This is my favorite chapter so far. I hope you like it!☺️
JxA
Ten thousand feet in the air, the United Air flew and was close to landing. It had announced all the SOP before it landed and a certain Emmi Brooks, dressed as her twin Avia Grande, was seated nervously in first class looking out the carbon fiber window taking in the sights that was New York City.
"Ok, this is it," she sat back from looking out the window, letting out a long nervous sigh. "Oh, God, I hope she likes me. Please like me," she chanted clasping her fingers together in a kind of prayer, shutting her eyes.
The plane descended and finally it landed. The cabin doors were opened and people started pouring out. Emmi immediately grabbed her small purse - her only carry-on and exited along with the other passengers. She entered the terminal amidst the continuous stream of people coming and going. Since she was too small, a bit petite to be exact, she could hardly see through the tall bodies surrounding her. Spotting a row of benches, she quickly went over to them and clambered over one which gave her a better view of the airport terminal. She looked around and was trying to look for any familiar face (from the pictures her sister showed her) when she heard a man calling out her "name."
"Avia!"
She whirled around and saw a tall blonde man in a navy blue shirt and pink shorts approaching her, holding a small bouquet of flowers in his hand, next to him was a brunette man about the same height, in jeans and a T-shirt. This is it! She thought and immediately called out to them in her best American accent (without sounding overly dramatic),
"Uncle Frankie!"
Frankie Grande was ecstatic at the sight of his niece and he immediately hugged her tightly and handed her the bouquet. She hugged him back just as tight - Emmi Brooks too was ecstatic to get to know the uncle her twin kept blabbing on about.
"Missed you." Frankie said after letting go of her.
"Missed you," she answered looking at him longingly and smiled before turning to the other man who was grinning at her. "Uncle Zac!" She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"Hey kiddo. It's been way too quiet without you!" Zac Efron smiled brightly, ruffling her hair.
Emmi giggled and pulled back, looking at both her uncles in excitement.
Frankie appeared to be studying the new look of his niece, "What did you do to your hair?" he asked which proved that he was.
"Cut it, do you like it?" Emmi felt apprehensive, her uncle's face didn't really seem to register that he was pleased with the 'do but she was proven wrong when he smiled.
"I love it! It's the new you!" he gushed, "And you had your ears pierced!" he noted as he carried her down from the chair, "Give me five, girlfriend," he said putting out his hand.
Emmi was stunned for a second but quickly recovered when she remembered that this was supposed to be their "secret handshake." Gathering her wits about, she quickly put the bouquet on the chair and shook her uncle's hand which started their "handshake." She let out a quick sigh of relief when she managed to do it and then they were off!
The Rolls-Royce they rode took Emmi throughout all of the nice sights of New York and she couldn't help but roll down the window and stick her head out...just like an American tourist. The car passed the Empire State Building, fifth avenue, FAO Schwartz.
"This is so amazing!" she gushed as she put her head back inside the vehicle.
"Eight weeks into camp and you act like an American tourist." Zac joked stroking his niece's hair.
"That's what camp's for silly! It makes us appreciate home."
The car turned a corner by Central Park and drove through a row of elegant looking townhouses. It pulled up in front of the house numbered eighty-seven and the driver got out and opened the door for Emmi before tending to the luggage.
"Home again." Gareth (the driver) greeted Emmi and she smiled at him and said 'thanks.'
"This is it," she muttered to herself opening the black iron gate, "Number 87 Central Park..." and looked up to see a window with white billowing curtains - she supposed it was her mother's room. Gathering up her courage, she walked across the tiled path, up the stone steps and opened the dark wood door to the threshold of her mother. She was amazed by what she saw, the curved staircase in front of her the living room to her right and the drawing room beyond that.
"Hello?" she called out. Upon hearing no answer, Emmi quickly went over to the living room and paused for a while to see a cloth with the words WELCOME HOME AVIA artistically inscribed on it before heading to the austere drawing room and she saw a pair of hands holding up a Broadway newspaper.
