Chapter 3 Going to Townsend

"Jacinth, we'll go to Townsend later. Help me with the work in our boutique only for today!" Rain told Hyacinth one morning while they were having their breakfast on their patio. "Yes, mom!" Hyacinth simply replied. "So, Caribbean Bay this weekend, huh. Your uncle Glen really spoils you a lot kids!" Mark smiled while cutting the bread on his plate with a bread knife. "Yes! Don't worry I will look after my cousins and all of them. Daddy, when will grandma and grandpa be back from the US? I miss them!"Hyacinth asked. Both Robert and Winston including Nick were now elderly and most of the time they just spent their lives traveling with their wives. The patriarch and the matriarch of the Lees passed away of old age in the mansion when she was just fifteen years old. The whole town of Brent and its neighboring towns and cities mourned for the death of the former president of Lee Group. "This summer vacation and your cousins Carl and Elle will come with them!" Mark smilingly replied. "I can't wait to see all of them," Hyacinth was delighted that her cousins whom she had not seen in person for years would take a vacation in Brent three months from now. After their breakfast, Rain and Hyacinth drove to Townsend while Mark went to Lee Group. On their way, Rain was glancing at her daughter who was happily singing from time to time. "Happy?" she exclaimed. "Excited! Mommy, can we pass by the university later?" Hyacinth answered with a beaming smile. "Sure! That's exactly part of our schedule today that's why I told you to come with me!" Then suddenly, Hyacinth stared deeply at her mom. When Rain glanced at her, she was stunned. "Wanna ask something?" she said while her eyes were on the road. "Mommy, why don't I have siblings?" Hyacinth suddenly asked. She was sometimes envious of her cousins for all of them have either a brother or a sister. Arielle had a younger brother named Dylan while Mariz had a younger sister named Meilin. "Because your dad didn't want me to feel the pain of giving birth again!" Hyacinth smiled sweetly at her mom upon knowing the reason. "Love you, mom!" she uttered out of the blue as she clasped her mom's hand that was holding the steering wheel. "Love you, too sweety! Can I also ask something? Did somebody in London pursue you before?" she smilingly teased. "There's one and until now he sometimes calls me!" Hyacinth shyly replied. Her rosy cheeks were now becoming red like an apple. "Really! What is his name?" "James Dean. He is the only son of our directress at school. We have the same age." "What's his personality?" "Gentleman!" Hyacinth simply replied. Rain noticed that she had no interest in elaborating more about the boy so she asked her daughter again. "You have no feelings for him?" Hyacinth sat straight first and held the roof handle before she spoke. She also took a deep sigh. "I'm more comfortable being his friend. I told him a hundred times that he has no hope but.." she shrugged her shoulders before she continued talking. "He keeps on trying!" "Well, he must really love you that's why!" Rain gave her daughter a beaming smile before she focused on the road. "Maybe!" Hyacinth simply whispered. When they arrived in Townsend, they passed by the Hope Bakery and Hyacinth accidentally saw it. "Mom, can we buy some bread in that bakery?" she asked her mom while staring at the place through the window. "Sure! I will just park the car!" Upon parking the car in front of the shop, Hyacinth got out of the car right away. "I will just wait for you here!" Rain uttered. "Okay, got it!" she hastily replied. When she was inside, she was looking at the different kinds of sweets being displayed on the glass shelves. "Look yummy and tempting!" she whispered. She remembered how her cousin Arielle munched the egg tarts during her Homecoming Party. "Can I help you?" Sandra asked. "Ahm, I would like to buy some egg tarts and macaroons, please!" Hyacinth replied. While picking up her order, Melvin happened to pass by carrying a hill of empty boxes for bread and cake. "Mom, where shall I put these boxes?" he asked his mother. Hyacinth who suddenly remembered something glanced at the man beside her. Because his face was covered with the layers of boxes, she couldn’t see it but she thought his voice was familiar. "Place them in the baking room," Sandra simply