By the time I reached the ground floor, Colin had pulled up at the entrance. “Get in!” he beckoned.
I raised an eyebrow and was prepared to reject his offer when I remembered my limping gait. Resigned, I slid into the car and put on my seatbelt.
His gaze swept over me. “I’ll drop by the pharmacy to buy medicine before sending you home,” he announced.
I looked down at my ankle, which had almost doubled in size by now, and did not protest.
“You and Anthony know each other?” Colin blurted after we had long since left the hotel.
I froze before chuckling humorlessly. “Do I look like someone who has connections with the filthy rich?”
He pursed his lips and contemplated solemnly. “Yes!” There was a lapse before he continued, “He was staring at you the whole time just now. It looks like things are complicated between you two.”
Smiling, I didn’t admit nor deny his speculation.
By the time I reached home, I had given up battling my swollen ankle and slumped unceremoniously in a rattan chair.
Unexpectedly, I fell into a slumber, only to be awoken by a loud knock on the door.
Streaks of tears wetted my face.
It had been a long time since I last cried or dreamt of that child. He had grown up well. He looked healthy and was heavier than I remember.
The incessant knocks on the door urged me to hurry up. I wiped away my tears and splashed some water on my face to wake myself up.
I swung the door open.
To my surprise, Anthony appeared in my line of sight. Backlit by the sun, a golden halo surrounded his lean frame. His expression was somber, and his dark eyes were deep as ever. His Adam’s apple bobbed when he saw me, giving away the churning emotions within him.
A large hand grasped mine before I could utter a word. “I can’t do it. I can’t act like I don’t know you. I’ve tried to let you go for the last four years, but you’re stuck in my head. I can’t forget you,” he admitted.
He has changed!
He’s not the same anymore. The Anthony I knew would never say anything so corny.
I sighed softly and withdrew my hand. “Mr. Featherstone, please come in for a seat,” I offered, my tone courteous but distant.
I suppose I wasn’t too astounded. This encounter was not filled with heartache and yearning as I had imagined. Four years was enough to heal a lot of wounds.
Even my resentment for him had faded into nothing.
He stepped into the yard and sat on the rattan chair. I offered some fruit I had picked the day before as I would any guest. A smile stretched across my face, but my tone was detached. “This is home-grown. The texture is lovely if I do say so myself. Please have a taste.”
He stared at me, his gaze deep and unwavering. After a long moment, he nodded and took a small bite of the peach.
He savored the fruit before looking at me. “It’s sweet,” was his earnest compliment.
I nodded in response. Four years had stolen my love for chatter.
At that moment, Colin came home with Summer and Michael. He faltered when he saw the man in our yard. However, as a man of culture, he quickly composed himself and bowed his head in greeting. “Good evening, Mr. Featherstone!”
Realizing that Anthony had no recollection of Colin, I interjected, “He’s the hotel manager.”
My prompt registered immediately. Anthony stood up and proffered a hand, suave and refined. However, his gaze lingered on Summer and Michael when he noticed them.
Michael seemed to be a late bloomer, at least in comparison to Summer. Both of them were five years old, but Michael appeared a year younger.
Anthony’s expression darkened, but I waved it off. “What would you like to eat?” I directed my question to the children.
Summer seemed to be in a foul mood. While her eyes were still on Anthony, she replied, “Anything you make is fine, Mommy.”
Michael caught sight of my injured ankle and suggested, “Let Daddy cook for us tonight.”
This was nothing out of the norm, but Michael’s words were piercing to Anthony’s ears.
I offered no clarification. Instead, I looked at Colin and teased lightly, “Looks like it’s your turn to show off your cooking skills tonight.”
Colin could be rather tactless at times, and his ability to read the room was failing him at the moment. Though he was taken aback by Anthony’s presence, he invited graciously, “Mr. Featherstone, please stay for dinner with us. We cook with homegrown produce. You should try some.”
Anthony masked his emotions and nodded, his eyes dark and unfathomable.
I glanced at the children and instructed them as usual, “Both of you pick some vegetables from the back garden. Summer, don’t bully Michael, understand?”
Summer pouted but nodded obediently. “You’re so unfair, Mommy. You always help Michael.”
Amused by her childish accusation, I explained, “Michael is already shorter than you. If you continue to bully him, he’ll never grow taller!”
“Okay, okay, I won’t bully him!” Summer picked up both baskets and told Michael indignantly, “Mommy says that I can’t bully you, so I’ll help you carry your basket, okay?”
Michael, the small gentleman he was, corrected Summer, “Daddy says that I’m a strong man, and strong men should protect girls. You’re not bullying me. I’m protecting you!”
The two children walked toward the back garden, bickering all the way.
I shook my head in resignation, but my lips curled upwards involuntarily. I had always worried that Summer would feel lonely, but seeing how Summer and Michael were closer than biological siblings put me at ease.
As I retracted my gaze, I felt someone’s eyes on me, snapping me back to reality. I turned to find Anthony burning holes in me with his scorching stare. A myriad of emotions flashed in his dark eyes.
Stunned by the intensity of his gaze, I blurted, “Please make yourself at home while I check if my help is needed in the kitchen.”
Long fingers wrapped around my wrist, pulling me back. His voice seemed to rumble in his chest as he asked, “Have you been well all these years?”
My heart skipped a beat at the simple question. I met his gaze and replied with conviction, “I’ve been good. These four years have been the most peaceful years of my life.”
Pain flickered in his eyes as he chuckled ruefully. “Yeah, you do look happy.”
I nodded slightly. “Make yourself at home while I help out in the kitchen,” I repeated as the conversation ran dry.
“Can we be friends?” Anthony asked timidly, his voice helpless and distant. “I’ve tried numerous ways to numb out in the past four years, but my mind has been cruel to me. The more I try to forget, the clearer the memories become. It’s all engraved in my brain. It’s impossible to erase.”
I heaved a sigh, wishing I had the right words to console him. I turned to look Anthony in the eye. “Mr. Featherstone, you’ll have to move on someday. I’m doing great here. Staying by your side only filled me with hate and resentment. It would break me. Perhaps it might have seemed like I had plenty of friends and family in J City and K City, but I was dying inside. There’s no way I can come to terms with my suffering. R Province is my home. Here, I can be the person I aspire to be. I hope you understand my choice, Mr. Featherstone.”
Anthony held my gaze. His eyes were gentle yet pained, reflecting the conflicting emotions within. A loud silence fell upon us. Seconds ticked by before he finally spoke. “Fine!” The weight of a single syllable pressed down on both of us.
He left soon afterward. I exhaled heavily as I watched his retreating back. Everyone’s biggest enemy is themselves.
I entered the kitchen to find Colin preparing the ingredients. He stilled when he saw me. “I can handle this myself. Go and keep Mr. Featherstone company.”
“I can wash the vegetables,” I insisted.
He quickly declined when he glimpsed my ankle. “It looks swollen again. Go and rest!”
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.
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