6- He Is A Lockwood

“Elara please stop crying,” Ever since Thalia returned from her job, Elara had been crying nonstop.

“Thalia. I always thought that one day when he’ll be back in my life, I’ll show him what a strong woman I have become. I don’t need him in my life anymore. I wanted to get admission to this college because I wanted to secure an executive job. But I have been denied admission. I couldn’t clear the test.” Elara said between hiccups.

“Elara. My beautiful friend! Listen. Do you want to show him what you are? Then go for something where you can put your heart and soul. Maybe executive jobs are not for you.”

Elara wiped her face and looked at Thalia, “I know nothing except baking. I enjoy nothing except baking. I am a useless woman. Even Aiden never liked a wife who was always busy baking.”

“Silly. Forget about Aiden. It's not about him. It’s about YOU, Elara. You love baking? Then start baking!” Thalia shook her a little.

“What?”

“Yes.” Thalia nodded her head in excitement, “Start baking. Remember I told you how my colleagues used to rave about the baked goods that you used to send me? We always found them finger-licking good. Let the whole city of Kanderton know how to bake!”

Elara could feel excitement surging through her veins.

“Ouch!” she held her tummy with a gasp and laughed.

“What happened, Elara?” Thalia had a confused look on her face.

“One of your nieces kicked, Thalia. They liked your idea. Kanderton! Are you ready for some finger-licking treats? Ha-ha.”

(Four years later)

“Come on, guys. This order needs to be completed within one hour,” Elara clapped her hands. Her employees were placing the trays in the oven, “Well done, guys. Morgana! Be ready. You need to start cooling down as soon as these babies are out of the oven.”

“Yes, Elara!” Morgana, who was in her early twenties, nodded.  She joined Elara two years back when her tarts and cupcakes started gaining popularity. She had named her venture: Lemons and Tarts.

She hired a small staff who used to work for corporate orders. Elara Smith was also running a small bakery by the same name: Lemons and Tarts, but the backside kitchen was huge where they used to do baking and complete daily orders.

“Morgi!” Morgana’s eyes went wide when she heard the little voice behind her.

“Sebastian Smith. Your mom will be mad if she will find you here.” She looked at the three-year-old handsome boy who had innocence in his green eyes, “Why are you out of your bed? Where are your sisters?”

“Lily and Zoe are sleeping,” the boy said in a bored voice.

“And here you sneaked out of your bed? Hmm?” Morgana loved the kids. But Sebastian was her favorite.

“Sebastian Smith!” The boy closed his eyes when he heard his mama’s stern voice, “What are you doing here in the kitchen? You should be in bed. Where is Mimi?”

Mimi was Thalia’s grandmom. She was the one who helped them in settling in Kanderton. Elara’s voice might be strict, but she had a soft smile on her face.

She scooped up her boy in her arms and gave a slight shake to her head. Apparently, Dr. Natasha missed the third sac when she did her ultrasound.

She and Thalia were thrilled when they came to know she was expecting triplets. She missed Aiden every moment.

Thalia and Mimi supported her at every step. She worked hard in her bakery till the last day of her pregnancy.

And was right back after one month of delivering the babies. While putting her son to sleep, she took a sigh of relief.

After so much struggle, at last, she was able to provide a good life to her kids. Sebastian was the spitting image of his father. Except he had Elara’s green eyes. While her daughters had her features and her flaming hot red hair.

But their eyes were black just like their father.

Along with the bakery, she joined a gym, consulted a good nutritionist, and got in shape. Though she was still curvy, nobody could call her fat now. She wanted to dye her ginger hair too but then decided to accept it.

She rose to her feet when she heard a light knock.

“Thalia!” she placed her finger on her lips asking her friend silently to stay quiet, gesturing towards the kids.

“We have got a huge order for your tarts,” Thalia whispered excitedly once Elara came out of the room. E and L Corporations are going to start their business here and they need our services for a big party.” She whispered.

“E and L Corporations? Who are they?” Elara whispered back.

“I don’t know, girl. Nor I am interested. This order is big, and we need to do our best. By the way, what have you thought about expanding our bakery? We are getting so many customers. This small one won’t be enough anymore.”

“I don’t know. Our hands are already full. Noah said to help us but...”

