Chapter 103: Chapter 103
''Other things may change, but we start and end with family.'' belifteddotme.wordpress.com
Claire's POV
Gran looked lovely in the dress that we ordered for her. I fixed her hair in a bun and she loved the final look, thanking me profusely. We were ready for the party which would be held on the sprawling lawns of the mansion. Tables, seats, and decorations were already laid yesterday. We went for a vintage theme with a modern twist. We strung a garland made of old photographs of us, gran, grandpa, and dad's childhood pictures and hung it across the floral backdrop where the cake cutting would take place. The guest list included family and a few of grans friends from the neighborhood, uncle Kevin and aunt Sarah.
"Claire, bring mom, everyone's here," said dad coming up and knocking on the door.
I opened the door and led gran out to the lawns where everyone was gathered. I scanned the place searching for Jason, but he wasn't there. Aunt Sarah came forward and hugged me. I remembered dad's words and felt a little conscious in her presence. "I'm soon whisking your daughter away Nate," she said while dad chuckled and my cheeks reddened more.
Gran's eyes glistened when old memories came flooding back as she saw the old pictures that we hung for her. We started singing the birthday song and she cut the cake. My brothers clicked lots of pictures. At gran's special request they performed a dance for her. I gave a solo dance performance while Tristan recorded a video of my performance. We all danced together to the music and involved gran also in our group dance.
We gave gifts to gran and her eyes lit up with excitement. "Thank you everyone for making my birthday so special," she said with eyes twinkling with happy tears. She bonded with her old friends whom dad remembered and invited. We were so happy to be able to make her birthday a memorable one.
We served a gala buffet lunch. Mom, Martha, and I looked after the food availability, ensuring that there was enough hot food, refilling empty trays, and preparing the drinks. Even the boys helped us a lot. Stefan eyed me as I was refilling the jars full of mocktails. "What?" I whispered.
"They're planning your wedding with Jason," he said as I looked at him in disbelief. How could they plan my wedding so early when Jason did not even ask me to be his girlfriend?
"But he didn't propose," I said in confusion.
"Maybe he will soon," he said smiling, wiggling his eyebrows. But when? Were they planning this for a long time? Did Jason know that we were to be married to each other? He never mentioned it once to me. In fact, I don't know what I was to Jason.
I grinned happily though, marrying Jason was my dream since childhood, and now it would come true.
So with a happy smile, I sailed through the party till it was over and everyone took their leave one by one. Dad drove uncle Kevin and aunt Sarah to their New York home. Before leaving aunt Sarah whispered into my ear, " Jason loved your dance, dear." I was stunned. When did Jason see it?
I blushed while she chuckled and left. I glared at the culprit Tristan who might have forwarded my dance video to Jason. I blushed more even thinking about it. We took all the gifts to gran's room and we excitedly opened them together.
Gran was ecstatic to receive so many different gifts. Mom tried to persuade her to shift with us to New York, but she refused to go anywhere. She loved staying at this mansion since grandpa had built it for her. She asked about my studies and my plans for the future. I told her that dad had given me permission to work as a trainee cosmetologist.
We stayed for another day and then left for New York with mom and my brothers. I stayed a day with my family in New York, enjoying my mom's exotic dishes. I was eager to learn a few of the dishes for Jason. Tristan teased me about it but it didn't deter me at all. I would fly back to California with uncle Kevin and aunt Sarah tomorrow evening. So I met Nicola and we spent the day together. I updated her about everything that was happening in my life. She was very excited about my wedding plans.
"I'll be your maid of honor," she said and I agreed.
"Let him ask first," I said and she grinned.
"Oh, he will, tell me how he proposes. Okay?" I nodded excitedly.
"You'll be the first to know," we giggled excitedly.
After a day of shopping, movie, gossip, and yummy food, I returned home and packed to go back to California. Mom was in tears, she repeatedly asked me to take good care of myself. If the need arose, she asked me to contact her and she would gladly visit me in California.
Uncle Kevin and aunt Sarah came to bid their farewell and picked me up to go to the airport. Dad accompanied us and the whole time he chatted with uncle Kevin. Aunt Sarah chatted with me about my studies and life goals. Dad kissed my forehead, "Remember what I told you," he said. I nodded and hugged him back. Of course, I remembered because his approval meant the world to me.
The whole flight, aunt Sarah and I slept and reached aunt Emily's house in the wee hours of the morning. Uncle Kevin dropped me off and drove home. Since aunt Emily was still at Sandy's house and I had arrived unannounced, I was all alone at the house. I went to bed to catch up on my sleep. I felt excited to be back and saw Jason's room bathed in soft lights. Maybe he was still fast asleep. In the morning I could go to Jason's house and surprise him, tell him about my feelings.