Eight years later.*NEW ZEALAND*~Mirabelle~"Mama, I'm going to be late for school!""Almost done, honey!" Quickly, I rushed out holding a flask as I handed it over to her."Geez, take it easy. I didn't ask you to run a marathon." She chuckled as she took the flask from my grip. "You know what mama?"I glared at her. "What?" She was the reason I hadn't gotten a good sleep because I slept late and now I had to hasten up to prepare breakfast for her.She chuckled. "Stop glaring, you look less pretty when you're glaring. I've told you before, haven't I?""Go ahead. Lecture me. I think it's been long I had a good lecture from you."She broke into laughter and for a moment she sounded like her father. Of course she would. She looked like him anyways just that she got her eyes from me. Blue eyes."Come on, mama. You know I deserve some credit from you. After all, I'm the reason you got all my teachers in school as your customers. They all say you make the best meals in town.""I know that.
~Mirabelle~"Jamaican rice and strawberry desert coming right up for Mr Roman Grey!" Natasha exclaimed as she took Roman's order and placed it on his table. I smiled when Roman shot me a knowing look."What? I've improved in my waitress skills, haven't I?" She asked me when she came back to the reception area."I've told you times without number, honey, to allow the workers do their job." I said as I dished out another order."I know mama, but I can't just sit in one place and watch your overstress yourself. Let me take part in your struggles too."I stared at her for a moment then lifted up my hand and tugged a strand of hair off her face. "You're already going through so much because of me. And besides, you still have school, remember? You have assignments, don't you?''"Already done."I shrugged. "Well, if you insist.""Of course I do."I didn't know she just stood there watching me until I heard her say, I have the prettiest woman in the world as my mother. Doesn't that feel great
~Mirabelle~I got out of my car and leaned against it as I waited for Natasha to come out of her school."Mama!"On seeing me she dashed to her feet and came running to me immediately, dashing straight into my open arms."You came today." She said the moment we pulled away. "You made time to come pick me up from school.""Why won't I? You're my princess, remember?""I know. And uncle Roman?""Is kind of busy but come pick you up tomorrow. Now come on quickly or else we'll be late for our date." I opened the car door and jumped on the front seat.Today was just about Us. I've been extremely busy lately to even make time for Natasha but today I had managed to clear my desk and leave my assistant in charge for today. Today would be only about Natasha and Mirabelle.Our first stop was the African restaurant here in New Zealand."So firstly, you wash your hands," I washed my hands and she did the same. "Now cut a very little portion of this," I cut a very small portion of the cassava cake
~Mirabelle~I got out of my car and leaned against it as I waited for Natasha to come out of her school."Mama!"On seeing me she dashed to her feet and came running to me immediately, dashing straight into my open arms."You came today." She said the moment we pulled away. "You made time to come pick me up from school.""Why won't I? You're my princess, remember?" "I know. And uncle Roman?""Is kind of busy but come pick you up tomorrow. Now come on quickly or else we'll be late for our date." I opened the car door and jumped on the front seat. Today was just about Us. I've been extremely busy lately to even make time for Natasha but today I had managed to clear my desk and leave my assistant in charge for today. Today would be only about Natasha and Mirabelle.Our first stop was the African restaurant here in New Zealand."So firstly, you wash your hands," I washed my hands and she did the same. "Now cut a very little portion of this," I cut a very small portion of the cassava cak
~Mirabelle~I was sitting in the living room when she walked in. I knew she'd be back from school any moment from now so I just set the table for dinner.As expected, the door opened and she walked in."Hey mama," she moved and pressed a kiss to my cheek."Hey," I smiled as I wrapped my arms around her for a brief hug."What's wrong?""Nothing I just.... who's Tan?" I said, pulling out the letter as I placed it on the table almost immediately."Oh. That. That belongs to Tania in my class, why?""Are you sure?""Yeah, I snuck it off of her last week, why are you asking?" She asked, putting down her bag as she made herself comfortable on the couch.I shrugged. "Nothing. It just...it just felt a little odd. Like... strange.""Oh," she nodded slowly. "You were thinking I probably wrote the letter." She stated calmly."No!" I almost yelled. "It's just that... it's just..I want you to be hundred percent honest with me. I don't want you keeping secrets either to yourself or to anyone else, do
~Mirabelle~"Hey mama." She pressed a kiss to my cheek. She had just walked in and greeted me when she noticed the letters scattered on the floor."You betrayed me.""Mom, please--""All this time! Natasha, all this time! You've been writing to your father, behind my back! How could you betray me like this? And what's the silly pen name, Tan?" I asked her, she lowered her head, refusing to meet my gaze. "You had your name spelt backwards, didn't you? Nat, Tan, wasn't it? You thought I wouldn't find out, didn't you? You thought you would successfully push through with your plans and then what? What was the essence of you writing those letters to your father? What? So you could tell him one day that you're his daughter?!""Mama, it's not like that--""Then it's like what? What were you thinking huh? You don't think your father is smart? And that one day, he'd discover you out?" I snorted. "You're so silly, you know that, Natasha?""No mom. You're the one who's silly. All these years, yo
~Mirabelle~She nudged herself into his arms.I froze.For a moment, I thought she was going to let out our secret and silently prayed, silently hoped she wouldn't betray me."Um," she got out of Mariano who was as well shocked by the little girl's action. "I'm sorry, I just got carried away.....I thought you were my father. I apologize." She said to him but Mariano looked like he hadn't heard her because he was too busy staring at her face."Um...I'm sorry, about Tan, I--I don't know anyone that goes by that name, sorry." She said and looked away when she noticed he had been staring too much."Have we met before, miss?" To my surprise, he asked her. "You look...very familiar. We've met before, haven't we?"Natasha shook her head shyly. "I'm sorry, I don't think we have. Um, I have to go now--" she was about to close the door finally but he put his leg in between, stopping her. "Can I come in?""Um, sorry but you can't. My mother's going to be really mad--""Then a coffee, perhaps. I
~Mirabelle~She blinked sleep out of her eyes and got up from the floor."I must have fallen asleep here. What time is it?""7:48am.""Oh gosh. I'm so going to be late for school." She was about to turn and head out when I said,"You had a pretty nice chat with your dad yesterday."She stilled."I don't know, for once I admit, I like seeing you two together."A small smile spread across her face. "Me too. I didn't see him from afar this time, this time, I saw him face to face. And I even made coffee for him, I sat close to him and I talked to him about what was bothering me. It felt too good to be true."I nodded. "Yeah it was. Plus, the necklace looked good on him too.""Yeah, it was. Guessed what he said was it too.""Mama--""No, it's okay. I mean I'm not going to just sit put and watch him say those hurtful things to me--""Mama--""I've made my decision. We're leaving.""Mom!"I turned around and started for my room, not to my surprise, she followed. "Mama--""He's found us, Nata