IN FOR A SURPRISE

chapter eight

James left home without breakfast and went straight to his family home, he had slept in late  and all he did was to take a shower and left leaving everything behind he thought of taking this day to relax and just do him no art thinking his mind so be on the up coming art fair he will not bother about the community center right now, and he'll definitely not think about isabelle, he had got in late last night and didn't really get to talk about the event at the santa lounge last evening, he called Ivano and found his line busy, but it rang the next time and he picked up
"You were calling me when I'm calling you" Ivano said
"So it seems, so what's up?" James asked
"All" Ivano answer they laugh
Ivano talk with james about the event yesterday and how it went it turned out smoothly and accordingly james was glad thank him again for stepping in when he did, he told Ivano about the appointment he went on he told him he'll be at his family incase he needed him he could call there, after the conversation he was about to  leave  the house, gwen day him on the way out and insist of  going along so I take her,
Isabelle drop leona at the community center apart from the people who work there  no one else was there it wasn't long after Denoy came out the building leona smile when she saw him and got out the vehicle
"Hey" Denoy greets isabelle
"Hey" isabelle greets back
"Later mom" leona said
"When should I pick you up?" Isabelle asked
"I'll call you" leona said
"She'll be safe" Denoy said
Isabelle smile "ok so I'll see you guys later"
They both nod, they were walking out the gate of the community center before isabelle drove out isabelle drove along looking until she turn the deep corner and they were gone from her sight she sigh hope that her daughter will be in one piece later on when she saw her,
It was quite some distance to walk from the community center to Denoy's house they got there about me day and it was fun because leona  took pictures of new places and new things,
"My uncle is here" Denoy said seeing the huge four door chevy silverado a dark green that was pretty,
"Wow that colour is amazing" leona said shaping a picture of it,
"It belongs to my uncle" Denoy said
"Oh" leona said
Everyone were inside the kitchen when Denoy came in with leona "we're here" Denoy said
Every one look james held his breathe for he was seeing someone else on the little girl
Carleen came to greet her "hi" she said "welcome" she said take her shoulder and introduce her to the family,
"Every one this is leona"
"Hi leona" they all say
Abigail came and hug her
"Leona is visiting from out of town with her family" Denoy said
Leona nod and smile
A killing smile that cause james to remember isabelle
"That's my dad" Denoy said
Leona smile,
"Grand ma and grand pa Lula and Maxie"
"Hi" leona said shaking hands with them,
"my aunt luna well she's married to my uncle Alton and  that's Megan and mark my cousins"
Leona wave at them,
"Great grandmas chantel and Victoria, great grandpas Ian and cane my grand aunt's Megan emma grand uncle lesman and Noel, and that's my uncle james"
"Hi" leona said  shyly feeling acward in the man's present
"That's gwen, my uncle's girl friend
Leona smile shyly looking sideways at james,
"We were just about to have some chicken sandwich care for one?" Luna asked
"Not that I wouldn't but I don't eat, eat chicken" leona said
James look at the girl standing there he was about to eat his fish sandwich and cut it in half and push it towards her,
Gwen look at him then back to the girl,
"Is that a fish sandwich?" Leona ask
James nod,
"My uncle don't eat meat probably now an then he'll eat a hot dog or a chicken nugget"
Leona smile "that's just like me" she said james went and sat at the table and leona watch him she wonder what about him that make her so nervous he was handsome as hell and she like the way he wore his hair she fix her camera to take a picture of him james lift his head to look her way and leona snap him when he did everyone look when her flash came on, gwen walk over to sit beside james watching as leona look at him continually
"Leona wants to do art in photography" Denoy said
"Yeah" carleen said "how good are you?" She asked
"Very good" leona said
"Sounds confident" luna said
"My mom said I can be anything I want"
Gwen look back at her
"Of course you can dear" Lula said
Leona turn and smile at her,
"So leona did you think of a song?" Denoy asked
"What song carleen asked
"Leona is going to play a piece for us" Denoy said
Leona smile shyly especially to the way Denoy's uncle james look at her, he and his girlfriend gwen,
"Let's hear it" Alton said leading the way into the living room,
James got up and follow he sat close to the piano where leona took her seat,
Because her daughter said she would call isabelle didn't she was a bit worried but trust that she'll be ok she and the family sit and talk
Leona did deck the hall
Gwen thought she play nice just like james would
James nod "not bad" he mouth to his sister
Carleen smile
She did let it snow and the opera piece melodies of life the Spanish version of final fantasy
James got up and went to stand over her at the piano he was mesmerize by that piece,
He applaud her "very good" he said
"Yes that was very good leona" carleen said
"You do music in school?" Luna asked
"No" leona answer
"No?" Almost every one asked
She turn and shook her head
"Your parents taught you?"
