Chapter 31: Chapter 31

I just got home from a long flight from Spain. I did not tell anybody that I am going home and I am so excited to see the look on their faces once they saw me. I have a lot of stuff for them as well. I am in a cab on the way to our home but when I get there no one is around. Also, our house has signage where it says house for rent in it so I was astonished what was going on?

"Hey, Aunt Lilia. Where is my family?" I asked one of our neighbors and she was surprised to see me.

"Oh, Emily it's you. How come you did not know that they had already moved out one month since you got to Spain?" She asked wondering why I did not know a thing or two about my family's transfer.

"Well, they did not mention it to me. I did not inform them that I'm coming home because I want to surprise them." I explained.

"Okay, I see." She said while nodding.

"Do you have any idea Auntie about their new location?" I asked.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Emily but I don't know." Aunt Lilia replied.

"It's okay Auntie. I'll contact Kimberly for sure she knows where they are." I said and waved goodbye to her.

I decided to just stay in a hotel for the meantime while looking for my parents and brothers. My luggage is very heavy because of a lot of souvenirs and assorted stuff for my family. It was a big relief for me that Rick was still asleep when we landed and up until it's time for me to go home. I am a bit worried right now that he might cry and have tantrums when he wakes up and find out that I am no longer with him. At the same time, I am so excited to see my family. I miss them so much.

My boss even asked me if in case Rick will demand to be with me, I will stay in his parent's home which I agreed upon immediately. I could never say no to that child. I love him so much like he is my own son. It is still a question to me why I feel this way and as to his father, it also strange that he is always in my dreams. I have these weird dreams for almost four months now that we are together in a very familiar room. The dream that I had before about a man with a blurred face that I make love with has a face now and it is no other than my boss Federico Altagracia, Sr. I usually get goosebumps every time I remember the scene from my dreams because it was like it did really happen. The dream seems as though it is real.

"Taxi." I am glad that I immediately found one and I don't need to walk an extra mile just to get a cab.

"Where to Miss?" The taxi driver asked.

"To a nearest hotel or pension house," I replied.

"Okay." He said and helped me with my luggage.

"Thank you," I said

It did not take long and we immediately reached the hotel so I pay the driver and checked in. I have been dialing Kimberly's number but she is unavailable so I decided to go out and go to the school where she works but when I get there the security guard of the school told me that Kimberly already resigned. Still I went to the principal's office to get more details and maybe inform me about Kimberly and the security guard did not hesitate to let me in since he knows me because I also worked here before. I am now at Mrs. Jackson's office our principal and she was so happy to see me. But what she told me really shocked me to the core.

"Kimberly resigned a month ago. She will get married soon." The principal said.

"With whom, Mrs. Jackson?" I asked.

I can't believe she is getting married. She never told me about it. I was hurt to know that she never told me about a very important thing in her life. What is happening, Kimberly? I asked myself.

"How come you don't know she is your best friend? She never told you that she got back together with her boyfriend?" The principal's question brought me back to reality.

"No, Ma'am." I simply replied.

"You two did not have a communication when you were in Spain?" She asked again.

"Well, at first we do. But later on, she does not call me anymore." I said.

"I see, so I guess you do not know that she already moved out to her apartment." Mrs. Jackson said.

"No, Ma'am," I said.

"Well, she moved in with her boyfriend's apartment and I'm sorry to tell you Emily I have no idea where her boyfriend's apartment is." Mrs. Jackson informed.

"Thank you so much for informing me, Ma'am. I was really thinking of going to her apartment." I said.

"No problem, Emily. I will try to ask the teachers maybe one of them knows her boyfriend's address."

Mrs. Jackson said.

"Okay, Ma'am. I'll go ahead." I said before waving goodbye.

I feel like I am so lost at the moment. It seems that they do not care about me anymore or they are hiding from me. I know it might sound that I am exaggerated or something but I can't help but feel hurt. I feel like I am neglected, forgotten, and unloved. I am not so used to this kind of feeling. I don't know how I get to the hotel absentmindedly. I was on my way to my hotel room when I saw two familiar women in the hotel's cafeteria. The woman facing my direction is Mrs. Altagracia and the woman who is in front of her has her back facing on mine though I can't see her face, I am really sure she was my mother.

Something is really fishy, how come they know each other? I stepped inside the cafeteria to see my mother and to tell her I am there. I have a lot of questions to her as well. I was about to call her but I heard Mrs. Altagracia mention my name so I did not declare my presence because of curiosity. I don't want to eavesdrop but I am really curious and somehow my instinct told me to continue listening to them. My heart was beating very fast.

"Emily is working for my son. She is babysitting her own child." I was so confused with what I heard.

"I know Kimberly told me." My mother said while crying. I noticed both of them are crying.

"What are we going to do now?" Said Mrs. Altagracia.

"This is all my fault. Now God is punishing me." Mother said.

I was so confuse with what they are talking about. They are talking about me and what does Mrs. Altagracia said I am babysitting my own son? How did that happen? Rick is my son? I was so confuse and my head is starting to feel so much pain. There are lots of scenarios and events that flashing to my mind and I can't bear the pain.

"Mom!" I screamed as pain attacks my head. They look at my direction and I saw horror on their faces.

"Emily!" Mom said. I saw fear in her eyes but when she realized I am in pain she panicked and got really worried.

"Mom, it hurts." I said while holding my head.

"Let's take her to the hospital. Help!" Mrs. Altagracia's voice was the last thing I heard before I lost my consciousness and darkness take me.

=SARSI=