responded while giving Hyacinth her order. "Thank you!" Hyacinth gently replied and turned around. Melvin who was about to go to the baking room heard her voice. "Jacinth?" he whispered as he looked at the young girl leaving their bakery. But because Hyacinth already closed the door, she didn't hear Melvin's voice. "Do you know her?" Sandra asked her son while she was staring sternly at him whose eyes were still glued to the young lady getting in their car. "I'm not sure!" Melvin answered while squinting at the car that had just driven away. Inside the car, Hyacinth was also still pondering about Melvin. "His voice sounds the same as the rider. Must he be?" she asked inwardly. Her eyebrows furrowed as she moved her head. "What's the matter?" Rain asked. "I don't know but the guy in the bakery a while ago sounds familiar!" Hyacinth explained. "How familiar?" "Mom, did dad tell you about the rider who helped me the day I arrived from London?" "Ah, yes! The mysterious rider. The one wearing a helmet. Why? Have you seen him?" "I don't know but the guy in the bakery a while ago. He has the same voice as the rider. Well, I didn't see his face coz he was carrying some empty boxes!" "Hmm! That happened almost three days ago but you still remember his voice," Rain smilingly uttered like hinting something. "You are the same as a dad!" Hyacinth frowned. She crossed her hands over her chest in an instant. Rain just chuckled. When they arrived in their boutique, Rain's assistant Taña was arguing with some of their customers. "Madam, you can't just return this dress to our boutique. You bought this a month ago and look the sleeve was ripped!" Taña carefully explained to the mother and daughter who were both holding their waist as they stood straight in front of her. "What’s wrong with a small tear? It only means that the quality of your clothes here isn't good!" the mother rudely exclaimed. "What’s going on here?" Rain gently asked. Hyacinth was behind her. "Are you the owner of this fake brand boutique?" the mother raised her eyebrows at Rain. "Excuse me! Our fabrics here are all of the good quality and we don't sell fake!" Taña's patience was now wearing thin. "So, can you explain this to us?" the daughter taunted as she tossed the dress on Taña's face. "Hey! You're rude!" Hyacinth exclaimed in shock as she gave the daughter a sharp stare. The daughter just raised her eyebrows on her. "Alright! Calm down. We can nicely settle this," Rain went in between Taña and the woman. "What do you want us to do?" she then asked the panting mother. "Give our money back!" she immediately said. "Okay! Taña, get the receipt from them and give them their money!" Rain immediately said. "Madam, they bought this in good condition a month ago and they didn't bring their receipt either!" "It's alright! Do you remember how much is it?" Rain asked the mother. "I remember, it's $3,000!" the daughter replied when she saw that her mother was still trying to recall how much the dress was. "Taña, give them the money!" Taña was adamant but when Rain smiled at her, she gave the mother their money back. "Take that stinky dress with you. Because of your boutique, we're not coming back to this department store again!" the mother scornfully uttered on Rain's face. "Hey! We just gave you your money back and it's not even our fault!" Hyacinth was now annoyed. "Calm down sweetheart. Let them vent their anger!" Rain clasped her daughter's hand. "But mom!" Hyacinth was frustrated with her mom's decision. When the two left, Hyacinth stared at her mother. Her almond eyes were asking. "Anger is a kind of trash. Do you want to be wrapped with filthy trash all day?" "No, but!" "I'll take care of it!" After talking to her daughter, she picked up the phone and dialed the administrative office. "Hello! This is the owner of Rain Boutique on the third floor. I'd like to report something that happened in my shop a while ago!" When she told the admin about the incident, the admin made a move right away. "We got it, madam. We'll block them in our department stores from now on!" When she hung up, she told Hyacinth that the mother and daughter could no longer go to that department store and its branches. "Wow! Snap!" Hyacinth exclaimed as she gave Taña a high five. "That's what I learned from your dad!" Rain proudly said of which the two just nodded and smiled.