SEVENTEEN

PROLOGUE

Jerry Winters gazed at his beautiful children sleeping peacefully in their beds. He smiled outwardly.

"Aren't you late for work, Jay? It's half past eight. " His wife, Rosie said, coming out of the kitchen.

"I just wanted to say hi to my babies. Seriously Rosie, they're growing so fast. Look how beautiful Daisy is. I'm going to have a hard time keeping all those boys away from her. Even... "

"Jerry Winters. Go to work now!! " Rosie interrupted, pushing him softly and they walked out together to his car. The twins were ten months old. It felt just like yesterday that they were born.

"So darling " He turned to face his wife. "When did you say you were going back to work ?"

Before she could reply ,he chipped in "Or how about our grand plan of building your own hospital? I've been saving towards it ,you know , and you've worked in two different hospitals already. I'm sure you've gained enough experience to run yours. "

Rosie smiled. "I understand what you're implying but the thing is, I don't want my kids to grow up with a nanny. And I'm also scared too"

"Hey" he touched her cheek. "I'll be with you every step of the way. When I'm back from work, I'll take you around to look at some sites and you can decide the one that will be appropriate for you. "

Before she could reply, he kissed her hard on the lips and smiled.

"Sorry. I'm late for work. Love you ".

He got in his car and drove off.

Rosie chuckled and went back into the house and made the children's food. She put it in a bottle and kept it in the fridge.

****

SIXTEEN YEARS LATER

Rosie woke up with a start. She knew that sound. She glanced at the wall clock and saw that it was some minutes past twelve. The kids were still in their bedroom watching TV. She knew she was right when she told Jerry not to get separate TVs for them. She got to Danny's room first. He was watching 'Shrek '. She turned off the TV and went to him.

"What time are you supposed to be sleeping? "

"By 10pm. but mum... "

She held up her hands "Yeah. You knew and you intentionally disobeyed me which means that there will be a punishment. Goodnight " She said and stalked out of the room. She went to Daisy's room which was just opposite Danny's bedroom. She was watching High school Musical. As soon as the young girl heard her mum's voice, she turned off the TV and pretended like she was sleeping.

"Daisy, don't you dare pretend. Whether you like it or not, you will face the punishment " She tried to speak in a harsh tone but her voice sounded humorous. Even Daisy chuckled a little.

Rosie smiled and went to her five year old daughter, Allie, but the little girl was sleeping peacefully. When she was sure that her kids were all safely sleeping in their bedrooms, she went back to her own room. She slept all through the night until 8:00 am.

Earlier on, when the kids recently started school, she used to be worried about getting to the hospital in time before her employees,but nowadays she shows up at work whenever she likes. After all, she's the boss.

Jerry had gone to work already. He prepared the children for school before leaving; such a lovely husband.

Now she was all alone in their big penthouse. She already had plans to go see her mum and mother-in-law. She quickly got prepared, putting on a blue dress with black coat on.

"Hey mum " She said, as soon as her mother opened the door after she had knocked for a long time. Her mum came out looking sleepy and tired.

"Hey Rosie " The older woman's face brightened as soon as she saw her daughter."I didn't know you were coming by today, I would have made you something. Come in" She stepped aside to let Rosie in.

"How have you been? "Her mother asked.

"I've been good "

"And your husband? The kids? Work? "

"Yeah. Everyone is fine. I decided not to go to work today. The kids are at school and Jerry is at work so I felt bored and decided to come. How have you been? " Rosie explained.

"Well, I've been doing a lot of gardening with Claudia. There are a lot of plants and flowers at the back yard. There are tulips and grapes and strawberry, hibiscus... I even planned white ixora." The woman spoke with much enthusiasm, that Rosie felt her heart melt.

"Wow. That sounds like an interesting job"

"Yeah it was. I just finished speaking with Emma, Ellie's daughter. She's getting married soon and she might soon provide me with great grand children. Oh my God!!! " The woman exclaimed in excitement. Rosie laughed and remembered a time when her mother used to complain and lament that all hopes were lost in getting her children to get back with her, but now she's gotten all of her family back. She even somehow thinks that the situation might be overwhelming for the woman.

