For Your Eyes Only

Chapter 27: Proposals

December 24, 1997

It has been a couple of weeks since Kenya's return and things are starting to return to where it was before. Kenya returned to work a week after returning to many people stating they were glad she was fine. Jordana rolls her eyes at them, remembering the whispers these same people were making when Kenya was gone. The office decides to throw a Christmas/ New Year's party as everyone will be off for the holidays. Like two girls excited for a snow day, Jordana and Kenya join the party until the end of the workday.

Later, Rob sets up one large package and a smaller one at his apartment. The larger one has a book with photos and writings of both him and Kenya inside and the smaller one is a surprise. He hears a knock on the door and hides them both from sight. When he opens the door, he gets quite a surprise of his own.  "Hi, Rob!" Kendra says. coming inside. Kenya's family come in to surprise her for the holidays this year. "Hey everyone! I wasn't expecting you to show up" he says. "Kenya always comes to us on the holidays, so we thought it's time we come to her this year" Abdou says. 

Luckily, the snow was not too heavy, so traveling was relatively easier and the news about the exposure after Thanksgiving has died down as well. The only good things that occurred were the concierge that allowed the reporters in got reprimanded and the reporters haven't returned since that night. The one thing that was requested was Kenya being asked to speak on her disappearance. While Rob didn't think it was a good idea, it was up to Kenya to decide what to do and he would stand by whatever choice she makes.

Kenya comes home hours later and is tired but excited for tomorrow morning. Christmas is a special time for her, where she would go to see her family and share a wonderful time together. Someone knocks on her door and she answers it. Kenya sees Rob, wearing a mistletoe on his hat. "Hey , look who's under the mistletoe?" he says, smiling. This makes Kenya laugh, as she kisses Rob and he comes in. "I got a surprise for you". Rob opens the door and calls out "OK, she's here". Kenya wonders who Rob is talking to, when her parents, brother and sister come into her apartment.

"Mom! Dad! Kendra! Denzel!" Kenya goes to hug them. "Surprise!" her mother says. "What are you all doing here?" Kenya asks.  "We came to celebrate Christmas with you" Denzel says. "You are?". "Yeah, we feel bad about what happened to you and Rob, so we wanted to come to visit you" Kendra says. "There's more to it than that" Abdou says. "When Denzel told us you had gone missing and he left to help find you, it gave us time to think. We...we could have lost you..." her mother cries. "Mom, please don't cry. I'm OK now" Kenya tells her. "I know, but the last thing we did was leave you when you needed us". 

Abdou continues. "We didn't realize the part we played in you not knowing who to trust, until Rob told us about you going to get treatment". Kenya looks at Rob, wondering why he would tell them about her seeking help. "It's not his fault, it's ours. In Senegal, you are seen as a child to your elders, no matter what age you are and what you do, but we sometimes forget it's not that way here. In order for children to grow up into happy and well-adjusted adults, we as parents should grow up with them...and we haven't always followed that lesson. We're sorry for making you feel you couldn't come to us, Kenya". Denzel and Kendra apologize as well. "We apologize to you too, Rob. We should have at least asked for your side of the story, instead of rushing to harsh judgments". Both Rob and Kenya accept their apologies and a soft melody plays.

Aminata starts to sing "Joy to the World" and everyone starts to join. 

December 25, 1997, Christmas Day

The next morning, everyone is awake and come together for a morning prayer. They each say what they love about themselves and each other. Every person exchanges their gifts. Rob gives the larger package to Kenya and she opens it. It's an album with pictures of the both of them and a song he wrote for her engraved inside. There is a copy of one of her'rejected' pieces inside and a page with many signatures and loving messages to her.