While Andy was busy setting up an Instagram profile for Jamal with her phone so they could use his account to send Dawn a message request, Jamal was busy checking out the pictures on Dawn's profile.
"Aunt Andy, Dawn is so pretty," Jamal said for the hundredth time and Andy giggled amused by how smitten he was.
"Yes, she is," Andy said for the hundredth time as well.
"Look, she is laughing here," Jamal said happily and Andy looked at the video and smiled at Dawn's infectious laughter.
"She is so adorable," Andy said and even though Jamal didn't quite understand the meaning of the word, he knew it was a nice compliment so he nodded in agreement.
They both looked up at Candace when she walked into the house, and slumped on the couch.
"Welcome. Why did you come back so late?" Andy asked distractedly while Jamal, after taking one look at his mom, walked away.
"You won't believe what happened to me today," Candace said, and Andy looked at her when she heard the tiredness in her voice.
"What happened?" She asked, wondering why Candace looked so exhausted.
"I was hounded by reporters," Candace said and she smiled when Jamal returned with a glass of water.
"Welcome, mummy. How was school today? Are you alright?" He asked as he handed the glass to her.
Candace said nothing as she drank from it and when she was done she looked at him, "I have no idea what I did right in my life to deserve you, Jam. But you're the best son any mother could ask for. Thanks. I feel quite better now," she said and Jamal smiled as he sat down beside her.
"And the best nephew any aunt could ask for," Andy said, reaching out to ruffle his hair.
"So, what happened with the reporters?" Andy asked and Candace shook her head as she recounted what had happened that morning.
"...I thought it was over. But when I came out after my classes, I saw a couple of them waiting around by my car," Candace said with a slight frown.
"What did you do then?" Andy asked, amused.
"I left the car. A course mate was kind enough to offer me a ride. She brought her car around and I got into it before they could spot me. Where is dad? I'm hoping he can send someone to get the car," Candace said while Jamal listened to her with interest.
"I'm sure he can do that. He is upstairs. He spent the day tending to his flowers," Andy explained.
"You know, now I think I can pretty much understand why Tom didn't want to be on the spotlight and hid his identity for years. I do not like this attention," Candace stated.
"What is a spotlight?" Jamal asked with interest.
Andy turned on the flashlight on her phone and shone it on Jamal's face making him laugh, "When everywhere is dark and the light is shining on you this way, you are in the spotlight. It means everyone can see you even when you can't see them all," Andy explained.
"I don't like it. I'm going hide like Tom," Jamal said with a frown.
"Why not? You wanted to be an actor, didn't you? That would have put you in the spotlight," Candace reminded him.
"Now I don't want to be an actor. I want to be rich..."
"Like Tom," Candace and Andy said simultaneously, completing his sentence and they all laughed.
"You both don't have to worry. I'm going to be on the spotlight enough for everyone in the family. Next time I will drop you off at school and take all that attention you don't want. You should have called me to pick you up anyway," Andy said and Candace shook her head.
"I promise to be good to her," he said and Kimberly nodded.
"Thank you for reaching out," Kimberly said to both Andy and Jamal before hanging up.
She dialed Dawn's governess line and the lady received the call on the third ring.
"Good day, ma'am. Do you want me to put Ms Dawn on the line?" She asked politely as she headed for the music room where Dawn was being taught how to play the piano.
"Yes. But not yet. How is she doing?" Kimberly asked, her heart aching at the thought that Dawn was lonely and sad.
"She is doing well. She hasn't cried for you since the last time," she said and Kimberly sighed.
"Let me talk to her," Kimberly said and the governess stepped inside the music room.
"Ms Dawn, your mother is on the phone for you," she said politely and Dawn politely excused herself from her music teacher before going to take the phone from her governess.
"Hello, mommy," Dawn said unenthusiastically.
"Hey, darling! You don't sound excited to hear from mommy," Kimberly said but Dawn said nothing.
"Are you mad at mummy?" Kimberly asked but Dawn remained mute.
"Well, I have news that might cheer you up. I just spoke with your friend. Can you guess who?"
Who?" Dawn asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Jamal! Do you know him?" She asked, and Dawn's face lit up with a smile as she bobbed her head.
There was a brief pause, then a delighted squeal erupted from the other end of the line causing Kimberly to smile.
Kimberly's heart swelled. Dawn's innocent excitement caused a flood of relief to wash over her, mixed with a bittersweet pang.
"Yes. Jamal. I know him."
"He wants to talk to you. He said he misses you," Kimberly said and Dawn pursed her lips.
"What about Lucy? Did she call too?" She asked hopefully.
"Would you like to talk to Jamal?" Kimberly asked, ignoring Dawn's question since she couldn't explain to Dawn that Lucy probably wasn't going to call to check on her because of what she had done.
"Yes, please. Yes," Dawn said, happy at the prospect of hearing from Jamal.
"Alright then. Give the phone to your governess. And don't worry, sweetheart. Mommy will be there to get you soon, okay?" Kimberly promised.
"Okay, mommy," Dawn said before handing the phone to her governess.
Kimberly instructed the governess on what to do and then sent Andy's instagram handle to her to enable her reach out to them.
Dawn stood there, moving from foot to foot as she waited impatiently for her governess to give Jamal a call.
Although they had done more of arguing and bickering during their time together. She missed Jamal a lot.
She blushed when she remembered what Jamal had whispered to her when she was leaving.
He was so silly. What made him think she was going to get married to him when they grew up?