Inevitable

xviii: ella

Thankfully, Blake took an off. I had forgotten about it but he had applied for today's leave almost two weeks back. It didn't occur to me back then that it could've been for his mother's birthday but when he didn't show up today, I was slightly worried until I checked my mails and it had a reminder from him that he was on leave.

Genesis asked me for lunch but I was genuinely swamped with work to make time so I skipped lunch altogether. Even after that, I had to rush to my apartment to get dressed and leave for Ella and Connor's place because I had to stay an hour extra at the office.

I ring the doorbell to their place. They have a beautiful house in Queens and I've spent fair share of my time in this house with them, also the apartment before this which they shared.

I was a flower girl at their wedding. My bond with them goes way back.

"Emily!" Connor greets me with his bear hug and I grin at him.

"Con-con! How're you?" I ask, parting away.

"Always a happy man on my wife's birthday." He responds as we make our way inside.

Everyone is already here. Great. I wave at everyone as I keep the gift on the side-table where I can see the other gifts. It's not much, just a small dinner party for Ella with my family and hers and a couple of her other friends, more than half of whom I don't remember.

"Emily." A woman that I know my mother dislikes approaches me with a huge smile on her face. "Oh, I'm seeing you after so long. You look exactly like your mother."

"Thanks. You look lovely yourself." I smile at her, purposefully omitting her name because I don't remember it.

But I do appreciate compliments when people tell me I look like my mother. It just assures me that I've got some of her beautiful features, so it's always a happy feeling. Just when I'm thinking about her, she comes by my side and gives a small smile to woman who returns it before excusing us.

"You came." She hugs me and I return it.

"Of course, Mum. It's El."

"I know, hon. Just... are we okay?"

I nod, "Yes, perfect. Now let me meet the kids."

She grins at me before I make my way over to my siblings and Odion rushes to hug me and I meet him mid-way. Ohana must see us because she runs from the other end and wraps her arms around my side.

"Hey, kids." I grin at them.

"You didn't visit." Ohana pouts at me.

"I just visited you last week."

"Yeah, but you left mad. Did Caiden really apologise to you? He said he did." She questions and my eyes move to Caiden who's actually wearing a dress shirt and slacks, what a rare sight.

"Hey." He comes to give me a side-hug which I return. "O, will you get me a soda?"

"No." She grumbles. "Get it yourself."

"He did apologise to me," I tell her and both the twins narrow their eyes at him so I assure them again, "He did."

"Wow, trust issues run in the genes." Caiden chuckles. "Did you meet Mom Dad?"

"Mom, yes. Dad, not yet. I'll go find Ella first."

He nods at me and I excuse myself from the siblings before making my way into kitchen where I know I will find her. She's sipping on wine and Dad has an apron around his waist as he moves around.

I move to her and wrap my arms around her shoulder from behind. "Happy Birthday, El!"

"Oh, Em! Thanks, hon." She kisses my forehead. "I thought you would forget."