Quote of the day : Never forget that karma is a bitch that has no friend.

     
     "Come on Greg, just tell me the surprise already," Nora asked eagerly again and he totally ignored her. What's the use of the surprise if he tells her what it is now?

       "Lemme guess surprise birthday party at some fancy restaurant. Definitely Davis, Ashley, and Chloe are there preparing. Or what," she tried again and he still ignored her.

    It was her birthday, and he had vowed to make her happy, he just hopes this surprise makes her as happy as he had presumed and that it also makes his Ashley happy. He drove on ignoring the whiny birthday girl seated beside him.

       "Greg!" She tried yelling also and he still ignored her. For real ignoring her was starting to get fun, "you are an asshole."

      "You don't call your own brother an asshole," Greg said not quite believing his ears. He glanced at her and saw that she had that cute pout on her face again, and it was funny. "Whoever told you that you are pretty whenever you pout. Tell that dude he is lying! Okay."

     "Greg!" she exclaimed hitting his upper arm, and did he feel it, yes, he did. Wherever did she learn to throw punches like that. "Its always you and Davis that tells me how cute I am when I pout."

       "It is either we were lying, or the both of us need a serious eye checkup," he said laughing.

    Nora didn't reply him but instead awarded him with series of punches. He just kept on laughing. No matter how painful the punches were he wasn't gonna budge. When he got to their destination, he drove into the compound with a wary smile on his face, he was scared on how Nora would react. He needed her to be happy.

     "We are here," he said.

    "Is this it, did you by any chance buy this mansion for me as a birthday present." Nora asked as she stepped out of his car, staring at the building before her with admiration. He couldn't look at the building that way, this was where all the memories lied, everything, and he had brought her there. "Where is my keys? Hand it over."

      "Let's go in, your surprise is waiting," he said ignoring her outstretched hand. He walked into the house with Nora closely beside him.

     "Wait what, the house is not the surprise, then what is it? I'm dying out of curiosity here."

     "We are almost in Nora," he said opening the door to the house. Once he was in his smile faltered a bit, he was scared as to how Nora would take him bringing her here, would she be happy?

      "Son, is that you? I'm in the kitchen," he heard his father's voice call out to him. Greg hesitated before going into the kitchen. He hated that particular place in the house, he couldn't take out the unpleasantness that comes with it. He was about going in when a tiny hand pulled him back, he turned to see Nora's blue eyes glassy with unshed tears, he went closer to her immediately not being able to bear slight tears on Nora's face. If she didn't like it there then he wouldn't hesitate to take her out.

      "Is this my surprise?" She asked him, close to tears. He couldn't tell if she was happy or sad which was killing him slowly. "My Father?"

   "Yes Nora, this is it," he took in a deep breath as he said this. "I'm sorry if its..." His rambling was cut off when Nora hugged him tight.

      "Thanks Greg, you are the best brother anyone could ask for," she said sobbing into his shirt. Greg was very happy that she was happy. He hugged her closer grateful to the fact that he listened to Ashley, and more so for the fact that he had an Ashley in his life.

      "Now we should go to him, father might think a shark swallowed us, its not like the sitting room is so far from the kitchen." He pulled out of her hug and wanted to lead her in when she stopped him again, "what again Nora. Don't worry, you are still getting a party okay, at my house, Chloe and Davis are preparing it."

      "That's not it," she said growing nervous. "Do you think he would like me? Would he be happy with my presence?  I..."
 
       "Nora." He placed his hand on her shoulder looking into her eyes, "if there is something I'm sure of, it is the fact that father loves you, a lot."

     "Really?"

    "Yes, let's go to him now."

    "Okay," she said with a careful smile. He took hold of her hand and squeezed it reassuringly before leading her to the kitchen. Getting in, he saw his father busy with baking, and he almost couldn't stop his laughter. Baking was something his father loved to do, his early birthdays were spent at home with his father baking. So he couldn't resist when his father had asked that he bake the cake for his daughter's birthday, and for the surprise he has for Ashley.

      "Son," his father said turning to face him, his face went white with shock when he saw Nora beside him, now what could he do?

     It felt awkward, he didn't know what to do, was he supposed to introduce them or what? He was really conflicted as he watched the father and daughter stare at each other like long lost relatives. And they were indeed long lost. His little conflict didn't last long as his father went closer to Nora and pulled her into a hug.

