- 15 -
Two, three days later, on a Sunday morning, Drake was asleep when Elizabeth came and knocked on his door.
Itโs unusual for her to call all the family members for church, but that day was hers and Jacksonโs 27th wedding anniversary.
โDrakeโฆโฆ! You awake?โ, Elizabeth asked from outside.
Elizabeth could hear nothing. Since his door was unlocked from inside, she opened it and went in. She saw that he was asleep yet.
โDrake, wake up. Itโs Sunday and we have to head to church. Itโs 5.00 a.m. in the morning. Come on, wake up. โ, Elizabeth said.
โMom, please let me sleep for some more time; you go and call Jo, by the time you call her, I will be up.โ, Drake said while half asleep. Saying that, he continued his sleep.
He said so because Joanna is the one in their house who never wakes up no matter how many calls. It takes even half an hour to wake her up.
Elizabeth understood his purpose, but said nothing and went away.
When she reached the girlsโ room, where Joanna, Martha, and Susanne usually sleep, she was shocked to see that Joanna was awake.
โJo, you awake?โโ, she asked.
โYeah! Mom.โ, Joanna said.
When she turned around, she saw Susanne sitting on a chair reading some books as usual.
โJo, wake Martha up and three of you get ready for church.โ Saying this Elizabeth left.
It was almost 5:30 in the morning, and everyone were ready to go for the holy mass.
The Mass starts at 6:00 a.m.
..............
It was 7:30 a.m. when the Mass ended.
โSo, shall we head back home?โ Joanna asked.
โWhere is mom?โ Asked Martha.
โMom went to the cemetery,โ Susanne said.
โYou girls may head back home. Where are Lorenzo and Drake?โ Jackson asked.
โI think they both left. I canโt see Lorenzoโs car hereโ, Susanne said.
โWhat about mom?โ Joanna asked.
โDonโt worry about her, Iโll accompany her. โ Jackson smiled and walked to the cemetery. Henzel also accompanied him.
The three girls walked over to their car talking about random stuffs.
โWhoโs gonna drive?โ Martha asked.
โMe for sure,โ Susanne said. Martha threw the carโs key at Susanne and she caught it. The three drove off.
Suddenly Leandro and Ruth approached Jackson.
โJackson!โ, Leandro called him.
โYes.โ, Jackson replied.
โRuth and I are going to my guest house here in Beverly as few of my friends have come to see us there. You all may go and weโll be back in the evening.โ, Leandro informed him.
On hearing this, Henzel asked, โOh! Is it? Wonโt you guys be there today in our house for the wedding anniversary?โ.
โWhen they return in the evening, we can all go out.โ, Jackson said.
Thatโs when Henzel remembered about the surprise party for the Wedding Anniversary. As soon as Ruth and Leandro left, Henzel ran from the church to his house without Jackson noticing.
Jackson waited for Elizabeth for some time and when she came back, they both left.
