" What is that?" Abi said trying to process what she found in the box. Abi was holding a picture of her parents hugging but on the picture her parents looked younger. Like in their early twenties with three younger men who she thought were maybe their friends as they were hugging each other and looked very happy as if they were celebrating something.
One that Abi identified as uncle clark hugging them from the back and the second man beside her father with one of his arms around her father's neck, who after searching in every part of her brain she could not identified. When Abi eyes felled on the last guy her mouth was left opened.
" Jefrey!!" Abi almost yelled.
" How? when?... why? " Abi tried to construct a sentence but this was the only words that could escape from her mouth.
Abi was confused as to how Jefrey would have known her parents before he started dating her mom. Abi knew she and her mom, few months after her father died, they travelled to another country because apparently her mother could not take it anymore, living in the same house where her dead husband used to live. At that time, Abi did not want to leave the house where she passed the most beautiful childhood with her lovely dad and lovely childhood friends, who after she left lost all contact. when the cab her mother called to leave them at the airport came, Abi cried so much while holding her father's favourite watch and a small picture of him the only things she could keep of her father as they packed almost nothing because her mom insisted in the fact that bringing more things will only bring back her dad memories which her mom wished to forget.
Selling their house and all what the left in. Elisa took the money and Abi, leaving all behind. After some years her mom started dating Jefrey and later introduced them to each other. Abi was first reluctant at the idea of another man in their lives who was not her father but upon seeing her mother happy, she changed her mind, and she finally gave in, and Jefrey was not that of a bad man she thought at that time finally taking her final decision.
Abi rarely talked about her father with Jefrey but when she did, he never showed sign of him knowing her father. Abi even remembered that one time she felt so sad due to the fact that it was her father birthday and then Jefrey approached her, and he said," He was surely a good person and a very good dad" while hugging her, trying to comfort her.
Abi was left confused; Abi started thinking that may be her suspicions were true and Mr.t was just someone trying to create disorder in her mind and turn her against her family. But why would he do that and if her suspicions were wrong why would he want to help her found the truth and why now, Abi thought, adding it to her list of questions without answers. "The photo was kind of old to leave doubt of being a faked one and even if it was, how did they manage to group all of them in one frame." Abi reasoned.
_ _ _ _ _
Everybody was taking breakfast apart from Madi who seem to have enjoyed herself at the party a little bit much and was still sleeping till know. Everybody knew that waking up Madi was like having a death wish. Josh was in his cradle busy playing with his toys. Elisa and Jefrey were sitting beside each other while Abi sat beside Ray facing their parents not because she wanted to but apparently because Ray wanted to.
"It seemed like he slept late and of all the available sits he decided to sit beside me" Abi entirely cursed. After she left him yesterday without any words the awkwardness was more than unbearable, or it was more like she did not know what to say leading to them eating beside each other in complete silence.
" So how did you sleep Ray?" Elisa finally broke the silence between them.
he humm in responds, ending a dead stare from his father.
" I mean i slept well" Ray corrected himself then continued eating.
" Running away from morning lectures " Abi whispered with a smirk, her eyes still on her plate, thinking that nobody heard but not knowing that her words caused the one beside her to smile.
" And you Abi, did you sleep well?" Jefrey asked
" Well... actually no" Abi responded waiting for the next question she knew he would ask.
" What happened? bad dream?" Jefrey asked with a worried expression Abi knew too well.
" Actually, i dreamed of my father and mom last night" Abi said with a sad face while shifting her eyes from Jefrey to Elisa, and as always Elisa facial expression changed so fast. She seemed sad at the same time upset but she kept quiet. Abi then shifted back to Jefrey while analysing his face for any suspicious slight change in expression but nothing. Then she added
" But they were younger, and there were these three young men too and one of those young men looked like you, Jefrey. In fact, it was you and you seemed very close to my Fath...". Abi was cut short by her mother. Abi then noticed a slight change in Jefrey expression. His eyes were slightly opened and is as if he wanted to say something, but he kept quiet.
" I think we should finish our breakfast now and Abi don't you need to be at the airport soon to welcome Liam" Elisa said obviously trying to change the topic.
" Oh yes, mom you're right" Abi said not continuing her test. If Abi was smart, her mother was smatter. Her parents were called the genius couple back then. So, continuing this small test of hers will only lead to her mom finding out later or sooner or maybe she already does suspect something and honestly, she felt bad doubting the person who took care of her as his own daughter for so many years now.
" Oh, Liam your best friend's brother" Raymond finally spoke
" Humm yes..." Abi responded, wondering how he still remembers Liam after all these years.
" I can drop you off at the airport" Ray said, which sounded more like an order than a question, who caused a series of stares from everyone. especially from the one concerned.