MIDNIGHT SUN

CHAPTER THREE

                        
KHALILAH

Today was fun, I learnt a lot of things from Grandma's shop. And her workers are super nice; so this is how it feels to be around people who loves you. I was over the moon, I am so happy. I think Linda and Chelsea would be my friend, they are so nice too... we are almost in the same peer so we would make good friends; just thinking about it makes me happy. Grandma was in her study, she had told me to come see her as soon as I was done with dinner. She looked somewhat serious, I wonder why she wanted to see me. 'Grandma?' I called out as I opened the door, oops! I forgot to knock. She was on her table and was writing down, she looked at me from over her reading glasses. 'Khalilah, come and seat down over here.' She said motioning for me to come over. Curiously, I hurried over to seat on the chair directly opposite her. I wonder what she was writing, during my stay here I want to learn as much as I can. 'What are you writing grannie?' Her features shows light surprise before she smiled again. 'Just an article on our new cake recipe.' She closed the book and pushed it away. 'Khalilah, do you know why your mom brought you here? Did she tell you anything?' She started.
'She said grandpa's death has affected you and you'll need someone to stay with you.' I answered wondering if that isn't the case, she looked too troubled. Is something bothering her?
'How is your mom like to you?' The question is quite surprising, but grandma was not stranger and I feel like I could confide in her. 'Not like she is with my sisters, she doesn't love me like she does to them.' I answered.
'Oh no! Don't you say that, why do you think that of your mother?' She asked almost cluelessly, don't tell me grandma wants to brainwash me. I'm not six years old anymore, I know when someone loves me or not. 'Grandma, I know. There is no need to sugarcoat it, but it's okay now. I don't have to feel unwelcome around my family anymore, I'll stay with you forever!' I suck in a deep breath. 'You have talked to me more than mom ever has, that's the only thing I have ever wished for up until now.' Even though I said that to put her at ease, she still had the look of worry on her face, like she is apologizing.
'Don't worry grandma, I don't hate my mother. No matter what she's my mom and I love her so much.' I wasn't that cruel even though I wish I could hate her sometimes. 'Khalilah I...' she interrupted my train of thought.
'You what?' I asked she stopped and she wouldn't say anything more; she looks pretty desperate to say this. 'I...' now I'm really worried, what does she want to say?
'Grandma, what is it?'
'I love you, Khalilah.' Is that it? Is that why she looks so worried? She wanted to tell me she loves me? I smiled wiping away the tears that was in my eyes. 'I love you too, Grandma.'
         I can't help but feel something isn't right, Grandma is a successful businesswoman, she has a lot of workers and she is very busy both day and night. Since I've been speaking to her, she doesn't seem like the type of person to get lonely that easily. And I can't help but notice those bruises around her eyes and the skin of her hands. She tried so hard to cover them and I began to wonder maybe she didn't get it from tripping. What could be going on? What was the real reason I was brought here? Why did grandma ask me all those questions?
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        'Miss Andrew, Can you come downstairs?' Sheryl said in between knocking, I rolled out of bed. I thought I had retired for the evening, I just came back from the shop recently I haven't even had anything but the cakes I made today. I even fed some of them to Robert, while the rest of the day we were just delivering cakes. I opened the door and met Sheryl with a warm smile. Well, that's weird, she hardly smiles. 'What's going on?' I asked, everyone is just weird.
'Madam Rose is throwing a welcome party for you.' Really? What's that all about? 'I'll be there in a minute.' I closed the door and went back in to put on a more decent dress, I can't imagine Robert seeing me dressed like this. And when I went back downstairs, there was indeed a party going on. There is a lot of food and everyone from the cake shop was here including Robert and the girls.
  I found grandma in the kitchen, she was busy making soup with some of her workers. 'Khalilah, you shouldn't be here. Go and enjoy your party!'
She complained as soon as she saw me walk in the kitchen. 'But Grandma you didn't tell me anything about the welcome party.'