My Aunt, Valerie

THIRD-PERSON POV Valerie Forest finally arrived at her sister’s home together with her wife, Raven Forest, after receiving a call from her sister’s lawyer. It’s been almost five minutes since they arrived, but Valerie remained in the driver's seat while her shaking hands were holding onto the steering wheel. Raven, who watched her wife trying to calm herself, placed an arm on her wife’s shoulder before giving her a peck on the cheek. “It’s alright to cry, Val. Cleo is your sister. It’s natural for you to let your tears fall. And today is your last day seeing her. We should go inside and finally introduce yourself to your niece and nephew.” Valerie looked up to her wife and smiled. “It wasn’t long since I met my sister. Why did she have to be in that car and die? She left me when I was twelve. Now that we finally reunited again, she just-,” Raven hushed her wife. “Let bygone be bygone. Come- let’s meet your niece and nephew. You only saw them through pictures. Now is the time to show them of your existence.” Raven got out of the car and went to the driver's seat. Valerie sighed before putting on her sunglasses before getting out from the driver's seat. Raven linked her arm around her wife’s before walking up to Cleo’s front door. “Oh- I’m sorry.” A woman suddenly opened the door when Raven was about to turn the knob. “It’s alright.” The woman was about to leave when her eyes widened when she saw Valerie. “Are you related to Cleo?” Valerie ignores the woman as she enters the home. Raven nodded and told the woman that her wife was Cleo’s little sister. “Excuse me.” Raven smiled before following her wife into the house. “Damn- she looks like a wreck,” Valerie commented as Raven lightly hit her wife’s back. “What?” Valeria asked as she looked up to a girl and a boy who stood next to each other. The boy seems surprised to Valerie as she pays her last respect. “Mommy-,” the boy whispered. “No, Lawrence. That is not mommy.” The boy’s sister said as she held her brother close to her. Valerie, who watches the children from her sister’s coffin, turned to his wife before walking towards a less crowded part of the house. “What’s wrong, Val?” Valerie shook her head and was about to leave the room when she heard a group of people talking among each other. “So, who’s going to take care of the children? I absolutely can’t because I have my own family to care for and feed. If I add two more mouths, I’m afraid I can’t afford it with my salary.” Said a man. “I can’t take them both as well. As you know, I am busy handling Horace’s business. I am the oldest, after all, and I should be the one taking care of his company. Besides, I need a lot of money to pay for the workers' salary as well.” Valeria sighed when she heard the conversation. “As for me, I am married, and I have my children to care for. If I took them in, I’m afraid my husband won’t let me. We have enough family problems to care about this two. I suggest we send them to the orphanage; that way, they can grow up without needing our attention.” Valerie heard enough and decided to interrupt the conversation. “I’ll take them.” The three siblings were surprised to see a stranger suddenly interrupt their conversation. The woman was shocked when she saw Valerie’s face. “You look like Cleo- are you related to that woman?” Valerie raised an eyebrow. “That woman you were referring to is my older sister. Cleo was once part of the Forest family. And if it’s not because of your brother, my sister wouldn’t be in this situation. How dare you call my sister that woman.” Raven pulled Valerie’s arm before deciding to take over. “Because of certain circumstances, my wife and her sister haven’t seen each other for almost fifteen years. But recently, my wife managed to find Cleo, and they got back in touch after so long. I’m sorry for accidentally hearing your conversation. If it’s too hard for either three of you to take care of Cleo’s child, we don’t mind doing so. Besides, I think we’re capable of taking them both into our custody without worrying about anything.“ Horace’s family look at each other before finding it funny that a woman was suddenly claiming to be Cleo’s family right after the death of their brother and wife. “I know people like you. You’re scammers. We all know you’re here because of Horace's will. Tough luck because the will doesn’t exist. Horace is surrounded by debt! There’s no money.” Valerie sighed. “What money? You can have whatever you want because j have enough money to spare. I’m rich- I don’t care about the will.” Valerie went back to the children while Raven talked to the three siblings. “You two- after this funeral, pack your things and follow me home. From now on, I’m going to be your guardian. My name is Valerie, and I am your aunt.” Gloria and Lawrence look at each other before shaking their head. “This is our home- we’ll stay here. We don’t even know you. We don’t have any money, so you will not have anything even after we come of age. I’m sorry, but if you want the business, you have to talk to our uncle.” Valeria sighed before she removed her sunglasses. “My name is Valerie. Your mother, Cleo, is my older sister. That makes me your aunt and also your legal guardian. Your uncles and aunt plan to send both of you to the orphanage, so if you want to be a good sister and be together with your brother, come and live with me. And I am not here to take the money or business that your father and mother had built. I have enough money to spend for generations.” Valerie kept her sunglasses inside her jacket before taking out her phone. “This is my picture with your mother