Runaway

Epilogue (Part 2)

Nikki was almost flying through the kitchen of their home, trying to get everything ready in time. It was Saturday, the day of Sofia's birthday. Daniel went out to the city to pick up the cake while the kids were playing in the living room.

She was left alone. When she threw a look at the clock, she saw that the guests were going to arrive soon. Once more, she rushed into the dining room to see if everything was on the table. There seemed to be no mistake.

At that moment, she heard the bell.

„Shit!", she said, already running to the door to open them. There were Felicia, Emilio, Susan, and Gill standing at the entrance. The woman was so glad both of their parents made it. She was just looking at them talking to each other and ignoring her. That made her raise her eyebrow. Gill was the first to notice her.

„Honey!", he exclaimed excitedly, spreading his arms and inviting her for a hug. Nikki smiled. She hadn't seen her parents for almost a year.

„You look tired.", Felicia stated, peering through the door.

She invited them in and then exchanged pleasantries with the remaining trio.

„It's madness here!", she replied. „Dan hasn't returned from the city yet. I guess he got in the traffic jam so I'm alone."

Susan and Felicia just exchanged glances.

„We're going to help you then.", her mother said. „Where are Sofia and Chris?"

Nikki gestured toward the living room and the four elderly people immediately saw their grandchildren, in the middle of the game.

„Alright, let's go greet them and give them gifts. We're going to take care of everything. You go upstairs and get ready. Everyone will be here in any minute.", Susan said as Nikki breathed out in relief, smiling gratefully.

„You saved me.", she said. Felicia, Emilio, and Susan were already half-way down to the kids but she stopped Gill.

„Dad, where's Andre?"

The older man sighed.

„Somewhere in Pennsylvania. His studies are giving him so much trouble and he has a lot of things to sort out. He wanted me to apologize on his behalf and to call him so he could wish Sofie happy birthday.", he explained.

Nikki understood her step-brother.

„Well, let's hope his hard work will pay off.", she replied, shrugging and then getting upstairs, leaving happy children screams behind her. Both Sofia and Christian haven't seen Susan and Gill for quite some time, so their arrival in Naples was an immense joy.

As she was getting ready, Nikki was thinking of Andre. He had this big desire to be the best which was a very hard thing to achieve in medicine. It meant that the younger dark-skinned man was almost never at home, in Seattle. Even over the holidays and summer, he would stay in Pennsylvania, working, studying and doing everything, sometimes even impossible, just to fulfill his goal. To be a valedictorian. Nikki was very proud of him, though it meant she wouldn't see him as much as she wants. It was so surprising how that rebellious and clumsy boy grew up in self-confident, hard-working, responsible and, no matter how hard things would get, always smiling man. The thought made her smile too.

Soon, she heard Daniel's voice and the bell from the ground floor. Nikki assumed their guests arrived so she hurried with getting ready, wanting to join them.

As soon as she stepped back to the ground floor, she hasn't even had time to speak and the two hands were already pulling her into an embrace.

„Nikki!", Addison called her name cheerfully. The other woman hugged her back.