In The Vehicle.
Phil and his wife laughed merrily over their accomplishments
“Hubby,” she called out.
“Yes, my baby.”
“I think we had judged Mom wrongly.”
“What do you mean?” Phil asked curiously.
“It is obvious that Mom traveled to Cairo specifically for Louis and not because she was dating another man.”
“I think you are right. That is what I noticed too. Mom is so concerned about her children. Before I met you, I was never aware that the four of you were not from the same mother.”
“Yes. You are not wrong if you think that way. Everyone thought so. They thought that Arthur was our biological father, too. I pray that things work out between the two of them.”
“I pray so, too,” they concluded and drove home silently.
At the Bailey International Conglomerates, Seven Oaks
Now, Louis’ team members had returned from Cairo after the Exhibition. So, he began to plan to return to Seven Oaks as well.
“Father,” Louis called his father when they were in his office.
His father, who was busy with his system gave him a searching look before he responded, “Yes, Louis.”
“I would like to return to Seven Oaks. My team members are back, and we need to have a postmortem meeting to evaluate the outcome of the event and follow up on our clients.”
“It is all right. Have you informed your Mom?”
Louis nodded his head and, in the negative, said, “No, Father. I thought I should let you know first.”
“It is all right. When do you intend to leave?”
“The weekend will be fine. I gave the team members five days off. They will resume on Monday.”
Now, Arthur, who felt his son’s pain, gave him a sympathetic look and spoke, “Son.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Have you learned anything from your mistake?”
“Yes, Father.”
“That is good. What did you learn?”
Louis responded with an emotional voice, “I have learned to treat any woman I love with respect.”
His father noticed that he was about to tear up and stopped him, “It is all right. You have learned your lesson. But always give room for disappointment in whatever you do with other people. Things will not always work out the way you want it. Did you get it?”
“Yes. I got it, Father. Thank you.”
“You are welcome. Inform your Mom of your departure and arrange for a parting dinner.”
“I will do that, Father.”
At Nichole’s Apartment
After they returned from work, Louis drove his father home. He had been happy with his presence, especially in the area of keeping him company otherwise, how would he have coped with Nichole’s resistance? When he drove into the gate of the Native Home, he veered towards Nichole’s apartment and his father expressed worries.
“What is the problem, Louis? Where are we going?”
Louis stopped his car and explained, “I apologize, Father, for not informing you. I want to inform Mom of my departure.”
“It is all right,” he answered and Louis restarted his car and moved on.
Soon, he parked beside Nichole’s car, got out, and walked into her apartment. To avoid irritating Nichole with his frequent visits, he waited for him in the car
“I will be back, Father.”
“I am waiting,” he responded.
To while away the time, he picked up the newspaper beside him and began to read. Meanwhile, Nichole was excited when she peeped through the window and saw Louis with his father. Then, she composed herself to receive them. Soon the doorbell sound came.
(Ding Dong)
“See who is at the door,” Nichole ordered the janitor.
“It is okay, Mrs. Bailey,” the janitor responded while walking from the kitchen to the door.
He opened the door and greeted Louis, “Good evening, Young Master.”
“Good evening.”
“Come in, please.”
“Thank you, Janitor,” Louis appreciated him and walked in.
Now, Nichole was surprised to see only him. Before she could react, Louis greeted her, “Good evening Mom. I hope your day was pleasant,” and took his seat.
“Yes, Son. How was work today?”
“Work was fine. I came to inform you that I would be returning to my base on Friday.”
“Oh! That is good, to hear. I will miss you dearly.”
“I will miss you too, Mom. Meanwhile, I would like us to have dinner tomorrow evening before I leave the next day.”
Nichole was aware that it was Arthur’s plan, smiled, and accepted, “It is okay. I feel we should have dinner here. Or what do you think?”
“That will be all right by me, and I’m sure father would not mind.”
“No. I don’t think he would mind,” Nichole assured him.
“It is all right. I should be on my way. Father is waiting for me in the car,” He said and got up.
Nichole got up, too, and walked him to the door. She stopped when she got to the verandah and said, “It is all right, Son. See you tomorrow and take care of yourself.”
“It is okay, Mom.”
Now, Louis walked on and joined his disappointed father in the car while Nichole walked back to her apartment with a heavy heart.
Arthur was disappointed because he hoped to see Nichole’s face when she would walk Louis to the car and say ‘hello’ to him. That would have been enough for him but when he did not see her, he felt unwanted.
Likewise, Nichole had the same feeling, ‘He did not wish to see my face anymore,’ she concluded and felt a sharp pain of rejection in her heart.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Father.”
“It is all right. How did your meeting go?”
“My meeting went well. She is hosting us tomorrow.”
“That is good to hear.”
Louis turned on the ignition of his car and drove off, while Arthur brooded over his relationship with Nichole.
‘I kept getting fond of her every day, while she distanced herself from me. I’m convinced that she did not even care to ask after me. Oh! Gosh.’
He rubbed his head as he tossed his newspaper aside. Soon, they were at their apartment, and Arthur got out of the car. He walked into the house, depressed while Louis gathered his stuff from the car and joined him.
After Nichole walked Louis to the door, she returned to the parlor and put off the television before she walked dejectedly to her room. Then she sat on the couch and ruminated over the relationship between her and Arthur.
‘Why can’t I give another man a chance? I hate myself for still loving him. Arthur had gone back to his old self. He does not have interest in me anymore.’
Then, she remembered his words the day they were at the spot. (Don’t keep me waiting for too long. I love you so much. You are God’s gift to me. For loving my children …, I owe you nothing but love.)
She shook her head, dried the tears that were tickling down her cheek, and resolved, ‘I must take a step.’
At last, she came up with a beautiful idea.