3 Family Time

If only I knew what my heart was telling me

Don't know what I'm feeling

Is this just a dream?

Ah oh, yeah

If only I could read the signs in front of me

I could find the way to who I'm meant to be

Ah oh, if only

If only [2x]

By Dove Cameron - If Only

Katy walked quietly down the spiraling staircase as she headed to the dining room for dinner. She was in sweats since she had just finished showering and her still damp blue hair was up in a ponytail. She reached the final step and turned left, she walked passed many doors but it was the third door on the right that gave her a pause. It was the piano room. She stood there remising about how many times as a child she played the big grand piano. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear when her dad walked up behind her.

"It felt like it was just yesterday, you sat at that piano and played amazing grace for the first time at me and your mom's anniversary party." He jabbed Katy out of her head when he spoke, "I was so proud of you, I was smiling for weeks afterward."

"I practice that song for weeks to make sure it was perfect for when I played it for you and Mom. But she was so upset afterward because I sneaked away from the nanny." Katy said remembering the scolding she got from her mother after the party.

"Yeah, your mother was always hard to pleased." Her dad sighed, "Let's go to dinner, Abby made her famous stew pea recipe."

Her father threw his arm around her shoulder and they continued to walk to the dining room. They went through two wide doors that opened up to reveal the brightly lit dining room. It was a very large space with white marble floor, a large crystal chandelier in the middle of the ceiling and five smaller chandeliers circling the bigger one. An eight-seat table was placed in the middle of the room, the table was covered in different variety of dishes and seven plate-settings.

Her grandfather was sitting at the head of the table with her grandmother beside him on his right. Her father walked to the other end and sat down beside Abby; who was on his left. Izzy sat beside her mother and Jax was sitting opposite Izzy. Which left two seat unoccupied, one each beside Jax and Izzy. Katy chose the one beside Jax since it was beside her father.

Her father cleared his throat after she sat down to get everyone attention. "Since everyone is here. Dad, do you want to lead the pray."

"Sure, son. Everyone bow your heads." He said taking hold of Granny Glen's hand and wait until everyone hands were clasped and their heads bowed. "Heavenly Father, we come to you to give you thanks for this delicious feast that Abby was so kindly provided for all of us. And to give you eternal thanks for bring back my beloved granddaughter to us. Amen."

"Amen," they all repeated as they raised their heads and started to dig in. There were bread rolls, Greek salad, a big pot of stew pea and mashed potatoes and sparkling wine for beverage. Everyone took a bit of everything and Katy saw that the stew pea was consist of red peas, roll up dumplings and two type of meats that included turkey neck and chicken foot. Katy took her first bite...

It was so delicious she thought as the taste of different favor and spices burst in her mouth. She enthusiastically took another bite after the other. She turned to Abby and said, "Abby, this is so delicious, it's one of the best dish I have ever tasted." She smiled across the table at Abby.

"Thanks, I learned it from a kind old lady when I was in Jamaica a few years ago, I had one bite and I was hooked." Abby replied with a big smile as she was happy that Katy loved her recipe.

"I know what you mean, I could eat this every day." Katy sighed happily as she took another bite. No one else said anything for a while as they all very too busy eating. Before long everything on the table was finished since everyone took a second helping or in Desmond case, a third helping.

"I can't remember the last time I ate so much." Katy said as she slouched in her seat. "I'm stuffed."

"We can sit and talk a little before I serve dessert." Abby suggested.

"What do you want to talk about?" Katy asked.

"Well, Desmond told me that you want to go to school and that he was able to get you a late admission to the Radford Academy." Abby said, "It is where Jax go to school."

"Yeah, I know Jax told me." Katy replied.

"Are you sure you are ready for this? Desmond told me you haven't really been to normal school." Abby asked with concern laced her voice. Katy could not speak since it been long time since she felt motherly worry directed at her.

"Mom, even if she is not fully ready, she will have me there to help her," Jax inputted as he saw that Katy needed at moment to collect herself.

She smiled grateful to him and took a deep breathe. "I'm sure I can manage. Plus I don't want to spent my entire life in homeschool, I need to experience at least one normal teenage experience."

Abby and her father smiled with sympathy at her, "We understand where you are come from, Pumpkin. We will support no matter what." Her Dad replied.

"If you are so sure, you want to go to school. You might want to do something about your hair," Abby said.

"What wrong with my hair?" Katy asked reaching upward to touch her hair.

"Nothing much. It just that people will recognize you with that color." Abby said in a hurry, "I can do something to it if you want me to."

Katy paused and thought for a minute, it would do me good if Abby did it then no one outside of the family will know or guessed. "Sure, you can."

Abby smiled, "We can do it now if you want."

"Okay" Katy stood up from the table and watched Abby stand as well.

