SWNOVELS Chapter 5: Hello Braeton, I'm Back
11:00 AM at Braeton International Airport.
"Kenzie, what are you looking around for?" Samantha asked her little girl as they were walking outside the arrivals area.
Like Samantha, Kenzie had blonde hair, except hers was long and straight. She had a beautiful angelic face, blue eyes, and pink lips.
Since they arrived, Kenzie had been restless, constantly eyeing every man that went past them. Hearing her mother call for her, she ran to reach for her hand and asked, "Mommy? Is Daddy picking us up?" Samantha instantly felt a lump in her throat. She turned to her aunt, who was holding Kyle, and she literally saw how Diana rolled her eyes.
Kyle, her son, seemed to also be waiting for her answer.
"Your - your dad is on a business trip! That's right." She shifted their attention to the door and announced, "Oh, look! There is a familiar face we want to see! It's grandma Matilda!"
With gleaming eyes, Kenzie was the first to run outside, and it resulted in Samantha to follow her speedy steps!
"Grandma! Grandma!" Called Kenzie. Her face glowed in joy as she jumped into Matilda's arms.
Matilda was being escorted by her caregiver in a wheelchair. She was already in her eighties and unable to walk long distances, yet she was healthy for her age.
Samantha's grandmother promptly cried at the sweet embrace of the little girl. She looked up to Samantha and reached for her hand. She said, "Sam, I - I missed you so much! I missed you so much." "I miss you too, grandma," responded Samantha before she dived into her grandmother's arms.
It was a joyous reunion, but there was no helping the tears to flow from where they stood. Nearly six years had passed since they last saw each other. Samantha and Matilda, together with Kenzie, hugged each other in the middle of the busy space of Braeton airport's arrival area.
After almost a minute of hugging and pecking on each other's faces, Matilda turned to Kyle and said, "Come here, young man! Give grandma some love."
"Hello, grandma Matilda. It's nice to meet you," said Kyle before joining in the embrace.
Matilda put a hand on the children's faces and said, "Beautiful girl! Like your mother!"
She turned to Kyle and said, "Very handsome little boy."
"Like Daddy?" Kenzie eagerly asked while turning her attention to her twin brother.
Kenzie and Kyle were fraternal twins. They have distinct facial features and quite different personalities as well.
Kenzie was more outgoing and bubbly, while Kyle was somewhat stern kind of child. He had a tendency to be obsessed with the order of things and was very interested in the study of technology. Both were unusually smart, and while Samantha was not lacking in intellect herself, she could not help but wonder where her kids got their astounding intuition.
Hearing the suggestion of Kenzie, Matilda laughed. She also knew how Samantha had lied to her kids about their father. She said, "Perhaps!"
Pinching Kenzie's cheek, Matilda said, "I have a gift for you - for both of you!"
It was always their agreement to divert the kids about the topic of their father, and even Diana, Samantha's aunt, was in on it!
"Where? Where is my gift, grandma?" Kenzie excitedly scanned the surroundings.
"It's in the car, but we'll open it at your new home," suggested Matilda before chuckling.
To avoid Samantha's father finding out about her arrival, Matilda had to hire a chauffeur-driven car to fetch them. Matilda's caregiver, Stella, was always on her side and would not tell a soul.
They easily made their way to the First Diamond Hotel, where on the top floors were the condo units, some for lease and some for sale. One of which was Samantha's new home.
A hotel staff and a bellman escorted them as they made their way to the fortieth floor and onto her flat. Her new accommodation was a humble hundred square feet of floor area, just enough for her, her aunt, and her twins.
Upon entering the fully furnished condominium, the kids were in awe.
"Wow! Is this our new home, Mommy? It's beautiful!" Exclaimed Kenzie while putting her hands on her face.
Kyle on the other hand was nodding his head as he scanned the living room space. He said, "It's shiny and new. It's perfect."
Matilda raised a brow at Kyle's remark. She glared at her daughter and said, "That's a sign. He must be like his father, Sam."
"I - I wound not know, grandma," Samantha awkwardly responded while keeping her voice down.
"Chef Samantha, please make yourself at home and Mr. Garcia will be checking on you tomorrow to discuss the upcoming grand opening of the hotel," the hotel staff who earlier introduced herself as Cindy, reported.
"Thank you, Cindy, for helping us. You have a great day," said Samantha with a smile.
"Of course, Chef Samantha. And by the way, I just could not help but say this. You are... so beautiful! With you as our executive chef, the kitchen staff will not miss a day at work!" Remarked Cindy. "My Mommy is so beautiful that I am so beautiful too!" Kenzie had to say, cutting in in their conversation.
It granted a laugh from everyone in the living room. Matilda for one was so amused by Kenzie's optimism that she could not help giggles that left her lips.
"I bet!" Cindy assured with a wide grin. She then complimented, "That's why you are so adorable!"
Cindy then turned to Kyle and said, "Your brother is also handsome!" For a second, she studied Kyle and could not help but say, "He kinda... looks like the boss. Haha! Just... maybe."
"Your boss looks like my brother?" Kenzie probed with eyes tightening. She turned to Kyle and seemingly, the two were having an understanding.
"Just maybe. I've only seen the boss in person once, and it was far -far away! There aren't many photos of him online either. He blocks the media from taking his pictures! He is like this secret CEO of The Wright Diamond Corporation," explained Cindy.
"Anyway, I better go. It's nice to meet you, Chef," said Cindy before officially bidding goodbye.
"Okay, kids. It's time to open your gifts!" Matilda excitedly announced after seeing Cindy go.
While Kyle and Kenzie happily opened their presents, Samantha took the chance to go outside, into the balcony of the condo unit. She made sure to check on the locks, especially since she has kids. She was satisfied with its safety standards and only then did she slide open the window for her to see in full view; the city that she once lived in.
Braeton City had changed over the course of nearly six years. The new structures were undeniably overwhelming. To her left, Samantha could see a glimpse of the old mall that her father used to take her. She then paused before slowly turning to the right.
The tall buildings covered her view, but she seemed to have looked past them and pictured in her mind the far military camp that bordered the city from the south.
Samantha took a deep breath, knowing that somewhere in that direction was her father's mansion. The same home that once was a happy one until her father remarried. "Hello Braeton, I'm back," she said with another long sigh.
"Sam," Matilda came to her, walking on her own with a walking staff.
"Grandma, use your wheelchair," Samantha reminded.
"It's okay. I can still walk... just not long distances," said Matilda before forcing a smile. "Sam, there is something I need to tell you."
"What is it, grandma?" Samantha asked while aiding her to a safe spot on the balcony.
"Your stepsister, Annie? She and Clayton are engaged," revealed Matilda.
Samantha just nodded and said, "That's good, grandma. They belong together." With a smile, she added, "It doesn't concern me anymore."