IN FOR A SURPRISE

chapter two

"are you settled in?" Isabelle asked as she came knocking on the door in which her daughter stays
Leona lift her head and grin at her mom, "I am" she said looking around the room
Isabella sat down next to her "you know it's bed time, right?"
"Still mom even though I'm on  holidays and we're not home?"
"Rules are rules honey" isabelle said touched her cheeks as she got up to go out
Leona widen her eyes
"Good night" isabella said
"Mom can I at least up load these pictures?" Leona ask
"Will they be done by ten?" Isabella asked
It was only a quarter before it get to ten o clock
Leona nod
"I'll be back" isabelle said
Leona smile at her mom and watch her out
Isabella went back to the kitchen most of everyone were gone off to bed the children and grandma June aunt Betty and uncle rowey they were mostly the earliest to go to bed and before morning light they are stumbling around marlon too and Keith they both have to work in the morning Jeana and carmen were going to work as well but they didn't worry much about getting to bed early auntie Pat either she's the owl in the family she's always up doing something while the entire households be sleeping, she hand isabella some mocolata as she sat around the counter where she was with maybel Jeana and carmen
Isabella smile "thanks auntie" she said and take a sip, "so where is dad?" Isabella ask
"Dad is in the den watching ten o clock news" carmen said
It was three minutes to now and isabella had promised to go back and check on leona but before she was going to talk with her dad as she was about to get up ralf walk in,
"Can I get you  anything?" Auntie Pat asked as ralf came to sit next to isabella
"Thank you but I'm just here to say I'm taking off" ralf said
"You're going to bed?" Isabella ask
Ralf nods
"I'll be up shortly" isabella said
"Good night" ralf said to the others
"Good night" maybel said
"Sleep well" auntie Pat said
"Rest well son" maybel told ralf
Ralf smirk at her that he hope
"Good night" carmen and Jeana said together
Ralf nod and went out the door Jeana followed to watch him off then came back, "so are you serious about him?" Jeana asked in a whisper
"Of course she is" auntie Pat take it up on herself to answer, "she brought him to the family right honey?"
Isabella nod
"She was a lot more serious about the other guy she brought to the family and what did she do left him at the alter" carmen said
Every one looks at isabella
"That's true honey you still haven't said why you leaved him" maybel said
"I was young mom" isabella said
No one said anything isabella got up as she was going off to check on her dad but he came walking in the door
"Hey dad" isabella said
Winston smile "are you ok honey?"
"I am I was about to say goodnight"
"It's ok honey you can say goodnight as long as it's not yet goodbye"
They laugh
Isabella nod and smirk
Winston kiss her cheek
"Love you all" isabella said
"Love you" they said together she rest the cup on the counter and went off
Leona was a sleep when isabella checked half hour from the time she gave her her things put away and she curls herself in the room was her room when she was a child nothing change about it she thought by now it would be occupied but it was still free even the room she had moved in at eighteen she left and went to her room ralf was in bed he was already a sleep isabella figure it's because of the long driving he got tired she took a shower before climbing into bed to make her rest too.
The kitchen was fill with talking when isabella got on the stairs her daughter was out of bed and even ralf wasn't a sleep
"Morning" they all greet when she push the door into the kitchen,
"Good morning" isabella said coming to the counter, she help herself to some chocolate, "did I overslept?" She question,
"No you didn't we just beat you to it this morning" carmen said
"Oh ok I see" isabella came around to sit next to her daughter and next to ralf making her in the middle of them both,
Jeana brings over some waffles in which isabella help herself to eating out her hand
"Your daughter want to see the center" carmen said
"Not today honey" isabella said
"Why not today?" Leona ask
"Yes mom why not today?" Jeana  asked
Leona look at her mom who didn't give an answer
"Well I'm going off to work I'm sure you can be a good sis and drop Shelly down for me" carmen said taking up her things
Isabella look at her with a wide mouth, "I never said I was going" she said when carmen walk out the door
Jeana shrugged and grin "I'll see you all later" she said
Jeana was a hotel manager she work in the booking department,
Carmen work as a bridal coordinator,
Jeana's husband keith fight fire
And marlon operates the town's square gas station
"Why do I feel they just set me up?" Isabella ask
Marlon smile, "they probably think you don't get in on much of the action"
"Oh yeah I have my own kid to look after" she said with a smile, "anyway what time do I need to get her there?"
