CHAPTER 130

Geneveive Tessa Robert

‘Take it easy, Hope. There's still more spaghetti here.’ I yelled, watching her take another mouthful.

‘Let her be, Tessa. She’s enjoying the meal, and look at Nicholas; he’s also swallowing the food.’ Vera said, laughing.

I sighed. When it comes to food, they have no control. They ate like there was an appointment; they needed to keep up with it. I glanced at Vera and smiled. Her bump was coming out faster than we expected, and I could feel the pride in the way she carried herself lately. She wasn’t brooding anymore or thinking about her health condition.

She had another attack before we finally decided to take a long vacation and return next year. The doctor had agreed to the idea and instructed that Vera rest and ensure she didn’t do anything that would increase her blood pressure.

Vera had been reluctant, but I had to remind her about the benefits of the vacation, and Murphy played the final role in convincing her. We agreed to stay at a resort for the rest of the year and return on New Year’s Eve. By that time, Vera would have been better, and hopefully, there would be no more scares. The doctor had suggested abortion, though, because he was scared about the child’s health, but we all ruled against it. 

Nothing was going to happen to the baby or her. I’d assured her as she cried in my arms after the second attack. 

We had almost lost her again.

‘I just don’t want her to choke or bite her tongue in the process. They are eating like hungry lions, Vee.’ I said, standing up to teach them proper table manners.

She laughed, ‘Just let them be, dear. They’re kids and deserve to break some rules, right?’

I nodded reluctantly. ‘You’re right. Did Murphy call you?’

‘Yes, he did. He will be landing here tomorrow. Your mom finally convinced the board to allow him to work from here. The remote job thingy. I have really missed him and feel lonely here. No offence, dear.’ She took my hands, smiling.

‘It’s alright, dear. I fully understand. He’s your soul mate, after all. At least, we will be having a male companion finally.’

She glanced up. ‘What about James? Are you disliking his companionship already? Your brother sacrificed his social and work lives just to be with us, girl! Don’t do that.’ She laughed, pushing me playfully.

James had agreed to come with us on my mom’s insistence. I had disagreed because he had done so much for me, and we didn’t need anyone policing us. But according to my mom, there could be emergencies that I wouldn’t be capable of handling, and an extra hand would help.

That was the only reason I agreed with her. At the moment, watching him flirt with a blonde lady at the far end of our picnic table, I knew I had made a mistake by agreeing to her.

‘Look at him flirting with that lady. This is the fifth lady James has wooed since we came here. People are already talking about us, and it’s not good for our reputation or the kids  reputation either. I know he gave up everything to come with us, but come on, his flirting is becoming irritating.’

She grinned, staring at him. ‘But you know your brother, girl. He’s a hopeless flirt, and this isn’t the fifth but probably the tenth or eleventh; I don’t even know. That’s not the case at the moment. If you feel uncomfortable, why not talk to him? I am not against him, though. We can’t gatekeep him, can we?’

I shrugged, knowing she was right. I couldn’t gatekeep him because he wouldn’t even listen, but I could talk some sense into him. For the sake of the kids,. 

I replied. ‘I will talk to him later in the day. Kyle reached out to me again. I don’t know if I can continue dismissing his calls. He must be worried sick about me and the kids. It’s been a month and a few weeks since we last spoke. Do you think I'm being fair?’

She rubbed her stomach, taking my hands. ‘Tessa, you chose this path, not me. I just told you that if stopping communication between you guys gives you peace of mind, then go for it. I don’t know what to say to you. If your heart yearns for him, then break that wall and reach out to him, girl. I don’t know why you are hiding your feelings. Are you afraid he will break your heart again?’

I admitted. ‘I am afraid, Vee. I am scared of what will happen if I let him fully in. Also, anytime I remember what I went through because of him, I feel broken over and over again. I don’t think he has suffered enough.’

She stood up and said, ‘I think he has, especially with this silent treatment. Don’t make this harder for yourself. I am going inside to rest and video-call Murphy.’

I smiled, watching her leave. Was she right? I didn’t know. The only way I could discover the answer was by reaching out to him. I wasn’t ready for that aspect yet because I could betray myself and confess feelings I wasn’t sure about. I needed to figure out my feelings, give them a name, and accept that this was what I felt for him.

The kids giggled. They were done with their meals and had joined James. He was teaching them how to build sandhouses. I laughed. He was definitely getting the Uncle of the Year award, or maybe, ‘parent of the year.’ He had a beautiful connection with the kids, and that made me cherish him even more. If he hadn’t stood by the kids, training them would have been so hard. Indeed, family is important in one’s life. 

Kyle King. He was the reason I lost my family and the reason they returned.

Was it a good idea to return it to him?