Chapter 3: I'm My Daughter's Best Friend

Perambulating on what they had done. No one could enter to meet me. All the workers stood outside under the scorching sun, in their expensive suits and jackets. 

"Come on guys, what is the meaning of this?" An elderly man in his late fifties busted out. "To think that I was unemployed more than half of my life until the Beckett housing company came to my rescue. How do I go back home to tell my wife and my two college kids that I got sacked?"

"This is terrible!" Clare, another worker, exclaimed. "It looks like our enthusiasm has gotten us into trouble."

"This is still a puzzle to me." Another guy hissed. "And I wasn't to support this idea from the start. You all got me into trouble." 

Neither did I want any of this! Another lady kissed at Oaklyn. You told us it would be a cool idea. It's a disaster! 

"Calm down, guys." Oaklyn, who had kept mute since she joined them, cut in. "It's the first time we're planning a surprise for her. Birthday is a celebration of joy. Why would she fire us like this?... I'm not so surprised, she hardly reply our greetings." 

"Shut up!" someone fired, and they all quarreled. The noise and chattering got intense by the second. Tony Flynn watched them confusedly and contributed. 

"Okay, calm down! Calm down everybody, please. We only tried to make her happy. Didn't we?" 

"Of course." They agreed. 

"But it seems our efforts are ruined now except...."

"Except what?" They hissed at him, still pissed, but he signaled for them to come together. He brought out his phone and dialed a number. 

"We have new estates. Bellaire Estates, blueberry, green city, and..."

'Knock-Knock-Knock!'

Someone suddenly tapped on the brass door. 

“And Luxury estate. I can connect with you as an agent. As long as you like the place, you can get the property before the month end.” I said to a customer over the phone. 

'Knock-Knock-Knock!' the person interrupted again. 

"Who the heck is that?"

'Knock-Knock-Knock!'

"Sorry, I'll call you in a minute." The words rushed out of me while I cut the call. 

'Knock-Knock-Knock!'

"Who is that? Come in!"

"Happy birthday to you, Mummy. 

Happy birthday to you."

Three girls danced in along with Hazel Beckett, my daughter. A smile spread out of my lips immediately I caught sight of my princess. Her eyes which were Hazel as a baby are now azure blue. It reminded me a lot about Dan. Immediately she stepped in, Hazel's blue eyes opened wide in surprise and she giggled proudly towards me. 

Pausing in the act of welcoming them. I gave the girl's firm hugs. Hazel came to hug me. She dressed in a cream crop-top and black rubber short skirt with black knee-length booths to fit. Her azure blue eyes and raven black hair caught my attention. Just like Dan's. 

I clasped her slim figure tightly in my arms as if we hadn't met in a while. Her friends hugged me equally with excitement.

"Awwwn... Thank you, thank you." I replied with a smiley face. 

The girls brought a cake for me. It was chocolate cake coated in creamy-vanilla and chocolate icing. 

"Happy birthday, Mummy!" Alice Jasper jerked at me, thrilled. I knew her as Hazel's closest friend. It's been years since their friendship. The other girls are Jane and Blue. 

Hazel clung to me in another embrace. “Happy birthday, my precious mum. I wish you a long life and prosperity. I love you so much. Words can't express how grateful and lucky I am to be your daughter.” A set of dimples rippled from both sides of her cheek, on her oval face. 

'Her smile is pretty. Mine is like that too.' I thought. The only resemblance my daughter had to me. Everything else she takes is of Dan's. Even the sound of her laughter. Staring into her glittering eyes, Hazel placed a hand, adjusting my straight hair. 

"You're so gorgeous, mum but the main reason I rushed here is... Forgive your employees. They're your workers." 

My gaze raised, and I realized that Tony Flynn was the one holding the cake they'd brought. Oaklyn stood behind him with hers. Guilt written all over her face. I just rolled my eyes at the both of them and a hateful hiss escaped my lips. 

"Well, we all know that the entire plan was kinda stupid. The execution was bad, yeah. But I want to let you know that the intention matters. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attitude of the strong. It is the virtue of the brave.” Her voice came as a plea. “After all, you always tell me that when your intentions are pure, you don't lose anyone. They lose you. Don't let them lose you for doing good. So why are you pissed? Today is your birthday, mum. Come on!"

