Chapter 2: Welcome Home Treatment

Standing a few steps away from the gate of the mansion after hopping down the taxi made her eyes teary. She inhaled deeply as a warm and excited smile drew her lips the moment she walked through the electric iron gate of the mansion. The gate automatically opened the moment she was recognized by the guards inside through the security camera and one of the guards immediately came closer to greet her she guessed. 

"Senorita Alexa? Why aren't you riding you're car?" Mr. Stevens, the long-time guard of the mansion immediately helps her take her baggage that puts up a smile on her lips. Until now the old man couldn't identify who's who between her and her twin sister Alexa. 

"I guess you have forgotten me already Mr. Stevens? Should I be sad you mistook me again from my twin sister?" She stated pretending to be disappointed.

"S-Senorita A-Alejandra! Is that you?" Surprised and happiness automatically radiated on the old man's face. 

"The one and only, Mr. Stevens! Is this your kind of welcome to me after not coming home for eight long years?" She naughty states. 

"Oh, my apologies my Senorita! Welcome home!" The old man happily greeted.

"Thank you, Mr. Stevens."

The moment she entered the mansion, the surprised faces of the servants that recognize her are what she met most especially their old housekeeper Mrs. Smith. 

"Senorita Andra! What a big surprise!" The old woman gladly greeted. 

"Mrs. Smith! It was nice to see you again." The old lady's eyes turned teary and embraced her so tightly as if she had missed her so much.

"Oh, my Senorita! You finally came home. We had missed you so much!" The old woman cried emotionally. She could feel her genuine concerns. The old woman has been like a member of the family that they truly respect because of her loyalty and long-time service. She had missed the old woman who had become her Nanny and acted as a second mother to her and Alexa. 

"Wait there! I'll call the Madam! She will be glad to know that you have finally come home. Madame! Madame! The Senorita Andra finally came home!" Mrs. Smith excitedly shouted and run through the dining doom. 

It's funny how the servants give her warm and genuine treatment as if they had been long anticipating her come back. When Mrs. Smith came back, she was now with her Mom. The moment she saw her Mom looking so excited to see her, her tears finally fell down.

"Mama..." She muttered. 

"My Maria Alejandra! Oh, my baby..." Her Mom run and met her all the way and immediately hugged her. She felt on her mother's tight embrace of the love and her action of how much she badly missed her. 

"Why did you decide to just come home now? We've been longing anticipating your come back. Don't you love us to just come home after eight long years? You silly kid!" Her Mom cried while she was being held by her so tightly like she don't want to let her go. 

Hearing her mother's weeps and sentiments broke her heart. She realized she was wrong when she thought her Mom wasn't thinking of her at all while she was away for a long time. 

"I missed you so much, my poor baby..."

"Jimena! What's the commotion over there!" Her Mom and her got separated the moment they heard her father's voice. She saw him now walking down from the grand staircase with Alexa. 

"Gerardo! Your youngest daughter finally came home!" Her Mom announced buoyantly. 

When she met his father's surprise look, she never missed the tinge of sadness and longing that radiated his face for quite some time before his face turned back to cold and stiff again. 

"Sis!" She heard Alexa shout. She immediately runs on the grand staircase to come down towards her. With teary eyes, she excitedly runs towards her sister and embraced her so tight. 

"I knew then you won't bring me down. I've missed you so much..." Alexa stated then gently caressed her hair down to her back hushing her from crying. 

"I've missed you too. You know I can't miss the wedding day of my one and only sister." She emotionally stated back. 

"So my prodigal child finally decided to come home." Her father's hard voice that full of hatred stopped her and Alexa from their conversation.

"What made you finally come home?" Her smile vanished the moment she noticed her father wasn't happy with her come back. She was still mad at her, she realized. 

"I came home for my sister's wedding Dad." She answered bravely.

"So you treat us your family still uh? I thought we meant nothing to you anymore? You shouldn't bother coming home. We almost forgot you." Her father's voice was full of bitterness and hate. With that treatment, her joy and excitement changes to pain and resentment in an instant. 

"Gerardo! What kind of treatment is that? Your daughter just arrives home, for Pete's sake!" Her mom castigated her Fad. 

It was funny because she thought her father will be glad as well that she finally came home just like everyone else in the mansion. Guess she expected too much. Her father was still upset and thought of her as a failure and disappointment still. 

"No worries Dad. I'll leave soon after Alexa's wedding." She replied full of bitterness and resentment. She realized she can't stay and have a vacation for a month with her father's treatment. 

"Maria Alejandra! You just arrived home and now you are talking about leaving?" Her mother exclaimed. 

"I told you Jimena. Do not expect too much with that daughter of yours!"

"Enough Gerardo! Keep that mouth of yours shut if you have nothing to say good. Keep your hatred with yourself. You can leave us if you'll only spoil our happiness!" Her mother angrily stated to her Dad. 

She noticed her Dad got surprised by the sudden anger of her mom so he got stunned for a moment and then decided to leave them afterward. 

"Disregard your old man. He was just surprised by your sudden coming home but deep inside he been longing your come back." Her Mom still tried to sugarcoat the situation and she appreciated that even though it's kinda obvious her Dad was not happy she came home. 

"It's okay Mama! You don't have to cover for Dad." A sad smile painted her lips. 

"Come, you must be hungry now after your travel. Mrs. Smith, please prepare something to eat for your Senorita Andra. She must be starving. If you could prepare some of her favorites immediately please do it, Mrs. Smith." Her Mom thoughtfully stated then start dragging her to the dining room. 

"Yes, Madame," Mrs. Smith immediately oblige. 

With that, her mood somehow brightens up. They would probably have a lot of things to catch up on, she thought. She smiles when her Mom starts making orders to the servant to prepare her room while she was eating and Alexa is just smiling looking at her Mom's frantic actions for being overwhelmed by her presence. 

After eating, her Mom excitedly pull her outside the house telling her she wanted to show her a surprise. She noticed they were heading the way towards the garden so she got curious. When she finally saw what her mom trying to show her, her mouth dropped with awe and amazement. She saw the garden got improved and the ornamental plants she use to plant had grown and improved. She noticed it has expanded and the landscape became more appealing and beautiful. Her tulips plants had gone wide and prosperous, there were also some rose plants and different kinds of orchids. Beyond painting, gardening is one of her hobbies and she never thought her Mom will make some effort to improve the garden that she used to call hers. 

"This place always reminds me of you so I tried to grow your plants and improve them after you're gone. I know you'll be happy to see them when you come back. This had turned out my habit every time I missed you, you know that." She was touched after hearing that. She never expected her Mom will give attention to her plants after she was gone.

"They looked amazing. I loved them! I missed you, Mama." She emotionally stated once more. 

"I missed you more, my baby..."

"Please tell me you won't leave again?" She answered her Mom with a tight hug because she don't wanna spoil the moment and break her mother's heart. She just doesn't wanna make a promise she can't keep.