"Nonna?" she asked tentatively. The broadsheet went down to reveal a beautiful woman with black hair and sharp brown eyes. She wore a black Chanel dress and a dashing smile while her eyes sparkled. "I'm home..."
"Is that my little girl? That tall lanky thing?" She asked excitedly in a soothing voice.
"Yes," she answered her breathlessly, "I'm home," she said and watched her put down her reading glasses and come to her with arms wide open.
"Come here." Joan Grande cooed and wrapped her arms around her granddaughter. Emmi hugged back her grandmother and couldn't help but sniff her.
"Did you have a good time, Princess?" She asked her. Emmi answered an "uh-huh" but continued her sniffing.
"What're you doing?" she asked looking curiously at her granddaughter but not releasing her from her arms.
"Just smelling," she told her as if it were normal.
"Smelling?"
"I'm making a memory. Years from now when I'm all grown-up, I'll remember how my grandmother smelled of..." she sniffed him again, "Cinnamon and vanilla." Joan chuckled at her granddaughter's ingenuity and thoughtfulness, "Good to have you back," she said jovially and hugged her again.
"Avia?"
That voice put a pounding in Emmi's heart and she couldn't help but stiffen a bit in her grandmothers arms. Right there, across the living room, atop the curved staircase stood Ariana Grande. Joan let her go and Emmi rushed back to the foyer and saw the most beautiful woman in the world: her mother. Emmi knew that she had her father's sparkly brown eyes and his nose, but she was really thrilled to see that she got the brown (and she would later learn her curly) hair from her mother. She stared at the woman above her - stared at her sharp yet loving brown eyes and her exuberant expression at the sight of her daughter.
"Mother," she said excitedly.
"You're back!" Ariana exclaimed just as excited.
Instincts kicked in and Emmi was slowly ascending the staircase as her mother descended. The two met in a hug at the middle and Emmi was so overwhelmed she hugged her mother tighter. Ariana kissed her daughter's cheek in greeting.
"I can't believe it's you," a teary Emmi gushed as she stared at her mother.
"And I can't believe it's you." Ariana said and stroked her daughter's hair, "And with short hair! Who cut if for you?" she asked and Emmi shrugged, "A girl at camp."
"Do you hate it?" She asked insecurely.
"No! I love it! You got your ear pierced? Are there any other surprises? Tattoos, belly-button rings...?" Ariana continued while Emmi giggled.
"What is it sweetie?" Ariana asked noticing the non-stop tears streaming down her daughter's cheeks; she gently brushed them away.
"I'm sorry, it's just... I've missed you so much." Emmi said through her tears.
"Can you believe it? It seems like it's been forever." Ariana sighed hugging her daughter again.
"You have no idea." Emmi mumbled to herself as she clung on to her mother.
"C'mon, let's go upstairs for tea." Ariana said and took her daughter's hand to the master's bedroom. Emmi's eyes widened as she looked around the elegant yet chic room. The walls were a color of carnation and the queen sized bed was just plain fab! She looked towards a window where the wind seemed to make the white curtains billow and she smiled inwardly; she was correct upon her assumption when she stood out of the house awhile ago. She heard the chinks of china and saw her mother pouring tea into two cups. Ariana looked up and patted the empty spot beside her on a loveseat.
"So Avia how was camp? Did you like everyone? Was it fun?" Ariana asked her daughter as she sipped her tea.
Emmi thought about it for a moment, "Yeah, it was great! And I like this particular girl too, she's from Melbourne. Have you ever been to Melbourne?" she asked. It was Ariana's turn to think for a moment as she recalled her days in Australia...
After introducing Jai to her mom, the newlywed couple went back to Melbourne where Jai had set up shop and was living in an apartment as she managed his business. Those were the days of pure marital bliss and Ariana starred in the small plays the city had to offer while she tended to the apartment and waited for Jai to come home.
One day, Jai walked through the door of his apartment to find it filled with yellow balloons. He wondered what the occasion was and walked to the master bedroom where he saw something on the bed. Going closer, he discovered that it was a pregnancy test and upon much closer inspection, he saw the plus sign.
