The revving of Henry's car was the signal Eve had been waiting for. She lifted the basket on her centre table and walked out of the house. It was 5 pm on the dot.Henry pulled the car to a stand beside the lawn. Eve stepped out of the room carrying a basket. Henry jumped out of the car and took the basket from her."Thanks," she said. "I'll go and get my bag." she hinted and headed back to the house.Henry placed the basket in the car trunk and was dusting his palms against each other when Eve walked out of the house with her handbag slung around her right arm. She was wearing a gas blue maxi dress with simple black sandals. Henry wore a black sweater on blue plain trousers."Are you good to go?"Eve agreed with a nod and hopped on the front seat. After putting on their seat belts, Henry set the wheels rolling."What did you get for them?" Henry asked."Instead of a cake, I baked some cookies, I bought their favourite wine and yes, there's a coat and a scarf in a bag next to the baske
Everyone seated around the table had a dropped jaw. Mr Bloom was still pointing an aggressive finger toward the door with a tightened jaw."I saidd get out of my house this minute." he thundered. Henry was forced to stand up in fear. He had a blank expression on his face."But sir...what wrong have done?....I..." Henry stammered, his voice rippling.Mr Bloom pointed the finger to his face. "Not a word from you," he warned and motioned with his head to Henry to get out.Mrs Bloom abruptly stood up and leaned toward Mr Bloom. She whispered into her husband's left ear. "What is wrong with you dear? Why are you suddenly asking him to leave?"Mr. Bloom turned to her with bloodshot eyes. "I want this man out of my house this minute. Nobody must question this decision." he thundered. His wife was taken aback.Eve and her siblings were too stunned to speak. What had suddenly gone over their father and why is he being aggressive toward Henry? they wondered. As far as they are concerned, Henry
Mrs Bloom sighed and rose to her feet. She folded her palms before Henry as if she was praying. "I'm sorry son. I don't know what has gotten into my husband. He's not like that." she apologised."Mom is right. We are all surprised that Dad is acting this way." Liam said. Eleanor agreed with a nod.Henry waved his hand down. "It's okay guys. Maybe it's a mood swing or he had a bad day. I understand." he said with a half smile.Mrs Bloom heaved another sigh. "I'll go and talk to him." She turned to Eve. "No one must leave," she warned. Eve agreed with a nod and pulled back her chair. She sat. Henry sighed and reluctantly crashed beside her.Henry leaned toward Eve and whispered into her left ear. "I can still leave. It's not a big deal.""My mom said no one must leave," she replied to everyone's hearing. An awkward silence took over the room.Eleanor decided to break the awkward silence hovering around the dining. "Does anyone know why dad acted the way he did?""It's freaking me out.
"You knew my father?" Henry asked with a surprised expression taking over his face."Richard Carter and I were not just high school buddies. We attended the same college before our fallout." Mr Bloom replied.Henry and Eve exchanged glances. "Fall out?" asked a confused Eve.Her father nodded and went on. Mrs Bloom who heard a part of the story from her husband a while ago was the only one who wasn't displaying any element of surprise."Richard and I were the best of friends. Sadly, we had a fallout and it's all because of him." Mr Bloom said and gave Henry a hard stare. Henry's face was reminding him of Richard and his treachery."On our final day in college, Richard and I came up with a business idea but couldn't put it on the line because we were both these struggling young guys. Then the moment we had been waiting for finally came. Some investors showed up at school and decided to give all final year students a chance to put their business ideas to display." Liam dropped his plat
"I'm sorry Henry. You are not your father. You are my daughter's guest. You deserve proper treatment." said Mr Bloom.Eve smiled. Her father turned to her. "Eve!""Yes, father.""I'm sorry for the way I treated your boss. That was unfair. He's my guest and doesn't have to pay for all his father did to me.""Thank you, Dad." Eve appreciated him with a loving blink.Mr Bloom rose to his feet and smiled at Henry for the first time. "Enjoy your dinner. I'll be in my room."No one stopped Mr Bloom from walking away. His anger was justified and even though he claims to have no grudge against Henry, his mood was bound to turn ice.Mrs Bloom stood up and grabbed two plates from the table. "There's more in the kitchen. You all should pull off those long faces and have fun," she said and left the table to join her husband with a smile. Henry cleared his throat. "I'm very sorry everyone." he began. "My father was a jerk. What he did to your father is..." he sighed and shook his head in disappoi
Henry opened his eyes with a slight groan. Eve was standing by the open window. She turned to him with a smile, slightly blocking the sun rays penetrating the room."Good morning." She greeted with a warm smile.Henry sat up and rolled the sheet down to his waist. "Good morning," he said and rubbed his eyes with the edge of his palms.Eve walked up to him and dumped a pair of new clothes on the bed. Henry watched her with inquisitive eyes. She was dressed in blue jean trousers and had slapped a pink top on it. Henry gazed at the blue wall clock hung above him. It was a few minutes past 8 am."Eleanor and Liam had a trick on their sleeves. They invited our close friends and well-wishers in the neighbourhood for a party this afternoon which I just learnt of. I can't go to work today. I'm sorry. You'll have to leave this morning without me." Eve told Henry.Henry shifted his gaze to the clothes by the bed. "And these?""Oh, those are for you. I had Liam pick them down from the store thi
Mrs Bloom motioned to Eleanor to head out. The girl shifted to the kitchen. Mrs Bloom moved behind Eve and wrapped her arms around her.Even lifted her head and clasped her mother's hands to her shoulder. "I'm deeply sorry mom. I got involved with a married man. I'm so ashamed and..." she went on crying.Mrs Bloom sighed and gave Eve a tight hug from behind. "It's okay my child. I'm sorry for yelling at you Eve. I just couldn't help it. I was pissed."Mrs Bloom pulled out the chair next to Eve and sat. She took charge of the girl's hands."You don't know how difficult it is for me mom. I have tried countless times to stay away from him but I always get back to the same spot." She looked her mother straight in the eyes and confessed. "You don't know how guilty I feel mom."Mrs Bloom pulled Eve to herself. The crying Eve buried her face in her mother's chest and wept. Her mother kept stroking her back tenderly till her wails died."Do you love him?" Mrs Bloom demanded. Eve pulled away
Henry cleared his throat loudly and presented the same offer to Eve. "Just a little dance.""I'll be right back." Mike excused himself from the scene.Finally, he'll now have her to himself Henry thought. He turned to Eve who seemed uninterested in his request."I'm sorry sir. I can't dance with you." was Eve's reply. Her tone was cold and to Henry's ears, it sounded mean.Henry placed both his hands on his waist. Did she just call him sir? He thought she addressed him as such because of her ex earlier but now, he was gone. "Come on Eve. It's just a dance." He pointed to the dance floor that was getting crowded. "Look everyone is dancing, don't be such a bore," he said with a smile."I'm sorry Sir. I just can't dance with you. I had already promised Mike earlier that I will be his dance partner." Even disclosed.Henry's lips parted and "what the hell slipped out? Mike is gone Eve, so you and I can hit the dance floor.""He just went to get something, sir. He'll be back." Eve replied