"They don't know music"
"That's your special gift" Lula said
"My uncle said that, he's married to my aunt"
"Oh ok" carleen said
James sat next to her and gwen went to stand over them, james started at a key using first a low note he stop and leona did the same matching his notes the family sat and  listen as they play
"Gee you're awesome!" leona said
"No you're I had to study to do this" james smile and hit a another note
Leona smile she thought he was cute, really cute,
James look at her deeply he swore she was with isabelle in his dreams the other night or maybe she was the one instead of isabelle
"So are you going to stay for dinner leona?" Aunt Megan asked
"What for dinner?" Leona asked
"On Saturday we have goat head soup but today because of our visitor we'll prepare something else" carleen said
"Thanks I appreciate it" leona said
James smile he got up and leona eyes follow him around
Leona look around on her eyes caught the paintings on the wall "those are nice" she said
"James paint those" carleen said
"You paint?" Leona ask getting up to look closely,
"This one?"
"That's a friend doing, an old friend rather" james said following her to it,
"It's nice"
"It is"
Leona look around on him he stood with his arms fold and she couldn't resist and took another picture,
"So you do art?" James asked
"Yeah, My pictures are my heart"
"Maybe you can show me your work one day" james said
"Yes leona uncle is into art he owns a gallery and he can get your art sell" Abigail said
"Leona look around on james an smile, "I don't think they'll want to buy my heart" leona said
"Maybe you should let me be the judge of that" james said
Leona smile
The after noon was spent getting to know leona Abigail took her away for a time
"Is she your new girlfriend?" Alton asked
"she is apart of the family she's helping out at the center"
"And that make her your family? She likes you"
"She's not ready for boys" Denoy said
"She's almost sixteen what sixteen years old don't date?" Gwen  asked
James remember isabelle who he dated in college she was not soil until that day they made out six weeks after they started dating she was perfect for him he still misses her
"She puts me in mind of someone I once knew" ema said
That's how james saw her and carleen thought so the day she met her,
"Ah well let's get dinner" Lula said
they sat to have dinner together Leona sit next to James and become so caught up Gwen kept peeking around to see the girl wondering what got her so intense with her man,  half hour later after dinner was finished Denoy got a cab to drop Leona home,
Isabelle was about to call her daughter when the car came and she went out,
"You're here, I was just about to call you"
"Sorry mom I had to stay for dinner" leona said
"That's ok, so how was it?" Isabelle asked
"They were nice to me" Denoy has two sets of  great grand parents"she said
"That's normal" carmen said
"And his uncle an artist" leona said
Isabelle nod, she wasn't sure if she means artist such as herself or dj artist like pdiddy, but she didn't question it,
"So you won't eat?" Isabelle asked
"I'm full" leona said
"So did you have fun?" Carmen asked
"Denoy's family is pretty cool" leona  said
Jeana smile
"Can I go to my room since I won't have dinner?" Leona asked
"Sure baby" isabelle told her,
Leona got to her room and sat with her laptop to up load her pictures she could hardly skip by james she sat staring at him, she didn't bother to up load him she kept him a side on her camera,
Later she while  looking back at him something of him grabs her and she just felt close to him an never ending closeness, she call kayden and told him about the man and how she felt as if they were connected, she talk to Kayden about her personal life about her dad for she had not talk to her mom about him but she always wanted to know who he was, she didn't know from where he comes from and she haven't seen one she could wonder if he was she did like Ralf for her mom is seeing him she knows she had gone out for  dinner with other men,  but ralf she invited in her home and introduce them and by having him  over she came to get use to him,
"How's your family?" Leona ask she was sitting with Denoy watching the tennis games after practice that was the last of it until the pageant on Wednesday
"They're all fine" Denoy told her,
"I like your uncle james he's cute"leona said with a grin
Denoy smile
"He's cool"
"Has she always been his girlfriend?" Leona asked
Denoy know she speak of Gwen "no he shook his head
"Oh" Leona said
"Yes Denoy said
"He paint well"
"He doesn't really paint much now and then put he can tell you what painting is real and how to sell it"
He's in to merchandising and manufacturing art?" Leona ask having heard her mother discussing it with someone
Denoy nods "you think you will ever show uncle your work?" Denoy asked
Leona smile she shook  her head
"why not?"
