Phyre Sparks

Chapter Five: A Mother's Trust

"Will you two stop arguing and figure back onto the matter at hand. I swear, you guys are children.”

"I'm more than happy too."

James muttered under his breath. Just then, a loud yelp erupted from him before turning to glare at the culprit. Who was looking in a different direction while whistling, pretending to be innocent.

Just you wait, little sis. I will get you back.

He thought will dropping the matter for now. He has time to wait. Revenge is best served cold after all. Jesse shook his head at the other two. Some days he really wondered if they were biologically related with how their personalities clash. He really wonders how their mother manages to balance them and her life at the same time, and that makes him love her all the more for it. Eyeing both of his siblings who were eyeing one another, he divided that it was probably best to break them up before it blows out into a fight.

“He was the one who started it."

Jewel mumbled to herself. Jesse gave her the dirtiest glare that he could manage, daring her to continue. Not that she dared too. while they do fight from time to time, they all had the sense not to do it here. That might make their mother sad, otherwise.

"Now, now you three, settle down. As for your question James, yes as a joke."

James opened his mouth to ask about how it was funny but his brother beat him in the questioning department.

"Mom, aren't we supposed to already be leaving for the hotel?"

"Yes, Jesse. We are. In fact, Uncle Rick will be talking to us when he feels like it. If I knew where we were going, we would already be gone."

She sent the butler a glare as if to tell him to intervene. Getting the hint, he released a sigh and took action.

“Please excuse my rudeness, Miss Rayla. I welcome you to the United States of America.”

He lifted up his head to give her a smile.

"Welcome home."

Rayla gave him a short bow to show her respect but not too low because of her higher station. While she was a pure breed american, she is more connected to her roots rather than her birthplace and the customs that came with it.

“Thank you for welcoming us, Rick. We are honored with the warm reception.”

Standing up from her bow, she lightly slapped his shoulders. Surprised, he jolted up to stare at her.

“You-ung M-miss?”

He stuttered in surprise, caught off guard.

“Rick, you know what you are saying nonsense about this so-called rudeness. I will always prefer that you talk casually with us rather than with decorum that is demanded back home.”

“Yes but, young miss-”

He tried to argue but she quickly lifted up her hand to interrupt.

“None of that young miss nonsense, Rick. Just call me Rayla.”

“But-”

He tried again but quickly decided that it wasn't a good idea when he spotted her giving him a look, daring him to argue. Looking to the side, he relented to her demands while refusing to drop it completely.

“Of course,- Miss Rayla.”

Her smile twitched upon hearing his statement before releasing a tired sigh.

“You really are not going to drop it, are you?”

Coughing to hopefully release some of the unexpected tension, he coughed into his hand, admitting to what she already knew.

“Ahh, no young miss.”

“Fine, you can continue calling me what you want but no young miss business.”

Relief crossed his expression but quickly morphed in one of shock when she lifted up a finger to his face.

“And you will not talk like we are back at the family estate. We-”

She motioned to herself and her kids, back to him.

“Are equal and even more so, family. Even if you aren't a blood relative to us. You have been there since the beginning and I refuse to see you as anything less.”

To show her stance, she crossed her arms, daring him to argue. The children, on board with their mother's standing, nodded along in agreement. Warmth, respect, and love glimmered in his eyes as he took in the scene before him, bowing to the family as a show of deep respect.

“Thank you, young Miss. I am honored to be considered a part of your family.”

A hand gripped his shoulder, causing him to look up to see a gentle expression across her face.

“Rick, you are family to us and just like the kids I have missed you. Now come here.”

Not giving him time to react, she drew him into a hug.

“Hey, not fair! I want a hug too!”

Her daughter whines while her sons nodded their heads in agreement. Laughing silently, she held one arm out to them.

“Come here you little munchkins. Time for a family group hug.”

The children didn't waste any time as they rushed to join the two adults. Engulfing the children, the passing crowd couldn't help but get a little teary eye at the warm scene before them.

Results looked at her children embracing each other and both adults, not being able to help but feel proud of them. Ever since she came to terms with her situation all those years ago upon learning that she was pregnant, vowing to herself that she was going to be the best mother possible. She will admit that there were a few times that she thought something went wrong along the way but time and time again. Her children showed her that she was doing her best, making her proud with every instance.

They might get up to mischief more than she may like, may not do their best when it comes to their studies, or cause trouble the moment she doesn't have her eye on them, but that didn't lessen her love all the same. Smiling down at her children, her embrace tightened just a bit before loosening up once again. A few moments went by before the group separated. Rayla looked at the butler who was flustered from the unexpected hug that just took place. Patting his back, she muttered low, knowing that he would hear it.

“You better get used to things like that. You may have known them for years now, but didn't forget that you were absent for three years. Though it may not have been by your own devices, it did hit the children hard. Don't be surprised if they come around, seeking your approval or just to hang out. As much as they love me and I love them, there is only so much that I can do but you and grandfather are different. While their love for me is great, their fear is just as great if they do something that they fear would make me disappointed in them. That is where I need you two to come in. While grandfather is just a phone call away, you, on the other hand, are here in person."

Her gaze tore away from the children to meet his own.

“Please guide them well when I can't.”

Warmth enveloped his elderly heart upon feeling her trust. While normal people and supernaturals would normally feel at ease with people around them, Rayla was different. After years of physical and emotional abuse, her trust in people diminished all the same and even more so the moment her family abandoned her on the streets with nothing more than the clothes on her back and pregnant with the triplets. It took months for both him and his master to win her trust, but now she was telling him that she was trusting him with her children. How couldn’t his heart not feel warm at the gesture, at the big step that she had to take in order to have the courage to ask him. With a gentle tone while not trying to overdo it, he gave her a bow.

“Of course, Young Miss. Should they come to me about anything that is serious, should I report it to you?"

She shook her head.

“No, not unless it is something that will threaten them or anyone close. As for the other matters, I don’t want to hear anything about it. They would have trusted you with that information and I don't want you nor I to violate that trust in the future. I will however like you to watch over their growth for me. As much as I would like to stay by their side, twenty-four hours, everyday of the year, we both know that isn't possible.”

Rick turned to look at the children as they played in-between the seats while avoiding anyone who was seated.

“No, it isn't.”