GUARDIAN OF HER HEART

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Waking up the next morning, Lexi had one word in her mind; home.

She'd thought of going home all night, that she barely got any sleep. She suddenly developed this nostalgic feeling that was threatening to subdue her current anxiety; this was wrong, so wrong, completely wrong!

She isn't supposed to be feeling this way, at least not soon, she had a few more weeks to do here. She'd just finished her final examinations and then there is a graduation to plan and attend. She just hopes, whatever it is that's so urgent would be handled before her graduation.

She had just finished packing up and just then, Felicity walked into her dorm room.

“Hey” Felicity said, “hey” Lexi responded unenthusiastically, “someone sounds dull, what's up?” Felicity pointed out sitting on her bunk bed.

“There's nothing to be excited about Fel, all I feel is anxiety, this is strange and I've been thinking about it all night that I barely got any sleep. I mean, why would they want me home all of a sudden?? I don't get it.”

“Hey, hey, chill out! I'm sure is not that bad. Whatever it is, I'm sure it would be all over and you would be back before you know it” Felicity said trying to cheer her up. “I hope so” Lexi said, “I know so, come on! Snap out of it already! You sound like you're heading for the gallows!” Fel said teasingly, and that had Lexi chuckle involuntarily.

“There! Just smile. Now, are you done? You're sure you have everything you need?” “yeah, I've got everything” “let's get you signed out then” Felicity said as she grabbed Lexi's box and they left for the front desk.

The sign out process didn't take time at all and in no time they were at the exit point. Somehow, the news of Lexi's departure had spread throughout the entire academy, it's no surprise though, especially when you're the gunnery instructor and captain.

There were rows of cadets at the exit waiting for Lexi, and at the sight of her, a senior cadet made a call and they'll gave her a farewell salute, she reciprocated by giving a salute too, after which they were all dismissed.

Something within her melted, she wasn't expecting all of this, ‘just what would it feel like on the day she takes her final bow??’ she wondered.

She finally went through the exit and at the end of it, an SUV was waiting for her, ‘father never fails’ she thought to herself with a knowing smile, she had almost forgotten what it felt like to be a Greyman; it's been 4 years damnit!

Felicity was still with her, she stopped and turned to face her, “I'll call you as soon as I get home” Lexi said, “promise?” Fel asked, “cross my heart” she replied with a warm smile. Fel was at the verge of tears, she has always been that emotional; a soft girl, her being in the military is an absolute miracle.

“Common now, don't cry, I'll be back before you know it” Lexi said softly as she hugged her, she too started getting watery eyes. “I know, I know, you dare not keep me waiting” Fel joked and they both laughed.

The chauffeur came and took Lexi's suitcase and put it in the trunk. “One more thing” Lexi said suddenly, and Fel looked on in expectancy. Lexi brought her lips close to Felicity's right ear and whispered, “do not give those IDs till I say the word” “yes boss!” Fel said in like manner.

“Alright now, hurry in, your ride's waiting” Fel said nudging her towards the opened back door of the car and she entered.

“See you soon girl” Lexi said from the window, “see you soon GIC” Fel said and with that, the car wheeled away.

It took about 3 hours to travel from Chersonese where the military academy is situated, to Quintin city where her family resides, and that meant 3 long hours of worrying.

Try as much as she may, she could not wave off the thought of what awaits her, Gabriel would not tell her why she had to come home so urgently, in his words, “I'm not allowed to disclose the reason to you ma'am, it's best if you learn of it in person.”

The fact that Gabriel made the phone call was a huge problem indicator, Gabriel's her father's right-hand man, his assistant, his rep, his eyes, his spokesman; he was everything. Gabriel just represented Mr Anderson Greyman's business world, so why choose him of all people?? What happened to the members of her family?? And then it hit her, her family! What happened to them?? Did something bad happen to them?? Lexi became more worried than ever.

“Step on it Festus!” she ordered the chauffeur and he sped up.

They were in front of the Greyman's residence in minutes, a member of the security team manning the gate signalled for them to stop and they did. The chauffeur wound down the car windows and produced an exclusive pass-card, the security upon seeing the card and who was in the car ordered, “open the gate!” and they drove in, just before Lexi rolled up her side window again, the security man said, “welcome home ma'am”, Lexi merely nodded in response, her head was just too full to process a proper reply.

They drove down a long narrow lane with beautiful gardens on both sides of it, and at last they pulled up in front of a huge mansion; home.

A security opened the door for Lexi and she alighted from the car, “thanks” she said to him, “welcome home ma'am” he replied.

Lexi stood momentarily, letting the cool breeze wash over her face, there was just something about this place, even if she was brought here on blindfolds and without an inkling on where she was being taken to, somehow, just somehow, she would know it was here, the air was so different; her home.

By now, her suitcase had been taken from the trunk and now into the house, Lexi followed suit. Just as soon as she set foot into the house, Mrs Blake the house keeper shrieked, “Miss Grey is home!” Lexi's lips curved up into a smile, oh! how she missed being called that.

“Mrs Blake” Lexi said warmly and opened up her arms for a hug, the old woman without wasting any second got herself engulfed in the warm embrace. She remembered when Lexi used to be swallowed in her arms whenever she hugged her, but now it was her who was being swallowed, she has grown into a tall beautiful woman.