when we were little.” Valerie tried to convince the children that she was no stranger. “But we can’t leave this home. It’s ours, and this home has the memory of my parents. I can’t-,” Valerie raised her hand. “When you’re an adult, this home will be yours. For the time being, come and live with my wife and me. If your uncles or aunt tried to sell this house, I would help you by showing them how scary people with money can do.” Valerie kneels so that she can see Gloria and Lawrence eye to eye. “Tell me if I don’t look like your mother. Look into my eyes and ask yourself if I am not your aunt.” Valerie kept a nonchalant expression as she waited for her niece and nephew is answer her question. Raven, who watched this from afar, only shakes her head. *** “Dear, what’s wrong?” Raven asked after smiling at both Gloria and Lawrence, who are sleeping in the car's back seat. “I don’t like Horace’s siblings. Especially that Ryan guy. He has the company in his palm, but why is he adamant about selling the house? Do something about Horace’s debt, will you? Put Ryan’s name as the one who should pay for the debt instead of these children.” Raven giggled as she reached out to her phone. “Alright- I’ll make some calls. Don’t worry. They will never sell the house without us knowing about it. Besides, that house belongs to them. We should at least protect the only thing that’s left of their parents' memory until they’re old enough to take care of it themselves.” Valerie nodded her head. “Dear, do you want me to talk to the children that they have to transfer to school?” Before Valerie could say anything, Gloria voiced her concerns. “What do you mean I have to change school? Can’t I stay at my old school?” Raven turned around and said, “It would be hard for you to travel back and forth because of the distance. But don’t worry, the private academy has the best educational program for its student. But if you’re worried about making friends, I’m sure you can have many at the academy.” Gloria sighed. “I'm not worried about making friends. Even at my current school, I have none.” Valerie looked at her niece through the mirror. “Why is that?” Gloria shrugged her shoulder. “Probably because I am not beautiful or have a talent in sports. My classmates don’t like how the teachers always compare me to the others because of my grade.” Valerie scoffed. “It’s a good thing you’re not friends with people like that. If they can’t be happy with your achievement, they’re not suitable to be your friend. Both your mother and I went to this private academy. You can even ask the dean about your mother and what kind of achievement she made when she was a student. You’ll be proud.” Raven smiled at Valerie, who spoke freely about her sister to her niece. “I went to the same academy as well. That’s how I met your aunt.” Raven smiled. “I only heard about this academy from my teacher. The fee must be prohibitive. Is it alright for me to go there? I- I don’t want to be a burden.” Raven smiled. “What burden? You’re never a burden for us. We decided not to care for you because you’re Cleo’s child. It’s because you’re family. So please- stop telling yourself that you’re a burden. You’re not.” Gloria doesn’t know what to say. “Thank you. None of us like to stay with our uncles or aunt. Our cousins don’t like us hanging out with them. Thank you for taking us in.” Raven smiled. “Are you guys hungry?” Valerie asked as she pointed at a fast-food restaurant as they waited for the traffic light to turn green. Lawrence, who saw the restaurant grabbed his sister’s hand. “Lawrence is.” Valerie nodded before she took the turn to the restaurant. “Thank you, aunty.” Valerie hummed. “You can call us by our name if you find it more comfortable. My name is Raven.” Gloria finally smiled at Raven. “Um, I think I much prefer to call you aunty Raven and aunty Valerie.” Raven nodded. “Sure. We don’t mind.” Valerie nodded as she tried to find a place to park her car. “Oh- your phone is ringing.” Valeria waved it off, but Raven reached out for her wife’s phone and looked at the caller ID. “It’s the art director. I’m sure he wants to know when you will present your portfolio to the museum.” Valerie waved it off, but Raven decided to accept the call and explained the current situation to the director. “The director said he will give you a week to get yourself back in the game. Little did he know that you’ve completed your portfolio way sooner than expected.” Valerie shrugged. “Let the man wait. I couldn’t find a spot to park the car. Why don’t you bring the children inside as I look for the parking.” Raven nodded before she got out of the car and opened the back door for Gloria and Lawrence. “Aunty, what do you and aunt Valerie do?” Gloria asked. Raven offered her hand for Lawrence, which he took without hesitation. Gloria was surprised because this was her first time seeing her brother open up to a stranger. “I work for the bank. And your aunt Valerie is a painter and a sculptor.” Gloria nodded her head as she followed Raven from behind. As Gloria and Lawrence wait for Raven to order their food, Gloria searches for her aunt’s name on the internet. Her eyes widen when she reads an article about her aunt Valerie being the youngest artist to win an international award not long ago. Gloria quickly hid her phone when Raven came back to the table. “Here’s a happy meal for Lawrence. Look- I even manage to get you an interesting toy.” Lawrence reached for the toy and hid his smile. “And I remember you said you wanted a burger and fries?” Gloria nodded. “Thank you.” Raven smiled when Gloria thanking her for the food.