"Ten" Shelly said
"Ten" marlon confirm
Isabella nod, "I guess am left with no other choice",
It was almost eight and isabella went for some fresh air when she came back only her mom and her aunt's were  in the kitchen her dad and uncle invite ralf to go to the golf club and grandma was relaxing in the den kniting surprisingly she does with out her glasses,
Isabella had to take all four children a long for when her daughter and niece came the others followed so she let them get in,
It was true the community center was better than ever and bigger more people were working there young people, a boy about Leona's age came up to them smiling, "hello"  he greets leona and the others "hey Shelly" he said piano lessons are about o start" he said
"Ok"Shelly said waving goodbye to the others
Must we wait?" Isabella ask
"You can there's a waiting area down the hall" the young boy said
"Can't I come hear her play?" Leona ask.
Denoy carter observe the girl who was as tall as him having the same complexion as his older sister Abigail carter  and blue eyes like his uncle james but still she looks like the woman next to her, he like her already , "sure" he nods leona grin as she move to go with them
"Is is ok if I come back and pick you up I got to see a friend"
Leona look at the guy he  nods and leona too agreed
Isabella took Anna and Earl as she went off to see her friend Marsha, Marsha steel happened to be Isabelle's best friend ever since she started kindergarten at four years old nothing change since even though they haven't seen each other face to face in sixteen years but technology had help them to stay in touch and they barely miss a day to talk isabella believe that at this hour of the day Marsha will be at her dance studio and she headed there she knew that she wasn't expecting her to come for she haven't told her and was sure that no one in the family had mentioned it for she didn't believe they ran into each other all that often,
Marsha was just taking the class on a  break  from the morning session when the door open and her very best friend walk in Marsha's mouth flew open and she scream, "isabella ain't this a surprise no one told me you were coming and I saw carmen yesterday"
"I only came up yesterday but I wanted it to be a surprise"
"I am too surprised it almost kill me"
They grin together and hug
"Hi guys"Marsha said to the two children
"Hi they said
Marsha smile
"Where is your daughter?" Marsha asked
"She stop by the community center Carmen's daughter Shelly is taking  piano lessons for the Christmas pageant"
"Oh ok, so your daughter is interested in music?"
" The piano is her most love musical instrument she got the finger for it and she's pretty good"
"I see so she wants to be come a musician right?"
"You must' be crazy art is her thing she loves picture taking and she created her own art with them she even draws"
"I would love to see her work" Marsha said
" she might show you the pictures she took, but I doubted you will see her drawing book"
"Marsha grin
"She has a album thick as the thickest book in history and it's almost full of pictures she took"
Marsha smile "I wish you didn't come at class time"
"I didn't want to wait "
"I'm glad you didn't I'm glad to see you it's been too long"
"What you doing later ?"
"Why you even ask I have to spend sometime with you"
Isabella smile "ok so you call me and we'll meet"
"Well have dinner and see a movie" Marsha said "it's Friday the 13th"
Isabelle laugh cover her mouth and lean back she didn't realize today was the thirteen,
Marsha nod,
"For old times sake"
They hug and Isabelle took off while Marsha get back to class,
Leona got up from the seat in the corner just as Shelly got up and Denoy sat to play leona hover near listen as he play he play a Christmas Carol she was familiar with oh holy night,
Denoy look up "want to try?" He asked
Leona nod she gladly accept Denoy got up and she sat she play the same tune he was and the sound was magnificent Abigail was a cross the hall in another room assisting the children with a song when the sweet melody echo across the room she wanted to think that her uncle had stop by and She left and went across it wasn't her uncle but the girl the sis of her brother play just as beautiful with the same tune she open her mouth and look at Denoy before they both new it the room was filling up Abigail remember this was the reaction of the people the day her uncle sat around that piano,
"Wow" she said when leona stump the last key she turn and see them all standing there" she grin, they clap her and she became shy she never usually play this openly
"Where did you learn to play like that?" Abigail asked
"I just learned I guess" leona said
"That was amazing" Abigail told her,
"Thank you"leona said she stood with her fingers behind her
"Who are you by the way?" Abigail asked
"She's here with Shelly" Denoy said
"I'm her cousin" leona told them
Abigail nod the older women widen her eyes
"Is piano lessons over?" Leona asked
"Yes it is" Denoy said
She took Shelly's hand to lead her out
"Will you come back?" One of the ladies asked
Leona look around
"It's the Christmas pageant coming up we could use some help" she said
"Maybe you can give me a hand with the piano lessons" Denoy said
Leona shrugged uncertain she left with out a reply,
"You guys hungry?" Isabella asked the two children on the backseat
She had to look through the rear view mirror to see them nod she pull over at the sandwich stand to get some  hot dogs and a fish sandwich  before going to the community center to get her daughter and her niece they were waiting at the gate when she got there
"How was it?" Isabella asked
"Great" Shelly answer
but leona just look at her mom as she climb in on the front seat
"Hungry?" Isabelle asked giving to her daughter the hot dog and the fish sandwich  leona took them both and gave the hot dog   to Shelly for she didn't eat hot dog,
"Thank you " she said Shelly said
Neither wait to dig in as Isabelle drive home
"Where did you go?" Leona question her mom
"I visit a friend"Isabelle said
"What friend?"
