IN FOR A SURPRISE

chapter seven

"Hey" Marsha call out as she spot isabelle
Isabelle wave and went over with Ralf,
Marsha grin as they hug
"Hi" isabelle said to the guy she saw on picture and was meeting for the first time they weren't properly introduce but she knew he's shaquille
"Shaquille this is my best friend isabelle, isabelle this is shaquille Maxwell he's in to internal affairs" Marsha said
"My friend here is a artist"
"Hey isabelle nice to meet you" shaquille said
"Same here" isabelle said "this is my partner Ralf crawford" isabelle said they shook hands
"Hey Ralf nice to see you again" Marsha said
Ralf nod
"Let's have dinner then maybe we can go to a club or something" Marsha said
"What ever you say" isabelle told her
"Dinner then the club" marsh said which was the final decision
"You paint ah thats good" shaquille said
"Yeah it is something I enjoy"
"It's good when you enjoy what you do, as for me I'm into internal affairs for the payment" shaquille said
Isabelle laugh
"What you do with out the love of it you won't do good with it" shaquille said
"That's what I know" isabelle said
"Like I enjoy dance class" Marsha said
Isabelle grin, "your class is active"
"So are we" Marsha said looking from Ralf to shaquille
"You dance too?" Shaquille asked
"I don't teach it if that's your question"
"But?"
"I know a few moves that's it"
"You salsas?" Shaquille asked
"Like she owns the rydim to the song" Marsha said
"I wouldn't say that"
"You don't have to anything my girls said goes" shaquille said
Isabelle laugh
"I wouldn't want it any other way" Marsha said
"You're taking your daughter to see Santa tomorrow?" Marsha asked
"I heard my sister's planing" isabelle report
"Then you're going" Marsha said
"So Ralf you're from queens ah" shaquille said
"Born and raised"Ralf said
"I've been to queens" shaquille said
"So you don't need to hear how nice it is there" isabelle said
"I'm sure it's not as nice as here" Marsha criticize
"You would have to be there to know" isabelle said
"I'm not interested in being there"
"Wouldn't you come if I invite you?" Isabelle asked
"No way!" Marsha said
"I don't believe that" isabelle said
"Wouldn't it be easier for you to stay and we take the trip together, like we're now having dinner?" Marsha asked
"I can't stay longer than I'm to, my path is in new York now" isabelle said
Marsha didn't hear any confidence in her tone when she said it and want to believe she didn't want to be there as much as she's trying to convince herself,
"Wouldn't you stay Ralf?" Marsha asked
"Not that I wouldn't" Ralf said
"But you can't" Shaquille said
"But I can't" Ralf repeat
They laugh went in to silence as the ate,
Carmen sat next to leona on The sofa her legs cross and her palm rest on her cheek,
Leona look her way and carmen smile,
"Are you enjoying it in this town?" Carmen asked
Leona look around on her aunt and gave a smile she nods
"How is it different from home?"
"It's nice I like the people here"
"More that you do those in queens?"
