Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 103: Gifts

Chapter 103: Gifts

The morning of the Year Ending Banquet of Northern Star, Talia was pretty excited and was looking forward for what announcement her grandfather is going to make.

In her excitement, she even agreed to go shopping with Rebecca. Talia was allowed to go out even though it was a sudden plan since there were no threats to her life this time. Talia’s guards came with her anyway.

Rebecca took Talia to another plaza. And as they walked around, Rebecca pulled up a lot of gifts for her nieces and nephews and also for her unborn child.

After the toy store, Talia was pulled along for another series of clothing store. Talia rolled her eyes seeing Rebecca buying without any limits.

"Heard of stress shopping? I’m making my stress go away by buying. It’s therapeutic! " Rebecca grumbled and Talia just shook her head smiling.

’ Therapeutic? I know the actual reason! You’re spending Joe’s money!’

Talia noticed Rebecca frowning as she read a text sent to her phone. She then switched off her phone. A little while after Talia received a text from Joe.

[ Tell her to spend as much as she want and return back to me. I miss her a lot! ]

Talia relayed the message to Rebecca as it was written and smiled seeing Rebecca stomping out. She really wasn’t in the mood to shop anymore.

As they wandered around, Talia got attracted to a jewellery shop and walked in to the children’s section.

"Are going to buy a gift for my child already?" Rebecca was enthusiastic.

After she decided to carry the child to term, she was in a pretty good spirits except when she thought about Joe.

"No," Talia was blunt. She wanted to buy something for Thomas.

And she went through some brooches and found a diamond and sapphire studded brooch made with yellow gold for Thomas. It was a handmade unique design costing hundreds of dollars. One of a kind. The colour of the sapphire reminded her of those beautiful eyes, and the yellow gold was similar to Cyrus’ hair colour and Talia didn’t mind.

She didn’t know if Cyrus’ family would accept her gift, but she decided to try anyway. She decided to send it discreetly with a note. If they don’t want to accept the gift, she wanted them to donate to a charity for sick children. She knew the Lockhart family won’t just throw it away.

As she was shuffling through the shop, she found a beautiful bow hair barrette in the display. It seemed to come with a set of matching necklace and earring.

Talia got nostalgic seeing that set. She used to have many such sets growing up. Sets with bows, flowers and stars in them. Her mother loved to dress her up and would buy one set for each of her public appearance, matching her outfits specially made for her.

"It’s one of our new designs for 3-5 year olds," the sales girl politely said. She saw the way Talia chose the previous piece without even checking the price and got ecstatic that she could get good commission out of her.

"Let me see," Talia really liked the set. It was made with platinum with small diamonds and pink tourmaline fixed on the bow.

It reminded Talia of Catherine Sinclair, the daughter of Roderick Sinclair and Fred’s niece. She tried to find her pictures some days back since Fred was stupid not to have a single picture of his niece. It was then she learnt that the little girl’s fourth birthday is coming up and since she was already here, she decided to send this as a gift.

Roderick will accept her gift she knew. He is the only other person she liked from the Sinclair family. Also he didn’t look like Ray and would smile at her when they meet in pubic even.

And since she wishes to marry into the Sinclair family, why not build up a good relationship with them, right?

Plus that little baby girl was so cute with her light brown hair and bluish eyes. Maybe the colours will change as she grows up. In her past pictures she had shoulder length hair and the necklace design was so light and so it will be suitable for a little girl to wear.

Rebecca nudged Talia, "Who’s this for?"

"Fred’s niece," Talia said as she searched for her card to pay.

"Going to impress the in-laws, huh? Good for you! Don’t blame me if I expect similar gifts for my child. I really wish I have a girl. Girls are adorable and you can buy a lot for them. Look at this... I don’t want to leave this place... " Rebecca went on with her babble.

Talia didn’t mind Rebecca and got her card to pay. But then she remembered the black card she has and decided to use that card.

In the past ten years, she never used a single cent of her grandfather’s money. She knew that would hurt her grandfather and so she purposely never used her grandfather’s money. All the money she spent was hers and at times were from her great grandmother.

