CHAPTER 46: INTELLIGENT ANGEL

Michelle’s excitement filled the compact space of the limousine. She was extremely exhilarated, which was highly contagious. Lewis, Carol and I were all-ears to her endless talking that lasted until we arrived at St. Charles Inn. I was overjoyed seeing her so jolly as if nothing happened between her and her father the other day. The content on her face was overwhelming. I have never seen her swept over on something, which made me teary eyed with so much joy.


“Where’s Grandpa, Mommy?” She eagerly asked, repeating her query the minute we entered the vacation house.


“He’s upstairs, Baby. I guess he was sleeping.”


“I’ll just take a peek and be quiet then. I don’t want Grandpa to be awakened untimely, his mood might get bitter and that will ruin his day.”


“Alright. We’ll just take a peek, but make sure to be quiet.”


“Pinky promise, Mommy,” She whispered and even placed her index finger onto her slightly pouting lips. Lewis chuckled loudly while gazing at her cuteness.


Hand in hand, Michelle and I walked together towards the staircase. Lewis and Carol were behind us. Gently, I opened the door to the family room and immediately saw my father together with Attorney Sparks.


“Dad, somebody wants to see you” I conveyed gently, with hopes of not bothering their obviously serious discussion. The expression on my father’s face suddenly changes, from seriousness to anticipation and thrilled. His eyes were evidently excited and he swiftly fixed his sitting position.


“Who might it be that wishes to see me?” He voiced out loudly with exaggeration.


“ME!” Michelle hastily went in and happily greeted him and so was Attorney Sparks. “Hello Grandpa! Hello Grandma!” Everyone laughed at the last word she uttered.


“She’s so adorable, Miss Hunt. Hello, little girl. I am not your grandma, I’m your grandpa’s attorney.”


“Oh! I thought you were my grandma, Mam Attorney. I’m so sorry.”


“That’s alright, sweetie,” Attorney Sparks replied with utmost delight.


Lewis immediately headed to my father, who wanted to stand up and take a closer look at his grandchild. But Michelle quickly ran towards the bed and took a seat closer to him.


“You don’t have to stand up, Grandpa, your bones might break up.”


“Michelle!” I immediately castigated her for being so careless with her words.


“Who told you my bones might break, little munchkin. You Grandpa Handsome is as strong as a wild boar. I could even carry you if you wish to.”


“Nah, some other time I guess, Grandpa Handsome. Mommy told me you might be sleeping, so that means you must be tired. I am heavy, you know. I’m almost turning seven soon, so I will be gaining more weight.”


“Would you like to spend your birthday party in New York City, little munchkin? I’ll throw you the grandest birthday party you ever wish for.”


“Will you, Grandpa? Is that a pinky promise?” My father’s forehead creased, obviously unaware of what a pinky promise was. I just stared at them with sheer joy. Lewis and Carol were on both my sides and gazing at them as well. Michelle must have sensed her grandfather’s cluelessness, so she held dad’s smallest finger and lifted it. “This is a pinky finger, Grandpa. You have to hook it with my pinky finger like this” She intertwined their fingers before continuing. “And that is a pinky promise. Did you get it now?”


Dad swiftly nodded with amusement, “Yes, I got it now, little munchkin. It’s a pinky promise then. We’ll celebrate your seventh birthday at the mansion.”


“Can I get to choose what theme I like for my birthday?”


“Of course! Anything you like, Grandpa Handsome will obey your wishes.”


“Like a Genie in a bottle?” My father’s face immediately looked clueless again, which made me laugh loudly.


“Baby, your grandpa wasn’t aware of some of the words you say. You have to explain it to him further for him to understand.”


“But Grandpa is already big enough to know everything, Mommy. He must have heard about Genie in a bottle. Don’t you, Grandpa?”


“You know what, little munchkin, I think you and I had a lot of catching up to do. Teach the old dog new tricks, what do you say?”


“You don’t look like a dog, Grandpa. How could you say such a thing to yourself? Calling someone names is a bad habit, you know. Mommy always tells me not to call anyone ridiculous names.”


“Leave me and my little munchkin here alone, we have a lot of catching up to do.”


“She’s quite handy, Dad. Are you sure about it?” I swiftly asked in an uncertain tone, which he responded with a simple nod. All of us, except for the two on the bed, headed outside the room. Lewis was the one to head out and he gently closed the door behind him.


“Now I know why you missed her that much, Penelope. She’s an angel, a very intelligent angel.”


His comment made the corners of my lips curved even more. We headed to the lobby and sat there at the lounge. All four of us, with the inclusion of Carol, started discussing what the course of action will eventually happen now that we’ve arrived in Beechworth. Attorney Sparks did almost all the talkings.


“I called Judge Demitri while you were away, Miss Hunt, we are scheduled to meet him over lunch later. He was aware already of the purpose of our meeting with him, your father had walked him through with the details. The said luncheon is for formality sake alone. According to Judge Demitri, he would send a summons to your ex-husband for the court hearing, which was scheduled later at three. So as planned, we should be heading back to New York City before night time.”


“What if Michael disregards the summons? What if he wishes not to appear in court?”


“We’ve thought of that possibility ahead of time, Miss Hunt. If Michael Smith fails to appear, intentional or not, then as per what Judge Demitri said to your father, your daughter will automatically be handed over to you and will be in your custody until he files his own custody case against you. If my calculations are accurately precise, the summons must have reached your ex-husband by now and he must be talking now with his lawyer. If that’s the case, then he must have been warned against the consequences of non-appearance. So more or less, you would come face to face with him later, Miss Hunt, if he’s in his right mind.”


“Carol, can you do me a favor? Can you go to Michael’s residence and get princess teddy for Michelle?”


“Only princess teddy? How about her other stuff?”


“We don’t need her other stuff, just princess teddy. Dad would most probably buy her everything that she would be needing anyway.”


“Alright, I’ll go there right now.”


“And by the way, Carol, come with us to New York City. I don’t wish to leave you behind either.”


“Are you certain about this, Penelope?” She asked in a bewildered manner. By the looks of her, she was in utmost disbelief of what I conveyed.


“Yes, most definitely. Just bring your important documents, Carol, don’t carry a lot with you. Here,” I placed some paper bills on her hand and folded it with mine. “Pay your debts if you have, don’t leave anything unsettled. Proceed back here once you’re done, wait for us here. Use the family room if you wish to rest, I’ll leave it open when we leave later.”


“Thank you so much, Penelope, you don’t know how much this means to me” She whispered with a trembling tone as her tears were at bay, obviously shocked and delighted as well, before finally heading on her way.


I have known Carol for years. She lives on her own and never had been married with no offspring at all. She considers me and Michelle her family, so she will never leave anyone behind her if ever she leaves Beechworth. Carol wasn’t simply a househelp and Michelle’s nanny for me, she was more like a dear friend and a sister, who was always faithfully there for Michelle and I. She has dedicated her life to us, even if there were times before when I didn’t have much. I owe a lot of things to her, that is why I wanted to return the favor she unselfishly shared with us by bringing her along in the Big Apple.