Chelsy was on the phone with Rachel when someone knocked on her door. She quickly interrupted what Rachel was saying. ''Rach. Please give me a minute. Let me check who is at my door. I will call you back once I am done, okay?''
She ended the call and went to the door to see who was there.
As Chelsy opened the door, she was stunned. The phone she was holding fell from her hand.
She took a step back as her eyes bulged in confusion.
As she stood there momentarily frozen and speechless, her eyes were rapidly blinking as she tried to process who she had seen.
With a shaky and disbelieving voice, she muttered, ''Lenny?''
Her brother Leonel Powers, her sister-in-law Melinda and her niece Fiona were all standing in front of her door.
For a brief moment, they all shouted, ''Surprise!''
Chelsy couldn't believe that her family had come all the way from Wolverton to spend the new year with her.
She rushed like a thunderbolt into the open arms of her brother as she cried tears of joy. ''Oh Lenny. You are here. Flesh and blood.''
She held Leonel's face and touched his arms to be sure she was not dreaming.
''You really are here.'' She muttered as tears started streaming down her cheeks.
Leonel, who was excited to see his baby sister after a whole year, spoke calmly. ''Little Chels. I have missed you so much.''
The two siblings stayed in that hugging position for a while, then Melinda said, ''Isn't this discrimination? So you didn't miss us, just Leonel.''
Chelsy smiled through her tears and went over to Melinda as she hugged her. ''Oh Melinda. I have missed you too.''
She bent down and saw Fiona, who was already a big girl. She spoke softly ''Hey my little nugget. I have missed you so much.''
She scooped Fiona into her arms and hugged her tight. Fiona had the largest part of Chelsy's heart. She could do virtually anything and everything for her little niece.
The love was mutual because Fiona buried her face in Chelsy's neck and placed her little arms around her shoulders.
She spoke with her small but sweet voice. ''I have missed you Titi Chelsy.''
Titi, was the short form for aunty.
Chelsy hugged Fiona even tighter and whispered. ''I know honey.''
They all went into the house and closed the door.
Shortly after they had settled inside, there was another ring on the doorbell.
Chelsy looked up and said, ''Who is it this time around?''
As she opened the door, she saw Rachel standing there, looking all glam with her suitcase. ''Finally, I have joined the party.'' Rachel spoke excitedly.
When Chelsy saw her best friend, she could not describe the joy that was in her heart. She rushed over and hugged her, as if it was the last time she was going to see her.
The two girls cried in each other's arms as they had missed each other.
All Chelsy could mutter was, ''My Rachel. My Rachel is here too.''
After hugging each other for a while, the two girls disengaged from the hug, and Chelsy asked. ''But how come you are all here at the same time? You and I were on the phone a couple of minutes ago, and you said you were watching a crime documentary.''
Rachel gave a cheeky smile and said, ''Baby girl, you make it so easy to surprise you. You never pick up on hints, honey.''
Flashback to a few days before Christmas. Rachel had called up Leonel Powers to discuss something important.
''Hey Lenny. What's up?''
Leonel, who was at the other end of the line, responded with his usual calm and composed voice.
''Hey Rachel. I am good. Hope you are too.''
Rachel said yes and went ahead to spell out her reason for calling. She cleared her throat and spoke with her usual quirky voice, ''Erm. Lenny, there is something I would love to ask. Do you have plans for the new year's holiday?''
Leonel was on a two-week leave. He answered honestly. ''Well no. Melinda and I have no plans to go out of town. Why ask though?''
Rachel smiled and said, ''Perfect. The thing is, Chelsy has really been down recently. And please, don't ask me the reason, because it is girl stuff and I can't tell you.''
Leonel's mouth curved up in a gentle smile, and he just answered softly with his calm tone. ''Okay. Ride on.''
Rachel chuckled and continued. ''Well, I was planning on paying her a surprise visit before new year. I was wondering, since you don't have any plans, can we spend New year with her?''
Rachel waited anxiously for Leonel's response.
After a few seconds, Leonel let out a gentle sigh and said, ''Okay then. I will discuss this with Melinda first, before I can give you a response, okay?''
Rachel knew this would make Chelsy super happy.
She giggled like a little kid and said excitedly. ''You are the best Lenny. I am certain Melinda won't say no. Anyway, bye and I will be expecting your response by tomorrow.''
And that was how Rachel and Leonel, together with Melinda, planned on surprising Chelsy.
Chelsy was astonished at their surprise. Her eyes were full of tears of joy, and she spoke in between sobs.
''Oh Rachel. Thank you. This is the best surprise ever.''
She leaned forward and hugged her best friend, whom she had missed and not seen for more than a year.