"I feel more connected to the people here than those in new York"
"That's because your family is here" carmen said
"She has family in new York too" Jeana said
Carmen look at her sister twist her lips and frowns for she's finding it hard to believe that her sister falls I to a relationship that quickly after leaving here her niece is almost sixteen that's a few months over the time her sister left here, "What you like most about this town?" Carmen went on to ask ignore what her sister just said
"The fact that I feel I belong" leona said
Carmen nod and rest a hand on Leona's shoulder, "you do belong sweetie" carmen said
Leona look at her aunt again and smile
"You want to stay don't you?" Carmen asked
Leona said nothing
"Even I want to have my sister here, I want you here as well once per year is so long for sisterly bond" carmen said
Leona look up at her aunt
Carmen smile "pray about it ok" she rub Leona's cheek, "I'm afraid it's passed your bedtime"
It was passed bedtime it was almost eleven fifteen when leona look up on the time "wow mom better not know this" she said
"I'm sure she won't be upset" maybel said
Leona turn and smile at her grand mother
Maybel held her shoulder and kiss her cheek
"Goodnight love" maybel said
"Goodnight grandmother" leona said saying goodnight to the others as well,
After they got through dinner they went to the club pace place it was a fancy club on the highway of downtown harlem the club has been here since isabelle can remember only fancier than then like the community center it's been upgraded and isabelle could get someone new owns it they didn't stay for long so by ten they hit the road,
Just as isabelle parked in the driveway Marsha called, "thanks best friend I had a great time, can we go out again tomorrow we'll go to the club again" Marsha said
"I'll have to sleep on it" isabelle said
"Ok call me in the morning before I go to work" Marsha said
"I will love bug" isabelle said
Marsha grin
They hang up and Ralf look at her
Isabelle smile and touch his arm, "what?"she asked to the way the looks at her
"You really will go out again tomorrow?" Ralf asked
"I might" isabelle said ,
"Honestly baby I wouldn't be able to tell you party like that" Ralf said
"You wouldn't" isabelle said
Ralf nod as he got out the car isabelle close up and they walk to go inside
"I did dance in a group in high school national state championship we won a few years I still like to dance" isabelle told Ralf she held his shoulder as they walk in,
"You?" Ralf asked
"Surprise" isabelle said
Ralf roll is eyes"
Isabelle grin.
Leona was about to take the stairs when the door open and her mother came through it with Ralf
"Ah!" Isabelle said easing back to look at her daughter, "what time is it?" Isabelle quarry
"Mom, I'm late for bed I lost track of time"
"Track of time honey to how it is late I want to think you lost the entire field" isabelle said making them laugh,
"Don't worry honey I'm not mad, come here" she pulled her in and tightly she hug her to her
"You guys enjoy?" Jeana asked
"It was good"isabelle answer
Ralf nod
"We spent a little time at pace place" isabelle said as she sat pulled her daughter to her lap
"What's pace place?" Leona ask
"It's a night club on the highway down own harlem" carmen answer
"Night club mom I didn't know you went to night club" Leona grin at her mother
"It's been sixteen years hon" isabelle said
"That long?" Jeana asked
"I had a daughter" isabelle said
"Wow what do you do then?" Carmen asked
"I go shopping attended art fair to to church paint and talk to people over the phone" isabelle said
They laugh "you live a restricted life what prison was that state penitentiary?" Jeana asked
They laugh,
"I was enjoying myself just fine" isabelle inform as she got up and walk to the stereo to find a song,
"Yeah I know" Jeana said
Isabelle smirk at her sister as the familiar christmas song came on and she started to dance
"Really?" Carmen said
"Want to dance hon?" Isabelle asked
Leona grin and shook her head
"You shy?" Isabelle asked
"Maybe she don't developed that talent as yet" Jeana said
Isabelle smile she left the music and sat back with her daughter, "Anyway Marsha want us to go to the club again tomorrow" isabelle said
"Can we come?" Carmen asked looking at her husband "wouldn't you?" She asked
"Tomorrow we have plan to go bowling" marlon said
"Oh it's tomorrow?" Jeana asked having heard keith mentioned it,
"Yes it is tomorrow" keith said
"Hey Ralf if you don't mind ditching the ladies tomorrow we're bowling off at St Patrick's square bowling alley you can join us"
"I don't mind" Ralf said "I'm taking off so catch up in the morning" he said
They said goodnight to him
"Honey you should go to bed. Is" isabelle said leona got up kiss her mom and said goodnight again then left
"I'm going off too" isabelle said stretch as she got,
"You seems to be in a hurry" Jeana said
"I'm not hurrying" isabelle said
"Then sit down Jeana said
"Yeah sit" carmen said
Isabelle sat down
