Chapter Five

Chapter 5: Diamond ring

Selena's POV

The overly covered up girl cried out to the man standing in front of me and he turned around and left. What's up with today?

First a crazy old lady then, Two rich brats. Well, one but... they both look rich.

Next we'll have the circus.

I faced Mrs. Chopper with a smile. "Thank you for what you did earlier." I said resting on the counter. She never stops counting money.

"I also don't like rich brats like them. Especially the arrogant one like that missy earlier. The man still felt okay."

"I noticed too. He has his hands filled with that girl. But, they look great together."

"They are rich why won't they?" She picked up one of Fred's cupcakes I gave her earlier. She took a big bite and the icing was all over her face making me laugh. She suddenly picked pieces of tissue and spat inside.

I became alarmed. Is something wrong with the cupcakes?

"Mrs. Chopper? What's wrong?" I asked stroking her back. She cleaned her mouth and opened the tissue to my face.

I was dumbfounded at what was in the tissue. I sighed heavily and slammed my forehead with my palm.

Mrs. Chopper just got more tissues as cleaned the object.

"A diamond ring" She announced placing it close my eyes and I had to force myself to believe.

What's Fred thinking?

"So you guys are a thing now?" She placed the ring in front of me and took another cupcake.

"Of course we are not a thing. He's just my neighbor." I sighed and picked up the ring a frown slowly forming on my face as I kept staring at it

" He has stable income and a house. Didn't you say he has a daughter? You don't need to go through child birth again" She asked with her mouth full and I looked up at her. She has already eaten three cupcakes. Those cupcakes are disappearing too fast.

"You can send her to boarding school." She shrugged.

"I'm not even considering dating Fred. I have to take the rest of my shift off. I have to settle this." I waved the ring as I walked to the locker room.

I quickly changed away from my work clothes. I picked my bag up and the green old book fell. I thought of the old woman again. She didn't look normal and she didn't seem average.

How do I return this book?

I flipped through the pages again and at the last page I saw a number. Perfect!

I dialed the number and at the first ring the other side hung up. Rude! I scrolled through my phone for a while, checking my mails and messages and a call came in. It was the number I dialed earlier.

"I… um.  Hello?" I got no answer and looked at the phone. It had turned off. This stupid battery is worsening every day.

I tried.

I placed the book in my bag and waved good bye to Mrs. Chopper as I left the eatery.

Closing the door of the eatery I saw the old woman that came bye earlier. A taxi driver was yelling at her. It wasn't looking good.

"Excuse me sir?" I said to the taxi driver. He was fuming.

"What?" He yelled at me, his face looking like he wanted to punch me.

I took some steps away from him to the side of the old man.

"I know this woman, is anything wrong?" I placed my hand on her shoulder

"She's telling me that she's waiting for someone in the taxi and that, the person would pay."

"He will come. He's very rich. Our family is very rich. He'll come. Tell this man to leave me be." The old woman said holding my arm and we both turned to her. I looked into her eyes and it reminded me of myself. This was exactly how I pleaded with a doctor eight years ago when my mom was really sick.

She really wasn't okay.

"How much is the fare?" I asked determined to help her out even though I was broke.

"Fifteen. Cash or Code?" He brought out his phone for me to scan the QR code.

"What? Where did you pick her from?"

"Pay me or not before I call the police." He slammed his car.

I sighed. I don't have a single dime with me. I ran back into the eatery.

"Mrs. Chopper can I have an IOU of fifty dollars?" I said slowly with the sweetest smile ever.

She just took a quick glance at me before sighing and handed me the fifty dollars from the money she was counting

"Thank you so much." I said as I dashed out.

"Here you go" I said as I paid the driver then turned to the old woman.

" You have to leave the taxi ma'am." I said softly

"You don't understand my dear. He said I should wait for him here." She smiled at me.

She's really stubborn. What to do? What to do?

"I know where he is. We could take a relaxing walk there." I smiled at her and her eyes widened and glittered in happiness.

"Really? Then what are we waiting for?" She laughed and left the taxi. She passed her arm through my right hand and tugged on it, resting her head.