Hazel's warm hand squeezed my arm. Speechless, I cuddled her, and she grasped at me like a baby. 

“When I heard someone say that you were pissed, I had to run out of school to find out who that was." Alice cut in our daughter-mother moment. 

"Who disturbed my mum on her day? That was why I brought my friends to deal with whoever that was." Others chuckled and my eyes caught the fake smile on Tony and Oaklyn's face. 

"You're all forgiven." My words shocked them like electric feels. Making them bow with held enthusiasm. 

"Only because of my daughter and her friends." I clarified. 

"Thank you, boss." They smiled, placing the cakes on my table. 

"Aren't you supposed to have a lecture now?" I retorted at Alice, who seemed more excited than the others. 

"Excuse me, ma. Oaklyn caught my attention. About the other surprises I told you about. Should we still invite Rihanna and Ed?... " She paused, biting her lower lip. 

I tore my gaze from the girl's back to her. Lifting my well carved eyebrows, my mouth twisted wryly, making Oaklyn short of words. 

"Hazel! I'm going to call the recruitment agency for these people!"

"Hey, mum! Take it easy on them. Today is your day. Let them do whatever they want, but please, pardon them. It's goodwill." Exclaimed Hazel, leaning beside my chair. "Did you guys noticed? My mum and I are wearing the same colour of shirt."

I noticed the spark in their eyes. They were indeed excited. 

"I see you girls are dressed up, meaning you want me to take you out?" I brought up with an exasperated sigh. "That would have been fun, but I have meetings." 

"Meetings!" Alice raised her brows, licking the top of her cherry red lips. 

"My mum just said she has meetings!" Hazel cut in romantically, and others busted out into an uncontrollable laughter. It was ridiculous. They were laughing at her attitude. 

I just watched the girls, startled. 

"So, mum... Who is the Mister?" They asked, interested. 

I smiled and shook my head guiltily. I shouldn't have said that to the girls. 

"Who among the three of you are teaching my daughter this stuff?" 

Hazel, Alice, and Jane pointed to Blue, and she denied. They started an argument about who was spoiling who and who wasn't. Blue ended up taking the blame. It's interesting to know that despite their differences, nothing comes between their friendship. 

"Alright, Hazel... Give your friends $500, no... $1000 each."

"Woohoo!" they cheered with thrilled furor. 

"My mum said give your friends $500." Hazel stressed. 

"What? It's $1000!" That snapped at her, mockingly. 

"You girls are so funny. I chuckled at my daughter. Tell my manager, James, to give you my ATM and Hazel, know your limits!" I warned out, with my index finger pointed to her. 

"Mum, you know you promised me money last week. Minus my birthday by the end of the month. Are you still giving me another $1000?" her blue eyes eagerly searched mine. 

"If I don't spend on you, who will I spend on?" I replied to her question with another. 

"I love you, Mummy." She clasped her hand around my neck, giving me a side hug. 

"I love you too." I squeezed her arm, and she gently pulled away. Wiping out what I assumed were tears of joy. 

"Alright, since you all love shopping? Who's driving?" 

Alice raised up her hand and Jane looked away. 

“Fine, Alice. You'll take my white BMW for the weekend. You need to drive slowly and carefully.” I warned. 

"I'm fine, ma. I'm 20." She gave a baby face. 

"Don't get into trouble. You can do whatever you like when. You get to the hostel. Study hard and make me proud. You know the rules. I stressed on my last words. Placing my middle and index finger together to create a hole. "I love you girls." I said, nuzzling into her neck. 

Hazel is almost as tall as me. For some selfish reasons, I'm glad that she isn't taller. The speed at which children grow up defines the law of time, indeed. 

They stood up in together and hugged me in unison. "We love you, Mummy!"

I took a selfie with them before they finally cut the cake. It was fun with the girls. Hazel kissed me goodbye as her friends impatiently masticate on the left over cakes, like cats and rats while they walked out.