“I can't believe you're here, I wasn't informed about your return, I would have made your favourite! You've grown up so big and beautiful!

“Alexandra??” a thick but warm female voice called out, Lexi turned to the direction the voice came from and lo, it was her mum.

Mrs Blake took that moment to excuse herself and disappeared into the kitchen.

Mrs Greyman is a woman in her early 50s, but doesn't look a day past 40. She had an air of confidence and authority, the type to make one cower, she had prominent cheekbones and above them sat a pair of piercing eyes that seems to bore into one's soul, she was generally sophisticated.

As she elegantly walked down the stairs, Lexi drew closer to the bottom of the stairs to meet her, “mum” she said hugging her tenderly but carefully, that has always been the way it has been between the two; careful with each other.

When they finally broke the awkward embrace, Mrs Grey cupped the chin of Lexi's face, “look at you! All grown and beautiful just like me! But what's with the haircut, huh??” she said running her left thumb and first finger in Lexi's hair like she was picking out dirt's from it.

“Mum stop! It's what I like” Lexi protested sulkily, “oh I forgot you've always had quite the fashion” Mrs Grey said sardonically.

Lexi and her mum has never really seen eye to eye when it comes to fashion and... some other things, left for Mrs Grey, Lexi would have been a runway model by now.

“But why are you back so soon, sweetie? We weren't expecting you till summer, what changed? ” Mrs Grey asked, the look of puzzlement on Lexi's face was priceless, “w..what??” Lexi stammered, just before anyone could utter another word, someone walked into the house.

“Kyle!” Lexi exclaimed, immediately switching up her mood from bewildered to excited. It was her kid brother, her sweet little munchkin!

“Big sis!” Kyle exclaimed as he took some quick paces towards her and gave her a bear hug, the hug was long and loving, “I missed you so much!” Lexi said softly, “I've missed you very well myself” Kyle said mildly.

“You've grown so tall! Is that a mustache??” Lexi teased, when they finally broke off the hug, attempting to touch the sprouting strands of hair growing on the upper part of his mouth but he dodged her ‘intruding’ hands in a reflex, grinning shyly.

“You look dope! Sis, look at that uniform! You look badass!” Kyle complimented with a look of admiration on his face, “I know right??” Lexi replied and they both laughed. “So you decided to surprise us, huh? But I get it though, we were shocked to the bones ourselves when got the news, I was in the middle of my art exhibition in school when I heard it, I had to rush off to the hospital the next minute” Kyle said in a sullen mood.

For the second time since Lexi's arrival, she became confused, “what news?? Who's in the hospital??” she asked looking very clueless.

“You don't know?” Mrs Grey asked, “know what? Can someone just spell it out already?!” Lexi demanded, her senses were beginning to suggest a possible answer to her question, but she decided to ignore and push the thought away, ‘it can't be’ she thought to herself.

“Dad slumped in the office due to heart failure and was rushed off to the hospital two mornings ago. He's stable at the moment but, the doctor said he would have to be retained for a couple of weeks, in order to monitor his improvements” Kyle explained.

“What??? Dad's sick?? Dad's has been in the hospital for 2 days and I'm only learning about it now?? No one thought it wise to inform me?! Why am I always the last to learn about anything in this family??!”

Lexi's emotions were shooting up the roof, she had mixed feelings; anger, sadness, resentment and fear. Oh she knew it! She just knew something was amiss! She felt it!

“We are so sorry sweetie, we were waiting to break it to you at the perfect time” Mrs Grey said, trying to pacify her.

Lexi didn't even know what to say to that, she slumped into the nearest sofa with her face buried in the palm of her hands, there were a lot racing through her mind, some were ugly and pathetic pictures of her father lying helplessly in a hospital bed.

Kyle came and sat beside her in the sofa, and held her two shoulders comfortingly, “we're sorry we didn't tell you sooner, but don't worry, nothing would happen to him, he's currently out of danger, he will be fine, I'm certain of it” he said, and wolded his arms warmly around her.

Then suddenly a thought popped into Mrs Grey's head, “I can't help but wonder though, if you didn't know of your father's illness, then why are you home?” she asked looking at Lexi dazed.

It appeared every other person in the room wanted to know that too, including Lexi. “Well, I don't really know but, I got a call from Gabriel an...” Just then, Gabriel walked in, everyone turned to him.

“Good day Mrs Greyman, oh Miss Grey! you're here already, welcome home!” he said in an elated tone.

“Gabriel do you care to explain what's going on here??” Mrs Grey asked ignoring his pleasantries. It was at this point that Lexi noticed the luggages he was carrying, those were hers and she didn't remember bringing them!

“Gabriel what are you doing with my stuffs?? I certainly didn't bring them with me” she pointed out. “Oh, I had your friend Miss Moore pack them up, since you wouldn't be going back ma'am” he said almost in a monotone.

“What??” Lexi asked with an even more confusing expression, “and why is that??” she asked with folded arms, ‘what the heck is going on?!’ she thought strongly.

“Well, it is the request of Mr Greyman that Alexandra stand in for him till he's fully recovered” he stated unflinchingly.

Silence descended over the entire atmosphere, everyone was gobsmacked! And then Mrs Greyman interjected, “absolutely not!”