Getting to the apartment, Jessica walked to the living room while she saw her parents sitting down with their eyes fixed on her. Her father stood up and he hugged her, guiding her to sit down beside him.
" Dad! Mum! What is the matter, is everything okay?" Jessica asked, with a hunched shoulder. Although she was looking tired, she wanted to know what the problem was.
" Yes, there is good news to discuss with you," Mrs. Graves said, biting her lower lip.
" Good news? " Jessica asked as she leaned forward. Staring at her parents, she settled down so she could listen to them.
Jessica's dad held her hands, as he looked directly into her eyes, " Princess, do you still remember Mr. Lester, in Los Angeles?"
" Of course I do, the one you helped set up his pharmacy factory over there?"Jessica said, looking at her dad.
" Yes, he is the one. He called me last Monday asking if I would like to start working again, and I said yes. I received his call again today to inform me that he just set up a factory for me in Texas, he wants me to start all over again," Mr. Graves explains.
" That's good news dad, what about your health? " Jessica said with darting eyes.
" I am okay now. How can I be sick again when I am hearing the good news? It makes me feel healthier," Mr. Graves said, smiling.
" When are we moving?" Jessica said with wide eyes.
"Jessica, you are not going to leave your job here to follow us, you are not a baby anymore. You have been taking care of this family for over two years," Jessica's mum explained as she continues, " We want you to continue working, to find your foot. Can you do that Jessica?"
" Hmm, you want me to live alone? I have never lived alone before, and am not sure I can survive that, " Jessica said, as she tilted her head towards her parents. Her narrowed eyes were looking at her parents.
" You can survive it, princess. You can visit us when you're on break at work," Mr. Grave's said, as she looked at her daughter.
" When are you planning to move?" Jessica asked.
" Tomorrow, princess. The official opening is next tomorrow, so we are moving tomorrow. Our ticket has been booked." Mrs. Graves said.
" We don't know if it will be early like this. Mr. Lester made it a surprise for us," Her father explained with a sad face.
"Dad, what really matters is that you are happy. Seeing you being happy is also my happiness. Mum, just please look after dad's health, " Jessica said, as she smiled.
" How about me, who will look after me? I know you like your dad more," Mrs. Graves said, with a feigned sadness.
" I love you both equally, mum. I just want you two to be happy," Jessica said as she stood up to sit on her mum's lap.
" How about the twins? Where are they?" Jessica asked, looking around.
"They are packing already,"
" Already! Those little brats! They can't wait to get away from me," Jessica said, grinning.
" They have been sniffing quietly since we told them the news. They wanted to stay with you. We barely convinced them to pack up," Mrs. Graves said, shaking her head.
*Hmmm, ” Jessica murmured. She would also miss the twins very much.
" Can we sleep together in your room tonight? Jessica said, darting her eyes.
" Sure princess. Come on, let's go pack already," Jessica's mum said, as she and Jessica went in together.
They started packing their bags with Jessica trying to control her emotions. In less than two hours, after they finished packing, Jessica assisted her mum in the kitchen when they chatted at the same time.
They cooked a watery meal that made Jessica a little moody but she quickly snapped out of it so her family won't feel burdened. They laughed as they were together.
"Mum, I am going to miss your cooking. I wonder how I am going to survive!" Jessica said, smiling faintly.
"We will miss you too, Princess. It's a pity you can't leave with us. Your dad wants you to have experience in running a business. You will come back as soon as we have gained our footing," Jessica's mother said, trying to hold back her tears. But it was proving abortive as the tears were trickling slowly.
Seeing her mother about to break down, she dropped her cutlery and went to give her a hug. The mother and daughter slowly let their emotions win over them.
After Jessica's family finished their meal, she went to her room to change into her nightwear. Tonight, she was going to enjoy her parent's company before they went.
She took a deep breath and went to her parent's room where she slept for the night.
****
The following day, Jessica woke up early to prepare for work, after having bathed. Her mum came to her room to let her know the taxi that will convey them to the airport waa around, and they both went to the living room together.
She hugged her siblings while blinking tears away.