      "My daughter," he said with a croaky voice. And for the first time in his life, he actually saw his father cry.

    "Dad." Nora's hand went around him too, and she also started her own round of tears. He smiled at the fact that he didn't need to do any form introduction, he was indeed happy. It was a huge surprise that this made him happy. Whenever he thought of his father meeting Nora what he had always felt was nothing but anger and hatred, but seeing Nora and his father this way changed his life. Another thing that made him happy was the fact that, finally he had a good memory of this kitchen to replace the bad one with.

    "Happy birthday daughter," his father said pulling out of the hug and staring at her face. "I'm so sorry for never been in your life."

       "Its okay Dad, you are here now," she said hugging him again.

   As much as he was happy, he would like to also say the melodrama was getting too much, it was all beginning to look like a soap opera. Right now he would prefer to be with Ashley, but he had to spend the day with his family, and then go get Ashley for her surprise.

   Greg glanced at the wall clock wondering if the time was anything near 7pm, and the stupid clock was at 11am. He should really buy a new wall clock for this house.

_________________

   Ashley looked at the kitchen, she had prepared several dishes out of boredom, it was really tiring. The boredom was infuriating, Chloe had gone to God knows where. And Greg, well it was Nora's birthday and she was glad Greg had taken her advice and chose to celebrate it by spending time with their father. It must be fun for them.

   And she was right here, still with her broken wrist, which was thankfully healing fine as the physiotherapist has said. She was really bored in a house,  and in a house bored.

     The shrilling sound of her phone ringing gave her a little heart attack, it was official, she needed to change the ringtone. Who the heck uses some loud jazz music for ringtones? Only the foolish ones who loved mini heart attacks.

     She fished out the phone from her apron pocket, her whole being sprang to life as she saw the caller. "Hey Greggy."

     "You must really miss me, you sound so enthusiastic," she heard his voice say.

      "I do." Well there is no point hiding it.

     "Well you don't have to miss me too much, I'm coming over to your place now."

   "My place?" She asked as though he hadn't just said it.

    "Yes love, we are going on a date."

    "A date, how close are you?" She asked, trying to gauge the amount of time she had to prepare before he got there.

     "I'm almost at your place."

    "What! And you just thought of calling me now. You know what, when you get here just let yourself in, the door is open." She hung up the call at that and ran into her room.

  Damn, she needed to shower, there were food particles all over her body. She stripped and headed straight for the bathroom. Twenty minutes into washing her hair she heard her room door open.

     "Greg, is that you?" She asked, although she knew he was the one. It doesn't hurt to be sure, right?

    "Yes mi amor," his all too sexy voice called from her room.

     "Can you help me pick out a clothe?" She asked. She knew she had to be quick. She hurriedly washed her hair, she just had to, some food particles had fallen into it. Believe it, it was hard washing hair with just one hand.

      "Do I pick out underwear too?" She heard his voice ask. She could hear the smirk in his voice without even seeing him. What a pervert.

     "Yes please," she called out. Its not like it is anything he hadn't seen, but could she be more wrong.

   When she finally finished up, she stepped out of the bathroom in a bathrobe, her right hand running though her hair with a towel. She still needed to blow dry it though, well Greg Would have to wait, that is what he gets for calling her late.

    Stepping into the room, what she saw with Greg shocked her to her bone marrow, at that instant she saw everything falling out of place. First off the towel fell out of her hand. She watched Greg as he walked closer to her, the mask in hand. She knew he could recognise the mask, yes he could, her father had given her a very rare black mask. There were several emotions playing on his face, for once Greg wasn't eager to hide his emotions.

    As he stepped closer to her, she stepped back, tears stung her eyes as it dawned on her that this was it. He already knew who she was. Ashley stopped moving and watched Greg move closer to her, he placed the black mask on her face, and right then she heard him let out a gasp. She knew what he was seeing, with her auburn hair still wet and falling in soft tendrils around her, and her hazel eyes piercing his through the hole of the mask, he must see her. The girl from two years ago, the one who had done such injustice to him.

Ashley knew her time was up, she had let her guard down and almost forgotten who she was. She also knew there was no hiding it again, he could see, so she did the next possible thing she could do.

      "I'm sorry," Ashley said, breaking down into a puddle of tears at his feet.

  Chapter forty nine.
Mary Aden.