"My best friend?"
"Oh your best friend I thought I was your best" leona smirk
"We have our moments" Isabelle said
Leona grin
Isabelle touch her face
Her sisters weren't home but ralf had came back from the golf club with her uncle and her dad they were together in the living room as she joined them leona finished greeting them and rush up the stairs she has some pictures to up load shelly went to her room but Anna and Earl sit down with the others
"You wait at the center this long" Maybel asked
"I went to see Marsha at the studio" Isabelle said"she must have been surprise" aunt Betty said
Isabella nod smiling "I'm meeting her later is there anything I can help with before?"
"Your sisters will get dinner on the way so nothing I guess" her auntie Pat said
"Great I'll go use the bathroom and find something to wear" she got up rest an arm on ralf before going out,
Leona called kayden and they talk awhile she told him about the community center even send him some pictures
While Isabelle look something to wear she took the time to unpack Marsha call then and they decide to meet at seven thirty at mapels  square at the restaurant on fifth avenue
Leona was coming out her room  and she and her  mother come down the same time by this the family were all home but her mother was dress to go out,
"Look who's all deck up like the town's Christmas hall" Jeana said
Isabelle grin and spin around
"Are you going out?" Carmen asked
"Yes I'm meeting Marsha
"Oh you're going to paint the town?" Jeana said
"Green I hope" leona said
"You love Green?" Aunt Betty asked
"Green is her favorite color" Isabelle answer
"Don't you love red?" Carmen asked "your mother best color"
Isabelle wore a knee length red dress,
"Look closely and you see what I am talking about"
Ralf look at her and smile
They had brought home some chicken wings and fries isabella took one of the wings "I'll see you all in a few hours" she said kiss Rallf's cheek
"Have fun dear" grandma June said
"Thank you grandma"
"You're welcome" June said
"Take care honey" winston said
"Later" the others said
"Later  mom"
"Yes honey and if I'm not home in time remember,  your bed time" Isabelle said
"Yes mam remember my bed time" leona said with her mother
Isabelle smile
So did leona,
She stop at the door and turn "and carmen I was listening to hear you say thank you for dropping your baby at the community center I did dropped her you know"
Carmen giggle "I know you did but since you have to drop her again I was waiting before I say it"
Isabelle flash her off and walk away she heard them giggle and smile,
"So how did you like it at the center miss leona?" Carmen asked
"It was fun"
"Want to go back?"
Leona smirk
"Leona can help out with piano lessons" Shelly said
"Oh for you play pretty well"Jeana said
"I don't really play openly"
"If you're up for it you can give Shelly one hour practice, I'll pay you" carmen smile
"No aunt it's not necessary, you don't need to pay me"
Carmen smile,
"Chicken?" Jeana asked her
Leona didn't really eat chicken she was the sea food vegetables type of girl she might eat hot dogs but not very often or even a chicken nuggets
"There's a fish Burger" carmen said
That leona accept
"At least your mom eat meat" maybel said
Leona smile she didn't know why but she can't eat meat and stop trying,
Isabelle knew her father didn't and guess she got it from him she didn't say it for they didn't discuss her father hoping they'll never have to.