This is going to be a long walk.

"I've changed my mind. Let's not keep him waiting. How about we take a taxi?" I smiled at her and she nodded enthusiastically smiling form ear to ear.

I hailed for a cab.

As the cab was moving she looked out the window through out the entire ride her hands placed on the glass. She behaved like a child eager to go to an amusement park.

I brought out the novel and gently tapped her

She looked at me with a smile and I waved the book in front of her face.

"He gave you the book? You really know where he is?" She asked surprised

Wait! What's going on here? No one gave me the book.

"Yes, he did. But, it doesn't have a title." I played along. Maybe I'll get to know more about her.

"Typical, Jamie. He won't tell you the story." She looked like she was remembering something as a tear dropped from her eyes.

"We are here" The driver said as he quenched the engine. The old woman quickly cleaned her eyes and opened the door.

I hurriedly paid the driver and dashed to the other side to guide her to Fred's Café.

"Where is he?" She scanned the surroundings

I acted like I was checking the time on my phone and slammed my forehead and sighed.

"We are ten minutes early. How about I treat you to a cup of steaming hot rose tea. It's really good for the body." I said softly stressing 'steaming hot'

She smiled at me and nodded.

I led her to the Café and smiled at Fred as our eyes met.

"Aunty Lena!" Victoria, his daughter ran towards me and hugged my waist.

"Vicky! Hey! You didn't go to school today?" I asked as I pinched her cheeks

"I have a fever." She said with a frown. Stretching her hand which had a bandage plastered on it.

"Vicky, come here. Let Aunty Lena settle her guest first" Tyler said calling out to Victoria stretching a juice box to her as bait. Victoria, the innocent child fell for the plan and ran to Tyler as fast as her little legs could take her.

I led the old woman to a table beside the window and walked to Fred

"One rose tea. Make sure it's steaming hot." I said.

"What's with the old woman? Your grandma?" He asked as he prepared the tea.

"I don't know the old woman but, I felt sorry for her. So, here we are now " I said.

"You picked up an old woman from the road?" He asked surprised.

"Not like that." I said as I picked up the tea. I slowly walked to the table so as not to let the tea pour

"Here you go. It's hot. Let's let it cool for a minute." I said as I placed it in front of her.

"Can you do my hair for me. I haven't seen him in four years. I want to look different. I'm always in this old ugly ponytail."  She laughed and the last phrase made me laugh. I stood up and removed the rubber band from her hair.

Her hair was really soft, full and glossy. It already had some strands of white hair but the black color was still sharp. It was simply exquisite.

"It's ticklish" She said and laughed harder and louder.

She was simply as happy as a woman who had just given birth to her first child. The person she wants to meet must be really important to her.

"Who's Jamie?" I asked as I used my fingers to comb her hair.

"My husband" She laughed. Why did she laugh after saying that?

"Grandma dad said I should give you this" Victoria jumped up and down in front of the old woman holding a piece of brownie.

The old woman laughed harder again carrying Victoria to her laps and poked her nose biting the brownie from her grip.

"Thank you!" She raised her hand for an high-five.

Earlier today she looked like she was close to 80 years but right now she even looks younger than my dad. Her laughter didn't break for a second.

"Is it your husband you are waiting for?" I asked and the door of the café flew open. Everyone looked to the direction and my eyes glued to the man that just stepped in. I was awestruck. What was he doing here?

He walked calmly, no! Majestically while buttoning his tuxedo jacket. It was like time had stopped and he was the only moving. With each step he took, I felt my heart beating really fast.

Did he come all the way to get revenge on me ?

" Miss Jones." He said as he arrived in my front.

"Who's this Aunty Lena?" Victoria asked but her voiced merged with background noise. All my attention was on the man that just called my last name as I asked myself millions of questions in my head.

He coughed out and I snapped back to reality.

"What can I do for you?" I carried Victoria away from the granny's laps. Holding her in my arms.

I carried Victoria as some sort of protection. He wouldn't do anything to me if I'm carrying a child. Right?

He completely ignored my question and squatted in front of the old woman.

"Grandma, are you okay?"

He just called the old woman his grandmother!