“Speaking of Noah. He is coming back tonight. You better go on a dinner date with him. I will take care of the kids for you.”

“Nah!” Elara rolled her eyes, “Noah is just a friend, Thalia,”

“But he has hots for you, girl. Ever since you were in school,” Elara didn’t say anything. She just quietly closed the door and went down to her bakery.

Sebastian Smith, who was standing behind the door made a fist and threw it in the air, “E and L Corporations? Edmund Lockwood? My grandfather’s name? It’s time to contact you, dear Daddy.” He went to his study table and took out his tab.

***

“It’s been four years, since you have been looking for her, Aiden.” Aiden’s best friend, Dr. Leonardo said in a gruff voice, “Nobody knows where she is. And you are wasting your life for her.”

“This is not a waste, Leo,” Aiden shut his laptop and straightened in his seat, “Instead of sharing my worries with her, I asked her to leave. I need to apologize to her. I am looking for my kids too. And don’t forget, Elara is also the mother of my kids,”

“This can’t be the only reason, my friend.” Leo was sure Aiden was hiding something. This man was looking for his ex-wife just because he wanted to apologize?

Bull Cr*ap!

Leo was also thankful that his friend did not get married to that vile girl. Vicky Barone.

“How is your hospital?” Aiden tried to change the subject, “Any news of Thalia? That nurse had a good bond with Elara. I am sure they both are together.”

“No news of her. I even tried asking her old colleagues. But nobody knows. She said that she had gotten a good job opportunity. But she gave us the wrong country name.” Leo was worried for his friend.

“In a few days, I will be going abroad for the inauguration of my companies. I will go to Europe and will send my assistant to Kanderton.”

“Why don’t you go Kanderton by yourself? Kanderton is a developing country and can present a big opportunity.” Leo picked up an almond from the crystal tray and popped it in his mouth.

“Investors in Europe are more powerful. I can visit Kanderton later. But right now, it has to be Europe. However, the manager at my Kanderton office is asking me to visit the company. He thinks he can feed me the best tarts from their local bakery. It's known as ‘Lemons and Tarts’ and it is getting recognition like crazy,” He shrugged and shook his head.

There was only one person who could make the best tarts and cupcakes in the world. He thought and turned his seat when he heard a beep from his laptop.

“Another email.” He sighed and opened the laptop.

“You need to go on vacation, my friend. Ever since Elara left, you have gotten yourself immersed in work,” Leo said while eyeing the dark circles on his friend’s face.

Aiden didn’t acknowledge the remark and frowned. The email was from someone whose name was Sebastian Smith.

Who is he? Never heard of him.

He opened the email.

“Mr. Aiden Lockwood. I think you should visit Kanderton and say sorry to my mom. Or be prepared. Once you are late, I might hire a new daddy,” Aiden smirked.

“What happened?” Leo looked at Aiden whose eyes were glued to the laptop screen.

“I don’t know. I just got a non-serious email from this person… Mr. Sebastian Smith. Some irresponsible people don’t have anything better to do.” He turned the laptop screen towards Leo. Leo frowned and looked up at Aiden after reading the mail.

“Isn’t Smith the surname of Elara?” he asked. Aiden eyes snapped up and he quickly pulled back the laptop and started replying to the email.

“Who are you?”

After a few minutes, another email popped up, “This is not what you should be asking. Nothing matters, Mr. Lockwood. If you care? Find us, before it’s too late. Make some efforts for my mom. Once you land in Kanderton. Sniff the air and it will lead you to my mom. Because you should know. She makes the best tarts in the world. Bye.”

Aiden stood up and loosened his tie. Was it… Was it his son? He had a son? What about the other one? Was it also a son or a daughter?

B-But his son must be just three years old. How could he type an email to him? Or was it Elara behind him?

“Aiden?” He heard Leo’s voice but could not respond.

“Leo. Let’s go together. Come with me to Kanderton.”

“What?”

“Yes. We need to find her. I think the person who sent me the email is none other than my son. Just a slight correction.” A small smile appeared on his lips and Leo felt as if Aiden had smiled after a decade, “He is not Sebastian Smith. He is a Lockwood. Sebastian Lockwood.”

If this sender was his son, then Aiden had gotten a clue. He needed to reach out to his ex-wife. But how?