Caught In A Name

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Richard looked at his youngest sister as she asked her questions in rapid succession. The surprise and excitement in her face evident. In fact she was dancing on her toes due to excitement.

"Mom! Dad! There's a baby in the house. I heard it. Don't tell me I'm imagining things Ate Rizza because I clearly heard it! There is a baby, right Kuya?!? Right?" Angela asked, her face flushed and her eyes brimming with excitement.

"RJ?" Rosalia asked with trepidation, her face a little unsure and a lot confused.

"Que signifie cela [What's the meaning of this?]?" Richard Sr. asked.

"Mom. Dad. Yes there is a baby in the house. Her name is Charmaine." Richard confirmed.
"Angel baby, Maine alla voir le bébé. Pourquoi ne l'attendons-nous pas dans la bibliothèque [Maine went to see to the baby. why don't we wait for her in the library?]" he added, addressing his overly eager, overly excited youngest sister.

"Oui chérie. Attendons dans la bibliothèque. Parce que maman ne peut plus prendre de nouvelles étonnantes aujourd'hui [Yes sweetheart. Let's wait in the library. Because mom can't take anymore shocking news today]" Riz remarked sarcastically, through gritted teeth while staring down her older brother.

And as the group of four were heading towards the library, both Elvira and Lucy emerged from the upstairs landing.

"Rose? Richard? Qué estás haciendo aquí? No sabía que ibas a venir [what are you doing here? I didn't know you were coming.]" Elvira called out at the top of the stairs. She rushed down to greet the newcomers.

"Ten cuidado hermana. Usted puede caer y romper algo [Be careful sister. You might fall and break something!]" Rosalia yelled back as she watched in fear while Elvira flew down the long staircase.

"Mon Dieu! Vous n'êtes plus jeune [my god! you are not young anymore!]" Richard Sr. exclaimed.

"Stop swearing at me in your language Richard! Even if I don't understand most of what you're saying, I know you're not saying something good" Elvira agitatedly stated as she went straight to Rosalia and the two older ladies hugged like long lost sisters. "¿Cómo está tu hermana? [how are you dear sister?]" she asked after pulling back to look at her oldest friend. They're not sisters by blood but they are by heart. They've been friends since God knows when. They've helped each other raise their children respectively. There wasn't anything stronger than a bond forged by hardships and trials. And that's exactly what the two ladies share.

Elvira gave Rosalia one last kiss to her cheek before she stepped back and turned to the two Faulkerson girls.

"Hola mi Clarizza. Cómo estás mi linda chica [How are you my pretty girl]?"

"I'm a lot better Mamita now that Kuya RJ is home. Even if I am more confused than eveeerrrr" Riz responded exaggeratedly coupled with her eyes rolling back into her head.

"Que? What is there to be confused about?" Elvira asked, clearly confused herself.

"MAMITA! MAMITA! There's a baby in the house! I heard a baby in the house! Can I see the baby?" Angela excitedly asked as she jumped up and down.

"Si Angel baby. Su nombre es Charmaine. Ella es hija de tu Kuya Ricardo y Ate Nicomaine [Her name is Charmaine. She is Kuya Ricardo and Ate Nicomaine's daughter]" Elvira explained to the child not realizing that she just opened a can of worms to which everyone wasn't ready for.