I couldn't believe it. I was finally going to meet other families. My palms were sweaty, my heart felt as if it was going to jump out of my chest any minute now, I was just so nervous right now. I had told mom that I'd be back later and that Lucas supposedly wants me back over at his apartment for some reason I wasn't quite sure of as yet- I so hate lying. As I made my way down to meet my family for the first time, all I kept thinking about was whether or not they're going to be as accepting when I finally meet, were they going to judge us in anyway and the fact that I probably smelt like the cakes we were baking-though that's not exactly a bad smell.

The minute I was in the lobby, I immediately knew which sets of people were my family. There was six persons there, an elderly man and a woman, a younger man and a woman around his age and two teenage looking girls. No one needed to tell me that

these people were my grandmother and grandfather, uncle and I'm guessing his girlfriend or his wife and the two girls were their daughters- I couldn't be far off. I tried calming my racing heart and my emotions as I took my time walking towards the group but as soon as I was closer I saw that I wasn't the only one who was getting emotional at the moment. As recognition dawn on their faces as to who I am the older lady covered her mouth with both hands as she stared at me. There were smiles as well as looks of surprise and disbelief on the faces of the others.

(

"Oh my God" the lady breathe out as she met me half way the older man walking towards us.

"Hi" I whispered shyly.

This feeling was overwhelming right now. That's all I could explain this feeling I'm having now as. I was finally standing face to face with my grandparents.

"You look so much like her" the older woman said emotionally as she put both hands on my cheeks. "She looked so much like our Marie... I can't believe it...this is just so..."

"This is just so hard to believe. After over 20 years... Its great to finally meet our other...our first granddaughter" the older man said standing behind his wife "I'm Devon Stewart, your..."

"Grandpa" I finished with a smile as my eyes welled with tears of joy. "I don't know what to say"

"Oh my God..." The older lady sniffled as she pulled me into tight hug.

I couldn't resist hugging her back as well. When we pulled away she started sobbing again and pull me back to her. As I closed my eyes revelling into the hug, I felt my grandfather wrapped his arms around the both of us. I don't know how long we spent like that in that hug but when we pulled back the others were right behind us as well.

"Sweetie your so beautiful, just like Marie... And look at those pretty blue eyes. Oh god, Its such a shame we are just meeting now after all these years" my grandmother said to me wiping her eyes.

"I understand why this happened, Marie must have felt as if we put too much on her, she probably hated us so much... God She must've been so mad at us that..."my grandfather started but I cut him off.

"She doesn't...mom doesn't hate you, in fact she has always missed you guys and felt like you were too disappointed in her because she.... because she got pregnant with me" I said to them.

"Oh no" Sonia said covering her mouth.

"It can hardly believe how much you look like Marie" other man said as he came up to me "Maybe if we weren't so hard on her when we found out she was pregnant, we wouldn't missed out on knowing you all these years. I'm your uncle Marten"

"Mom told me about you... You were the one I tried getting to... I searched the directory... I'm so happy I finally get to meet you" I smiled as I hugged him.

"We're just so sorry this is happening years after when we should have never been separated as a family in the first place... I think we were the ones who caused Marie to leave" Marten said to me.

"Its okay, we meet now"

"I want to introduce you to my wife Brenda. And our daughters Sanya and Selena. Sanya is the oldest" he said to me.

"Hi. Nice to meet you" I said as his wife hugged me and the other two girls. "Sanya? Are you the one I spoke to on the phone?"

"Yeah, that was me" the older girl replied smiling. "Why didn't you just tell me who you are, I would have called grandma and grandpa immediately and gave them your number instead of waiting until they get back"

"I just couldn't. I needed to be sure first" I said to her.

"You're really pretty, is auntie Marie this pretty too? We've always heard of her" Selena asked.

"Uh, thank you. I guess you could say so" I smiled at her.

"Where is Marie? I thought she was going to meet us too?" Uncle Marten asked.

"Does she not want to see us after all these years? I know she probably hate us" grandma said saddened.

"If she's still mad at us, I wouldn't blame her, we did...." Grandpa started before I cut him off.

"No! It's not that. Its just that... She still isn't aware that I was finally able to contacted you guys or that you're even here" I told them honestly.

"What? Oh no, then she's probably going to be mad when..."

"I wanted to surprised her, I'm sure she'll be happy that she's reunited with family after all these years" I said to them "How about I show you to your suite? Lucas, the owner for the apartment complex is my...friend. He's had a family suite reserved and prepared for you guys"

"Okay, that sounds great. But we can't wait to see our daughter once again" grandpa said.

After I led my family to the suite Lucas had reserved for them, I helped them settled in before talking and getting to know each other more. It was all so surreal, this whole thing was just so...'dream like' I mean everything that happened, me growing up without any other family, then mom getting sick and my step father selling me and everything we had just for drugs. Me working as a stripper without any other choice, becoming hooked on drugs, meeting Lucas, witnessing murders, including that of my first serious boyfriend then me living with a mafia underboss, and now meeting with my family who I never knew for twenty two years, it was a lot to take in a at once.