The family sat down and had a great evening. It was getting late. And Leonel calmly called out to Chelsy.
''Hey Chels. It is getting late already. Fiona is sleeping, and we need to go back to our guest house.''
Since Chelsy's apartment was small and couldn't accommodate her entire family, Leonel had booked a guesthouse not too far from where Chelsy lived.
''Since tomorrow is New Year's Eve, we will all celebrate at the guest house not too far from here. So see you tomorrow then.''
Chelsy just looked at her brother with a smile plastered on her face. ''Thank you so much Lenny.''
She moved closer and hugged her brother so tightly. She buried her face in his chest and said with a shaky voice. ''I can't believe you are here Lenny. I have missed you so much.
Leonel too smiled and wrapped his firm arms around Chelsy's shoulders. He used one of his hands to caress Chelsy's hair. ''Our little Chels is a whole grown up now, and lives on her own. I have missed you too, Chels. Even more than you can imagine.''
The two siblings stayed in that position for a few seconds before disengaging from the hug.
Rachel had no plans of booking a hotel, because she was going to stay at Chelsy's apartment.
After everyone had gone, Chelsy and Rachel were left at Chelsy's apartment.
The two girls had a lot to talk and gossip about.
Rachel was the only person Chelsy could openly gossip with.
She fed Rachel with all the office gossip and drama, and they both laughed hysterically.
Then, suddenly, Chelsy held Rachel's hand and said, ''Rach, there is something I want to tell you. I knew telling you in person would make it even juicier.''
Rachel was really anxious to hear what Chelsy had to say. She moved closer to Chelsy and asked anxiously, ''Chels, what is it? Please tell me already before I develop gray hair on my head.''
Chelsy just looked at Rachel mischievously and folded her arms. She spoke gently but firmly. ''Well, well, well. My dearest Rachel, if you want to hear what I have to say, then ask me nicely ma'am.''
Rachel, who knew Chelsy was acting up, decided to join in her acting. She adjusted her dress and dove into her acting suit.
She held her palms together and asked solemnly and softly with blinking eyes. ''My darling lady Chelsy of Wolverton. The moon goddess and the best friend I ever had. Will thou please telleth me what thee has to say? Thine humble best friend waiteth desperately for thou to speaketh thine thoughts.''
Chelsy couldn't hold in her laughter, and burst out laughing like a braying donkey choking on water.
This witty and carefree side of Rachel was the one thing she had missed most about her best friend.
She knew how to make her mood better. Rachel didn't know nor understand how special she was to Chelsy.
Chelsy composed herself and said, ''Okay my humble best friend. I will telleth thee then.''
She cleared her throat and spoke in one breath. ''Hank and I are in a relationship.''
Rachel sat up from the couch and shouted surprisingly. ''What? Chelsy, I hope you are not pulling my legs. When? How? In fact, how long has it been?''
Chelsy smiled and said, ''it has been over a week now. I am really happy, Rachel. He makes me so happy.''
Rachel was so excited to know that her best friend had finally found love again. She knew what Chelsy had been through when it came to love. She was happy that Chelsy had let go of her dark past and decided to fight for her happiness.
She spoke softly with her eyes glistening with tears of joy. ''Oh my Chelsy. I am so happy for you, Sisi. Finally, you have decided to give love a chance again.''
She sniffed and continued. ''So are you spending New Year's Eve with him?''
Chelsy shook her head and said dejectedly. ''No Rach. He isn't around. He traveled to Australia the day after we started dating. He will be there for the next two weeks.''
Rachel looked at Chelsy tenderly and said, ''Sis, I am certain that this time around, you met a good man. I really hope and wish you all the happiness life can offer. I am so happy for you Chels. You deserve everything good and kind in this life.''
Chelsy, with eyes welling with tears, just looked at Rachel and muttered softly, ''Thank you Rach.'' They both chatted all night and compensated for the lost time they had missed.
Meanwhile, Clarissa was in her house still feeling offended by what Hank had done. She felt as if she had been cheated upon and wronged by Hank and Chelsy.
That night of the Christmas party, after Hank had asked Gina to give Clarissa a termination letter, she had followed Hank into the garden to plead and beg.
But when she got there, she saw Hank holding Chelsy in his arms and apologizing.
She clenched her fists and vowed to deal with Chelsy. She had promised herself that she would do whatever it took, to destroy whatever Hank and Chelsy had.
Clarissa sat in her house while glaring at pictures of her and Hank on her phone.
Her face had a mischievous and dark smile. She gave an evil chuckle and said through gritted teeth, ''Hank, be ready. When I am done with you, even Chelsy won't be able to forgive you. If I can't have you, then no one can.''
What does Clarissa have planned up her sleeve?