Chapter 58: The Call

Kyle's POV

The floor was torture, and the rug wasn't helping either but I wasn't going to break my word to Zenobia anymore.

After she stated I can join her in the bed, I kindly rejected and she went back to sleep. I tried making myself comfortable.

"Why there's no pull-out bed here?" I asked myself. My left side ached so I turned on my right, and that started aching too.

"Damn it!" I mentally cussed. I looked over to the big comfortable bed, and it appears to be saying 'Get your ass in here, Kyle!'

Carefully and slowly, I walked over and got in, making certain I didn't disturb her from her sleep.

~
The next morning, I woke up before Zenobia and found her head on my chest and her arm around my waist.

"When did this happen?" I questioned. I gently removed her arm and pulled myself up from under her head. I walked towards the washroom, peed and took an early morning shower.

Returning back into the room with nothing but a towel wrapped around me, I noticed she was up now and was looking at the window.

"Good morning," I greeted.

"Good morning," she replied, smiling at me, "I had a dream last night."

"Oh yeah. What about, if you don't mind me asking?"

"You."

My heart picked up speed and I chuckled at her response. "What did you dream about me?"

"Not telling."

"Ahh. By the way, sorry for invading your space. The floor was very uncomfortable."

"Kyle, I invited you in the bed. It's fine."

"So, I'll head to my own room, get dress and start the day. Any plans?"

"I'll check with everyone else before deciding on that."

I nodded, took my clothes I was wearing and left her room.

~
After Ron and Tiffany whipped up breakfast for the lot of us, we gathered outside and ventured out for a walk. Everyone paired off.

I walked side by side with Zenobia as we walked towards a trail.

"We should do this more often. Get out and enjoy nature," she said as she looked up at the trees.

"Watch your step," I said and caught her as she tripped on a stone.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

She sighed and sat down on a rock nearby.

"What's troubling you?" I asked. I watched as she opened a bottle of water and took a drink.

"I'm so confused," she said.

"About?"

"Companionship."

"What is confusing about that?"

"I don't want to be alone but I don't want to get hurt again."

"You need to figure out what exactly it is that you want. You can't look at other people's lives and decide that that is what you want. You need to decide on your own time, Zen. I'm sure you'll figure it out soon."

She nodded in understanding and we continued on our walk.

~

After an hour, we reached a stream with rushing water. The birds chirped in the tall trees, the rays of the sunshine battled with the green leaves and the atmosphere was pleasing.

"Mother Nature is the best," Zen said. She took her shoes off and dipped them into the water, "It's so warm."

~
"We should be heading back, the others are probably waiting for us," I said, looking at my watch.

"Sure."

We packed up everything from our little picnic and headed back to the cottage.

"There you two are," Jada said as we approached. The the exact same time, hers and Zenobia's phone started ringing.

They answered and their smiled turned into cries.

"Guys, what's going on?" Tiffany asked, looking between them both.

"Grandfather," Zenobia simply said. She dashed inside, Jada followed and I trailed behind.

"Zen!" I called. She was already upstairs, packing up her belongings and talking in her phone.

In a few minutes, she and Jada were ready to go.

"You guys don't have to leave," she said as we started packing too.

"Nah, if you're leaving, we're leaving too. We came together, we're leaving together," Tiffany said.

~

We were soon on the aircraft and heading back home. When we arrived on the hanger, two SUVs were waiting. We got in and they drove us towards Zenobia's grandfather mansion.

"Sorry to put an end to your trip," the first lady said as we arrived at the entrance.

"It's fine, grandma, where's grandpa?" Zen asked.

She ushered us inside and we waited in the living room area. Zenobia and Jada left to where their grandfather was.

"This is heartbreaking. Zen loves her grandfather so much. He has done so much for her and the rest of her family," Tiffany said, holding back tears.

I was too worried to speak. Ethan Hollen was a great man.

~

After twenty long minutes, Zenobia came back to the group and threw herself onto me, shaking with tears. I embraced her in a tight hug as her body slumped and slide against mine

"He's gone. My grandfather is gone," she cried.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Zen," I said to her.

~

The rest of The Hollens clan comforted each other. The first lady was distraught until she fainted. Jada was crying non-stop and Evan Hollen scooped his mother up and carried her into another room.

The helpers gathered around, trying their all to comfort the family although they too needed comfort.

My heart broke and tears filled my eyes, looking at Zenobia in pain.

~
"Will you accompany me to the funeral service?" Zenobia asked when we reached her home.

"Of course. I'll be there."

"Thank you."

"Is there anything I can do for you, are you going to okay, Zen?"

"We knew this was coming. He knew he was going to leave soon but that knowledge doesn't brace or erase the pain. I'll miss him so much."

"He was a great man."

She nodded in agreement. I watched her walked towards the doors. Stopping at the threshold, she turned around to face me.

"I don't want to be alone tonight. Can you stay with me?"

I didn't know what to say. Being back in her home would open up loads of memories I had at the back of my mind.

"You sure that's a good idea?" I asked her.

"Probably not." She turned on her heels and went inside.

~

"Damn! I'm so stupid! She invited me in and when she needs me the most, I pulled away from her! Her grandfather just passed and here I am being a damn coward!" I cussed myself.

"I walked out on her. Yes, she's stubborn, hardheaded most of the times but that's what makes her Zenobia. She's not easy to figure out. She's a challenge!" I said to myself again.

I was in the guesthouse throwing a fit with myself like a madman.

Gathering myself and my thoughts, I walked to Zenobia's front door and knocked.

She opened it and I crossed the threshold and pulled her in for a feverish kiss.

"I walked out on you, rejected you, played silly games when all I wanted to do was to be right here with you. I'm not ever leaving your side again."

She looked up at me and tears welled up in her eyes. I kissed them away as they spilled out.

I lifted her off her feet and carried her upstairs to her master bedroom. Once there, I made sure she was comfortable and I embraced against my chest, smoothing her with with tender back rubs.

"You have me. I'm right here," I said. She hugged me slightly, weeping softly before drifting off to sleep.