I was able to find out that we had other relatives back in Barbados, which includes grand aunts and uncles as well as cousins. I also found out that Sanya was now eighteen and Selena is fifteen. Uncle Marten had met back in university and have been married for 19years now. Its like they didn't want me to leave but they were all so anxious to see Marie that I told them I had to go get her prepared for such revelation. Grandpa was determined that we should all go out for dinner tonight. I was wondering if they weren't tired after their flight and all but they insisted that we should go out as a family tonight and said I should suggest a nice restaurant and he was going to get reservations for us tonight at 7. I was still nervous about how this was all going to turn out, especially since I haven't told mom anything as yet and the fact that I was supposed to start my new job that Lucas gave me at the club tonight- I just hope he'll understand and let me off the hook for tonight.

***

"Amy what is this all about?" Mom asked as I we walked out to the taxi "What is this surprise?"

"Mom, I can't tell you what the surprise is as yet, you'll just have to wait and see if I tell you what it is then it won't longer be a surprise will it?" I said to her "Just promise me you won't freak out and you'll be happy"

"How can I promise you when..."

"Mom please, just promise" I plead with her.

"Okay, fine" mom sighed "I promise..."

"Yes! Thank you" I smiled at her.

"...that I'll try to not freak out and I'll be happy" mom added. "I can't promise that exactly but I can try. I don't understand what the big deal is, you said we're going out to have dinner then get me this dressed up- I think too dressed up- all for some surprise? This better more than good Amy"

"I promise you it'll be good mom" I smiled at her though I was nervous deep down.

After I had left my family earlier, I went back to Lucas's apartment and called him- I practically begged him to excuse me not being able to work tonight but that my family was here and wants us to go out for dinner and I don't want to disappoint them by telling them I can't. Surprisingly Lucas said it was okay which I was thankful for; Lucas really seem to be getting a bit softer with me although I won't get used to it because I know he can be unpredictable. I had mom that we were going out for dinner tonight to celebrate us being close to each other once again and her on a road to recovery and that I also have a big surprise. I remembered asking her the other day how she would react to seeing her family once again, mom said she wasn't sure but she would probably be so overjoyed and speechless she'd cry. So I was looking forward to the tears, I'd even prepared for it by using waterproof eyeliner and mascara.

Mom was looking really beautiful tonight. She was wearing one of those black dresses which had long sheer sleeves and top and flare at the waist like a blouse with a straight skirt like bottom and black and gold tip pumps. I had gotten dressed in a black dress which was a few inches on my thighs and had a wide v-cut neckline with the straps of the dress crossing in a pattern over my chest along with black heels.

I remembered mom telling me that her parents were somewhat overbearing Christians which had me wondering if they were going to have an issue with our outfits for dinner tonight. I was hoping that over the tears they had tone it down a notch and easing up a bit from all the strict rules or else they were going to be super offended by our dresses and also the fact that their daughter had gotten tattoos. Mom had two tattoos; one around her ankle and one in her back and both of them were visible enough if one is paying close attention. After minutes of driving we had finally arrived at the restaurant.

"We're having dinner at Cajeeni's? Amy isn't this restaurant a bit too... I don't know... pricey for us?" Mom asked looking at me unsure.

"Well maybe, but I think I can afford us dinner her for one evening" I replied "Come on, let's go inside"

"Good evening ladies, do you have reservations?" The hostess asked.

"Yeah, its actually a family table for Stewarts" I said to her.

"Oh sure, this way" she smiled as she began walking in the direction of our table.

"You obviously put a lot of thought into this whole dinner thing haven't you?" Mom asked me.

"I actually did" I smiled "I just thought we deserved this"

"Okay ladies, this is your table. A server will be with you guys soon alright" the hostess announced.

"Oh, thank you" mom and I thank the hostess as she turn to leave.

"Oh, You're here" a voice said drawing our attention to the table.

Mom who hadn't figured out that we were meeting anything finally looked to the table, a million emotions crossed her face at seeing who was there.

"Oh my God" mom said choking up. "I... I don't... Mom? Dad? Marten?"

"Surprise" I said to her.

"Mariean..." grandma said standing up "...My baby?"

"Hi sweetheart" grandpa said to her.

"I-I don't believe this" mom said in disbelief tears already running down her face.

"Its been a long time sis" Marten said smiling.

"Its you guys" mom said crying.

"Yeah, its us" Grandpa said as they pulled mom into a hug.

I couldn't help the tears that escaped from my eyes at the scene in front of me. As mom hugged both parents and brother crying, I knew she wasn't mad but in fact overjoyed and overwhelmed with emotions. I can only imagine how much emotions she was feeling right now, I've experienced my share already. I just know that tonight was going to be a night that mom won't forget and it'll take more than a couple distance to separate us fully like that ever again.

***

End of this chapter but there's still another one ahead 😉 So they've finally been reunited, what do you think happens now?

Don't forget to vote and comment.