Tia
Life has changed drastically, a few days ago was Gideon and Mia’s twentieth birthday, Richy and Maya too. After the accident a few years ago, something shifted with all the kids. After they were fully recovered. They became more focused and determined. Mia and Richy started working at the company. Bennet and Dominic decided to give them a chance, but they had to start from the bottom and work their way up, there would be no special treatments, and they understood it. Maya wanted to work in the same field as her mother, so she was in Law school.
Zeke and Cyrus were into computers mostly coding, software development and data protection. Andrew and Chris were into FBI stuff. These four got help from Agent Craig and Leah. AA few days after their eighteenth birthday they broke the news to us that the four of them wanted to start their own business. They pitched their business plan and ideas to the entire family, and we were surprised to see a well thought out and detailed business plan. We agreed to give them a year and the four were successful.
Eric and Ben were into investing so they decided to become Financial Advisors, and they took specific clients. Anthony was in college but hasn’t decided yet. Gideon changed his Major and decided business. He was over at Greystone, all in all the kids knew what they wanted, and they were doing it. Dominic and Bennet didn’t treat them differently, at the company they didn’t get any special treatment or seem to want it.
Gideon, Zeke and Cyrus were replicas of Dominic. The hair, the eyes, and the facial structure was uncanny, and I gave Dominic Shit for it too, but he would just laugh and kiss me. Mia was all me and in the past few years he’s become calmer towards Mia and her personal life. When I asked him about it, he said she was an adult, and we raised her right she needed to make mistakes and learn from them. Now that the kids were legally adults and working, they made friends and had a social life. We never asked, just told them to be careful and use protection. That was the day Dominic went bast shit crazy. Mia just laughed and shook her head.
Even though the kids were all older and had their own lives they never missed the opportunity to get together. Once a month the would have a sleep over at their grandparents house just like back when they were kids. As the years went by Dominic became more handsome if possible. He was in his forties and still looked every bit handsome as he did when we first met. The love, passion, loyalty ,Adoration and faithfulness we had for each other never dimmed or wanned. I loved him even more and the way he treats me lets me know he still feels the same.
I was sitting at the kitchen Island having a coffee and watching them on the patio. All four were having breakfast and laughing. “What are you looking at?” he said kissing me on my cheeks.
“Them. I think Gideon is dating” I said quietly.
“He hasn’t said anything to me. What makes you think that”? he asked taking my coffee.
“I saw the hickey” I said lowering my voice as he walked through the door and sat down in front of us.
“Mom, Dad, can we talk about something?” he asked hesitantly.
“Sure, Gideon you know you can always talk to us” I said looking at him.
“I know… it’s just. I don’t want to hide it from you. I’m currently seeing someone. She’s not from any of the Businesses associated with ours. She’s a Graphic Designer; we met at A bar when the department threw a welcome party. We’ve been together for about a year now. She knows my last name but not that I am related to the Chase family, she just thinks it’s weird and laughs it off. I haven’t really told her much but what is important”.
“Are you serious about her?” Dominic asked him.
“I believe I am” he said.
“Okay then. We’ll meet her one on one before we introduce her to the rest of the family” I said.
He came around and hugged me. “Thanks mom” he said kissing me on my cheeks. Dominic pulled me away. “She’s mine,” he said holding me and Gideon just laughed.
“Guess there’s no stopping it. But he’s only Twenty” I said with a sigh. “He doesn’t have that look in his eye. This is a passing thing. You’ll see” Dominic said smiling.
Dominic
The minute the words left his mouth I looked at his eyes, but that spark wasn’t there. Just thinking about Tia made my heart happy, hearing her name brings a smile to my face. Now this was true love.
Now that Mia, Richy and Gideon were in the company Bennet, and I could relax a bit. I left the office earlier to spend more time with my wife. We were still sitting there when he came back into the kitchen. “Dinner tonight at eight thirty at Mia’s favorite restaurant” he said walking out to the patio. He sat down with his brothers and sister and was talking to them. Guess he was telling them.