"Ready to be a 'Daddy'?" Ariana asked as she leaned on the doorframe of their en-suite bathroom. Jai looked at Ariana, tears gleaming from his eyes.
"Now than I ever will be..." he said as he rushed over to her and picked her up. Ariana squealed as her husband twirled her around in happiness and then kissed her...
"Yes, once... before you were born," she answered her daughter. Being an actress, she was able to hide her zoning out perfectly. Little did she know, her daughter actually noticed. A knock on the door interrupted the mother-daughter reunion and they both looked up to see her step brother Zac holding a shabby white rabbit stuff toy and barely hidden amusement on his face.
"This was found in your luggage - the maid didn't know what to do with it, I said I'll ask you," Ariana only glanced at her daughter whose eyes became as wide as saucers as she realized that her Cuppy was not supposed to be in her luggage but Avia's.
"Cuppy," she whispered a little too loudly.
"Cuppy?" her uncle echoed, trying in vain to hide his grin; "So since he's not our Cuppy, should we dispose of it?" he asked looking at his sister, knowing he was messing with his niece and loving it as it was obvious in his twinkling blue eyes. Ariana rolled her eyes at him.
"No!" Emmi cried aghast. She immediately rectified her actions when she saw the strange looks her mother and her uncle gave her, "I mean, no. I'll mail him to her - you remember Mom, the one I was telling you about?" Ariana nodded, "She loves this thing a lot. A lot. A lot. She's like slept with that thing her entire life and she could never be like in a foreign country without him. No, no, I'll take care of it, thank you, Uncle Zac," she said in a much calmer tone as she got up and gently pried the stuff toy away from her uncle. Ariana smiled at her daughter and Zac chuckled with a nod.
"I'll be downstairs if you need me," he called out to them disappearing from the doorway.
"I think Sophie can clean the dishes all by herself you know!" Ariana retorted and giggled as her brother ran back up to the room blushing madly.
"Let me clarify my intentions of being downstairs," he started self-consciously, "I would be in the gym." Zac said spiffily while his sister's giggle became a full-blown laugh. Emmi looked a bit confused at the exchange; she didn't recall anyone named Sophia. Ariana composed herself though it was obvious that she wanted to laugh more, for the sake of her confused daughter. She wiped away her tears of mirth and placed a hand on Emmi's shoulder.
"Sophia is our new maid. Mrs. Roberts had to go away because she has problems at home," she explained and then leaned in closer, "I think your uncle has a mad crush on her - he started doing the dishes the very first night she was here," she stage-whispered and Emmi couldn't help but laugh along with her mother.
"Laugh all you want Ari - I have no idea how you come up with these ridiculous stories about me!" he huffed and mother and daughter laughed again. Suddenly the phone rang and Ariana stood up to answer it.
"Hello? Hi... Really? Can't you manage without me? Avia just got home from camp... Well, what's the problem?" Emmi stood up and looked around her mother's room as her mother continued to talk on the phone. Ariana gave a worried glance at her daughter.
"Avia?" she called out and Emmi was snapped from her reverie as she looked at her mother, "Would you mind running down to the studio with me?"
Emmi broke out into a huge bright smile. "No, I'd love it!"
The two travelled down Central Park and then onto Broadway going to Ariana's studio. Emmi held on tightly to her mother's hand as they walked and she had probably the biggest smile on the face of the planet. Finally they arrived in front of the studio and Emmi was amazed to see the beautiful picture of her mother on display by the door - next to a picture of a beautiful wedding dress, the poster of the show.
"Wow, that's incredible. You're directing this?" Emmi gushed and Ariana smiled proudly behind her.
"Well I had to do something while you were at camp. You don't think the poster is too..." she started.
"No. I love it. You know who would look really beautiful in that gown? I mean, like really beautiful?" Emmi asked looking up at her mother.
"Who?"
"You."
"Me?"
Ariana gave her daughter a smile, "I think the time change has made you all loopy - c'mon, let's see what all the fuss is about," she said and ushered her daughter inside.