"Do you remember that santa will be in town tomorrow?" Carmen asked
Isabelle nod
"Ok" Jeana said
"It's at three I'll pick up the children after piano lessons and head there" isabelle said
"We'll meet you" carmen said
"Great, so grandma are you going to sit on Santa's lap too?" Isabelle asked
Grandma June laugh a loud, "that pour child I feel sorry for him thinking about it"
Isabelle laugh, "grandma I'm sure he'll managed just fine" isabelle said
"With me I am almost three hundred pounds what I got to date in my young days these younger years these generators aren't having it, three home cooked meal prep day work medicine and prayers"
They laugh
"Grandma" isabelle said kissing her cheek
"Come mama I'll walk you down" maybel said
"I might as well go down myself " aunt Betty said she got up and walk away saying goodnight
Auntie pat went a long rowey bid goodnight and take off his bed room was on the other side of the living room, winston wait for his wife while he listens to the children keith and Jeana, marlon and Carmen with isabelle isabelle got up just when her mother and auntie pat came up and her dad got up she said good night this time not to turn around,
James had himself a restless night he keep having the same dream time after time he was dreaming about isabelle coming to him she was young and pretty she has the face he remembers but something different about her he couldn't tell what but he kept reaching for her but she was pulling back all of a sudden she appears again this time older like a few years older they were standing next to each other having the same face but their eyes weren't the same it was almost as if their hair was different he woke from his dream grasping
"You ok?" A voice frighten him he forgets about gwen stay the night,
"A dream"
"You dream is that for real?" Gwen ask smiling
"Very funny" james said getting up he went the bathroom and wash his face and lay down once more gwen turn to her side and james try not to face her he tried not to sleep for he was afraid to dream about isabelle again but he lay there and kept his eyes close and think about the dream and what could have caused it,
Isabelle open her grip with her underwear she haven't pack those aside she just kept them in the closet, she went through them trying to find a suitable underwear to go under her dress that was when she pounce up on a few pictures she had kept back with james she pause to look them over and memory of them comes back to her she wonder about him and what he was doing she wonder if they ran into each other what it would be like she was sure he wouldn't talk to her,
"Mom" leona said coming in to her mother's room, isabelle put the pictures pack and face her, leona saw that it was pictures but didn't see what type she look around to look for them isabelle look behind her "is there something I can help you with?" Isabelle asked looking behind herself
"No not really"
"Oh ok" she turn and took an underwear out nothing special anymore and just slide into it "
"Ready now?" Leona ask
"Yes" isabelle said taking her bag and put in her phone,
They left the house for isabelle to drop the children at the center she took Earl and Anna a long as she was going to
do some business and wouldn't come back before it was time to take the children to see Santa,
James had to go out of town so he asked Ivano to fill in for him at the santa lounge this afternoon Ivano could not turn him down he knee the events were both important to him,
"Are you going to see Santa too?" Leona ask Denoy
"I'm going to be there busy being Santa's small elf" Denoy said
"You help out that's great" leona said
"Yes" Denoy said
"Your sister too?"
"Nah she doesn't she love it here"
"She doesn't even see Santa?"leona ask
"She's going to be there but she won't see Santa"
"Ok, I hope I get to see Santa"
"You'll get to see Santa"
They both smile
"You have a great smile" Denoy said
"You think isabella asked
"Yes and I like your marble blue eyes, I have a an uncle with eyes just the same" Denoy said
"My mom got brown eyes"
"You got your eyes for someone else?" Denoy asked
"It seems so" leona said and shrugged
Denoy smile
Leona smile too
"I hope tomorrow you can play a song for the family" Denoy said
Leona sniffles
"What?" Denoy asked
"What song?" Leona ask
"You choose one" Denoy said
Leona nod,
They said goodbye for he had was to leave early for he told her he would need to help santa
Leona and Shelly wait at the gate for their aunt and mother,
Isabelle got some oil paint, acrylic paint some new brushes, and canvas they went and have lunch after lunch they pick up Shelly and leona and went to santa lounge they were ten minutes late but none of her sisters were yet there isabelle search the parking lot she took the children to stay in line as they await to sit on santa's lap
Denoy saw leona and wave leona wave with a smile
