5 - We Are Divorced.

After driving for an hour, the car parked in front of a magnificent mansion. The staff working at the mansion had already filed out to welcome Sydney. It had been five years since she had been home so they wanted her to feel welcomed on her arrival.

The man who had come to pick her got down from the car and went to open the back door for Sydney. He was her father's personal chauffeur. Seeing that her father had sent his personal chauffeur to pick her up, Sydney felt her father must have missed her too and might have forgiven her for what she had done.

Sydney got down from the car. Although it had been years since she left, the mansion looked the same and felt like home.

The head of the staff stepped forward and bowed in courtesy. “Welcome home, Miss Steinfeld.”

After greeting Sydney, she directed the staff on what to do. Some of the staff came to meet her and helped in removing her jacket and another collected her purse and placed it on a tray. Others went to the boot and took out her luggage. Another carried it into the mansion.

Sydney walked into the mansion, her stride powerful and commanding respect. The moment she got to the door of the mansion, the doorman opened the door for her. “Welcome back,” the doorman said woth a warm smile.

Sydney nodded and entered into the grand living room. The room was furnished and well decorated with expensive interior design.

“Thank Goodness! You finally decided to return home,” her mother, Stella, said, walking down the stairs in an elegant manner. “I can’t believe you didn’t even come to visit us all these years. Didn’t you miss us even a bit?” Her mother asked.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” Sydney said. “This time around, I’m back for good.”

“That's good to hear.” Stella stopped before her daughter and hugged her.

It had been so long her mother had hugged her that Sydney forgot how warm and affectionately her embrace had always felt. Sydney wrapped her arms around her mother, welcoming her embrace.”I have missed you too, Mom.”

Her mother pulled back and gave Sydney a look. “You should have returned home if you missed me.”

Sydney remained silent. Her mother knew why she hadn’t returned. She knew it was best not to bring it up at a moment like this.

Stella led her daughter to her bedroom. Sydney was stunned to see her bedroom still looked the same. “You have kept everything intact,” Sydney said, walking around her room in awe.

“I know that one day, you will forgive us and return home,” Stella said with a smile. “Get some rest, Gracie will inform you when lunch is ready.”

Sydney nodded and watched as her mother left the bedroom. She went to have a quick bath and after her aunt and her brother came to see her. They spent some time with her before leaving. Later in the afternoon, Gracie, the family’s butler, came to inform her that it was time for lunch.

Sydney dressed up and went downstairs to have lunch with her family. She met her family already eating. She glanced at her father as she went to the end of the dining table and sat down. Her younger brother and his wife sat beside her. The mansion was very spacious so after her brother got married, he still lived with their parents. Also, her aunt was also living with them. Sydney hadn’t stayed in the mansion after her marriage because her family didn’t approve her marriage with Julian.

Nobody said a word and continued with their meal. The chef served Sydney. She didn’t touch her meal and continued looking at her father. He focused on his meal, not even acknowledging her presence. She was going to talk to him after dinner, but for now she was going to enjoy having dinner with her family.

While the family was eating in silence, Sydney’s baby nephew started crying. Sydney’s sister in law looked tense as she tried to calm her son down.

Stella looked over at her grandson, already getting irritated with his disturbance. “Where is his nanny?” She asked. “Call her and give the child to her.”

Her sister in law looked around for the nanny, patting her child on his back in a gentle gesture.

Sydney looked at her nephew as he cried loudly, tears streaming down his puffy cheeks. Something about his tears made her chest ache. She had never thought about having a child. She had never even wanted to carry a child in her womb. Before she met Julian, she had concluded she would hire a surrogate to carry her child and have a nanny attending to all her children's needs. To Sydney, kids were a nuisance and a recipe for headaches. Until she had one growing in her and lost it. It made her see things from a new perspective.

Staring at her nephew, she wondered if the baby she had lost would have grown to look as adorable as her nephew. She wished she had had the time to cradle them in her arms, watch them grow and be there in every step of the way.

blinking back her tears, she stretched her hands towards her nephew. “Bring him to me.”

Everyone in the dining room froze when they heard Sydney, including her sister in law, her hands coming to a halt on her son’s back. Thinking that Sydney was about to scold her son for crying, her sister in law started apologizing. “I’m sorry. He doesn’t usually cry this much,” she stood up from the dining table, hugging her son closely. “I’m going to go and look for his nanny.”

Her mother in law raised her hand, looking fed up with her grandson's relentless cries. “Also, don’t bring him to the dining room next time, his cries give me such a headache.”

“Alright, Mrs Steinfeld,” She adjusted her son in her arms. “I’m very sorry for the inconvenience.”

Her mother in law nodded, not looking like she was ready to accept her apology. She waved her hand. “Go and find his nanny.”

Sydney watched with sadness as her sister in law rushed out of the dining room with her nephew. Her younger brother turned to her, still shocked that she had offered to carry his son.

“Wow, sis. Being a poor man’s wife has really changed you a lot,” he said and covered his mouth, trying to stop himself from laughing. “Don’t tell me that your good for nothing husband made you take care of other’s kids.”

“Ex husband. We are divorced.”