CHAPTER 96: GIRLS' DAY OUT

What we discussed earlier before my bold act of proposing to him, which led him to officially propose to me, had been indeed a wake up call for me. It didn’t merely slap me in the face of the wrong doings I committed to the people around me, but made me realize how bad I had become to these people who had been with me all through thick and thin. This made me repent for all my faulty actions and treatment of them.


I am deeply grateful that my boyfriend, or should I say my fiance, had opened my eyes and didn’t quit on me. It wasn’t too late for me to change and relive the old me. I intend to correct everything from this day onwards and would strictly castigate myself to burst my frustrations and anger at them.


Lewis was right. They aren’t my enemies, but my family. They were my father’s longtime companion and he treated them with respect and love, which I should treat them the same just as dad did.


The minute I opened my eyes the following day, I felt rejuvenated. It was as if I was given a brand new opportunity to redo my unrightful actions and start a fresh one. I swiftly climbed down the bed after glancing for a second at Lewis, who was still in deep slumber, and stormed out of my room. My feet led me to my daughter’s room and I sneaked my way inside as I stood right next to her bed and watched her in her sleep.


I had been through a lot in the past and Michelle was my only saving grace that kept me going and striving. I had been such a fool to even include my precious little angel with my wrath against Nicole. I regret it now, truly remorseful that I have almost forgotten about her. Since this tragic incident of dad’s death, we never got the chance to bond again just like we always did during the past. And thinking about it now, my heart yearns to be with her and spend an entire day with her alone.


‘I’ll make it up to you, Baby. I’m sorry Mommy has been bad lately and neglected you, but I promise, we will spend the entire day together, just the two of us.’


A loving smile appeared on my face as I gently sat beside her before slowly laying down and wrapped her in my embrace. She slightly stirred and mumbled something.


“I love you, Mommy.”


My heart warmed enormously at what she said. Even in her sleep, her love for me was unwavering, which completely touched me and made my eyes moistened with guilt and joy.


“I love you too, Michelle. I love you very much” I whispered softly before kissing her hair and closing my eyes.


I didn’t know I slept, but I did and was awakened by the sound of her vibrant voice. She was teary eyed but smiling widely as she gazed at me with unexpectancy.


“Mommy! You’re here!” She squeezed my body with her tiny arm and nestled on my chest.


“Let’s take a bath together, Baby, just like what we always do back in Beechworth. Then we’ll go out afterwards.”


“Where are we going, Mommy? Aren’t you busy today?”


Her statement fueled the guilt I was feeling knowing how much I neglected her just because of the problems I had been dealing with. My head swiftly shook and I smiled apologetically at her.


“I know Mommy has been extremely preoccupied since your grandpa died, Michelle, and I am terribly sorry about it. This current situation our family is dealing with has taken a lot of my time, in which I totally ignored you. I’m deeply sorry, Baby, I hope you can forgive Mommy and give me a chance to make it up with you.”


Her face suddenly lit up and her lips curved widely. “That’s alright, Mommy. I completely understand what you are going through right now. Uncle Lewis told me that you are in so much stress lately and I shouldn’t bother you for the meantime. He said that we should understand your situation, because what you are dealing with now wasn’t easy.”


“Thank you for understanding Mommy, Michelle. And I am thankful that you listen to what your Uncle Lewis was telling you. So today, as my way of making up for the lost time I should have spent with you, we are spending the whole day together. Just the two of us. How does that sound?”


“Yehey! Let’s go shopping, Mommy! And play at the playground! And eat ice cream!”


“Anything you wish, Baby. Today is Mommy and Michelle’s girls’ day out! Better choose what to wear now then let’s go to my room and take a bath there.”


I watched her excitedly climb down the bed and ran to where her walk-in closet was situated. After several minutes, she reappeared carrying a pink dress and a pair of pink doll shoes. I carried her outfit for her as she went to her dresser and chose a ribbon that will suit her chosen wardrobe. After doing so, we walked hand in hand out of her bedroom and straight to my room.


Just before I opened the door of my bedroom, I told her to wait for a while as I remembered Lewis was inside my room and completely naked. I rushed inside and secured Michelle’s outfit on the coffee table then covered him with a blanket, which made his eyes open and stare at me with a handsome smile.


“Good morning, beautiful.”


“Good morning, handsome. I’ll be gone for a while.”


“Oh! Where are you heading?”


“I’ll spend the rest of the day with Michelle, to make up for the lost times. She’s just outside. I told her to wait for a while as I fix things here. I don’t want her to see you bare. We will take a bath together then head off. Is it fine if I don't bring you along?”


“Perfectly fine, Baby. Besides, I’m still sleepy. Too exhausted, because my fiance tired me the entire night” His words made my cheeks flushed, remembering our intense love making and how he worshiped my body countless times, which ended just a couple of hours ago.


“Better sleep then. I’ll let Michelle in.”


But before I could even take a step back to the closed door, he spoke. “I want to kiss you first. I’ll miss you for the rest of the day.”


I didn’t argue with him and headed towards my bed and leaned down. I lightly brushed my lips on him, but he locked me in his embrace, which made me fall right on top of him. His kisses were as hungry as they were the night before. His hands started to caress and moved downward, right straight to my buttocks. I feel my body igniting at his touches, but I have other plans for today and it couldn’t be postponed. So with all might, I freed myself from him and ended his feverish onslaught.


“As much as I wanted you, Baby, but I can’t do it now. Michelle’s waiting outside and she was too eager for our girls' day out.”


“I almost forgot about that. Alright then, I’ll just wait for my turn with you later when you arrive.”


“Better charge yourself then” I naughtily responded, which made him grin maliciously.


“You bet I would.”


He let me be as I walked towards the door. I gazed back at him first, who was now steadily lying sideways before opening the door. Michelle looked at me impatiently.


“What took you so long, Mommy?”


“I’m sorry. Come, let’s take a bath now.”


As she walked inside, her gaze immediately landed at my bed and she voiced out what I knew she would be asking. “Why was Uncle Lewis sleeping in your room, Mommy? He has his own room, right?”


“The air conditioning in his room was broken, so he asked me the night before if he could sleep here instead” I made an alibi just to unveil the true reason why Lewis was here. I heard him chuckling, but disregarded it as I led Michelle to the bathroom.


“Oh! Poor Uncle Lewis! He should have asked me instead. My bed was bigger than yours, Mommy.”


“I’ll tell him that later. Now let’s take a bath. I have a lot of plans for the two of us today.”


“I’m excited, Mommy!”


“So am I, Baby.”


The rest of the day was filled with laughter and joy. Michelle was over-exuberant as we almost swept the entire mall. We shopped, ate and played just like what she wished for. I was overjoyed seeing how happy and content she was. She was sleeping in the car when we were on our way back home. I called Lewis to help me carry her to her room and he was waiting for us at the foot of the main entrance when we arrived.


“It seems she is extremely tired. What did the two of you do to completely knock down this little maiden?”


“You have no idea what we did at the mall. She was too perked up and over-tired herself.”


“Better freshen yourself up. I’ll take her to her room. Have you had dinner already?”


“I’m still full. Have you?”


“Not yet, I was waiting for you.”


“You shouldn’t have waited for me. Have your dinner first while I take a shower.”


“I want to eat something else tonight.”


My eyes caught sight of his eyes even before he lifted Michelle’s body out of the car. There was scorching fire in them, a certain kind of fire that I know only I could extinguish. He wink at me first before walking away with my daughter securely in his arms.


‘Looks like you won’t be resting just yet, Penelope.’