"Why didn't you wait for me to drop you guys? I could take a half day from work," Jessica said, taking her mom's suitcase.
"You don't have to, sweetheart. As soon as your dad is settled, you will be spending your weekends visiting us. We don't want you to make excuses that might affect your working attendance," Her mum said, smiling.
"Yes, princess. The cab can take us there. It's not a big deal," her father chipped in.
Jessica had no choice but to agree with her family. She hugged her parents and her siblings after which the family walked up to the taxi.
"Jessy, when will you come and visit us?" One of the twins asked as the other also nodded with a teary eye.
"I will come and visit as soon as I receive my pay. I promise, sweethearts," Jessica said, planting kisses on their cheeks.
She helped them put their luggage in the taxi and she watched them leaving. Immediately they left, Jessica couldn't hold the tears anymore. She busted out while she cried hard.
" How am I going to cope now? Living without them is never going to be the same! How did they expect me to be living alone now?" Jessica thought to herself as she shook with sobs.
After crying for twenty minutes, Jessica cleaned her face as she walked out of the house, she entered her car and drove to work.
Immediately she entered the company car park, Edwin was there but she didn't notice. He watched as she dropped her head in sorrow.
She came down from the car while sniffing and blinking away tears. Edwin saw her and wondered why she was crying early in the morning.
" Why is she crying? Did she have issues with her boyfriend?" Edwin thought to himself, licking his lips.
Jessica walked inside and sat down on a chair, looking dejected. She started her laptop to start her daily activities.
Edwin came inside but Jessica didn't even notice him because she was engrossed in her work, he went to his office looking back at Jessica.
***
During the lunch break, Jessica carried her lunch box and went to the cafeteria. She saw Misha and James and then she joined them, silently.
Picking on her food while she responds to one or two things to what they are discussing, it didn't take long before they noticed something was wrong with her.
Misha was the first to notice her behavior and decided to ask if there was anything wrong.
" Babes, what happened? You look lost. Having problems with your boyfriend?" Misha asked, trying to lighten the mood. Misha knew Jessica had no boyfriend and her life was centered around her boyfriend.
Jessica just smiled faintly at Misha's question. She knew Misha was teasing her so she decided to spill her problem out. After all, they were her friends.
" My family left for Texas this morning, and I am missing them already," Jessica said, blinking away her tears.
" What! What happened? Did they go for a vacation or was it a relocation?" Misha shouted.
" It's relocation," Jessica murmured.
" Don't worry, you can visit during your leave of absence," James said as he patted Jessica on her back.
Trying to make Jessica feel better, she decided to remind her of the Friday clubbing outing.
" Jessica, that means you are free to go to the club now right?" Misha said with a smile.
" Hmmm, I don't know yet but I will give it a try, " Jessica responded.
The three friends finished their food as they went to various offices.
After closing time, Jessica drove home and decided to call her parents to know how they are doing.
She called them on a video call and after a ring, her dad picked up immediately.
" Princess, are you back at home?" Her dad asked, smiling with her eyes.
" Yes daddy, how is the place? Do you like it there?" Jessica asked with a worried tone.
" Yes, princess. I can say I feel alive again after two years. I checked out the company today, and everything is set," Mr. Graves said smiling.
" I can see you are happy, dad. And I am now happy too," Jessica said, breathing a sigh of relief.
" Where are mum and the twins?" Jessica asked.
" Your mum is arranging their clothes in their room," Mr. Graves responded.
" Alright dad, I will call tomorrow again, my regards to mum," Jessica said.
" I miss you, my princess, be good, okay?"
" Okay daddy, I love you"
" I love you too, princess," Mr. Graves said, smiling.
Jessica hung up the call and she went to the kitchen to microwave the food prepared for her by her mum before she left. After eating, she went back to her room and decided to check her email.
Jessica was happy after seeing she had entered step two of the assessment. She quickly checked the next stage so she could work on it but she was too tired as she started feeling sleepy.
Lying on her bed, her mind went to Edwin who seems to have distanced himself from her after their last encounter.
She played her favorite song and murmured something before sleep took over her.