Tiffany's POV
The time to be with my real family has arrived. We are apparently in court and my parents are doing everything they can to regain our custody, even if it meant my dad wearing women's clothing for a week and my mom wearing a moustache for a month! They were still determined like the wind and would do it even if it is the silliest thing ever! My eyes flits around and lands on Nanni. I would miss her a lot though but it would take some days before my parents gain full custody of me so I'll have some time to spend with her after all. I check the time on my watch and it's half past six in the evening.
"Tiffany! Riele! "My mom finally calls out and we walk towards she and dad.
"I'm exhausted"Riele grumbles the moment we reach their side.
"We will be out of here soon"mom assures and dad picks her up from the floor. He places her on his hip and she rests her head on his shoulder.
"What's going on?"I ask as I read their frustrated expressions. I was distraught "Is there a problem?"
"No! There's no problem! The process might take a few days but we still have hope that you'll be back with us at home permanently"Mom narrates and I nod happily.
"Your daughters will be released to you soon Mrs Croxford "Nanni's voice comes out of nowhere and my mom faces her with a beam. "We are left with two more processes which will take tomorrow and the day after tomorrow"she assures.
"I'm just waiting for that day!"mom pipes up. "I thought I'd never see them again"she sniffs and Nanni comforts her.
"They are here! Tiffany never gave up on you! She was determined to look for both of you"Nanni rants. "And she finally found you"
A grin spreads on my face as my cells bounce around with joy.
"Now go home and take a rest"Nanni advices. "Tomorrow will be another hectic day"
Mom nods in agreement and laces her hand with mine tightly like a bond.
"We will see you tomorrow Nanni. Thanks for everything"Dad speaks up and she nods. I waved her before leaving her sight. She seemed sad and it's not only today that I've noticed her depressed nature! Ever since my parents showed up, that large cheery grin which was plastered on her face every time we see her had disappeared abruptly and has been replaced with an upside down line etched on her face. I wish I could straighten that line back to what it was before. I sigh when I reach my dad's jeep. I slowly file in and lock the door.
Riele was already asleep at the back and before I realised it, I was also drifting off to dreamland.
I woke up later on and we had already reached the house. The car had come to an abrupt stop and there was no one in it. I climbed out of the jeep and headed towards the front door. A body jars against mine and I stop dead in my tracks.
"Oh my! You're so sleepy aren't you?"mom asks while rubbing my hair.
"I'm awake"I force my eyes open with a smile. "I'm just really tired"
"Get inside, take a shower, don't forget to brush your teeth and have a great sleep! I'll see you in the morning sweetheart"she plants a kiss on my forehead.
"Goodnight mom"I say in advance and stagger into the hall. I forced my legs up the stairs and came upon my bedroom. I got it open and filed in tiredly. With mom's instructions echoing in my brain, I obliged and soon, I was done. I then tucked myself into bed and closed my eyes. I'll never forget today! I'm worn out!
____
The following day, I felt much better and was ready to go to campus. Mom and dad had to go to court and Riele had to be taken to school. I descended the staircase with my satchel strapped to me as always. Mom, Dad and Riele were already having breakfast.
"Hello dear "Mom greets and embraces me. "How are you feeling?"she touches my forehead.
"I'm better"I reply and she exhales.
"Join us for breakfast"She ushers me to the table and I take a seat in between Riele and Dad. My cereal was right in front of me. I added milk to it and began to eat.
"So how are the grades?"mom asks suddenly and I smile.
"They're cool. I have a 4.0 GPA"I answer honestly and her eyes puff out.
"That's great"she blurts.
"I'm impressed"dad adds and I don't hesitate to show them my scores.
"Straight A's"mom gushes in bewilderment. "I'm speechless"she blinks twice.
"That's excellent my dear"dad commends. "You're brilliant like me"
"Thanks"I respond with a proud beam and tuck my sheets into my satchel before eating the rest of my cereal.
"I'm thinking of launching a new brand of Croxford's cosmetics"my mom pipes up and I don't know what she's talking about.
"You're always launching something! You know it drains us a lot! We don't have enough funds for a new brand"Dad complains.
"I know honey but let's do it one last time for the kids"she pleads and he is silent.
"Fine! This is the last"he finally gives in and mom shrieks. "What's this one about?"He asks curiously.
"About our children! I'll call it the Sisters collection. Oh I can't wait! I'll get the designs done and make sure that my daughter's pictures are on the product"She squeals.
"What product?"I question, completely at sea.
"Oh both of you will be so cute on the product! It would be on every single one of them! I need to call Janet right away"she gets up with her plate and heads to the kitchen without answering my question. Wait, she said Janet! That name rings a bell! I reminisce how she told me that the name Tiffany doesn't belong in the long list of names registered in the Croxford family book! I need to see her and give her a piece of my mind!