The two walked into the studio where music was blasting and Emmi watched with interest as the people scurried about trying to figure out what to do with the actresses bridal gown and the photographer was taking pictures of the actors for the advertisement for the play.
"Alright I'm here!" Ariana announced walking purposely into the room.
"We're saved!" the assistant director exclaimed then in a much lower voice, "I don't know what to do about the veil. If we put it on it covers the back the dress seems..."
"Incomplete." Ariana finished for him and then asked the model instructions to strike poses. Emmi didn't listen anymore but watched as her mother looked around the studio. Spotting some hats, she called her daughter to hand her one. Emmi couldn't believe it and she picked out two, a black and a white and handed it over to her mother.
"Which one do you like?" Ariana asked.
"The white one," Emmi answered and her mother nodded taking the hat from her.
Finally the problem was solved and the assistant director smiled in relief and Ariana asked them to start the scene over so she could see if there were any changes that needed to be done.
"Mom is too cool." Emmi mumbled to herself watching her mother work.
The model continued doing poses when Emmi suddenly had the urge to join her. Fortunately, no one stopped her and she was pictured along with the bride actress. She looked at her mother who smiled at her approvingly and she thought about her father. How on earth could my father, Jai Brooks, ever let this cool woman go? She thought to herself as she posed and smiled along with the bride.
After the day's work, mother and daughter were walking home and Emmi suddenly looked seriously at her mother.
"Have you ever thought about getting married again?" she asked and Ariana stopped in her tracks.
"No, I like things exactly the way they are, thank you," she answered her daughter with a smile.
"But Mom, seriously, doesn't directing this play about a girls dream wedding make you think about marriage... or maybe just think about the 'F' word?" Emmi continued and for a moment, Ariana thought that her daughter was referring to that profane utterance she dreamed her daughter would never learn of, hear or use.
"The 'F' word?" she asked hoping against hope it was not what she thought it was.
"My 'father.'" Emmi explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh, that 'F' word." Ariana made a mental sigh of relief but it did not stop the onslaught of memories all centered on the certain brown-haired brown-eyed man she used to love.
"Well, no, actually it doesn't because I didn't even wear a wedding gown or had a huge wedding when I married the 'F' word," she told her daughter. How can I forget? Jai was hysterical with laughter while I was hysterical because we were about to be married and I didn't have a proper wedding gown! I only had this white flowing dress and a white shawl - well, he said it was okay... I wouldn't blame him though, at least I had something. Jai had to borrow a tux from someone! Ariana recalled fondly.
"You didn't - why not?!" Emmi asked disbelievingly.
Ariana just laughed and faced her daughter, "Why the sudden curiosity about your Dad, huh?"
"Well, maybe because he's never mentioned, and you can't blame a kid for wondering. Mother, you can't avoid the subject forever; at least tell me what he was like?" Emmi pleaded and Ariana sighed, giving in.
"Oh-kay," she said, "He was quite lovely to tell you the truth. When we met, he was...actually entirely lovely. All right?" she asked in a final tone.
"All right." Emmi answered and smiled. It suddenly started to rain and Ariana took out her umbrella.
"So did you meet him here in New York?" Emmi sprung the question and Ariana must've been expecting it because she didn't seemed surprised the finality in her tone was ignored.
"We met on the SB2..."
"The SB what?"
"The Seabourn 2, that's an ocean liner that sails from Los Angeles to Melbourne. We both had the same reasons, with different variations, as to why we weren't keen on flying then. We met the first day on board, he blocked my sun with...his..." she was about to say nice abs but it didn't seem appropriate, "Body," she managed to say.
"So... was it love at first sight?" Emmi pressed on excitedly and Ariana heaved a big sigh.
"I knew you were going to ask me all these questions one day!" she exclaimed. A taxi passed by and Ariana hailed it...
Dear old Dad... Emmi thought with a sigh as she sat beside her mother, I wonder what he's doing at this veeerry moment...?
JxA
Emmi has met her mom! What are your thoughts on the story so far? 😊