"Grandma Nana " they both shouted running towards her and embracing her frail body tightly.
" Oh my two lovely favorite grandkids " .
" Grandma Nana we are the only grandkids you have " Ayra teased helping her carry her brown big bag she normally visits with.
"Oh yeah but even though I had ten thousand grandkids you two would still be my favorite ".
" Thanks Nana but why are you here unannounced? " Alice questioned wanting to protect her from finding out about her daughter's immoral act.
" Oh Alice you hurt my feelings do I need to call before I visit my family? And where are the two of you headed to anyways " Grandma Nana replied with a question of her own.
" Oh we - we just wanted to get something down the street " Ayra said opening the front door for her ushering her inside.
" She's lying grandma we were planing on running away " Alice stated plainly despite the eye language ayra was throwing her way not to mention anything " It's better we tell her than her finding out like we did and being heartbroken" She replied with her eyes ayra hands akimbo .
If she was surprised at their plan on running away she didn't show it instead she requested for a glass of water and after drinking to her satisfaction she said plainly
" Well now I'm here no one will run away ".
" Grandma Nana if we told you what our eyes saw few hours ago, you would also want to leave this house " .
" Last time I checked you guys were supposed to be in Chinatown till tomorrow so what happened? " She questioned changing the topic.
Ayra stared at Alice seeking for permission, though she was the heart of the whole fiasco it still wasn't her story to tell.
"C'mon guys speak or are you keeping juicy stuff from your grandma ? "
" No grandma it's no big deal something happened therefore we had to return before the stipulated time " Alice replied hoping her grandma Nana would never find out she had fought with someone during the excursion.
" Hmm there seems to be more to the story than meets the eye but you guys ain't willing to share and that's okay " She reassured thinking it was high time they got to business " Where is your mother? "
This one question broke the thread holding together the closed mouths of ayra and Alice, it was as though at the mention of their mom's name their fury resurfaced.
" She's upstairs in her room with a man " Ayra said in a low voice and lowered eyes ashamed on behalf of Catherine to meet her Nana 's eyes .
" Nana can you believe your daughter is cheating on my father?" Alice dropped like a bomb not running in circle like ayra.
There was a brief silence and ayra feared that Nana was too heartbroken to speak
" Erhm Nana Alice was just joking please ignore her, what can I get you? "
" Stop with the pretence ayra the sooner she knows the better for everyone, she might even be able to talk some sense into your mom " .
" When did she suddenly become
" My mom "!?Last time I checked you were her favorite daughter and Nana just arrived, you can't just welcome her with detestable news about her daughter's infidelity " Ayra said in one breath.
Grandma Nana simply looked from one person to another trying to keep up with them and sad on how they were because of their mother's carelessness, they couldn't even bear to call Catherine mom anymore but she was here to change that. " Stop it you two, it's fine ayra I like how Alice doesn't want to keep anything away from me " .
" Thank you Nana " Alice sprouted loudly glad Nana was on her side.
" But Nana I was worried about your health and ain't you upset about the news? "
" Hmm why should I be upset the only reason I'm upset is you guys found out the wrong way " Nana muttered slowly praying that she would say the right things to them.
" It doesn't matter how we found out the bottom line is she's cheating on my fath- "
" Alice love ,your father is dead " She interrupted gently " And that means she's no longer binded to him both legally and physically.
" Yeah dad might be dead but that doesn't mean she should start sleeping around what ever happened to respecting her late husband " Ayra countered in reply.
" My child I understand what you are saying but your dad will never know , I know it's sad but he's gone and ain't aware of how the humans are living " She said starring at their downcasted faces and wishing she had the power to bring their late dad back alive.
" Did she have to bring him to our house? This time Alice was shouting uncaring it was her grandma she's talking to " They both slept in my father's room and bed and no matter what you say grandma my father might be dead but he's still alive in my heart and I can still feel his presence in this place!! " .
" My loves I'm terribly wrong I know what I did is unforgivable but I wanted to tell you guys before now I didn't want you guys to find out like this " Catherine said stepping towards them in the living room with outstretched arms and pale face .
" Oh you finally dismissed him and have time for us right? "Ayra questioned bypassing her arms.
Nana stood up with a light gait she walked towards Ayra and Alice , held their hands together and said " You guys have every right to be angry at your mom but please don't write her out from your hearts because she's still your mom and loves you two so much, you can't begin to imagine the sacrifices she had made for you guys sake "
" Nana why are you supporting her? you are supposed to be on our side not hers " Alice cried hating to see pain in her Nana 's eyes.
" Alice dear I'm on the side of this family and I'm sure your dad wouldn't be happy to see you guys divided " .
" That stranger should never come to our house ever again, I don't care if she sees him outside but our house should be the boundary " Ayra said hating the fact she would never see her mom the same way ever again, everything changed today.
Alice glanced at ayra and knew she will forgive and forget just like the little nice girl she was, " hell why did ayra have to be so good? " She questioned herself .
" I'm tired Nana I will be in my room " Alice muttered quietly going inside her room.
" Alice dear, wait for a moment alice !! " Nana called out but Alice didn't turn back.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!