Aunt Gabby takes me to school

Gabrielle's eyes fluttered open, her gaze slowly focusing on the ceiling above. The soft glow of morning light seeped through the windows, casting a warm ambiance over her room. She stretched, arching her back and extending her arms above her head. The movement sent a ripple through her coffee brown hair, which cascaded backward like a waterfall of coffee.

Just as she was about to drift back into slumber, her phone buzzed on the bedside table. She reached for it, her emerald-green eyes scanning the screen. The mayor's name flashed on the display, and a hint of surprise flickered across her face. She answered the call, her voice husky from sleep.

"Good morning, Papa," she said, using the affectionate term she reserved for the mayor.

The mayor's voice was laced with a hint of fatigue. "Good morning, Gabi. Sorry to disturb you, but I'm not feeling well today. I was wondering if you could take Jane to school for me."

Gabrielle's eyes snapped open, and she sat up in bed. "Of course, Papa. I'll be there soon."

She tossed the phone aside and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her bare feet dangled in the air as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. A yawn escaped her lips, and she stood up, her movements fluid and graceful.

Gabrielle strode to the bathroom, flipping on the shower. The cold water was a shock to her system, but she welcomed it, letting it wash away the remnants of sleep. She dressed quickly, choosing a double-breasted gabardine gown that fell just above her knees. The shoes she selected were made of the same material, adding a touch of elegance to her outfit.

As she curled her hair and prepared to leave, Tsukasa, Lisa, and Justin waited patiently outside her door. Tsukasa, with his chiseled features and piercing phoenix-black eyes, smiled as Gabrielle emerged from her house.

"Boss, you look stunning today," he said, his voice low and smooth.

Gabrielle's gaze swept over him, her expression unreadable. "Let's go," she said, striding past him.

Tsukasa fell into step behind her, his eyes fixed on her retreating back. Justin and Lisa followed, their faces set in serious expressions.

As they approached the mayor's house, Gabrielle spotted Jane standing by the gate, her butler hovering discreetly in the background. Jane's grey double-breasted gabardine dress was a miniature version of Gabrielle's, and her hair was tied up in pigtails, the ends curled and adorned with cute pins. Black spectacles perched on the end of her nose, giving her a bookish look that Gabrielle found adorable.

Gabrielle's heart swelled with affection as she stepped out of the car. Tsukasa opened the door for her, and she smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

As she approached Jane, the little girl looked up, her big blue eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Good morning, aunt Gabi," Jane said, her voice soft and calm.

Gabrielle's smile deepened as she crouched down beside Jane. "Good morning, sweetie. Are you ready for your first day of school?"

"Yes Aunt Gabi," Gabrielle took instructions from the butler taking Jane's bag pack from him and entering the car.

"Hope the mayor gets better," she said before entering the car.

Tsukasa, a charming but slightly goofy Korean guy, was driving Gabrielle and her niece Jane to their destination. As he gazed lovingly at Gabrielle, he thought, "She's the one... or so I thought."

Meanwhile, six-year-old Jane was acting like a mini-adult, looking out the window with a serious expression. Tsukasa tried to break the ice with her, asking, "Hey Jane, want some tunes?" with a sly smile.

But Jane was having none of it, giving him a polite but firm "No thank you." Tsukasa's face fell, and he thought, "Ouch, rejected by a six-year-old! Guess I need to work on my dad jokes."

As he glanced at Gabrielle, who was still oblivious to his affections, he couldn't help but think, "Why does she have to be my boss?! Can't she see I'm the perfect guy for her?" And then, his eyes landed on Jane, and he thought, "Wait a minute, they look suspiciously alike... am I in some kind of weird, parental déjà vu?"

"Stop the car," Gabrielle instructed, her voice firm but urgent. The vehicle came to a swift halt, and Gabrielle stepped out, only to return moments later with a small, thoughtful gift.

She handed Jane two white wristbands, each emblazoned with the word "Intelligent" in bold letters. A faint, wistful smile crossed Gabrielle's face as she began to explain, "When I was your age, in grade two, my mom bought me this same wristband, hoping it would inspire me to do better in school."

Gabrielle's eyes seemed to glaze over, lost in the memories of her past. Her smile faltered, and for an instant, a deep sadness flickered across her face. "But when I got home, my dad... he broke it and threw it into the fire."

The air was heavy with the weight of Gabrielle's unspoken emotions. Jane, sensing the complexity of the moment, looked up at her aunt with genuine gratitude. "Thanks, Aunt Gabby, I think I love it," she said, her sweet voice a balm to Gabrielle's wounded heart.

Gabrielle's eyes misted as she gazed at Jane, her expression a mix of sadness and longing. She recognized the mayor's influence in Jane's polite and sincere demeanor, and it struck a chord deep within her. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Gabrielle's heart ached with a deep, unspoken sorrow.