Chapter 43

Getting to their destination, they all got down from the car and Hana looked at Raymond, "are you sure you should have come with us? I don't want little Lee rejecting us because of you."
"If she doesn't want to see him, he would just stand outside and wait for us" Desmond said as they walked to the patio.
Raymond said nothing but just walked silently behind them. Desmond rang the bell and the door was answered by Mercy.
She was surprised to see them and she doesn't know if she should let them in or not, but at the end, she smiled and shifted aside for them to enter, "please come in."
They walked in to first hear the voice of a little girl whining, "you said you will give me your cake."
"You eat too much, very soon you will become fat" a little boy's voice reprimanded her.
"Alright hush you two, you mustn't fight all the time" a lady's voice was heard, they had made their way to the living room then to see the kids surrounding a woman who was placing two plates of cakes on the coffee table, she looked up, "nanny Mercy who was..." Her voice trailed off when she saw the guests. She looked to see Mercy shrugging at the side.
The whining kids had stopped when they saw the guests too.
Hana and Desmond's eyes were filled with affection when they saw the children. They gazes locked on them for a while before going to their mother who was not like they remembered her. She was looking stunning in the loose shirt and jeans she was putting on, her hair was tied in loose braids, she looked comfy and beautiful.
Katherine froze on the stairs when she saw the guests, no wonder she woke up to hear that Raymond gave everyone a free day. She thought he was just celebrating for the awareness of his children, turns out he had other plans up his sleeves. She glanced at Felicity to see her looking down at her feet. Of course, seeing the grandparents who were so kind to her unexpectedly, knocked her off her feet.
"Little Lee" Hana began, "how are you?" She really want to give her a hug but she can see this was not the Felicity she once knew, so she has to study this new Felicity first before being too affectionate.
Felicity nodded, she never expected them to show up so early this morning and she knew who was responsible, she glanced up immediately and glared at Raymond who looked down at her gaze.
"We were so worried about you, you didn't even bother to tell us you were leaving, why? Weren't we good to you?" Desmond didn't hesitate to spell out how displeased he was with her action.
"I'm sorry, everything was rushed" she replied simply.
"See, you don't even call me grandfather anymore" he complained like a grumpy child.
Felicity didn't know what to say, how can she call her grandfather when she is no longer married to his grandson?
Desmond saw through her and said, "you can always call me grandfather little Lee, whether married to this punk or not."
Raymond frowned, why is he addressing him as a punk now? He pouted but said nothing.
"Hana, Desmond, Raymond, please take a seat. I didn't know you were coming" Katherine decided to intervene.
The older ones turned to see her and smiled, "thank you."
Felicity turned to the kids and motioned them to go upstairs. Hana saw her action but she couldn't say anything yet. Raymond's gaze followed the kids as they walked by him to go upstairs. It took all the will in him not to stop them and wrap them up in his arms. One step at a time, he told himself as he joined his grandparents in sitting down.
"I didn't know you were coming" Katherine said as she sat opposite them, making Felicity and Mercy to sit down too.?
"We are so sorry for not calling you but we got too excited when we heard she is back" Hana said, her eyes flitting to Felicity who just sat with her head bowed.
"It's okay. What can we offer you?"
"Water will be fine."
Mercy stood up immediately to go get the water while the others continued with the discussion.
Felicity just sat there not saying anything. She definitely wasn't expecting them and she didn't know how to react in their presence. If it was Raymond, anger will be the best way to face him but his grandparents? She just doesn't know. After all, they were so kind to her and even during her stay in Florida, they often send things to her, so she just can't chase them away but she doesn't know how to talk to them either. She was at lost.
Mercy served the glasses of water and went back to sitting down.
All through the usual pleasantries, Raymond couldn't get his eyes off of Felicity, just how could she change so much? Well, five years is a long time for someone to change, no?
But why did she change so much? He had learned to adapt to her playful and carefree nature. He will choose that Felicity over the uptight Felicity. This Felicity before him now will be really difficult to coerce unlike the one he knew that will just give in to anything once he mentioned amusement park, Ice cream or cake, he wondered if she still loves those or has she passed it down to their daughter?
"Is our presence disturbing you little Lee?" Hana ended up asking when she couldn't take her quietness anymore.
Felicity looked up then and shook her head, "no...grandma" she whispered.
Hana smiled, at least she didn't call her Hana or Mrs. Baldwin, that's a good step, "very well."
"Can you talk to us now?" Desmond asked.
