Now, his father looked at Nichole with a pleading face and pleaded in a low tone, “Nichole, please, don’t make me wait for too long.”
He had come to realize that it was only the children who bound them together, so this was an opportunity to talk to her. Nichole simply stood up and walked back to her seat without response.
Now, Louis had freshened up and joined them. They stood up while Arthur picked up his car keys, and they walked to the courtyard. After they got into the car, he drove to the spot where Nichole usually took them when they were younger. Louis remembered the old days when nothing bothered him. He walked around buying all sorts of delicacies for himself and the entire family. His parents sat down at a table as other couples with their drinks while waiting for him.
Then, Arthur looked into her eyes and resumed his love moves. “Nichole,” he called out.
She was startled to hear her name because she thought that what he had to say had to do with Louis and responded quickly, “Yes, Arthur.”
“Don’t keep me waiting for too long. I love you so much. You are God’s gift to me. For loving my children as though they were yours, I owe you nothing but love.”
Nichole smiled and kept her eyes on Louis, as though he was still that little boy who she used to take out some years back. Then, Arthur teased.
“Stop keeping watch on him. He is no longer that baby you used to know.”
Nichole laughed softly and suddenly remembered something, and she called out, “Arthur.”
“Yes, my dear.”
Then, Louis joined them with many delicacies. Nichole held on with what she was about to say, and they focused on the delicacies.
“Wow! Louis, is there going to be a party?” Nichole asked him.
Arthur took some of the delicacies he dropped on the table and began to munch.
“This is good,” he complimented it.
Louis smiled and answered, “Yes. I will return to Seven Oaks with some for my staff, while I keep some for Freya and her family.”
“I see.”
Now, he sat down and shared the wine with them. That was the kind of family that Nichole looked forward to before her husband died and Arthur kept his distance. As the last born, Louis enjoyed the evening with his parents, oblivious to the emotional conundrum his parents were in. They ate, drank, and joked merrily. Those who knew Bailey’s family would stop by their table to say ‘hello.’
The unity in that family was still a mystery to many. Mr. Brown Bailey, a family head, just like Arthur, stopped by at the garden. He was a major supplier of dairy products to the garden.
After the exchange of pleasantries, he said to them, “Enjoy the rest of the evening.”
“It is all right, Brown. Good night,” Arthur and Nichole responded simultaneously.
In the end, it was time to go home.
“Father,” Louis called out.
“Yes, Son.”
“Give me the car key, I will drive you and Mom home.”
“Wow! That is my son. You can have the key.”
“Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mom, for the treat.”
“You are welcome, Son. Did we make you happy?”
“Yes, Mom.”
Nevertheless, Arthur was pleased with Louis’ suggestion and wished that the drive home could take the whole night. Nichole only smiled as they walked towards the car park. Louis opened the car and dropped his delicacy on the passenger’s seat before he opened the two back doors. His parents got in like a couple, and he drove off.
Arthur remembered that she had wanted to tell him something before Louis joined them and sent a text message.
(Nichole, you were trying to say something before Louis joined us.)
She replied
(Yes. We will talk about it tomorrow.)
(Okay, my dear. Where? Your apartment or mine?)
Nichole gave him a hard look before she replied via message.
(Over the phone, please.)
Arthur smiled at her written outburst.
Now, they got to the estate and Louis drove Nichole to her apartment.
“It is all right, Mom. You are the best?”
“You are welcome, Son. Good night. Good night, Arthur,” she said and got out of the vehicle.
Louis and his father responded simultaneously, “Good night, Mom.”
“Good night, Nichole.”
Afterward, they drove off to Arthur’s Apartment.
“Thank you, Louis, for the drive home,” Arthur appreciated him.
“It is my pleasure, Father,” Louis responded and they walked into the house.
Now, Arthur was repentant over how he neglected Nichole over the years, and he was resolute to make it up to her.
‘I will wait until she makes up her mind. I am certain that she still loves me. It is a matter of time.’
Meanwhile, he was unable to sleep either. The search for Louis, the need to bring him back home, and the outing that night had increased the bond between them. However, one person had to initiate a talk to do something about the sleepless night. Instantly, he called her.
Just like Arthur proclaimed, Nichole still loved him. She could not sleep after she got to her bed as she thought of the outing and Arthur’s love advances. At that point, she was willing to accept any call from him.
She picked up the call immediately and greeted him cheerfully, “Hello, Arthur. How may I help you?” she asked happily.
‘Wow! She picked up my call,’ Arthur mused before he spoke, “Yes. You said we would discuss something over the phone.”
“Yes. But I said tomorrow.”
“Oh! I forgot. Can’t we talk about it now?”
“It is all right. I thought we could introduce a lady to Louis.”
“For me, it is ‘No’. I don’t think he will accept any girl right now. Let him heal completely from his wound. Otherwise, he may transfer aggression to the new lady.”
“You are right. I did not see it that way.”
It is okay. Let me allow you to sleep, or is there any other thing you want us to discuss?”
“None for now. Good night?”
“Good night.”
At last, they went to sleep happily.
The Next Day
Freya, and her husband, who had been speaking with Louis over the phone, came to welcome him back in person. They spent some time with him and sought updates on what happened between their parents in Cairo. They wanted to know whether their baited trap had caught a fish.
Then, Phil spoke “Welcome back, Louis. I must confess that you frightened us.”
“I apologize, Brother-in-law; I’m sorry, Big sister.”
“It is all right. We are glad that you are fine,” Phil stated.
Then, Freya spoke as well, “It is all right. Have you seen the stress you made Father and Mother go through, coming to Cairo and paying so much on hotel rooms?”
Louis innocently provided the information they desired to get.
“No, Big sister. They did not spend money on hotels. We all slept in my suite.”
Likewise, Phil spoke, “That is serious, they must have been inconvenienced. How many room suites did you hire?”
“One-bedroom suite.”
“That is ridiculous. How did they sleep with you in a one-room suite?”
“You are right. Do you know that I have never bothered to ask how they slept that night?”
Now, Freya and her husband had gotten enough information about the Cairo trip.
‘It was not a bad idea to arrange for father to meet her there,’ Phil thought.
Afterward, they consoled Louis over his loss, and he gave them some delicacies before they left.