Part I Chapter XI: Family Issues

While everyone was still celebrating, they decided to take a stroll in the garden. They talked and laughed together. She wished the night would never end.

"What are your plans now?" June asked

"Plans? What plans?" She replied

"For the future," She explained.

Her face became dull. She cleared and said, "I'm going back home tomorrow,"

"So soon! Why didn't you tell me earlier?" She said, sounding upset.

"I didn't want to bother you anymore. You've been so good to me,"

"Does that mean we'll never see each other again?" She said in a choked voice.

"If destiny allows it, we will see each other again," She said in a tone of encouragement.

She cleaned her tears and tightly embraced her. They remained in that position for a while before she decided to leave.

They went to the amusement park she always wanted to visit. The colorful food and flashy rides made her excited. She dragged him to the rollercoaster and the merry-go-round. They spent an hour there before deciding to take pictures. They went to the photo booth to take the pictures. When she saw them, she giggled. In one of the photos, they weren't looking at the camera. In another, Julianne as crying, and in the last photo, they smiled broadly. It was the perfect picture so they made two copies of it.

"That was fun!" She said excitedly.

"I'll miss you," He said sadly.

She ran her fingers through his hair and said, "We'll see each other again hopefully," She gave him one of the pictures and said, "I'll miss you too,"

He reached for his pocket and pulled a locket out. He gave it to her and said, "If we do see each other again, I'll use this to find you,"

She looked at the locket in admiration and said, "It's beautiful, the design is so unique! I've never seen one like this before,"

"It's a family heirloom," He explained. She looked at him one last time and smiled. He pushed the stroller into the house. Once inside, she watched him slowly leave.

Stepping out of the airplane, she grimaced under the intense heat. "This is Africa alright," She thought. Covering Julianne with a shawl, she pushed the briefcase and boarded a taxi.

The days grew into weeks. The weeks into months. The months into years. Five long years passed. She had become an established businesswoman who had one of the biggest industries in the country. She had many servants at her beck and call. Along with the riches and fame came suitors. They came from all corners of the earth seeking her hand in marriage. She knew she wasn't old, she was just twenty-eight. However, she shunned them all, greatly upsetting her parents. She decided to focus on her family and her career, rather than getting married.

She pulled the clothes out of the wardrobe, and the shoes out of the rack, flipped the bags over, and roughened the sheets. "Where is it?" She cried. She came across her mother's locket. Admiring the design on it, she unconsciously wore it. The door suddenly opened. Her mother had a look of disbelief on her face. Her eyes went from the roughened mattress to the disorganized books and finally to the locket that hung on her neck.

"What happened here?" She screamed.

"I was looking for something," The girl said timidly.

"I figured that part out. What in the world were you looking for?" She said, picking up the books on the floor.

"My baby pictures," She said excitedly.

"Why didn't you tell me? There are easier ways to get something you know," She smiled.

She picked up one of the bags which lay on the floor. Opening it, she retrieved a picture from it.

"Is that me?" The girl asked.

"That's you, your dad and me," She replied.

"Why doesn't daddy come stay with us?" She questioned.

Hannah bit her lips and said, "It's complicated,"

"That's fine," She sulked.

She tickled her and said, "I'm going on a trip,"

"When are you coming back?" She asked.

"In a week," She replied, "You'll be staying with your grandparents,"

The girl giggled and said, "I love staying with grandma and grandpa! Can we go today?"

"Of course!" She said, "But first, clean this mess up!"

She mumbled and said, "Okay,"

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at her parents' house. They were seated under the mango tree in the spacious estate. The girl ran to her grandparents and hugged them.

"You've grown so big Julianne," Her grandmother chuckled.

Hannah came shortly, holding the bags. They talked for a while before going inside.

"David's in town," Her mother Constance informed her while at dinner.

"Who's David?" She asked in between her meals.

"Our neighbor's son. He's a doctor you know," She said while cutting the potato.

"That's lovely," She replied neutrally.

"He's single too," She said.

"Not this again Mom," She whined.

"How long are you going to keep on acting like this? You should try settling down," Constance nagged.

"I have settled down! Besides, I don't want to get married yet," She mumbled.

"If Julianne's father was able to move on, you should too! Harold tell her!" She said referring to her father.

"You should move on Hannah," He calmly said.

"I have moved on!" She shouted.

"If you keep on delaying like this, you'll never get married. You'll grow too old!" She complained.

"I'm just twenty-eight mom, I have lots of time," She boasted.

"Harold say something!" She whined.

"I suggest we should all calm down and…"

"She's always trying to make decisions for me!" Hannah shouted, interrupting her father.

"Everything I've ever done was so you could get a better life, Hannah! I sent you out of the country and what did you bring back? An illegitimate child! You didn't even get a degree! The worst part was that the guy dumped you and ran off with some girl! And you are here moping about your future! You've changed so much. You're not the child I raised, you're someone else!" She screamed.

"Now Constance, let's not say harsh words, she made a mistake," He said in his calm voice.

"Is that what you think? But I must inform you that I have no regrets about having Julianne! She's been nothing more than a blessing to me! If you don't feel that way, we should leave…"

"We all love Julianne. Why don't we all sit down and talk about this?" Harold said, trying to play the peacemaker.

"You've become so rude, Hannah! Is that how to speak to your mother?" She shouted.

She had heard enough. She got up from her chair and stomped into her bedroom. Her mother called for her but she didn't come back. This only made Constance angrier than ever.