Chapter 10: BACK IN SKOKIE
Valeria told her parents everything that happened at the career talk and how she now idolise Esmeralda. The next day is the day Valeria will be leaving for her hometown with her mother who is done buying. Their father who will once again feel lonely hug them and say his goodbyes at the train station. An hour and few minutes later, they were back in Skokie, Francis who missed his mother so much hug her tight.
"I miss you so much Mother" Francis said still hugging her
"Enough of the hugs boy, they are other children waiting in line to hug their mother" Benedict said and they all laugh
"I miss all of you so much" Geraldine said hugging her son one by one
"James, you seem off today" Geraldine said after noticing how sad he looks
"I'm fine mother" James replied not knowing it is visible in his voice that he's sad
"Your voice doesn't say that James" Valeria said looking worried
"Shut up! You knew what was going to happen if I went for dinner without telling Louisa" James said angrily and Valeria became scared.
"You shouldn't scare your sister" Geraldine said not understanding what was happening except from his girlfriend's name being mentioned
"Excuse me? How did a friendly advice become my problem?" Valeria asked with hint of annoyance in her voice
"Friendly advice you say? You knew exactly what was going to happen. You deliberately stopped me from going for lunch at her house, you made sure I went there without calling her, you did all this on purpose" James said angrily, their mother and siblings looks lost.
"Albert, what happened?" Geraldine asked her second child
"I can't fathom, all I know is James has been off since Friday night" Albert replied not knowing what is wrong. Geraldine looked at Benedict and Francis and they shake their head.
"James, if you don't calmly sort this out, we won't know how to solve it or punish Valeria for whatever mistake she committed" Geraldine said sitting next to him
"James, mother is right. You speaking angrily won't solve the problem" Albert said and James who has been acting strong breaks down making Valeria break down too. Benedict and Francis pet Valeria while Geraldine and Albert pet James
"I was supposed to have lunch with Louisa's family the day I drove her to the train station but I couldn't and she asked me to go and have dinner without telling Louisa and I obeyed. Only for me to get there and see Louisa and the man she calls cousin planning their engagement with her parents" James explained after calming down
"That's terrible. But how's Valeria involve in this?" Geraldine asked
"She knew he wasn't her cousin and knows they will be having dinner that night so she pushed me there" James replied angrily and Geraldine look at Valeria summoning her to speak
"I tried to warn you, I told you they aren't cousins but you thought I was judging your girl. I know they will be having dinner and you seeing it for yourself will be the only way to clear your head. I did everything for you and this is how I get paid? I care about you this much" Valeria explained with hint of anger in her voice. Geraldine now understanding the matter doesn't know what to say, thankfully Albert came to her rescue.
"James, why don't you see what Valeria did as a favour to help you get back on track and as for you that's not a good way to break a sad news to someone, what if something happened to him on his way home that night?" Albert said and Geraldine nods
"You two are only scared to lose your loved ones, James will still have another girlfriend but Valeria cannot get another brother like James even if she has three other. You two should sort this out" Geraldine said and the others support her
"I'm sorry James, I was only worried" Valeria said hugging him with tears
"I'm sorry little sister" James said and the family had a group hug. This is how fast they sort issues in their family, no grudges, no blames or unforgiving souls.
Valeria and Geraldine rest for a while before cooking dinner for the whole family, Alexis and Daisy visited her before dinner time.
"You girls must have missed me so much" Valeria teased them
"Not at all scholarship girl" Alexis said and they laugh
"So why are you here?" Valeria asked
"We are here to hear everything that happened at Chicago" Daisy said happily
"Nothing interesting happened, I only went there for education and I'm back" Valeria replied not wanting to fill them with details
"Really? That's boring" Alexis said
"I was excited for nothing" Daisy said sadly
"Anyways, Louisa your brother's girlfriend is getting married but the man is undisclosed, is it your brother?" Alexis asked as low as possible
"Gossips" Valeria said laughing at them
"She's getting married to him I guess" Daisy said assuming Valeria's happiness is because her brother was getting married
"Not him because they've broken up" Valeria replied
"Why do all relationships end up broken?" Alexis ask feeling sorry for James
"Not all relationships end up broken" Valeria protested
"You don't even have one" Daisy hissed and Alexis laugh at her
"Doesn't mean my parents aren't married" Valeria savaged back forgetting that Daisy's parents are broken. Daisy got angry and leave.
"You shouldn't have said that" Alexis said after calling Daisy to come back
"Don't dish what you can't take" Valeria said and Alexis leave angrily too. Her mother who was bringing snacks for the children saw them leave angrily, she entered Valeria room and saw her covering her face with the quilt.
"Whatever happened give them time, they will come around" Geraldine said and leave the room not wanting to disturb her. Valeria thought about her words, she felt bad for saying them but once again 'Don't dish what you can't take'.
When it was time for dinner, Valeria had dinner with the family and retire to bed after a family moments together.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone