Since You Been Gone

Since You Been Gone: Chapter 22

One week later:

“Surprise! Welcome home Destiny!” everyone shouted as soon as they stepped through the door. Dawn giggled and Que laughed with his teeth jutting out over his juicy bottom lip. Destiny squealed and jumped down out of Que's arms when she saw Robert.

“Uncle Robby!” she shouted with glee. She ran full speed across the living room and jumped into his arms.

“Hey Des,” Robert chuckled. “We missed you so much, baby! Welcome home!”

“Wow, you guys really did the place up! This is really over-the-top!” Dawn thought aloud, shocked. “Nothing’s too special for my baby!” Que said, tickling Destiny. “Isn't that right Des?”

She giggled and tried to dodge his hands. “C'mon Destiny, let's go open your presents!” Aubrey exclaimed. She was wearing a gold and black-trimmed sparkling dress with black high-heeled shoes, golden hoop earrings, and carrying a gold handbag.

Hanging from the ceiling was a large white and pink banner that read 'Welcome Back Home, Destiny!' It was entwined with white, pink, and red hearts. There were hundreds of helium balloons that floated to the ceiling while the long white strings dangled to the floor like baited worms. In eight different corners of the room were presents stacked like piles of money. They were wrapped in all different kinds of wrapping paper: from pink with red bows to Dora the Explorer ones. The walls were painted hot pink with white horizontal white bars. The floor was sparkled with confetti of different colours.

“Wow!” Que whispered.

“Wow is right!” Dawn repeated. “I hope that paint can peel off,” she said sternly to D. Woods. D shrugged. “You gotta ask Donnie and Aubrey, they did all this!”

“What's with all these presents?” Que said, pointing and strolling over to the biggest pile in the room.

“Oh,” piped up Aundrea, “we all went out and bought Destiny some gifts for when she came home today. I guess we went all out,” she laughed, looking around at all the piles of presents herself.

“Well, whose pile is this?” Dawn questioned, looking at the biggest pile.

“That's Aubrey and Donnie's pile,” Shannon answered.

Que gave Dawn a look that clearly said 'Dang, Aubrey and Donnie must feel real terrible about this.'

“You guys didn't need to buy Destiny all these presents,” Dawn replied waving a hand to indicate the presents on the floor. “There is seriously like one hundred presents here!”

“It's okay, boo,” Aundrea laughed. “You know we love Destiny too! We can spoil her!”

“Its okay, Dawn,” Que soothed. “Just let her have fun, okay?”

“Where is everybody else at anyway?” Dawn asked, ignoring Que. “I haven't seen them yet.”

“They're in the kitchen preparing the food. There's a surprise in there for you too. Both of you guys,” Shannon said with a sly smile. She exchanged glances with Aundrea.

Dawn and Que walked cautiously into the kitchen, following Drea and Shannon.

“Where's our present?” Que said as soon as they stepped through the kitchen. “What the--?”

The island in the kitchen was loaded with all different types of food: tacos, shrimp fried rice, chicken and biscuits, greens, yams, potatoes, ham, turkey, pizza, sausage, steak, and a lot more. On the counter behind it was a long row of drinks (Sprite, Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Coke, Lemonade, water and some alcoholic drinks too). There was all kinds of appetizers (shrimp, crackers, mozzarella sticks) lined beside those.