Prologue

'Mummy, where are we going?' Katie asked her as she walked down the stairs with a long suitcase, she wheeled and she held Katie's hand tight making sure she didn't let go.

She didn't answer, she just kept walking fast enough but carefully so that she wouldn't injury her daughter.

'Mommy, is Daddy going to be alright? Is he going to be angry that I hit him?'

Pearl wasn't listening but she continued down the stairs, breathlessly but the suitcase slowed her down. She wished she could leave it but she could not.

'Mommy, where are we going to sleep?' the seven year old continued.

They reached the last stairs and continued down before they got to the packing garage door.

'Mommy, I am a bit hungry.' Katie said as she touched her stomach.

She pushed the door opened and her  feet moved fast, she rushed through the different cars until she found hers.

'Mommy....'

She stopped in front of her car, let go of the suitcase and bend down to Katie's height.

'Katie.'

Katie blinked at her mother.

Pearl took a minute to catch her breath before she continued.

'Katie, daddy is angry with me right now. So , we are going to over to a friend's place and we will wait until daddy come for us.' she touched her baby's face and quickly kissed her forehead.

'He is not angry with me, right?'

Pearl shook her head and smiled at her daughter.

'No, sweatheart, he is not angry with you.' 

'When will he come for us?' Katie asked.

'Soon.' Pearl said as she nodded her head. When his temper had subsided.

'Mommy.'

She looked at her daughter as she used her hand to touch her mother's neck where Richard grasped.

'Does it hurt?'

Pearl laughed, smiled and shook her head.

'No, baby.'

She smiled at her for a few seconds until Katie touched her mother's face and said. 'Okay.'

'Okay.' Pearl said too with a smile.

Katie called her mother again before she stood  to put the suitcase in the back seat.

'Mommy, I am pressed.'

She looked at her beautiful daughter in her pink gown and smiled at her.

'Get in the car baby.' she said as she opened the back door of her and Katie climbed in.

She closed the door and wheeled the suitcase to the other side of the door before she opened it, she paused.

She touched her neck; it really hurts.

She looked at the door. She hopes his anger subsides.

She put the suitcase into the back door beside Katie and went to the driver seat, entered, started the car and drove off without looking back.

******

He sat in front of his computer, his finger paused on top of the keyboard; thinking of what to type for the conditions attached to his proposal then suddenly he heard the phone ring from downstairs; two seconds after it rang, he heard footsteps, someone was bringing up the phone, no later than two seconds, the door opened and a boy of eight entered with the phone in his hands.

'Who is it?'

Jacob continued walking to where he sat and handed him the phone.

'It's grandma.' he told him.

William Simony answered the phone. 'Hello, mom.'

'Hello, sweetheart, just spoke to my grandson; I hear he is doing alright.'

William nodded still looking at the half completed note on his computer screen in front of him.

He sat and listened to how she spent her day, especially when she was at the centre, whom she spoke to, what she ate and what she didn't, what they restricted her to, what kind of treatment they made for her; she was making him part of her life, at least, he should be involved in everything she did, what is the reason for a secret?

When she eventually finished talking to him, he hang up and dropped the phone before he continued his work; when he had finished writing the requirements he sent it to the job website and shut down the computer. 

He sighed as  he looked at the small clock on the table beside his computer. It was time for dinner.

He arranged his table, took the telephone, stood and headed downstairs just in time to see the maids setting up the table for two; his son was already seated waiting for him.

William after putting the phone back on the cord, sat beside him and they began eating.

'Dad, Tyler is inviting me for her birthday party tomorrow evening; I told her I would come.' Jacob said in between his meal.

William nodded as he diced the pieces of meat in his plate.

'When you are done with you sums, you can go.'

Jacob smiled. 'Thanks dad.'

William nodded; at least before the week runs out, he would have a bit of space to himself.