Abby turned to moved away from the table but was stop by a pull on her shirt. She turned to Izzy, "Mommy, can I come with you and Katy?" Izzy asked staring up at her mother.

"Sure, Honey. You can be my shampoo girl." Abby pulled up Izzy out of her chair. "Can you boys clean up here? We will be back for dessert, we can even watch a movie. Is that okay?" she asked.

"That sounds great, meet you in any hour?" Desmond replied as he and Jax stood.

"Sure." They watched the three females walked out of the dining room.

"While you two do that, your mother and I will take a walk in the garden," Alberto said as he took his wife hand to help her up, then put it in the crotch of his arm.

"Sure, Dad," Desmond replied walking towards the door leading to the kitchen.

******************************************************************************

Meanwhile upstairs, Abby, Izzy and Katy were in Abby's bathroom as she pulled out different hair products and laid them on the counter.

"Where did you get all of these, it like a mini hair salon?" Katy asked looking at everything that Abby put on the counter.

"I own Gail's Beauty Products." Abby said as she placed a chair in front of the bathroom sink. She pointed at the chair for Katy to sit. Katy took a seat and leaned back over the sink as Abby turned on the faucet.

"Have you ever done this before?" Katy asked as Abby wet her hair.

"Yeah, I worked as a hairdresser when I was in college." Abby said turning off the faucet and turned to Izzy, who was sitting on the counter for the shampoo.

"Oh, okay." Katy relaxed as Abby shampooed her hair. "So Izzy, you are starting middle school, right?" Katy asked Izzy to make conversation.

"Yes." Izzy answered.

"So what do you do for fun?"

"Well I'm a dancer so I mostly practice." Izzy answered.

"All work and no play makes Jim a dull boy. You might want to keep that in mind."

"Yes mom, I know that why Katy are going to be so close because I want us to hang out together. If that okay with you, Katy?" Izzy said nervously.

"Yeah, I always wanted a little sister. It would be a sister bonding outing." Izzy and Katy smiled at each other.

Abby smiled as she watched the two of them get on like two thieves in a barrel. She continued to do Katy's hair and before long it was complete. Katy's hair fell down her back in dark brown curls. Katy looked in the mirror and saw her natural hair color that she have not worn in years.

"You look lovely, Katy," Izzy complimented her.

Katy smiled shyly at her.

"Now that out of the way. Let's see if your Dad and brother have set up for the movie." Abby said leading them all out of the bathroom and all the way down to the den. When they walked in they saw that the men have set out dessert and other delights such as candy, sprinkles and other topping since it was ice-cream they were having for dessert.

Katy got her share of the ice-cream and put the toppings she wanted on it. She then walked over to the middle couch and curled up beside of Izzy as they wait for the other to take their seats. Jax sat at the other end as the two adult couples sat on the love seats.

"What movie are we watching tonight?" Granny Glen asked as she snuggled up to her husband.

"Let's watch the first Descendant." Izzy suggested as Jax flipped through the movie selections.

"Okay, Sweetie. We'll watch Descendants." Alberto smiled at Izzy. Jax put it on Descendants and the family of seven laid back and watch the movie.

Izzy fell asleep as Mal started to sing 'If Only'.

A million thoughts in mind

Should I let my heart keep listening?

'Cause up 'til now I've walked the line

Nothing lost but something missing

I can't decide

What's wrong, what's right

Which way should I go?

If only I knew what my heart was telling me

Don't know what I'm feeling

Is this just a dream?

Ah oh If only I knew what my heart was telling me

Don't know what I'm feeling

Is this just a dream?

Ah oh, yeah

If only I could read the signs in front of me

I could find the way to who I'm meant to be

Ah oh, if only

If only [2x]

Every step, every word

With every hour I am falling in

To something new, something brave

To someone I-I have never been

I can't decide

What's wrong, what's right

Which way should I go?

If only I knew what my heart was telling me

Don't know what I'm feeling

Is this just a dream?

Ah oh If only I knew what my heart was telling me

Don't know what I'm feeling

Is this just a dream?

Ah oh, yeah

If only I could read the signs in front of me

I could find the way to who I'm meant to be

Ah oh, if only

Yeah

Am I crazy? Maybe we could happen

Yeah

Will you still be with me when the magic's all run out?

If only I knew what my heart was telling me

Don't know what I'm feeling

Is this just a dream?

Ah oh If only I knew what my heart was telling me

Don't know what I'm feeling

Is this just a dream?

Ah oh...

If only I could read the signs in front of me

I could find the way to who I'm meant to be

Ah oh...

If only, yeah [3x]

If only [3x]

If only is right, Katy thought as she felt a deep empathy for Mal as she felt they were going through the same crisis. She continued to watch the movie in silence, not letting anyone aware of her internal struggles.

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