.
I thought I had built a shield these past years. Words couldn't hurt me. They did work with the critics at Madeas. Those people who couldn't take growth, the fast rising event planner that was making waves. I had grown a thick skin, so when they called me a w***e, said I slept my way up to the upper echelon to get these mouthwatering contracts, I felt nothing.
But, hearing my mother's sister call me a w***e, was different. It pricked me. And I felt those words cut deep.
“I would do no such thing!” Emmaline retorted. “Why will you bring her here? And now of all times? Do you not want me to be happy?”
“How on earth does her being here hinder your happiness?”
“Are you really going to ask me that? After all she has done? After she had f****d my boyfriend behind my back, and gotten pregnant for him or God knows who?” she eyed me disdainfully.
“Watch your words Emmaline West!” Nana warned again, this time, her voice rose higher than before.
“She has to leave” she resolved adamantly.
“This is my house, and she is my granddaughter. You have no such rights”
“Well, it is my wedding. And I do not want her there”
“And how do you propose your venue, food and cakes be available for your wedding?”
“An event pla…” She began to say, then it dawned on her. She turned sharply to me, surprise overthrowing anger. “You're the event planner?” She asked me, “Madeas?” She asked her mother.
She clearly didn't bother about me or what I was doing all these years.
“Madeas” Her mother replied.
“How could you?” Her voice broke. I felt my heart break, and guilt ate at me. The last thing I wanted was to cause more trouble for Emmaline. She wasn't my favourite person, never will be, but I hated hurting people, and she hurt because of one stupid misunderstanding.
She had misunderstood me once, and I came here to resolve that issue, clear my name and get my family back. I thought this wedding was a perfect opportunity to bridge gaps, and become family again. But I was wrong. Aunt Emmaline was still hurting. This was a huge mistake. I shouldn't have come.
“I'm so sorry” I swallowed hard, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. I couldn't let them see me cry. Not after all these years. “I never meant to hurt you. I thought it was a good idea. I…”
“A good idea?” She interrupted me, incredulity visible in her eyes.
“I didn't…” I tried again
“You thought it a good idea for you to come back and have a go at my man?” She interjected again, blue fire blazing in her eyes.
“Trust me, I want nothing to do with whoever you're getting married to” She was getting married to an old rich business man or a simp. Vance was the only decent catch she had ever brought home, decent until he made a move on me.
Emmaline let out a chortle, “Oh yeah?” She sneered.
“Yeah. As a matter of fact,” I raised my left finger, flashing her my engagement ring “I'm engaged to be married”
No body wants your potbellied sixty-nine year old whatever it is you are getting married to.
“As if getting engaged has stopped any w***e from whoring” Emmaline scoffed, descending the last step, she continued until she was beside me, her eyes swept over my fingers, then up my eyes. “If you do as much as stare at my man, I'll make sure you never have use for your eyes again” she whispered.
“It’s a pity I need them to see before I touch” I quipped. She raised her brows quizzically at my response. I gave her a small smile. “I'm here to plan your wedding, Auntie. Nothing more”
“Hmm” she scoffed. “Nice ring by the way.” Then she was gone, swaying her artificial hips and buttocks.
“I can't stay here. I made reservations at a hotel, I'll be fine with the kids.” I said to my Nana the moment she was gone.
“Nonsense!” Nana waved away “I've got your room and that of the kids ready. We made enough preparations and alterations to make you comfortable. You will stay here, with your family. This is your home.”
“But, she doesn't want me here”
“Ignore her.”
“She's the bride, and I'm the event planner. I can't really do that now, can I?”
“She will behave. She believes she's won the jackpot with this one now, she'll never let anything jeopardise it.” Nana said in a reassuring note
Jackpot? This piqued my curiosity.
“Is he that rich?” I couldn't help but ask.
“And insanely gorgeous” Nana replied.
Oh wow! Definitely a Jackpot.
“Popular?” I prodded.
“In all of Florida and beyond. The Glass…”
“Mother!” A voice interrupted us. We both turned just in time to see another elegant, and younger version of my Nana advance towards us. She didn't smile, unlike the former, dressed in a grey business suit, her blonde hair up in a neat ponytail.
“Mother” I muttered, the moment she stopped before us. She regarded me casually, like I had just left her office few minutes ago, not like her child who she had not seen or heard from for the past seven years.
“What are you doing here?”
- Writer