"They might not meet his expectations" leona said
"Yo just have to see"
"I'll think about it"
"Maybe I'll can take you to see his gallery one day, or to his house"
"Where does he live?"
"I'll show you don't worry" Denoy said
Leona nod
Isabelle came to look for them and find them watching the game she stood with them for  a time before she was ready,
"Will you let leona comes out for Christmas Eve?"Denoy asked
"Where?" Isabelle asked
"My family see a Christmas movies each year we all go together"
"I don't have a ticket" leona said
"If you say yes we can get you a ticket " Denoy said
"What time is the movie?"
"The movie begin at six"
"Well ok"
"Thanks mom" Leona  said
Denoy smile
They say goodbye and left from the present of each other,
James ran through the pictures on his computer to see those of isabelle there was one that made him pause and thought of that little girl from Saturday he didn't know why he kept seeing them from the same eye when all they had in common was is silly imagination he was too desperate to see isabelle again he kept seeing her every where she is even appearing in his dream twice how can he kept thinking of her so much after so many years it wasn't as if they were in the same town and was running into each other, his phone rang and Gwen call to see if he's interested in dinner,
"If you had call me earlier I'm actually on my way to my parents place" he got up and left the office an hour before his work time ended,
"Can I swing by later?"
"I'm not sure if I'll be there early and I don't want you waiting outside" james made an excuse,
"What you doing tomorrow?" Gwen question
"It's Christmas Eve, it's Christmas Eve right yeah tomorrow is Christmas Eve so the family will do a movie together"
"So can I come to the movie?" Gwen asked
"Yeah sure I'll see you there" james hang up and sigh rub his face as he got in his van
"Uncle you're here?" Meg said hugging james
"Hey uncle" mark said
"Uncle" Abigail and Denoy said taking turns to hug him
James sat and cross his thights and relax,
Alton pour him a martini and sat close to him,
"So how is leona?" James asked
"I invite her to movie night" Denoy said
"You did?" Carleen  asked
"Isn't Christel  going to the movies?" Luna asked
"Yes honey you're going to have two girls out on Christmas Eve?" Carleen said
"Leona is my friend" Denoy sad
"Ok if you say so" carlee said
"She said she like uncle james" Denoy said
James smile "I like her she's pretty and awesome" james said with a wide grin
He like her he  had fallen for her the minutes she came in that door as he is so desperately trying to make her someone else he know she won't be but he felt drawn to her as he also felt a slight connection.