"Dad! Which product is mom talking about?"
"She's talking about her brand! Your mother is the founder of the Croxford Cosmetics brand which is the most patronized brand in the local market. She launches new makeup ideas every year and this year, she decided to launch Swift but we weren't having enough funds so we paused"
"Oh. So she owns a company that manufactures makeup and body cosmetics?"
"Exactly sweetheart"Dad corroborates.
"So when will she launch Swift?"
"Honestly, I don't know but it seems she would be replacing Swift with Sisters. Plus, she's planning to place your faces on every makeup product titled under Sisters from the Croxford Cosmetics "
"Our pictures on makeup products?"I ask imagining my face on a mascara wand or the eyeliner and the rest.
"She's thrilled to see both of you alive! That's why she's having those ideas just to give you a befitting welcome. Allow her Tiff. Besides, you'll be popular! With Riele! And I know you'll be managing the business when your mom retires so it's no big deal. I totally agree with your mom on this one."Dad shrugs.
"What about Swift?"
"Your mom is very creative Tiffany! She might probably merge the ideas of Swift with the ideas she has about Sisters to make a totally different hybrid brand. She's capable of that! She did it last year to Firm and Fit. You'll get used to it"
"Honey!"mom screeches suddenly. "Janet has approved! Now, all we need is a good photograph of our lovely girls and we are through"she adds with a loud shriek. Dad sends a conspiratorial eye towards me.
"What will happen to Swift?"Dad asks as she takes her seat with a notepad in her hand.
"Swift has been hybridized with Sisters. So the all new brand for this year is officially named Swift Sisters! Cool right?"mom claps with a grin on her face.
"Cool"Riele screams.
"Fantastic! You're a genuis"Dad commends and winks in my direction. "I told you she is capable of merging the two together "he whispers in my ear and I giggle.
"This will be the best of all the products that I've ever launched! I feel it in my pulse"mom says as she outlines some drawings in her notepad.
"When are you launching it?"I enquire and she scrunches her face up.
"I usually launch my new products in July but as you already know, we are in September and our clients and investors have began to question our lateness and everything"she rants and holds her head, exhausted. "We might launch it probably in October or December"she concludes.
"That's very late honey"dad utters disappointedly.
"I know! The funds weren't enough"she says through gritted teeth. "Firm and Fit couldn't raise enough funds because people thought it was too complicated to use especially for the mascara wands! And so unstylish! They were just not done right! So I agree with them. I don't know what really happened but I hope they'll be impressed with these designs or else the business will collapse eventually"mom gulps.
"Don't say that honey! You've strived so hard for this business to succeed. Croxford Cosmetics wouldn't collapse"Dad assures her.
"I hope"she sighs and I just look on in pity.
"Uh I'll get the kids to school while you work out your new brand. You need lots of time now to develop a totally crazyotic and insane brand! Just breathe in and release the stress okay?"Dad offers with a laugh.
"Sure! Thanks honey! Take care my dearies"mom hollers to us as we file out of the house. "I can't wait to get your faces on my eyeshadow ....."she bellows to us but I miss her last words as I enter dad's jeep. It feels great to be home again. Dad starts the car and we buckle our seatbelt as he drives out of the house.
"Tiffany, your butt is vibrating"Riele chuckles and I feel it with my hand. She was right about it vibrating! I check my back pocket and surprisingly pull out my phone. Mirabel's name flashes on the screen. She's sent a text.
Where have you been? I haven't seen you in days Tiff!
The text sounded more like a scolding to me but she was just being concerned like the friend that she is. Plus, she is totally right about my disappearance.
I'm fine Mirabel. I'm actually on my way to school! Meet me in front of my dorm.
I replied and placed my phone back.
"The phone was vibrating! Not my butt"I clarify as Riele gives me a strange look.
"Your butt was! I felt it"Riele giggles teasingly.
"Nope! It was my phone"I convince her and she shakes her head.
"It was your butt"she giggles and I ignore her taunts.
"What are both of you up to?"Dad questions obviously concerned about the incessant giggles Riele was producing.
"Tiffany's butt is vibrating"Riele says and I growl inwardly. I'm never placing my phone in my back pocket again! And I'm never using vibration mode again!
"Tiffany! Do you have some sort of a butt vibrating sickness?"Dad enquires concerned. Riele bursts into hysterics
"No dad! It was my phone vibrating in the back pocket of my jeans! Not my butt"I clarify yet again and dad laughs in amusement.
"I was starting to think it was a muscle pull"Dad blurts and I chuckle. "But I'm relieved it's nothing serious"
"Can you please tell Riele that? She keeps on teasing me with it"I plead.
