Chapter 7 A Second Family

The cars hooked Angela and Kerry's attention towards them, as the two sisters watched in complete awe. Both became overwhelmed when she saw Antonio Montero’s Grandma by name Elizabeth being helped out of the car by a lady dressed in a maid uniform. "Who is that?” Liya, one of the twins, asked no one in particular. The neighbors gathered to witness the important guest in their neighborhood, it was nothing usual to have this kind of visitor. Some stuck out their necks from the window, while others thought it would be better to get a closer view and walked to Angela's place. "Is that…no it can't be….she is not her right?” Kerry said in a whisper…too stunned to speak out loud. “Oh no, the engagement ring”. Angela muttered, she quickly rushed into the house. Leaving Kerry more confused. “Are you okay?” Mrs. Smith asked her after the rush in. “I'm perfectly fine”. Angela replied immediately and took out the ring from her bag, quickly she put on the engagement ring and rushed back outside. Kerry was still on the same spot, Angela walked past her and went to Grandma Elizabeth. Jace and the twins watched in amazement. The woman hugged Angela like a daughter and kissed her cheeks. “May I?” Angela said softly and took her by the hand. “Thank you, my darling.” Mrs. Elizabeth replied, Angela smiled back at her. They walked slowly towards the door. Mrs. Smith drew the curtain as soon as she saw the two approaching, her heart leaped. Quickly, she went through the back door and sent Bryan to the grocery store to get food items for the guests. When the door opened, she stood up in respect. “I am so happy to meet you Ma'am”. “Please call me Elizabeth, you are quite younger than I imagined, and your daughter must have inherited your beautiful genes”. Grandma Elizabeth commented. Mrs. Smith's face flushed. “How I wish I was the lucky woman who gave birth to such a precious angel, she is not my daughter but my late friend’s”. “Oh, I…am sorry for that”. Grandma Elizabeth said slowly, her voice unsteady due to shock. “Please and welcome to our humble home”. Mrs. Smith replied. “Thank you dearest”. Angela helped her to sit on the biggest sofa chair in the small room. “Please be patient with me, food will be ready soon” Mrs. Smith said and rushed into the kitchen. Grandma Elizabeth’s eyes went to every corner of the room, and then an old picture of baby Angela and her mother caught her attention. “The room is comfortable enough, I love the simplicity”. “Thanks” Angela was starstruck as she couldn't help smiling while sitting beside this former beauty queen. “And that must be your mother”. Angela nodded. “You got her everything.” “Thanks, she died four years after the picture was taken and just a few months after my younger brother Jace was born”. “That's awful, I am so sorry”. Mrs. Smith came back with a cup of ginger tea and gave it to Grandma Elizabeth, beaming uncontrollably. “Bless you honey, but how did you know…” "I was a big fan by then, as a crazy teenager, I researched your diets to boost my looks, but you were gifted by nature I must say”. Grandma Elizabeth gave her a warm smile, then her face elongated with sadness. “It must be really difficult to raise these kids together with your family responsibility”. “Oh please, ma'am, I don't deserve such appreciation. I absolutely did nothing but come over a couple of times. It’s all thanks to Angela, after her mother's death, she took the burden of family responsibility at such a young age and carried it all alone”. “Bless you Angela for being an angel to your siblings, my grandson definitely made a good choice”. Grand Elizabeth smiled softly at Angela. Angela noticed her siblings eavesdropping on the conversation; their shadows were visible below the front door. “You guys…you can join us”. Jace opened the door with an awkward grin and walked into the room followed by the twins then lastly Kerry. She looked like she was having a daylight nightmare from the expression on her face. “They are all your siblings?” Grandma Elizabeth asked. “My immediate younger sister Kerry, the twins are my nieces, the man of the house Jace, my youngest sibling”. Angela introduced them. “Welcome Ma'am”. Jace bowed a bit. Grandma Elizabeth gave him a welcoming nod. “Welcome Grandma”. The twins said in chorus, hiding behind their uncle. “Ain't they cute”. She smiled at them…then her gaze went up to Kerry. She had noticed her lack of interest when she walked into the room but decided not to care about it. Furthermore, she turned to Angela. “So my precious, tell me how long have you guys been together?”. “1 year… I mean 2 years”. “2 years or a year?” Grandma asked with an eyebrow raised. “Well we met two years ago, but I kept turning him down until a year later we started dating.” Angela replied nervously. “Oh please”. Kerry mumbled in annoyance hearing she turned Antonio down, that doesn't even make sense. “What a surprise! There is actually a woman who can turn my grandson's request down, that's new. No wonder he chose you, he is that type”. Elizabeth said in genuine surprise. “How did you keep it off the media, and even us your family sister?” Jace added. “I wanted to surprise you all and besides I don't like the spotlights and the show-off, so I made him swear to keep it a secret for, I guess he really cares about me.” Angela replied, surprising herself with the confidence in her voice. “I must say he is, it's new to me hearing all this about my grandson, I know him very well, and I am so happy he found you…”. Grandma Elizabeth replied. “So…you are saying, you've been dating Antonio Montero all these while, and you still go on dates with strangers from a dating site?” Kerry snapped, her chest heavy. The silence in the room after the comment was awkward and intense. Angela didn't expect her to go that far but no, what? What answer will she give? She opened her mouth but not a single word in her mind to say. “I understand why”. Grandma Elizabeth replied instead. “Dating a man like my son can be very hard, considering he is famous for playing games… I don't blame Angela here for having double thoughts and going on dating websites.” “You understand me so well Grandma”. Angela smiled back at her. Kerry rolled her eyes aggressively. “Quite unfortunate that Antonio is not here with me, he had a very tight schedule, but I promise he will visit soon, but now I think I had to call him so he can say hello to his future second family”. The maid, standing behind her, gave her a phone. Angela kept her fingers crossed, hoping this won't be a bad turn out.