Isabelle look at her she wonder if her daughter said she doesn't like this boy in the way she believes and got so intrigued by him isabelle think her to be lying she took a picture of Denoy and the children as they move up in line to talk with santa the line was going up when both her sisters got there Earl was about to sit on santa's lap Shelly was behind him Anna next then leona
Leona sat on Ivano's lap and smile at him , "hey Mr Claus" she said
"Hey" Ivano said"what can I do for you today?" He asked
Leona has one wish for santa and she lean in to whisper she needed santa to help her get her mother to stay at harlem she rather stay than go back home, she had the feeling Santa won't do nothing but she tell it to him, she was longer than everyone else that went she got a small gift a green mittens that she wore right away,
"What did you request of santa honey?" Isabelle asked
"Nothing much" leona said
"It seems what you told santa is for next Christmas as well" isabelle said
Leona smile
"Leona" Abigail said coming over with Denoy
"hi Abigail" leona said
"Hey" Denoy said
Leona smile widely at him
"Hey" Denoy and Abigail greet he there,
"Helo" they say
"Shelly" Denoy and Abigail smile
Shelly smile back
"You're leaving now?" Denoy ask
"About to" leona said
"So I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked
Leona nod side look her mom
"Bye then see you" Denoy said "bye" he said to the others, "see you on Monday Shelly"
"Ok" Shelly said
They left them and soon after that they too went home by they got home the guys were already off bowling, it seems that keith and marlon just got to the house and left again, as they had said they too were going out they got ready and did so, meeting Marsha at pace place, there they all enjoy a good night have a vibes before going home they got back late to a whole house of silence it seems that everyone had gone off to sleep
"Tea anyone?" Isabelle asked
"Yeah I could use tea" Jeana said
Carmen nod
They went to the kitchen isabelle fix tea and they sit at the counter
"Maybe we should go shopping this weekend" carmen said
"We never go shopping" Jeana said
"We could the three of us, unless you got something else to do"
"My daughter is meeting her new found friend he had invited her over"
"Who the nice boy in the elf suit?" Carmen asked
"Yes" isabelle answer
"He's charming" Jeana said
"She only like him"
"Remind me of you isabelle you never take boy seriously until you got to college" Jeana said
"And when she finally take one boy seriously she left him at the alter what was his name again?" Carmen said
Isabelle look at her, "you loved him so much so why did you leave?"
"She got cold feet" Jeana said
She and carmen grin
"I admit I got afraid too many people were going through marital issue"
"I had a feeling sis that your marriage would last what's his name loved you" Jeana said
"I wonder where he is at this time" carmen said
"You haven't seen him in town?" Isabelle asked
"He probably left town the same day you did because of shame" carmen said
Isabelle hang her head she sigh she can't believe that she had actually left him at the alter,
"He was sad very sad" carmen continue to say,
They stop talking for a while leaving the place in silence not even a bug to be heard,
"Are you sure that the girl isn't his?" Carmen asked
Isabelle turn in shock and got to her feet, "why did you even ask such a question?" Isabelle asked
"Because I have to, I know you isabelle and you're not fast girl,fast girls are usually the girls in high school and college but you found your first love in college and I'm sure that you didn't just met a guy as you got to new York bed him and bring a daughter"
"I admit it was quite quick" isabelle said
Carmen and Jeana meet each other's eyes
"Oh so why is it that your daughter has not ywtto meet her family?" Carmen asked
"Yes sis I ment to ask too" Jeana said
"It's a long story can we for get it?" Isabelle asked
Jeana shrugged and carmen nod, "if you want to fine by me" carmen said
Isabelle nod hug them both and left them there
"I'm sure she's hiding something" carmen said
"Maybe the time hasn't come let it go what is there to know we'll know" Jeana said
"It's over sixteen years" carmen said
"Yes it is, I know, but we haven't spend this long together for that same amount of time, and now she's back in town for a while maybe this is the time for us to know everything" Jeana said smiling at her sister, "good night" she said leaving carmen she was left to think about it and what will happen then,
Isabelle become restless after her talk with her sisters it is true her daughter is for the man she leave at the alter but she didn't want to tell anyone not even her daughter she never mentioned to her about her engagement she look at her right finger that now wears the engagement ring she had shift it over when she started dating Ralf men like to asked questions it wasn't that she couldn't tell him but wasn't into talking to him about it, she was glad that he isn't living in town nw that her sisters had confirmed it she felt more free knowing that at no point in time they'll ran into each other"