They chatted for a little while and then she went to her mother in law's place which was just a few steps away from her own place. She stayed with the woman for a while before getting on the road. She bought some novels for her children, according to their age and tastes - Jane Eyre for Daisy, The 39 steps for Danny and Snow suite and the good fish for Allie. "

When she arrived in Los Angeles, she went to pick Allie from school. The little girl ran to her and enclosed her in a tight warm broad hug.

"Hey Allie Bear. How are you? "

"I'm fine mum, but you weren't around to prepare me for school" She pulled a face.

"I'm sorry honey. After all, your dad got you ready for school didn't he?" Rose miles and climbed back inside the car"

She drove up to the twins school.

She came out of the car and waited for them for a few moments before the both of them started coming out silently.

" Hey darlings. "

They greeted her but she noticed Daisy was not in her usual cheerful mood; she wasn't actually a cheerful person but today seemed odd, like as if she wasn't her normal self.

The drive back home was silent except for Allie who insisted on narrating the detailed event of how her school went that day.

"So how was school? " Rosie asked the twins, while focusing on Daisy.

"It was cool" Daisy replied sharply, which was her own way of saying that she wasn't interested in pursuing the subject.

Rosie knew Daisy won't budge unless she hammered on the topic continuously and persistently.

"Alright then " She turned to Danny. "Can you take Allie for her ballet lessons. I think I've come down with a headache. "

Danny nodded and raced out, dragging his little sister with him, who kept on screaming "You're too fast" and laughing.

"Hmm! " Daisy sighed, smiling and walking back to her room. She knew her mum too well; this was her method of wanting to find out what was going on with her.

"Daisy, what happened in school? And please honey, do not lie to me. " Her mum asked as soon as she came into the room.

Daisy burst into tears.

"I'm lonely mum "

Rosie raised her eyebrows in shock. She didn't expect her daughter to say something like this.

"How can you say that? Gosh baby girl, our family's name is supposed to be entered into Guinness world record for being the most populated family in history. You have a lot of cousins and most of them have children? How can you say you're lonely? Besides what about Deborah? "

"Will I tell you I'm lonely if I didn't have a falling out with my best friend? They invited me to come to Jenny's Joint, but I refused. They called me a nerdy introvert, whatever that means. They called me a backyard snub; they called me all sort of names "

Rosie thought of what to do in a situation like this. She remembered the days she was with her mum; she knew how to comfort her and tell her the right words. But this was her daughter, and the scenarios were different.

She put her hand round Daisy's neck and drew her closer.

"Daisy, have I told you my teenage story? "

Daisy laughed, amidst the tears in her eyes. "Countless times without number." Daisy replied.

"Do you have a boyfriend? " Rosie asked her daughter who flinched in response to the unexpected question.

"What?!! No!!"

"Why? Because daddy advised against it?" Rosie asked.

"No. It's because, I don't feel it's the right thing to indulge in at this stage in my life. And besides almost all the guys at Lady Gory Memorial High school are ugly and unruly." Rosie laughed at that remark.

"Well, those girls that were talking to you anyhow, are they better than you? Do they have what you have? They're just jealous that your dad is one of the richest men in LA. "

"Honestly mum, I wish I had a friend that's just like aunt Julia. I mean... You guys have been friends for like forever. You quarrel almost all the time but make up almost immediately. Friends like that are rare to meet. " Daisy said.

"Come on Dee. You were okay with Debbie. You'll be better off without her and you'll find someone that will be impossible to let go of you forever, I'm sure of that and do you know why? It's because you're kind and caring. You have the biggest heart and you won't be alone for long, I promise you that. "

Daisy smiled and hugged her mum.

"Ehm... One more thing mum... "

"What's that? "

"I wanna do my assignment and it's calculus and I was wondering if... "

"Hate to disappoint sweetie but no one in our family is good in calculus, even me " Rosie said, earning a laughter from Daisy.

Just then, Her mum's phone rang and upon seeing how her mum's face brightened up as she answered the call, Daisy stood up. She knew it was her dad and she didn't want to hear them exchange romantic words with each other.