CHAPTER 145

Geneveive Tessa Robert

 

The twins' birthday were coming up soon, and my parents were making another grand  plan. Bigger and better than last year’s own. Nicholas and Hope had agreed to have a simple party, and they didn’t want any clowns this year. Last year’s own had made Hope cry and Nicholas frightened. Up to date, they still disliked clowns. I almost blamed my parents for their fear, but it wasn't entirely their fault. The clown we hired gave up at the last minute, and James got one of his acquaintances to act as the clown, and the guy failed woefully.

 

He couldn’t even make his balloons look beautiful. 

 

I had suggested we do a royalty-themed party since Nicholas always called himself King and Hope believed she was Cinderelli. I had gotten tired of correcting her that the Disney princess’s name was Cinderella, not what she called it, but she refused to listen. She is a stubborn five-year-old, just like her father.

 

Speaking about Kyle, He had stayed longer in Nashville than he had promised. According to him, Planet O, King’s Company, was taking his time more than he expected. He had successfully started the new branch of King’s Company in London, but the paperwork and other business-related matters needed to be settled before he changed Nashville’s branch to a subsidiary and London’s branch to the headquarters. He promised not to miss the kids' birthday, which was next month. I hoped for his sake, but he didn’t.

I stared outside the window of the restaurant Vera had insisted we use for our girls hangout. She was heavily pregnant now, but she could still afford to move around. The baby was expected by May, the same month as the baby's birthday. We were hoping it would be the same day, so that it would be a double celebration.

 

‘Are you sure you are okay, Tessa? You seem distracted.’ Vera said, not looking up from her second plate of pancakes. Also, worthy of note, she has been eating a lot lately.’

 

I shrugged, focusing on her. ‘I miss him. You know, we spoke for hours last night, and it seemed that everything I thought was dead in me had awoken. Laughter. Tears. Happiness. Am I supposed to feel this way, Vee? He broke my heart years ago, and it took me time to recover and trust people again. I don’t know if this is right for me.’

 

She smiled. ‘It’s right for you, Tessa. He keeps you happy, and the beautiful glow in your eyes is fascinating. It’s been a while since I saw that glow. Okay, the glow is there when you are with the kids, but that’s all. This glow cuts through everything. It’s in-depth, and I love it.’

 

‘He does keep me happy. I guess that’s why I'm missing him. He creates time to call me every day and actually listens to me. The Kyle of old would never listen because he was always on call or had business matters to take care of. Even when he was here, he dedicated every minute to the kids. I can’t forget that day at the house when he taught Nicholas how to play the piano. It was hilarious, painstaking, and a patient lesson.’

 

Vera laughed. ‘I had never seen anyone patiently listen to Nico’s numerous questions until Kyle. James betted he would lose his cool in a minute, but Kyle made sure I won the bet.’

 

‘You guys made a bet?’ I asked, laughing. 

 

She nodded. ‘Of course. Kyle isn’t known for his patience. Being hasty and arrogant are his trademark.’

 

'Yeah, and now he’s a changed person.’ I replied. If anyone had told me I would defend Kyle someday, I wouldn’t have believed the person. Well, surprise. 

 

‘Anyway, I am proud of the milestone you and Kyle are making. I guess you are finally having a change of heart. You are slowly forgetting, right?’

 

A muscle twitches in my temple. I walked back to the dinner date and said my last words. The one where I said I might never fall in love with him and couldn’t forget what he did to me?

 

Newsflash: I was retracting that statement because out of sight was out of mind, which clearly was the wrong saying for my situation. Out of sight made me yearn for him. Our calls, text messages, and numerous video calls had drawn me closer to him. I hadn’t realised how much closer I was until I revealed to Vee that I was missing him. Vee was staring strangely at me. She had asked something about forgetting. 

 

I quickly pressed my thoughts aside and formed a smile. ‘I feel I am forgetting and letting go of the past slowly, but it’s been productive. I am still talking to him, right?’

 

She stared at me for a second. I could feel her reaching into my soul and trying to grip the deepest secret I held inside. ‘Alright, I believe you. When are you guys planning on revealing his identity to the kids?’

 

Another worry. I had talked to Kyle about this, and we agreed after the kids' birthday. He just wanted me to think about it and be certain I wanted them to know. I had stayed most nights after his calls, wondering if the kids would accept him or not. They are still little, and I didn’t want them to hate me for lying to them that the man they called a friend was actually the father who divorced me.

 

I replied, ‘We want to tell them after their birthday, but Kyle wants me to still think about it. Would it be right to tell them now? I told them he had divorced and left me. I am not sure they understood it then, but now they are smart, and I am not sure how they react once we tell them.’

 

She sighed.. ‘Tessa, you worry a lot. I have told you the kids would be fine. They have been friends with Kyle for quite awhile. It will take them time to adjust, but I am certain they will accept him as their father. Don’t worry, okay?’

 

I nodded as she delved into the story of how Murphy forgot to pick up his socks from the living room floor for the eleventh time. Lord help me, this was going to be a long girls hangout.