When I walked out of the shower later that evening, I stopped short. Tia was in her late thirties, almost to forty, and she was every bit beautiful as the night I first laid eyes on her. I leaned against the door looking at her. “I can feel you staring at me” she said without turning around and I smiled. “And the answer is no, there is no time” she said turning around and looking at me. She was wearing a blue silk romper that fir her body perfectly, her hair open and her makeup done right. When we got downstairs the four of them were waiting.
“I thought it was just us?” I asked Gideon. “No, I want you all there” he said opening the door. Mia was wearing an outfit just Like her mother but in a red. Sometimes I was surprised she was my daughter. “Guess I have two beautiful women on my arm tonight” I said
“Yea right, she’s my date tonight Old man, you got your own lady” Zeke said taking his sister away. They walked out of the house laughing. Bennet and I always referred to our father as old man as a form of endearment because that was how it was. We were comfortable and trusted him and my boys saw me and their mother the same.
When we got to the restaurant Gideon went ahead to meet his girlfriend. When we walked in, they were waiting for us. The second she turned around and saw us, I disliked her. in that few seconds she looked at my wife and daughter with annoyance it was fast, but it was there no less. When she found me looking at her, she smiled. I didn’t return her smile.
“Mom, Dad this is Natalie, Natalie these are m parents, Tia and Dominic. My brothers Zeke and Cyrus and my twin sister Mia” Gideon said.
Hello Natalie, it’s pleasure to meet you” Tia said smiling at her, but I didn’t say anything. After we were seated Tia was on my right, Natalie Tired sitting next to me on my left but Zeke pulled the chair for Mia then sat down beside Mia. Cyrus was next to his mother.
“So, Natalie, how old are you?” Tia asked her.
“Twenty Mrs. Chase”.
“Please Tia is fine”.
Durning the dinner the conversation was moving. Mia, Zeke and Cyrus didn’t say much, and I know they were gearing up for something thing. My phone vibrated. I pulled it out and saw I was added to a group chat by the kids, the same kids that were sitting at the table. I didn’t look at them, just my phone.
***MIA: I don’t like the tone in which she’s answering mom.***
***CYRUS: Neither do I.***
***ZEKE: She’s not right for him at all***
***MIA: Add dad***
***DAD WAS ADDED TO THE GROUPCHAT***
***MIA: Do something or we will.***
Aww shittt. if it’s one thing I’ve fucking learnt is that my kids may look like me, but they had their mothers and aunts attitude.
***DAD: Okay.***
I put the phone away and looked at the girl. “Natalie, do you love my brother or is it because you think he’s related to the Chase family?” Zeke asked her before I could utter a word. Well, that’s it for this dinner.
“Zeke” Tia said but I looked at her then at Gideon.
“I really do love him” she said trying to sound truthful, but I heard it in her voice, and I guess Gideon heard it too because he put down his fork.
“Really? Then who is Richard?” Cyrus asked and I could see her pale for a second as she fumbled for an answer.
“Richard Is her brother, at least that’s what she told me. I told you because I knew you would look so?” Gideon said looking at his brothers. Then I understood he asked his brother to run a check on her and he wanted us and her here for the outcome of the result. These damn kids were something else.
“Oh, I found quite a bit. She already knew who you were, she did her research on you on mom, dad, Mia, me, Zeke everyone including Our grandparents. Richard is her boyfriend, and she wanted to marry then divorce you” Cyrus said without missing a beat.
“This dinner is over” Gideon said standing up.
“Gideon please don’t do this I’m pregnant” she said.
Gideon just laughed “No you’re not. After the first seven months I started noticing the small details, the lies and stories weren’t adding up so every time I stayed over I had a camera recording. I knew you tried to Drug me in order to get pregnant but that never happened so try again and Natalie first and last warning. If you try anything with anyone at this table, especially my mother and my sister. I’ll kill you and they’ll fucking help me” Gideon said
“You should listen to him. If you enjoy your life and want to keep your job, you’ll take you loss and keep on walking” Zeke said. I just shook my head. Yea all my worries and stress were over. I was now one hundred percent sure my kids no matter how old they were would look out for each other.