THREE

Her new truck just arrived when she was back from school but Neil wasn’t back from school yet, they were going to come late today. She decided to go for a walk since Carly and father went to pick up jack at the train station away from town.

As she got out of the gate, Neil met her, surprised he came t the time earlier than she expected “so early I thought you were going to be a bit late.”

“No, I told we’ll be back home by 2:30pm everyday but Wednesdays at 4:00pm.” He paused “I saw Nathan’s restaurant on my way his restaurant isn’t far from my school. Let’s go pay a visit mom.” He pleaded dragging her arms.

“Why? Let’s go in, Neil.” She frowned. She didn’t want to see Nathan anymore.

“Please, mom, remember we’re going to invite him for dinner tonight, let’s go now, please, mom.” He pleaded impatiently.

“Fine! Only today okay.” He smiled and they left for the restaurant.

AT THE RESTAURANT

As they stepped in, Nathan spotted them and waved at the them. “Welcome to my restaurant,” he directed them to a table. “I’ll be back,” he excused himself. The restaurant was amazing, crowded for a starter. A good business.

“The restaurant is nice; he’s going to make it here.” Celeste looked around as she sat. while Neil was impatiently waiting for Nathan. Then Nathan approached them with smoothies.

“Delicious, it’s perfect, thank you Mr. Bernard” he thanked Nathan.

“It’s yummy, I love strawberries.” Celeste remarked

“I know”

“How do you know I like them?”

Nathan gazed to Neil direction, Neil looked away. Celeste nodded, she got the message- her teenage son has been peeping and narrating stories to the handsome neighbor.

This man smile was beaming in her cruising unrealistic effects on her, she cleared her throat. “sure, Nathan” she hesitated “Nathan, your name is full.”

“Nathaniel Bernard” he answered confidently.

“Okay, if you don’t mind, we would like to invite for dinner tonight.” Celeste requested.

“Sure, at your service.”

“Great! I knew you would come, why don’t you come with us.” Neil suggested after the customers were leaving.

“Alright, let’s leave in my car,” they walked outside.

“Cool, I didn’t know you own a jeep, you’re very upright,” Neil commented. Nathan smiled at him then looked at Celeste, she wasn’t happy nor sad but wasn’t comfortable either.

“Are you bothered about something, Ms. Trevor?” He asked curious about what was bothering her.

“Nothing just tired. And the name’s Celeste, you said we would drop the formalities, so Celeste,” she smiled defiantly. He wasn’t content with her answer. Something wasn’t right it’s disturbing her but he kept mute till they got to the Trevor’s house.

As they entered Carly and Jack was outside, Jack and Celeste with Neil exchange greeting, then he turned to Nathan.

Jack offered his hand, “Nathan right, Carly told me you were invited for dinner tonight.”

They shook hands, he looked at Carly “We haven’t met yet, it’s a pleasure meeting you.” He shook hands with Carly. “I hope we get along well.”

“I hope so too” Jack responded and they laughed as they entered.

Mr. Trevor was sated on his wheelchair “Hey, young man introduces your friend to me.”

Neil smiled, pulled Nathan as they walked to his grandpa “Grandpa, this is Nathan.” He looked at Nathan. “And this is my grandfather, Mr. Martins Ja…”

“Mr. Martins James Trevor, I supposed you were once in the army sir?” Nathan asked.

The old man laughed “I seem to be popular then, were you also an army officer?”

“No sir, Navy, I was a marine, actually I have a friend who was in the army and his supervisor talk about you quite well.

“Oh, I see, you have a good memory, how was it in the Navy?”

“It was tough but very interesting and after all what matters is that I’m alive till today.”

“That’s good to hear, why don’t we sit at the dining table and talk more.” Jack suggested and they stood to the dining table.

“Grandpa, dad I tell you that he’s opened a restaurant in town. He made me and mom strawberry smoothie today, it was yummy” Neil narrated excited.

“I see you already tasted a delicacy of his” Carly winked at her sister.

