A new family

Willow’s POV

Confusion enveloped me like a cloak as I mulled over the elderly man’s utterance, while gazing at my wrist which he’d refused to let go.

Who was he talking about? And how could I possibly look like her?

Why did he look so astounded to see me?

“I’m sorry. I should have asked for permission before touching you,” He said, letting me go. “May I see your left wrist please?”

My gaze automatically swept over the table, where my family were watching the whole interaction between the man and I with confusion etched into their faces.

It had been a week since dad made me a maid because of Erin, and I’d honestly even resigned to fate.

“Yes.” I replied, giving him my hand.

“Thank you,” He said, before lowering his eyes to my hand, his eyes widening into the size of saucers, “You even have the same birthmark as her. You are my long lost granddaughter.”

My jaw hit the floor at his statement, my confusion tripling as I looked at him like he’d mysteriously become an alien in mere seconds.

“What?” was the only word I could utter, as he stroked the red blotch that was my birthmark.

“Hold on a second. I have a picture of her. I carry it everywhere.” He explained, before reaching into his pocket and taking out a wallet.

Then, he removed a picture and stretched it towards me.

Although perplexed, I collected the picture from him. Looking at it made me let out a guttural gasp as it felt as though I was staring into a mirror—just one from about twenty to twenty five years ago.

The woman in the picture looked every bit like me—same brown hair, same nose, same lips, same brown eyes—literally the same everything.

“Do you see her birthmark?” The man asked, “Look at her right shoulder.”

I followed his instruction and my breath hitched in my throat when I saw the same red blotch sitting beautifully on her shoulder, providing a striking contrast with her rich, creamy skin.

Everything about her oozed sophistication and warmth.

“Who is she?” I asked, suddenly unable to look away from the picture.

“This is my daughter, your mother,” He divulged, and my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, “Her name was Nala.”

My heart dropped. “W-Was?”

The man, who I’d just found out was my grandfather nodded, a sullen glint crossing his eyes for a split second.

“After you went missing, she developed complications which caused her to pass away the day after your birth. Your father followed suit about three years later. He was completely miserable without Nala.”

Even though until that very moment, I never knew about them, I felt a wave of sadness surge through me, just as I realized that something wasn’t adding up.

“If you are my grandfather, and your daughter is my mother, how am I their daughter?” I asked, steering my gaze towards mum and dad, who were both avoiding my eyes.

On the other hand, both Erin and Raphael looked completely lost, as they looked from mum and dad to the man who’d revealed himself as my new grandfather and I.

“Their daughter?” The man asked, sweeping his eyes over me, “But you are in a maid’s regalia.”

“It’s a little game we were playing with her. Nothing to fret over at all.” Mum uttered, her mien sheepish, while dad nodded in accordance.

Both of them were still hellbent on not meeting my stare. They both looked guilty even though they were yet to get an accusation.

Right there and then, the gravity of the situation dawned on me.

They didn’t need to make a verbal confirmation that I wasn’t their daughter as their body language did the speaking for them.

It totally made sense why they’d treated me so horribly since Erin’s adoption now.

“No, it’s not,” I blurted out, and they finally looked at me with shock, “You disowned me for a crime I didn’t commit then forced me to be a maid, remember?”

I was done being a wimp. I was done being trampled on by them.

“Did you or did you not do that?” My new grandfather asked, his tone strangely calm.

Mum stood up, her smile waning, “It’s a bit complicated. B-“

“The answer to my question should be a yes or no, Mrs Grey,” Dad deadpanned, “Now, answer me correctly.”

“We did it, b-“

“Okay,” He cut her off once more, “Without mincing words, begin to explain how my granddaughter who went missing on the day she was born came under your care.”

“We don’t have to make this escalate into a horrid situation, Mr Crawford. We can settle this amicably.” Dad suggested, remorse written all over his face.

“Do you think this is a simple matter that you can get off with a slap on the wrist?” Grandpa spat, “You’d better start explaining or I will ensure your company crumbles before the day ends.”

“We got her from a baby farm. They operated as a non-profit called Tender hearts to hide the true nature of the business.” Dad revealed, and my hands instantly covered my mouth in horror.

Asides the terrifying fact that there was a baby farm that sold children like merchandise, mum and dad had spent money to purchase me, just to start treating me horribly after Erin’s adoption.

“How despicable.” I whispered, tears pricking the corners of my eyes as I looked at them.

They now wore identical miens of shame.

Nodding, grandfather held my wrist gently, “Let’s go home, sweetheart.”

Without uttering another word to my family, he led me out of the house, the whole situation feeling like a pleasant déjà vu from last week when dad had dragged me to the maids’ quarters.

“Mr Crawford-“

Grandpa paused, throwing a stern glare at my former dad who’d called him, “Don’t you dare follow us. I will deal with you eventually.”

For the first time in forever, I felt worry free.

And with that, we continued walking, until we got to his car; a black BMW I was certain cost an arm and a leg.

“Your brothers will be thrilled to see you, but not so much when they find out I drove. They hired a driver for me on the insistence of my doctor but I like to exercise by driving.” He chuckled, his face softening.

“Oh,” I said before recalling something, “I have brothers?”

“Yes. Three,” He replied, nodding.

“Wow.” I muttered, and was stunned when grandpa pulled me into a warm hug.

“That reminds me,” He said, voice shaking, “I don’t know your name, dear.”

“Willow,” I said, as we disengaged from the hug, “My name is Willow.”

“My darling Willow.” Grandpa replied, cupping my face gently, a small smile curving his lips, “I’m Tobias Crawford, your grandfather. I’m glad you came back to us.”

Basking in the endearment, I mirrored his smile, “Me too, grandpa.”

+

“Grandpa, I thought we had an agreement that you’d always have Roger drive you around.” A deep masculine voice came from the foyer, as I marveled at the stunning decoration of the magnificent building.

I was still at the threshold of the foyer while grandpa was inside.

The two storey mansion was stunning in a non lavish manner, with well-maintained carpet grass, and a greek goddess water fountain erected at the center of the compound.

“Interrogate me after seeing the person I brought along.” I heard grandfather say, and quickly fastened my pace, a ravaging mix of anxiety tinged with expectation coursing through me.

Stepping into the foyer, I saw a face that I’d seen one too many times on TV and in several advertisements over the years.

Highly famous actor, Seth Crawford, was one of my brothers?

“She looks like mum,” He said, his shocked expression mirroring mine.

Wrapping an arm around me, grandfather uttered, “This is Willow, your long lost sister.”

As Seth took a step closer to me, I was suddenly rattled by a powerful wave of dizziness.

Right. I had been working all day after being forced to give three pints of blood to Erin.

With worry evident in his voice and countenance, Seth pulled me close, asking, “Are you okay?”

Before I could respond, everything went dark.