"Riele stop mocking your sister"dad spills in amusement.
"I wasn't mocking her"Riele replies innocently. "I was just notifying her that there's something wrong with her butt"
Dad and I laugh.
"Now that's over! There's no need to tell her that anymore"dad says when he recovers from his outburst of laughter.
"Okay dad"Riele promises and I heave a sigh of relief. That went well.
"This is where I lost you Tiffany"Dad points to a park off the road.His voice laced with sadness. It was a small park but the landscape was amazing to admit.
"How did it happen?"I ask and Riele has her ears popped out, ready to listen.
"It was all my fault"he commences with a sniff. "It was one bright sunny day! I decided to take you out on a stroll over there"he raises his chin towards the park as he drives on.
"Everything was okay. Many people thought you were an adorable kid"Dad utters and I smile. "We played and had fun! You played with the other kids as well and I made sure not to take my eyes off you"
"So how did I get kidnapped?"
"An old friend of mine distracted me! You were busy playing with the other kids and I thought you'd be totally fine so I decided to chat with my old friend and I turned my back for a moment"Dad sniffs and I watch his knuckles whiten around the steering wheel.
"When I turned"his voice breaks. "You were gone"he completes and I feel tears rush into my own eyes.
"I'm so sorry! I don't know how to make it up to you but I was so foolish to leave you on your own"dad rants. "I searched for you everywhere! You just vanished into thin air. I didn't know how to tell your mom about it"
"I went to the police station and filed a report as soon as possible but it was all in vain because they couldn't find you! Your mom wanted to commit suicide because of that. She couldn't stand losing you and I blamed myself for everything"
Tears run down my cheeks.
"After several years of not finding you, our detectives concluded that you were probably dead or in slavery somewhere off the coast"
"We were excited when your mom got pregnant with Riele! Even though we missed you a lot but it was a celebration"Dad laughs lightly."But we are overjoyed to have both of you back again"
"What happened with Riele?"I question while wiping my tears.
"Riele was also kidnapped at a park. It was a different park, not the one I took you to Tiff"he speaks up "this time, she was with your mom"
"A man snatched mom's handbag"Riele continues the story. "And she left me beside her car to chase the thief"
"When she came back, you were gone as well. Your mother was devastated "Dad ends it with a sniff.
"I remember someone caught me instead and assured me he was taking me to my mom so I followed. I never saw her again since"Riele says.
"Your mother didn't sleep the whole of that fateful night! She cried her lungs out instead"Dad narrates sadly and the car comes to a halt in front of my school.
"I feel her pain. It's not easy losing two daughters"I reasoned.
"Riele's disappearance affected her badly. It was much worse than yours. She stopped eating, she stopped working on her brands, leaving the company on the verge of collapse! It was Janet Sparx who saved it during those days. Your mom became a walking corpse and it was terrible"
"Janet is Mrs Sparx? Mr. Sparx wife? Ramona's mother?"I ask in total disbelief. I met her at the balley show not too long ago and she's the Janet I spoke to over the phone!
"Yes. Why do you seem so surprised?"
"Uh nothing"I chicken out. So Mrs Sparx (Blake's stepmother) works in my mom's company. The mention of Blake's name makes me shudder.
"It seems our family has been targeted by the kidnappers! It's good their leader is already in jail"I sigh.
"I'm sure the FBI traced him."Dad shrugs. "He should rot in there! I wonder how much pain he has caused to other innocent parents"
"Dad! We are here now"I place my hand on his shoulder.
"I know but I never got to see you grow into the woman you are now! Do you know how that feels?"
"But you'll get to see how Riele would grow"I reason and he chuckles. I climb out of the jeep.
"See you later Dad!"I peck his cheek. "Goodbye Riele"I wave them and stride towards the dorms. Mirabel must be waiting for me all this while. I run as fast as I can to my room and she's already in front staring impatiently at her watch.
"Sorry I'm late"that was my first greeting and she still has a frown etched on her face. "What's with that face?"I ask surprised because Mirabel is always happy and lively.
"It's called the forlorn expression"Mirabel states.
"And why do you have that expression?"I enquire.
"Jace is officially with Samantha now"she says with an eye roll. "He's stopped coming over to my place and every time I see him, he's with her"
I sigh. "Oh Mirabel! Maybe you should talk to Jace"
"No! If he wants her, that's fine! I don't want him to embarrass me"she chickens out.
"Seriously? It's just a conversation"
"Why don't you ask him instead? Maybe he will tell you the truth then you can tell me later. But I know what he's going to say"
"I thought you trusted him"I shake my head in disbelief. "Jace would never do that to you!"
"I do trust him okay? But it's hard to tell"
"I will talk to him"