Leona lay looking at the picture again that of james she overall him up and down she smile thinking of his cuteness and how much she like him on such short notice, she wonder if he'll really like her work as Denoy said and hope she can one day before she leave for home she still wish her mom could stay what they both do in new York they can do here, she push her things a side and turn the light off and close her eye and pray a silent prayer
" Happy Christmas Eve" leona said walking into the kitchen
They all answer in the same manner,
"Hey honey" isabelle said
Leona comes over to her mother and isabelle kiss her cheek,
"How comes there's no tree lighting?" Leona ask
"Honey they always do that here only a short time after Thanksgiving" isabelle explain
Leona was surprised to know that disappointed she wasn't able to see what tree lighting is like in Atlanta
"I hope I see it next year" leona said
"You will be in school them you won't get here in time" isabelle said
But leona is praying that she will never leave, she never felt so belong to any where like she does here,
"Are we done with gifts?" Isabelle asked
"Later we're going to the mall so we'll pick up if something is to" carmen said
Isabelle had brought most her gift from new York and since she went out she grab a few she got up went out the kitchen a few minutes later when the others finally went out she was putting all their gifts beneath the Christmas tree, "this way I can be sure I haven't miss anyone so far I haven't"
"Can I get a gift for Denoy and Abigail?" Leona ask
Isabelle look at her,
"I'll get it from my savings" leona said
Isabelle look at her,
"Can you take me mom?" Leona ask
"Why not wait until later?" Isabelle asked
"Remember" leona said
"Remember what?" Jeana asked
"She's seeing a movie with Denoy and his family" isabelle inform
Carmen smirk
"So can you?" Leona ask
"If you like I can take you there I have to see the guy at the garage too" uncle rowey said
"Sure thanks I'll be back" leona ran up the stairs for her phone her laptop and money from her savings isabelle wonder what she was going to do "I'm ready" she said and rowey got up to go a long,
"See you" leona called out when she hurry out the door
"Later" they say
"She sure is caught up with this boy" carmen said
"She's just being nice" Jeana said
"Yes" isabelle agreed,
"This is cool" the guy at the photo studio said when isabelle went down to get the picture she had fix of Denoy's uncle james she had gone to get it blown up wit a cute little frame
"Thanks" leona said
"The guy kept looking at it over and over with a huge grin he kept nodding his
The people at the gift shop were with the same reaction when she went to get it gift wrap and buy gift for Denoy and Abigail and she got some gifts for his grand parents and great grandparents,
"Did you finish all your savings buying gifts?" Isabelle asked when her daughter came in with more bags than expected,
"Yes but don't worry mom I'll save it up again"
"I thought you weren't touching that money until you were ready to go to college" isabelle said
"I'll save it back I promise,
Isabelle pout her mouth
"So I went to get gifts for Denoy Abigail and his uncle and went I got there I got gift for his grandparents as well as his great grandparents"
"So how you getting those to them?" Jeana asked
"We're meeting for movie tonight, I should go get ready" she took her bags and went up to her room
Isabelle sigh and shook her head
"She said she's going to make it back don't worry" marlon said
"I thought she would rather buy tickets to the opera" isabelle said
"Opera isn't as important as sharing the joy of Christmas" winston said hugging his daughter's shoulder  "I'm sure she won't regret it" he said
After finding something to wear leona bring her gift to put under the Christmas tree and run back up,
It was while the others were getting ready Denoy send the guy in the cab to get her
"I'll call you when I get there" leona said hugging her mom,
"Be careful" isabelle said
Leona nod she wave to the others hug grandma June and went to the cab,
Because it wasn't yet time for the movie leona went to Denoy's house which was good for she get to give them their gifts they weren't expecting it but was thankful,
James was in the mall he had bought gifts for the family but he thought of getting leona something remember how she love to take pictures and he got her a double lense camera that took wonderful pictures it uses a thumb drive flash card it charges and she could make them into what she want them to, she could even bluetooth it to her computer or laptop and it comes with hmi cards  and make videos and it comes with a nice case 
"You bought yourself a new camera?" Gwen asked it was laying upon one of his center piece in the living room when Gwen came over,
"That's not for me" james said turning to look at gwen,
"Someone else took pictures?"
"That's for Denoy's friend"
"You bought this for her and you haven't even known her for long?"
"She love to take pictures and this is a good camera" james said
James love it and was sure she's going to love it too and enjoy it.