Separated At Birth

Chapter 17

Tiffany's pov:

I have been thinking about what Taylor said a few days back and it actually makes sense, Mrs Hathaway paid that man to protect her son. I looked in the body length mirror in front of me and I liked what I saw. I was wearing dark blue denim ripped jeans and a yellow hoodie crop top. For my shoes I was wearing a pair of brown high heeled timberland. My hair was in a side burn. And for the last touches I grabbed my diamond necklace and put it on. Today my mom decided to make a brai because my grandparents from both sides of the family will be coming to visit and she also invited my friends and their parents. I went downstairs to welcome the people who will be attending the braai. I found Lauren in the garden and we started talking about how much we missed my grandparents, it's been long since they visited us. 

The decor outside is beautiful, there is a big table to accommodate each and every single person. Just a few meters from where the table is set, I saw some chefs my mom hired putting  braai stands and some other stuff ready for tonight's braai and mom was busy talking to them. She looked gorgeous in her long animal print dress. I was busy staring at mom, I didn't even notice my father and his parents coming towards Lauren and I. Lauren tapped my shoulder and she pointed to the direction of the door that leads to the garden, my eyes followed her hands and immediately I saw my dad and grandparents and I started smiling. 

"Hey little princess, you have grown," she embraced me in a warm hug "you look beautiful by the way," she whispered in my ear before releasing me from her hug. 

"Hey. Thanks grandma Shanice." 

"Aren't you forgetting about someone else?" dad asked me. 

"Who?" and then it hit me that I haven't greeted my grandfather, " oh hey grandpa."I walked to him and hugged him. 

"I get it, you're not happy to see me right?" he asked? 

"No grandpa I-" 

"Just kidding, I know that you are happy to see me and your grandma," he said smiling. 

We all sat down on the garden chairs just near the huge table, and they told me about the great trip they had. They visited five countries and they promised to take me along with them next time. My mom's parents, grandma Bethany and grandpa David also joined us, they were a bit late because they had attended the wedding of their friend's daughter. I was happy to see my family together talking and laughing. More people started coming, I saw Kimberly and her parents Mr and Mrs Adam chatting with my parents who went to welcome them. Ashley's parents were busy so they couldn't come and they told her to apologize on their behalf, Ivy came with her brother Jordan and her mother and aunt. Jasmine moved back with her parents yesterday but they couldn't attend so they asked Cedric and Rita to represent them because they were still putting things in order in their new house at least that's what Jasmine told me. Ivan, Liam and Ethan also come in with their parents. 

We all proceeded to sit on the huge table which was set in the middle of the garden. Ivans father was happy and shocked to see my father again after a long time, according to them they only met once in the shop where they sell baby clothing when my father went to buy a dress for me. And I get why Ivans parents acted that way. It's because I have never introduced the Hathaway's to my parents and vice versa. But my parents weren't shocked cos they found out that day at the restaurant when Mrs Hathaway was giving money to Ivans bodyguard. I know Jasmine asked me not to mention this to Ivan but she didn't say that I can't tell anyone so I told Ash and Ivy, it's not like they can't be trusted. While we were all chatting the waiters came with the food and they set the food in the middle of the table and we served ourselves. The atmosphere was filled with the aroma coming from the food. 

"Beautiful house you have here. And the food mmm…the food tastes good," Cedric complimented. 

"Thanks. My wife hired the best chef's in town," my dad stated proudly. 

"Son don't forget that I was the one who recommended her to them," grandma Shanice reminded my dad and he chuckled. 

We talked and laughed. From where I was sitting I could see Jordan staring at me, I pretended not to see him. The trees around provided us with a beautiful breeze mixed with the smell of BBQ coming from the braai stands where some other chefs were stationed. The Adam's Kim's parents invited my parents to the art gala  they will be attending this coming Friday-which means I will be free to do whatever I want this Friday. So I took upon myself to invite my friends for a girls night and they agreed. 

"Oh that reminds me, I saw Tiffany's bodyguard, what's his name again uh…" 

Debra Kim's mom cut grandma Bethany off with her answer, "Jeremy?" she answered her with a question, she seemed not to be sure. 

"No. The other one." 

"Elijah" I stated 

"Yes him," grandma Beth says. 

We all looked at her, paying attention to what she's about to say. 

"And what about Elijah?" Mom asked. 

"We met him at the airport so we thought he would come to pick us up but when I looked at him very closely he had bags with him. So I thought that maybe you fired him," she simply stated. 

"No we didn't fire him, he stopped working for us because he's going to college. That's the reason why you saw him with his luggage," dad informed her. 

"Good for him," she says 

"Speaking of bodyguards, where is Ivan's bodyguard?" Ivy blurted out without even realizing that Ivan is also present. 

I froze in my seat and my heart started beating fast, my lungs begging for more air cos the air around seemed not to be enough, the table was suddenly quiet. I faced Jasmine who seemed to be in a similar situation with me, her eyes full of regret, probably wishing that she never told me. All attention went to Mrs Hathaway who choked on her meat, her husband Paul helped her out and he gave her a glass of water to drink. 

"What is she talking about?" Ivan looked at his mother with disbelief. 

"And why does he need a bodyguard?... Is there something you are not telling me Amber?" Paul asked her, looking a bit disappointed. 

She looked between her husband and her son, she appeared to be lost like she didn't know what Ivy was talking about."I don't know wha-" 

Jasmine cut her short before she could even finish her sentence. " Amber, remember the guy you told me about, he's tall, thin with shaggy hair and he has a scar on his left arm. You remember him right?" she was panicking and her voice came out as if she was trying to convince her to believe everything she was saying. 

Mrs Hathaway looked at her as if trying to make sense out of what she said to her. All of a sudden her face lit up," Yeah I do" she turned to face her husband "I hired him to protect our son," she told him. 

"From who?" Ivan and his father asked in unison. 

"From uh…" 

"The woman who has been sending threatening messages to your mom," Jasmine finished the sentence for her. Which was surprising because I didn't know that she was that close to Dr. Amber Hathaway. 

"Jasmine how would you know that cos she didn't tell dad nor I, so how special are you?" his voice cracked up and he was trying so hard to keep himself composed. "Wait, is she the same woman who threatened to expose the secret you and her know that you didn't want dad to find out?" 

Amber looked defeated. She couldn't say anything, she looked at her husband and son pleadingly. Paul apologized for leaving early and they all left. Ivy kept saying that it was all her fault and if she had zipped her mouth none of this would have happened. I told her that it wasn't her fault but mine, if I had listened to Jasmine and didn't tell anyone Ivy wouldn't have said that. The mood at the table changed and people started leaving one by one and Ivy's mother apologized to my parents for what Ivy said. Soon everyone left. My grandparents decided that they will be staying with us for the next few months. I said good night to my parents because my grandparents were already asleep

A/N. Guys my story is about to come to an end and I don't know if I will be able to let go😭😭.

Vote
Comment and
Follow.