Chapter 3: Surprise Return

What was supposed to be a couple months turned into a year. A year turned into almost 2. Onika missed her parents, especially her mom. It is December 5^th today. In 2 days she’ll be 7. She wasn’t all that happy about her birthday. She just wanted to be with her mother. Little did she know a surprise was coming her way.

“Grandma, what are you doing?” she asks her grandmother who so happened to be walking by with a couple of bags. It seemed as if she went shopping.

“I’m busy putting a few things together.” She answered. “Why don’t yuh go outside and play with yuh cousins or neighbors dem?”

“Okay.”

“Be careful and be back here at noon.”

“Yes ma’am”

Onika was still abit curious at what exactly her grandmother was trying to hide. “Why would grandma do that?” she thought. She went outside and sat on a bench near the house, and watched a guy cut open coconuts. She thought about the taste of the clear liquid inside and how the jelly tasted. She loved eating that with her mother.  She sighed. She wanted to be mad at her mother but she couldn’t find the strength to do so.

Meanwhile Jelani spent his days on the beach with his friends. He didn’t want to see his sister because she resembled their mother. She even had her smile. He loved his mother dearly but couldn’t understand why she would ever think to listen to their father on this one. It hurt him and he knew it was also hurting his sister.

“It’s her birthday soon... Wonder what to get her this year?” he thought while watching the tourists swim about in the water. “It’s got to be special and pink of course.” He sighed. He let his thoughts drift.

Grandmother’s P.O.V.

I know I should’ve told Onika what I was doing, but I promised her mother that I’d keep it a secret. Yes, I spoke to Carol and didn’t tell her kids I did. Carol was coming back tomorrow to spend 1 ½ week here and then take the kids with her to start their new life. To say I was happy wasn’t even the beginning to describe how I felt. I knew her children would be so happy to hear that. I prayed to God every day, and he finally answered my prayer.

I had gone to town to shop and buy the kids a few new things. Basic things but still I wanted to feel that they were starting fresh. I’ll miss them so much; they were always a happy bunch.

Jelani seemed to be out of it though. He seemed to never be home. Mind you he’s just a couple years older than Nika. I really wish I could tell them already but I also want them to have the greatest surprise of their little lives.

It bothered me a little that Robert wasn’t coming along with Carol. She said he had to ‘work’. I mean you’re finally getting your kids to go with you and you don’t even want to see the expression on their faces when they see you? I shook my head. I know that Carol knows what she’s doing so I’m leaving it at that. Let me go finish packing and hiding these things.

Carol’s P.O.V.

I’m sitting here crying tears of happiness. I was finally going to see my babies. They didn’t sound too cheerful when we spoke on the phone. I knew this all had hurt them, but Robert is the man of the family so what he says goes. I would protest but it would go with no avail. I was busy packing while Robert was at work. I’m actually proud of him. Took him almost 2 years to find a decent job that wasn’t just for a month or 2; this one seemed to suit him well. Also he got us an apartment for a couple months while we waited for our actual home to finish. It’s finished now; we just have to move in. He’s staying here in Queens while I return to Trinidad to get the kids.

I went to a mall here in Queens to find the kids some winter coats. I got Onika this pink one with fur on the edges and brown buttons. Jelani got one similar to it, only difference was that his own was red. I also bought them some sweaters and thick pants. I want them to be as comfortable as possible.

I think I hear Robert walk in.

“Carol!” I hear him yell.

“Yes dear?”

“Nothing was just wondering where you were.” He says to me. I let it slide. I wasn’t really used to him yelling my name like that. I just hated yelling period and he knew that.

Robert walks into our room where I am, and sit on the edge of the bed looking at me while I fold the stuff I bought.

“Carol, why so much stuff?”

“Because, I want them to feel at home when they reach. It’s going to be a new start for them.”

“Okay… But how much did it all cost?” he asks me, his voice abit raised.

“Robert, I saved up enough to do all this. You’re not the only one working.” I say abit irritated by his attitude towards me.

He just waves me off and goes to the kitchen. I hear him take a drink out of the fridge and turning on the television.

That was another thing, Robert has been acting abit different around me. He was abit harsher with me and always fussing about bills. I know we aren’t a rich couple but we had enough to survive. I mean I knew that his experience finding a job here must be abit exhausting, but why take your anger out on me. Lord knows I love the man but this is getting me worried. Hopefully he isn’t like this when the kids are here.

~ End P.O.V.~

Today was December 6^th. Carol was leaving to Trinidad. She tried to speak to Robert that morning but all she got was a peck on the cheek and when she told him she loved him, he mumbled something inaudible. She was now on the airport in Trinidad. She took a cab to the house. Today is Wednesday so she knew the kids were either home, by friends or at school. It was around 10 am so she went with the thought that they were at school.

Onika as at school, but she couldn’t concentrate. She had this feeling that something that something was going to happen, she just couldn’t place her finger. Jelani was also having this feeling. He tried listening to what the teacher was saying, but his thoughts were racing. Both the Maraj family kids couldn’t wait for school to finish so they could confront their grandmother.

Carol had in the mean time, reached her destination. She took a deep breath before knocking on the front door. Her mother answered the door. Carol looked apon her mother’s teary eyes.

“Am so glad yuh came. I was nervous deh entire time so I didn’t know how to keep mehself busy until yuh came.” She says.

“Ma, that’s okay. Come on, I’ll help yuh cook deh lunch meal for the kids when they arrive.”

“Alright, come on.”

Both women cooked and talked about all what they missed about each other. Carol as happy to be home, and she couldn’t wait to see her kids.

Onika and her brother were walking home. Both were happy that school was over. They had this feeling that they needed to see their grandmother.

“Lani, what if something bad happened to granny?”Onika asks her brother with ide eyes and a small frowning pout on her face.

“Nika, don’t worry. We’re almost home so don’t worry about it. Everything will be fine.”

They reach home and hear they grandmother laughing. They looked at each other puzzled. They stood there outside the front door just staring at each other for a couple of seconds before finally walking through the front door.

Onika’s P.O.V.

Jelani left me and went to his room. I hear a woman’s voice talking to my grandmother but it’s was like I knew the voice but couldn’t place it.

“We’re home!” I yell so that grandmother knows. Everything goes silent. I’m feeling like i’m getting a mini anxiety attack. Grandmother walks in and takes me into a hug. I relax.

“Who were you speaking to granny?”

“Oh, someone special.” She replies.

Just then the mystery woman voice walks in. It was as if time stopped right there and then. Right before my eyes was a person I thought I’d never see again.

“Hi princess” my mother says.

I couldn’t answer her. I was too stunned. I just stared at her and before I knew, my eyes began to water.

“Mom… mom, I missed you so much” I say choking up. I ran up to her and gave her the biggest hug. I was so happy to see her. Jelani walks in and freezes as well before joining us in our hug.

“My babies. Oh my babies. Mama has missed you.” She says to us.

At Lunch we mostly spoke about what happened in the time we missed out on each other. I lost a couple teeth. Jelani got into a fight at school. Grandmother stayed as grandmother and other random things like that.

That night was when mama told us the big news. I swear, you would’ve thought someone was dying. Jelani and I were jumping up and down, ecstatic about the fact that we were going to New York with our mom. Finally. I never thought it would happen but it did.

The next few days we spent packing and shopping. It was gonna be a new life, and new surroundings for us. I couldn’t wait to leave. We eventually did. It broke my heart that grandma wasn’t coming but we could always call her. We also promised her that we would be good. New York, here we come.