“Sshh,” Benne whispered as he sat down and pulled her to himself so that her face was buried in his chest.
Upon seeing Bryan standing by the slightly open door, Sonia walked over to him, and he led her out of the bedroom to give Benne and Celsie some privacy. Once they shut the door behind them, Sonia gave in to her tears, and immediately Bryan gathered her into his arms, “It’s okay. Everything will be fine. It’s not your fault,” he said as though he could read her mind.
Inside the bedroom, Benne kept murmuring words of comfort to Celsie until she was able to pull herself together, and then she pulled away from him to look into his face, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be doing this. We should be preparing for your dad’s party,” Celsie said with a sniffle.
Benne brushed away her tears with his knuckles and leaned forward to kiss away the teardrop hanging on her lashes, “You shouldn’t apologize. You have every right to cry. And although my dad’s party is important to us, it’s nothing compared to all of this. We can always have his party next year, but we have to deal with all this now. What can I do to make it better? Would you like to go see Lucas tomorrow or tonight? I could arrange for us to fly over there together, and then you can spend some time with him,” Benne offered, his arms still around her.
Celsie shook her head, “No. I’m not sure he needs me right now. I think my parents would want to go to him as soon as I tell them, and I’m not sure I can wait until after the party to tell them anymore. Can you make arrangements for them to leave immediately? I don’t think they will be able to stay for your dad’s party. I’m sorry,” Celsie said apologetically, and Benne shook his head.
“There is nothing to apologize for. I understand, and I’m sure my parents will understand too. I will make the necessary arrangements right away,” Benne said as he stood, ready to make the phone call.
He hesitated, “I’m sorry I didn’t stay back to be with you when you made the call. I thought you would prefer to be alone,” Benne said apologetically, feeling guilty that Sonia had thought it wise to be with her, while he had left her to be alone.
Looking up at him, Celsie remembered something she read somewhere, ‘Everyone has their own storm, but if someone is by your side when you’re going through one, wouldn’t you feel safer?’
It seemed to her that Benne was that someone for her. Being in his arms like this and being comforted by him was different. She felt safe with him, and that was probably why she had been able to tell him about her past. Celsie rose from the couch and embraced him, “I don’t prefer to be alone. I feel better when you’re with me,” Celsie confessed as she held onto him.
Benne’s heart fluttered at her words, and he wrapped his arms around her. At least she was admitting that she needed him. He hadn’t realized how much he wanted her to need him the same way he needed her, until she said those words.
“I might often forget that I need you because I’m used to being alone. And sometimes I may be too proud or stubborn to admit it. Please hold on to me even when I forget that I need you,” Celsie murmured as though she could read his mind.
“I think the kids are back,” Evelyn announced when Adolf parked the limo, and she caught sight of the two cars parked in front of the house, which hadn’t been there before.
“Good for them,” Desmond muttered disinterestedly as they got out of the car.
“C’mon, Des,” Evelyn pleaded, knowing he was still upset. She had caught him staring at his phone countless times like he was awaiting their phone call.
“Let’s just go in there, get our stuff, and…”
“I don’t know about you folks, but I had too much fun,” Andrew cut in before Desmond could finish, wanting them to focus on the pleasant experience they had just shared.
“There is nothing like too much fun. It’s been a while since we went bowling. I felt like a teenager,” Janet said with a wide smile as her husband took her hand and tucked it under his arm.
“You looked way better than all those teenagers we saw there. You’re like fine wine. You look and taste better with age,” Andrew whispered for her ears alone, and she giggled girlishly as they headed for the main door.
“I love bowling,” Jamal announced excitedly as he slipped his hand into Janet’s other hand. He couldn’t wait to tell his mom about all the fun things he had done with the adults who kept fussing over him.
“We all do, darling. But I mostly enjoyed the karaoke,” Evelyn said with a soft smile as she turned to her husband with amused eyes, “Who knew you still had it in you to sing?”
“Was I supposed to lose my voice because I’ve grown older?” He asked gruffly, and they all stopped abruptly when the main door suddenly opened from inside, and Samantha stepped outside panting and looking sort of flustered.
“I’m sorry, but you will have to wait at the patio. The fire sprinkler broke. We are trying to clean up the place,” Samantha said apologetically, and Desmond frowned. That didn’t make sense.
“Was there a fire outbreak?”
“Are the kids okay?” Evelyn asked with a worried frown as she stepped forward.
“They’re fine, ma’am. They’re at the patio waiting while we clean the house. You can join them there,” Samantha said with a shaky smile.
“We should come in and see for…”
“Let’s just go over to the patio. I’m sure we can find out what happened from the kids,” Andrew interrupted Desmond, suspecting that his surprise was waiting for him on the patio.
Desmond looked unconvinced but nodded his head as he and his wife quickened their pace to go around the house to find out what was going on, while Andrew and Janet smiled at each other knowingly as they followed at a more relaxed pace with Jamal.
“Grandmum Janet?” Jamal called.
“Yes, pumpkin?”
“What does a fire spinka do?” He asked, looking up at her with curious eyes, and Janet laughed softly.
“It’s called sprinkler, Jamal. When there is a fire outbreak, it automatically goes off and lets down water to put out the fire,” Janet explained patiently.
“Where does the water come from? The sky?” Jamal asked, and Andrew chuckled.
“I almost forgot how curious kids can be around this age. Reminds me of Lucas and Celsie. Growing up, those two almost drove me crazy with their questions,” Andrew said, and Janet laughed softly until Jamal tugged her arm to remind her that he was waiting for an answer, and she patiently explained to him.
Ahead of them, Desmond stopped in his track when he rounded the corner and saw the ‘Happy Birthday Dad’ display, with Jade standing in the center of the arc with a happy welcoming smile on her face, “Happy Sixtieth Birthday, Daddy,” she screeched as she ran to him and flung herself at him.
“Jady!” Desmond laughed heartily as he swept Jade off her feet in the same manner Bryan and Benne had done the previous day, and he spun her around in circles.
“Jade!” Evelyn exclaimed happily and then frowned in concern when her husband continued to swirl her around in circles, “You shouldn’t do that, Desmond. You’re not as strong as you used to be,” Evelyn cautioned, and he set Jade on her feet while panting slightly.
“I can never be too old to lift my only baby girl,” Desmond said with a happy smile that replaced the annoyance and irritation in his eyes earlier.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.