She didn’t spend her grandfather’s money since she was angry at him and wanted to punish him for abandoning her. But now that she is not angry at her grandfather anymore and he wanted her to use the card, she decided to use it to really show her grandfather that she is not angry at him anymore.

As she pulled out the black card and seeing the name in the card, the manager of the Jewellery came by himself to settle the bill.

Talia guessed the password must be the wedding anniversary of her grandpa and grandma and she guessed right.

’That was the wonderful day of my life’ her grandfather always said. And he would always take her around to do charity works on that day every year and so Talia remembered it.

Talia sighed seeing the way the sales person mumbled to each other, talking about her. They tried to be professional about it but they really couldn’t in the end. She felt like an animal in a zoo, being pointed at and talked about. Talia could not blame them as she felt like home. She is used to this.

She is born into it!

As Talia got the gifts and walked out, she received a call and her lips curved up.

"Grandpa," she smiled and there was no noise from the other end. Talia knew her grandfather must be lost for words out of happiness.

"I bought gifts for Thomas Lockhart and Catherine Sinclair... You don’t mind, do you grandpa?" Talia decided to explain.

"No no no no! I don’t mind at all! Spend some more. Buy clothes and jewellery for you and your friends and their family and for everyone. Grandpa has a lot of money. It’s all for you," Jerome wiped the corners of his eyes and spoke hurriedly..

His granddaughter finally decided to spend his money. He was so excited.

Talia smiled and her heart had that peace she missed for all those years. Hate does not give you happiness. When your heart is filled with hate and bitterness, no matter how good your life is, you will feel empty inside. You won’t have peace.

But once you forgive someone, you will have peace. It is amazing!

Talia spoke with her grandfather for some more time.

"MaryAnn, the council refused to grand visa to you. But... Grandpa will find a way to bring you back home," Jerome said and his voice had a deep pain within.

All these years, he wished to see his daughter once more and he had the situation right but his granddaughter was unwilling. And just when his granddaughter changed her mind, the situation in his country has changed.

What could he do? He is not young like before. He cannot fight with those cunning foxes like before. They know it and they are using this chance to end his bloodline..

He will not let it happen.

"Don’t worry Mary Ann. We will meet soon ..." he added as he couldn’t hear anything from the other side.

Talia really couldn’t speak as she felt like there was something stuck in her throat. Her whole life seemed to be an irony for her.

"Okay, grandpa" she uttered. She trusted Fred. He might have a way.

"And Mary Ann, you don’t mind me leaving the company with Artie, do you?" he asked.

"Is this the announcement you’re going to make tonight, grandpa?" Talia was excited, "I don’t mind. He worked for the company this long and he knows a lot about it. So I would be glad if he takes your place, grandpa."

She really meant it.

"Hmm... You are as innocent as you were before, aren’t you my sweet child...?" her grandpa said in a low voice.

"Grandpa, are you worried since he is a Boswell, he might destroy Northern Star and everything it stands for just for the heck of it?"

"What if he abandons you, my child?" Jerome didn’t care for anything else but his only granddaughter.

"Don’t worry grandpa. He won’t!"

Hearing the assertion in her voice Jerome could only sigh.

"Even if he abandons me, I have a degree in business and years of experience in my CV and I will not perish, grandpa. I will love well. So don’t worry," Talia affirmed her grandfather.

Fred won’t abandon her. She trusted him. She just said this to comfort her grandfather. He’s gotten old and is sick and it is not odd for him to worry for her.

" Your words make me happy, sweety!"Jerome’s voice had some uplifted feel. He knew his granddaughter will be fine. She has another family, a powerful one by her side too.

" Bye grandpa. Take care," Talia ended the call.

She stared at the phone for sometime as many thoughts clouded her and got pulled back by Rebecca.

Both of them returned home and Talia waited for the announcement the entire day. She knew reporters are following closely and the moment the announcement is made, they’d publish it.

She wanted to see Fred.

Talia picked up her phone and scrolled through the videos and found one video Fred sent her that day...