“We went to his restaurant to invite him that’s all” Celeste hesitated, looked at Nathan as he eats a mouthful of Spaghetti, he glanced up and held her gaze. They both stared intense and intimately. “Staying in Norturndely might not be lonely like he thought, then he smiles as she glanced away looking for something to feel occupied.

“I must say, this is delicious, I’m glad I came, as a chef, I would say this is really good.” Nathan commented.

Carly giggled “I would say you’ve been awarded best flatter award, but I didn’t make it alone, my sister, Celeste was involved in fact she made it, I just assisted.

“This is good.” He ate another spoonful. “A beautiful cook I’m speechless,” they all laughed while Celeste color rose to her cheeks, she flushed.

“I’ll clear… I’ll clear the table,” then she stood and took the plates. “I’ll help.” Neil offered and took some dishes to the kitchen then rushed back to join them at the living room.

Celeste stood in the kitchen, she placed her hands on her cheeks and chest as she finished washing dishes, his gaze bothered her. How odd that I should disturb her so. He was a stranger for goodness sake, she shouldn’t be feeling so soft like this, he is her son’s friend but not hers. She couldn’t afford to be so.

Nathan was feeling tired, after seeing the family he felt at home, Mr. Trevor was indeed a nice man, he excused himself to the backyard and was swinging. He thought about Celeste- he’d caught her looking at him, her color rose, she was nervous, as he stopped the swing, Celeste walked in, she stopped when she saw him.

They stood staring once again. He was amazingly patient, almost contemplative, as he looked down at her, his blue eyes mirrored his introspective mood, sweeping slowly over her exquisite bone structure, over her straight nose and down to her soft bow of a mouth.

“Thanks for coming, Neil appreciated it a lot.” She broke the silence.

“And you?” He asked her

“Oh…! I’m very grateful too, you were pretty nice about the food.”

“I sincerely enjoyed it. It made me feel like family.” He sighed “Do you wish or like to suffer in silence?”

“Excuse me, I don’t understand.” She looked up at him as he spoke.

“You don’t wish to say something? Or are you the suffer-in-silence type?”

He must close now “It’s good to share problems. It relieves you.”

“Nathan, I’m just assured everything would be fine now, Neil has a friend, he’s happy staying here thanks to you.

“Doesn’t he have friends at all before?” he couldn’t help but wonder why she would say something like that.

He was getting under her skin like this, she was feeling so vulnerable talking to this man, she wanted to tell everything and seek his warmth on her, she shook her head gently, she shouldn’t be so careless and free-minded with him, he’s just a neighbor…next door.

“Uh… I never allowed him to have one since he was a child, I’m very protective of him.”

“why?” He was very lenient seeking his answers gently not forcing her of course. She was amazed she was answering his questions calmly as he asked. She moved closer now, they were standing so close to each other. It was a sort of movement that she knew but she couldn’t afford to give in to… anymore. Sensual, predatory and faintly threatening. His eyes didn’t blink or turn away from her, he was staring at her lips. She noticed and her color rose to her cheeks. All the expression left his features. The only thing alive there was there was sparkling glitter of his beautiful eyes.

Carly in just in time to ruin the moment… well in other words save her. “Uhm Uhm” she cleared her throat “Jack just left a while ago he sent his regards to you Nathan.” She grinned at their expression as she walked in.

“Thanks Carly, I’ll get going now, I’ll see Neil tomorrow and Mr. Trevor… Grandpa, it was nice talking to him” he smiled down at her just before he left.

“Good night Celeste.” Then he left.

Carly moved closer to her sister and stopped before her

“Impressive, what do you think?” Carly asked raising her brows.

“About what?” Celeste demanded

“Him, Nathan of course, isn’t he cool, he’s so charming if I wasn’t engaged or haven’t met Jack, I love Jack but If I wasn’t, I won’t mind dying for this man.”

Celeste hissed

“But I think he likes you, I can tell from the looks you two were giving each other.” Carly added.

