Great Grandfather And Great Granddaughter

“Rosie Mae Rossasor,” Izabelle muttered.

“Rosie Mae Rossador. Good choice of name,” Grandfather Rossador repeated, staring at the little girl beside her mother who was peering at him with her big round eyes wide open. Perhaps she was wondering who he was.

“Come, little girl. Come greet your great grandfather,” he gestured with his arms wide open.

“Great grandfather,” little Rosie pondered. Her mother had once taught her the meaning of these titles.

Izabelle bent to her height and whispered something into her ears causing her eyes to widen. Rosie slowly and hesitantly climbed down the couch and walked to the grandfather’s side. He embraced her before carrying her to sit beside him.

“I’m mommy’s grandfather. Mommy used to run around this mansion when she was younger.”

“Mommy used to stay here?”

The grandfather nodded.

“Want me to show you Mommy’s pictures?” At Rosie’s approval, the grandfather clapped his hands and two maids came rushing into the hall at the same time. He ordered them to go fetch his office for Izabelle’s memory book. The maids nodded and went to do his bidding immediately. In no time, the maid brought the memory book and handed it over to the grandfather.

“Come on, I’ll show you your mommy’s pictures of when she was younger,” Grandfather Rosaddor carried the little girl on his lap and placed the book on her lap for her to see clearly. Surely, he has fallen in love with the child at the first meeting.

“Grandfather, you don’t have to,” Izabelle said.

“Why can't I? See how excited she is to see you in your younger days.”

“Mommy,” Rosie muttered as her tiny fingers traced the first picture. She wondered if it was really her mommy. She was small, even smaller than her in the picture. She was just a baby.

“This is your mommy when she was eight,” Grandfather Rossador showed her another picture. He let her swipe the pages and her fingers traced each picture she came across.

“This is your mommy being forced to school by her older cousin in her second year at junior high. She was such a naughty kid,” although Rosie didn't know what the grandfather meant completely, she giggled while staring at the funny picture of her mother being dragged to school with her school bag on the floor and holding her mother’s hand, was a taller person.

Isabelle laughed at the memory even though she couldn't see the picture. She could still remember what happened then. Her cousin from her mother’s side, Jared had forced her to school after she refused to go because of the bullies back then. He was in his first year in senior high then and wouldn't take no for an answer when he comes to pick her up for school.

It became worse after she got to senior high and her brother made a new friend, Marcel. They both wouldn't let her skip any day and would help get rid of her bullies. Marcel was worse. He would hit any guy who tried to flirt with her until they were sent to the hospital and the girls at school also started avoiding her.

Izabelle’s thoughts were interrupted when she heard a burst of loud laughter from her daughter and grandfather. The tiny giggle from Rosie filled her heart with immeasurable joy.

Their time was interrupted by the arrival of a maid who announced.

“It's time for dinner, sir.”

Isabelle stood up from the couch.

“We should get going now, grandfather. It's getting late.”

“Oh no no. I would have asked you to stay for the night but I know you'll refuse. You should have dinner with us. I'm sure it isn't going to hurt.”

“We’re fine, grandfather. We'll get dinner at the hotel.”

“I won't allow that. I'm sure my great-granddaughter must be hungry now, right, Rose?” The little girl nodded and wrapped her one hand around the old man’s neck and with the other, she held his chain and inspected it as he stood up from the couch.

Izabelle’s mouth fell open. How did the old man manage to win her heart in just a few hours? It was a known fact that this daughter of hers isn't easy to please. How come the old man won her heart just by showing her a few pictures? He didn't even give her any gifts yet.

“Come join us for dinner. You should greet your uncle and your cousins before leaving.”

They were bad news. She so much wanted to avoid them like a plague. They were the last people that she would want to see right now. The sight of them was bad news. But with the grandfather asking and with her daughter agreeing with the grandfather‘s words, who was she to say no?

She had no choice but to follow them to the dining hall where the other family members already took their seats waiting for the grandfather to come.

“Sister Izabelle, you're here?” Jasmine exclaimed, standing up from her chair, her eyes wide as she stared at Izabelle and then at the little child in the grandfather’s arms. “I wasn't aware that you are around, welcome,” she greeted before sitting down on her chair and fiddling with the cutleries.

Izabelle only nodded at her greeting and settled down next to her daughter who was seated right beside the grandfather at the head of the table.

Little Rosie stared at the meal in astonishment and her eyes shone in delight. Most of the meals here were her favorite and were meals her mother at times made for her for nutrition. Izabelle put rice and fish with a cut of egg on her plate and without thinking twice, she held her spoon and scooped a half spoon of rice and fish before bringing it to her tiny mouth and chewing, the sweet taste of the rice and fish-filled her mouth.

“Hey, kid, where are your manners, huh? Don't you have any?” A loud voice asked.