Everyone in the limousine were silent as Sammy and Rosie had come to know of what transpired between Oliver and Aria the previous night. They were all surprised as well, they had not known of the plan at all.
Now, they understood why Lena had refused to reveal the plan to them, she and Oliver knew that they would never accept that plan, especially Rosie. She would have never let them play her friend like that, no matter the reason behind it.
Sammy didn’t know if to feel betrayed by his friend or upset, but after hearing that Oliver had given up on the relationship, he decided not to bring up those things, he should just let it go. He had been terrified when Oliver got shot and it took a lot of courage for him to decide not to take him to a hospital.
He wondered what Oliver was thinking? What if the police had captured the men he hired, then he would have been in a lot of trouble, his reputation would have been at stake, it would have been quite difficult, given that he is in a different state where he didn’t know many people.
“So… does someone happen to remember where we are going?” Rosie queried curiously, not only because she needed to know, but also to kill the awkward silence that was eating her up.
“Yes Rosie, we are first heading to iolani palace, after touring there, and then we will drive up to Wailua falls.” Oliver replied with a smile.
Sammy and Rosie were puzzled, not about the destination but about Oliver. He seemed too cheerful for someone whose relationship just ended. Well Oliver and Aria’s relationship had ended officially a long time ago, but the little hope of getting back together that they held onto had fizzled away with what happened last night. There was now little or no hope of getting back together.
“What is an ‘iolani palace?” Lena asked immediately.
“Oh Princess, it is a living restoration of a proud Hawaiian national identity, built in 1882 by King Kalakua, iolani palace was the home of Hawaii’s last reigning monarchs and served as the official royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii.” Damon replied from the front seat. Oliver wondered how he could hear them clearly even with the glass in between.
** * * * * * * * * *
They arrived at the ten room historic house and museum. The car was parked and Oliver led them all in, he had already arranged for their tickets the previous day, so they didn’t have difficulties getting into the museum.
They went around, seeing the various details of the reign of King Kalakaua and his sister, queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii’s final monarchs. There were some other people there but it was not crowded. Oliver had made sure to do what was necessary not to get the place crowded up, so tickets were withheld for some people.
Aria would not stop stealing glances at Oliver. She was surprised with his new attitude, he was suddenly cheerful and he didn’t even care if she existed. He had barely looked in her direction and that look of guilt and responsibility that he had in his eyes ever since she returned to London was now gone.
Did he really not care anymore? But why did it bother her anyway? This is what she wanted, right? She wanted him to move on and stop trying to win her back, but now that he had done just that, she didn’t feel good at all.
“No, I am sure I will get used to it soon,” she said in her mind to console herself. This just felt a whole new level of strange for her.
“Alright Princess, let us take photos, we might not be opportune to do so again,” Oliver said and glanced at Aria; she sighed and looked away, she hated the fact that he was trying to make her look guilty. He was the guilty one here, right?
“Alright Dad, I would love to do that, I can’t wait to shove it down my friends’ throats,” she replied in a stern voice that made Rosie chuckle.
“You sound just like your aunt Rosie, that is a mean thing to say,” Oliver replied with a frown.
“But Dad, they bullied and made fun of me because I had no pictures of us together, they said I didn’t have a father,” Lena replied with a crumpled face, as those scenes replayed in her head.
Oliver stared at Aria again and she looked away. Why was Oliver making it seem like she was responsible for Lena’s misery? She had no choice but to take her away, isn’t that so?
“Well you actually do have a father and you know it, so you shouldn’t be bothered by what they say, but if they do say mean words to you again, then just give me a call and I will show up there and have them dealt with immediately,” Oliver replied and she smiled.
“Alright Dad, let’s take the photo already, we don’t have all day.” Lena requested.
“Sure, let’s do that.” Oliver replied and handed the camera to Sammy. They got in position to take a picture and Sammy captured it. They took pictures beside some safely enclosed museum properties which Lena intended to show off when she returned to London.
Well she hoped that her parents did get back together, but even if they do, she still has to go to London to pack the rest of her stuff and to get a form of school transfer from her present school, so there was a big chance that she would run into her old classmates again.
“Oliver?” a feminine voice suddenly called and everyone paused whatever they were doing. They all turned around simultaneously and saw a young beautiful lady, standing behind them with a broad smile on her face.
“Susan?” Oliver muttered softly, perhaps scared that he was making a mistake, maybe she wasn’t the one he thought she was.
“Yes, oh my God!!” she yelled and jumped into his arms in excitement. They hugged each other so tight that the others stood there watching in surprise. Aria felt jealousy scorch her heart.
“Susan Malcolm?” Sammy muttered and the lady turned to him.
“Oh my goodness, it’s you Sam! Of course, you are still Oliver’s shadow, you would never change,” she replied and the three of them burst into laughter. Susan was about to go for a hug but Sammy offered a handshake instead, he knew he would be a dead man if he tried to hug her in front of Rosie.
“Susan, it’s so good to see you again, it’s been years and there has been no news of you, I tried to find you in every way I could but you were a complete ghost,” Oliver said in excitement. It was obvious that he had a history with this lady, he seemed very happy to see her again.
“Well, I left America for a while now, I just returned. You seem to be doing great,” she complimented and he smiled. She then looked behind and noticed the three females with them that were staring at her like she was a zombie.
“Oh, Ladies meet Susan Malcolm, she is my…”
To be continued!!