Chapter Two.

After the gathering ended abruptly, Lina headed back to her former room to grab her bag and sunglasses. 

She walked out of the room right into Christopher whom she guessed was also getting ready to leave. 

'You're not staying?' Christopher asked.

'Of course, not. My things are the hotel I lodged at.' Lina replied. 

'I should have known that, when you showed up here with no luggage.' Christopher muttered. 

'Wouldn't you spend time with us at least?' He asked.

'You're acting like you would never have come back home at all, if it wasn't for the funeral.' He said. 

'Christopher, you of all people know why I can not stay.' Lina proclaimed. 

'And I am not denying that fact, but he is not even here right now.' Christopher said.

'Please, Chris. I don't want to talk about him.' Lina replied. 

'You brought it up, Lina. I wouldn't have mention and you know that.' Christopher said. 

'Let's not just talk about this right now.' Lina replied. 

'You're also leaving too, ain't you?' She added in her defence.

'That is because I cannot let Vivienne tend to Sammie all alone at night.' Christopher said. 

'She needs me home too.' He added.

'Who's Sammie?' Lina asked.

'My son, Lina.' Christopher replied. 

'And if you were here or ever kept in touch, you would have known that.' He added, with a hint of irritation in his voice.

'Christopher!!' Lina spat.

'I thought you understood. Don't rub this in on me.' She said. 

'I don't know if I can understand you anymore, sis.' Christopher muttered. 

'Trust me, I've tried very hard to put myself in your shoes and sometimes I wonder how I would have reacted if I was in your place, but I just don't see myself cancelling my whole family as the answer.' He said.

'Chrisy,' She said the cute name she always called him when they were younger.

'I will never cancel my family, especially not you. But, I know if I had always come back or called regularly, dad would always come up. And I didn't want that.' Lina spewed, not recalling the last time she referred to her father as "dad".

'Lina, we love you. We all do.' Christopher said and Lina mouthed, "I know".

'But, running away from your problems won't provide a solution.' He added. 

'My therapist said I could stay away.' Lina countered. 

'But I'm certain this therapist of yours didn't say, you should abandon your own family.' Christopher protested.

'No, but she told me to take as much break as I needed.' Lina defended herself. 

'And you've have enough break in the last fifteen years, sis.' Christopher said and reached for her hands.

'You need to break out of this mold, and live your life. We are all worried about you.' He added and Lina mouth curved into a warm sad smile.

'I'm so glad to have you as my brother, Chrisy.' Lina said. 

And Christopher leaned in and embraced her.

'Thank you.' She muttered. 

'You're welcome.' Christopher muttered back in response. 

'If your route is along the airport road, I'd be most grateful if you dropped me off.' Lina said after they disengaged the hug.

'So, you're still leaving?' Christopher lamented.

'You know, I have to. I need some change of clothes.' Lina said.

'Your old clothes are still in that room, and judging by your stature now, you haven't added much weight.' Christopher said and Lina giggled. 

'I usually have them dry cleaned every two weeks, so you need not worry about any foul smell.' He added.

'Awwn, ain't you the sweetest?' Lina replied, reaching for his cheek and pulled it sweetly. 

'But, please wait here while I tell mom I'm about leaving.' Lina said and moved away.

'You're still as strong headed as ever.' Christopher muttered lowly.

Lina returned shortly and Christopher dropped her off at the hotel.

He accompanied her to her hotel room before taking his leave.

Lina swiftly had a change of clothes and went to bed shortly, after her brother left.

Her usual nightmares woke her up at 3:30am exactly, and she couldn't go back to sleep, until it was dawn.

She had two cups of coffee before she got ready to leave for her grandmother's house that morning. 

When she got there, Catherine got the door after she knocked. She only said "hi" to Lina, and then she walked away. 

Natalie greeted her daughter with a hug and invited her to have breakfast with Catherine and her.

'Thanks, mom.' Lina said.

She was hungry after all.

Then, she took a seat by the dining table and her mother served her some scrambled eggs and toast.

'Would you like some coffee, too?' Natalie asked.

'I had two cups already this morning, but I'd like another cup very much, thank you.' Lina replied and dug right into her meal before her mother made her a cup of coffee.

'This is so good, ma. I've missed this.' Lina said as she took a bite of her eggs. 

'If you came home regularly, you wouldn't have.' Catherine muttered in between coffee sips. 

'I have been really busy with work, Catherine.' Lina said in response. 

'Very much, indeed. Tending to helpless girls and forgetting about your own family.' Catherine blurted.

'Enough.' Natalie said. 

'Let's just eat.' She added.

And everyone went back to their meals, without saying another word. 

After they were all done with breakfast, Catherine started to clear the table.

Lina got up too and attempted to help her, but Catherine stopped her.

'You don't have to bother yourself, I can do this on my own.' Catherine muttered. 

'I just want to help out.' Lina said.

'Well, you don't have to. We're used to doing things around her without you.' Catherine uttered and Lina snickered. 

'Do you have a problem with me?' Lina fired. 

'You've been so cold, since I arrived.' She added. 

'Yes, of course. I have a problem with you, Lina. You shouldn't have come, since you don't belong here.' Catherine blurted and stormed out of the dining room, with her handful of soiled dishes.