The Bonding 1
Now, his father looked at Nichole with a pleading face and pleaded in a low tone.
“Nichole, please, don't make me wait for too long.”
Mr. Bailey had come to realize that it was only the children who were binding them together, so this was an opportunity to talk to her. Nichole simply stood up and walked back to her seat without any response.
Then, Louis had freshened up and joined them in the parlor. They stood up while Mr. Bailey picked his car keys, they walked to the courtyard, and they got into the car. He drove to the spot where Nichole usually take them to for outing when they were younger. Louis remembered the old days, when nothing bothered him. He walked around buying all sorts of delicacies for himself and the entire family. His parents sat down at a table as other couples with their drinks while waiting for him. Mr. Arthur Bailey resumed his talk with Nichole as he looked into her eyes and said.
“Nichole.”
She was startled when he called out her name. She thought that what he had to say had something to do with Louis and responded quickly.
“Yes, Arthur.”
“Don't keep me waiting for too long. I love you so much. You are God's gift to me. For loving my children as though they were yours, I owe you nothing but love.”
Nichole smiled and kept her eyes on Louis, as though he was still that little boy who she used to take out some years back. Then, Mr. Arthur Bailey teased.
“Stop keeping watch on him. He is no longer that baby you used to know.”
Nichole laughed softly and suddenly remembered something, and she called out.
“Arthur.”
“Yes, dear.”
Then, Louis joined them with many delicacies, and Nichole held on with what she was about to say, and they focused on the delicacies.
“Wow! Louis, is there going to be a party?”
Nichole asked. Mr. Bailey took some of the delicacies he dropped on the table and began to munch.
“This is good.”
“Yes. I will return to Sevenoaks with some for my staff, while I keep some for Freya and her family.”
Now, he sat down and shared from the wine with them. That was the kind of family that Mrs. Nichole Bailey looked forward to before her husband died and Mr. Arthur Bailey kept his distance. As the last born, Louis was enjoying the evening with his parents, oblivious of the emotional conundrum his parents were in. They ate, drank and joked merrily. Those who knew the Bailey family would stop by their table to say hello. The unity in that family was still a mystery to many people. At the end, it was time to go home.
“Father,”
“Yes, son.”
“Give me the car key, I will drive you and Mom home.”
“Wow! That is my son. You can have the key.”
“Thank you, father. Thank you, Mom, for the treat.”
“You are welcome, son. Did we make you happy?”
“Yes Mom.”
Mr. Arthur Bailey was pleased with Louis's suggestion and wished that the drive home could take the whole night. Nichole only smiled as they walked towards the car park. Louis, who was holding his delicacy with his left hand, walked ahead of them, while Mr. Arthur Bailey and Nichole walked leisurely behind. Louis opened the car, dropped his delicacy on the passenger's seat before he opened the two back doors. The parents got in like a couple, and he drove off. Mr. Arthur remembered that she had wanted to tell him something before Louis joined and sent a text message.
(Nichole, you were trying to say something before Louis joined us.)
She replied
(Yes. We will talk about it tomorrow.)
(Okay, dear. Where? Your apartment or mine?)
Nichole gave him a hard look before she replied via message.
(Over the phone, please.)
Mr. Arthur Bailey smiled at her outburst.
Now, they got to the estate and Louis drove Mrs. Nichole Bailey to her apartment.
“All right Mom. You are the best?”
“You are welcome, son. Good night. Good night, Arthur.”
She said as she got off the vehicle. Louis and his father responded.
“Good night, Mom.”
“Good night Nichole.”
They drove off to Mr. Arthur Bailey's Apartment.
“Thank you, Louis, for the drive home.”
“It is my pleasure, father.”
Mr. Arthur Bailey was repentant over how he neglected Nichole for seven years. He became resolute that night.
'I will wait until she makes up her mind. I am certain that she still love me. It is a matter of time.'
Just like Mr. Bailey proclaimed, Nichole still loved him. She could not sleep after she got to her bed as she thought of the outing and Mr. Arthur Bailey's love advances. Meanwhile, on his bed, in his apartment, he was unable to sleep either. The search for Louis, the need to bring him back home, and the outing that night had increased the bonding between him and Mrs. Nichole Bailey.
But one person had to initiate a talk to do something about the sleepless night. At this point, Nichole would accept any call from Arthur. She picked the call immediately her phone rang, and she discovered that it was from Arthur.
“Hello, Arthur. How may I help you?”
'Wow! She picked my call.'
Mr. Arthur Bailey mused on before he spoke.
“Yes. You said we will discuss something over the phone.”
“Yes. But I said tomorrow.”
“Oh! I forgot. Can't we talk about it now?”
“It is all right. I was thinking we can introduce a lady to Louis.”
“For me, it is No. I don't think he will accept any girl right now. Let him heal completely from his wound. Otherwise, he may transfer aggression to the new lady.”
“You are right. I did not see it that way.”
“Okay. Let me allow you to sleep, or is there any other thing you want us to discuss?”
“None for now. Good night?”
“Good night.”
At last, they went to sleep happily.
The next day, Freya, and her husband, who had been speaking with Louis over the phone, came to welcome him back in person. They spent some time with him and seeking updates over what happened in Cairo. They wanted to know whether their baited trap had caught a fish. Then, Phil spoke.
“Welcome back, Louis. I must confess that you frightened us.”
“I am sorry brother-in-law, I'm sorry big sister.”
Freya spoke.
“It is all right. Have you seen the stress you made father and mother go through, coming to Cairo and paying so much on hotel rooms.”
Louis innocently provided the information they desired to get.
“No, big sister. They did not spend money on hotel. We all slept in my suite.”
Phil spoke.
“That is serious, they must have been inconvenienced. How many room suites did you hire?”
“One-bedroom suite.”
“That is ridiculous. How did they sleep with you in a one-room suite?”
“You are right. Do you know that I have never bothered to ask how they slept that night?"
Now, Freya and her husband had gotten enough information about the Cairo trip.
'It was not a bad idea to arrange for father to meet her there.'
Mr. Phil Anderson thought. Afterwards, they consoled Louis over his lose, then he gave them some delicacies before they left.
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