He adjusted himself to ensure that they maintained some space between them. Nichole took a step by inching closer, but Arthur disrupted her, by shifting away.
‘You can’t fool me. You want me to take you to your date. No way.’ He concluded within him.
Soon, Louis’ janitor served lunch and Louis announced, “Father, Mom, shall we move to the dining table?”
“It is all right, Son,” Arthur said and walked to the table without waiting for her to get up.
She appreciated him as well and walked to the table, too, and sat beside him. Soon, they began to eat silently. Then, Louis’ phone rang. He checked the caller, and it was Freya. He smiled and picked it up while his parents looked on.
“Hello, Big sister. I’m glad to hear from you.”
Now, his parents concentrated on their meal when they discovered that the caller was Freya.
“Last born, how are you?” Freya asked him.
“I’m fine, Big sister. And you?”
Freya ignored his question and went straight to the point.
“Where were you going with Mom, that she looked so beautiful?”
“Ha ha ha. Mom has a date with her Prince Charming,” he looked at Nichole and answered happily.
Nichole laughed aloud. She looked romantically at Arthur who was her Prince Charming, and looked back at Louis.
Then, Freya continued, “Where is Father?”
He looked at his father and answered, “Father is here.”
“Did Father give you the approval to take her to any date?”
Now, Louis was amazed and looked at his father again. He recalled that he had not said a word about the date.
Then, he responded to Freya’s question, “No, Big sister.”
“You better mind what you say about Mom before him and where you take her to. We will talk later.”
“It is all right, Big Sister. We will talk later.”
After the call, he stole a brief look at his parents, ‘But it was only a joke. What is going on?’ He thought and concentrated on his food.
Meanwhile, there was a leg war going on under the table. Nichole had waited for Arthur to rub her legs with his, just like he did during the dinner on the wedding day. When he was not forthcoming, she took a step by pulling off her joggers and rubbed her legs with his, but he did not reciprocate. Soon, the lunch was over.
“Thank you for the lunch, Louis. You have a wonderful cook,” Arthur complimented him.
“Thank you, Father. You are right. Even the security. They are very caring.”
“It is all right. If they wish to join the Bailey International Conglomerates, they are welcomed.”
“That will be nice, Father. But I doubt if I will be able to get replacements.”
“Let’s see how it goes.”
“It is all right, Father.”
“Thank you, Louis, for the meal,” Nichole appreciated him.
“You are welcome, Mom.”
“I hope you will be able to carry on by yourself. Keep your mind open to a new relationship. If your ex returns to you, fine. If not, you move on. That is part of life.”
“Thank you, Mom,” he appreciated her even when he did not mean it.
Then, Arthur added, “Your Mom is right, Son. Life will not always give you what you want. Be strong and take responsibility. You are a good son, and I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you, Father. I will not let you down.”
Subsequently, Nichole got up from the dining chair. She looked at the time before looking at Arthur.
Then, she spoke, “We will be on our way, Louis. Take care of yourself.”
“It is okay, Mom.”
Arthur ignored her and requested a glass of water just to keep her standing. She excused herself and walked to the toilet to ease herself. When she came back, Arthur was still chatting with Louis and leisurely drinking his water as though it was a red wine. Nichole walked up to the dining table and grabbed the car key.
“Take care, Louis. Please keep in touch,” she announced before she took a step.
“It is all right, Mom,” he responded.
Arthur, who believed that she had a date and may leave, got up immediately and followed her. Louis smiled and followed them too. They caught up with her in the car after she had opened the door and sat comfortably on the passenger’s seat. Arthur got into the driver’s seat, and she handed over the key to him.
“It is all right, Son. Take care of yourself.”
“Okay, Father. Be careful.”
He drove off while Louis stood and waved until they disappeared. Thereafter, he returned to his house delighted.
On The Road to Dover
They drove silently out of Seven Oaks. Meanwhile, Nichole hoped that he would stop at any of the hotels. She was surprised to see them crossing the boundary between Seven Oaks and Dover. In other words, they were already in Dover.
She gave him a quizzical look and asked, “Are we returning to Dover?”
He ignored her and drove on. Then, Nichole removed her kerchief from her purse to dry the tears that were already dropping on her cheeks. He was touched when he noticed that she was crying, but there was nothing he could do.
‘Does she wish that I would take her to her date? That is asking for the impossible,’ he thought as he continued with his driving.
Likewise, he kept stealing a glance at her from time to time. Soon, they were at the Native Home, and he wished to take her to his house but was afraid of her reaction.
When he got to the gate, he asked with trepidation, “Will you come to my apartment or do we go to yours?”
The security guards opened the gate for him, and he drove in, still waiting for a response. When none came, he took the initiative.
“I will take you to yours, wait for you to freshen up, and we will go to mine. Is that okay?”
Nichole ignored him and armed herself with her next step and beautiful idea. If only Arthur had known what awaited him, he would have gone straight to his house.
At Seven Oaks
Louis got back to his apartment after his parents left and his staff members asked him, “How was your flight, Boss?”
“Flight? I had been at Dover for some days,” he corrected them.
“Oh! I can see why you look refreshed, Boss,” Fred teased him and they laughed.
“Welcome back once again, Boss,” Tony said
“Thank you, dear,” he said and left for his bedroom.
He was lying on his bed and curiously checked the family group chat. He was amazed at the chat between his sisters. Likewise, he laughed at Julie’s protest and comment on Nichole’s dressing that day. Furthermore, he ruminated on the discussion he had with Freya a while ago and concluded.
‘A lot must have happened in my absence. Let me call Freya and get the update,’ he resolved and dialed her number.
When he connected with her, she spoke, “How are you, last born? Where are Mom and Father?”
“They have left Seven Oaks about two hours ago. They may be at Dover by now.”
“I see.”
“That reminds me, what were you saying about Mom and Father? I didn’t get you then.”
“What about Mom and her date with a Prince Charming?”
“Ha ha ha. That was only a joke, Big sister. I mentioned it and Mom only joked along.”
“I see. What did Father say when you cracked the joke?”
“Nothing. He was just calm.”
“That is the problem. He must have been upset?”
“Upset? Why?”
“Because he is having a thing for Mom.”
Louis sat up from the bed and exclaimed, “What? Are you for real, Big sister?”
“Are you surprised? I was surprised, too, when I found out.”
“Tell me, Big sister, how did you find out?”