"What should I say grandfather, I'm sure he had told you everything" and of course, the he is Raymond and they understand.
"Whatever issue you have with him, you guys can settle it later, if you ask me, I will say you don't forgive him. He doesn't deserve it" Desmond said.
Both Raymond and Hana as well as everyone else in the room were surprised at what he said.
Felicity didn't even know what to say, she thought they came to beg her to forgive him?
"Yes, he hurt you, so you shouldn't forgive him. Even if you will, don't do it so soon, let him beg for at least a year or two."
"Grandpa!" Raymond couldn't take it anymore.
"What? Don't you deserve it?" Desmond asked indifferently.
"But I have been paying for that for five years now."
"Then pay another one or two more. You don't have the right to complain, hmph" he turned to Felicity "little Lee, do whatever you want, grandfather will support you."
Felicity felt a warm feeling wash over her, she can't believe it. Even if he was just saying those to make her feel better, it still does and she was appreciative. Unlike the other grandfather in the movies who will force her to forgive his grandson, after all, men are pardoned all.
Her heart flourished in happiness and she smiled, "thank you grandfather."
Desmond smiled satisfied, anything to make her happy. He would even slap Raymond if need be.
Hana just smiled, she doesn't want Felicity to wait a year before she will forgive Raymond, she saw her hard he tried to atone himself these past years and her heart aches for him. Her poor grandson has never been accepted, abandoned by his own parents and now the only woman he has ever loved is angry with him and she is sure he was denied to see his children. After all, he didn't know about their existence all these years. He has been lonely all his life, he deserves some happiness, some love but she will not force Felicity to love or forgive him, she can only hope.
Felicity sighed, although she didn't want to admit it but her aunt was right yesterday. Even if she doesn't want Raymond near them, she will not deny the grandparents their right to their great grandchildren, she hasn't forgotten how happy they were when Raymond lied about her fake pregnancy. She smiled, "grandma, grandpa, let me introduce you to them" she stood up and climbed up the stairs.
Hana and Desmond's eyes sparkled at that, they didn't want to bring them up themselves, they wanted her to introduce them and it's still felt surreal that she is about to do just that.?
Raymond sat up when she left, his heart was soaring in happiness, finally, he will get to look at them intently. Something tells him he won't be introduced to them but it's okay, he can always see them through his grandparents.
It wasn't long and they could hear footsteps behind them, they turned to see Felicity leading the two little munchkins down the stairs. When they were closer, she introduced them, "this is Darryl, he is older by five minutes and this is Sofia, Darryl always call her Sofie, I still don't know the reason" she smiled as she introduced her children, "kids, this is your great grandparents."
Sofia's big green eyes sparkled at that, "I have a great grandparents?"
Hana chuckled, "oh child, give great grandma a hug" she opened her arms which the girl ran into immediately. Desmond patted her head affectionately.
Darryl hugged them too but his eyes were mostly on the man sitting beside them, he wonders why his mother didn't introduce him too.
"Oh dears, grandma didn't get anything for you but don't worry, I will buy something for you immediately. What do you want my darlings?"
"I want cake and ice cream" Sofia hurriedly stated.
Hana and Desmond burst into laughter, isn't this a déjà vu? The first time Felicity came to their home, when she was asked what she want, she had said cake and ice cream too! "Don't worry, grandma will have that prepared for you okay. You see, back then, your mommy use to love the one grandma brings."
Even Felicity smiled at that distant memory.
"Really? Then I want grandma's own" Sofia said.
Desmond looked at Darryl who had said nothing, "what do you want son? Hurry and tell grandpa."
Darryl stared at his fingers as he said, "I want to meet my daddy" his eyes glanced up to Raymond and everyone knew he already knew who his daddy is, he just wants confirmation.
"Yes, me too, I want to meet daddy" Sofia rushed to add. She can't believe she forgot that that's what her brother had told her say.
Desmond and Hana looked at each other while Raymond looked at Felicity, and Katherine looked at Mercy.
Everyone waited to know what Felicity will say, she is the mother after all.
When Darryl waited for his mother to say something and she didn't, neither did anyone, he pointed at Raymond, "he is my daddy right?"
"How did you know that child?" Hana asked shocked.
"Because I saw him yesterday and mommy said he is my daddy" he replied.
Hana looked at Felicity, as well as everyone else. Well, will she lie to a child who is already sure of himself?
Felicity glared at Raymond and said, "yes, he is your daddy but you are not allowed to speak to him."