“I’ll, uh just get some sleep now, why don’t I” she stammered and ran for it.

Carly called behind her “good night, then” she smiled. Her sister would really get a short after all she could tell just by looking at the atmosphere. “It was going to be ruined but it would really shine very soon.” She giggled.

She was off-work the next day, Carly was going to stay with Jack’s family for a couple of days, she didn’t have a clue when she would return. Neil couldn’t go to school either. There was a holiday, her school will be having a picnic at the riverside. Neil will accompany her since it’s only her class that are having a picnic at the riverside, other classes were separated with different locations. At least she was going to avoid seeing “Him” for a day.

“Neil, we’re going to late, the other kids are there already Celeste called out beside her truck outside the gate.

“Yes, mom, I’m coming” He ran outside and stood beside her “sorry mom. I’ll be back.” He ran into the gate beside them.

“What would he go to take from Nathan?” Celeste wondered.

“Hey! Young man.” Nathan opened the door and closed it as Neil walked in.

“I need your help, mom said, could you please help us with refreshment for her school class picnic” Neil said. He smiled at Nathan meekly. After this he’ll get scolded by his mom for lying… seriously.

“Sure, which time do you want me?” Nathan wondered Celeste would really seek assistance from him. Well, looking at the way she was reaching to him two weeks ago at their backyard when he was invited for dinner.

“Uhm…by…pls what’s the time?” he glanced at the wall clock behind the curtains. “It’s rushed out and they drove off.

By 12:30pm, Celeste was telling stories to the kids as they laid on the large mat beside the riverside. Nathan stopped his jeep, he opened his car-booth, carried a large box and a medium box on top. He covered the booth. He smiled as he walked to where they sat, dropped the boxes and cross legged on the mat beside a girl.

“And the prince and the lady married. They lived happily ever after.” Celeste laughed as she clapped her hands, the kids did the same. She saw Nathan laughing.

“Nice story” Nathan commented as they both walked along the river side. Neil was busy sharing the cupcakes and ice-creams from the boxes.

She was wearing an armless blue silk top and jeans. Every move she makes definitely caused a heat to flash in his eyes

“How do you know we were having a picnic here?” she looked up at him and stopped.

“Actually,” he gazed at Neil, “This place isn’t far from my restaurant,” he lied to save Neil from getting scolded by his mother.

“Right, but…how…” she glanced down to see who was holding her.

“Aunt please could you run with us, it’s your turn for the run-ND-catch.” The girl smiled as she pleaded.

“Sure, but who will catch me?” she asked

“Uncle of course, please uncle play.”

“Sure, why not.” Nathan looked at Celeste scrawling

“Then let’s start, aunt” the girl ran off.

“Catch me then, Biggy” she yelled as she ran off.

“No one calls me, Biggy” he ran after her laughing, it seems her whole mind was empty of worries. As they chased down, dribbling and laughing. He finally caught her by holding her arm. She shrugged When she tried to pull free. He caught her by the waist, his arms placed on the waist, her back to his front.

It was like electricity sparkled through her as she felt his warmth on hers. He was really warm and big too.

“I caught you.” he whispered to her ears as he released her, he knew he won causing effect on her but not now in the front of the kids. Her lips parted as if she was waiting for him to kiss her. She stood straight as he released her. Once again, she was really going insane for him but not her personality at least she says that to herself.

Later…

The children clapped and waved goodbye as they boarded the bus. Waving to Neil, Celeste, and Nathan. The bus drove off. Neil asked permission to see a friend before coming home and amazed herself she allowed him too leaving her only with the last person or the only person on her mind.

“Can I help you with something?” she volunteered as she saw him lifting the ice-cream maker and some other things. She was only being a good friend that’s all, no attachments. Only a neighborly friend.

“Sure, she lifted a box as he replied, they dumped everything into the jeep booth and they drove off in his car. Her truck was home, already driven by a fellow teacher when the picnic started.

And off they drove to his restaurant.