Chapter 55 Hacienda Tour
"This house was beautiful." She uttered while roaming her eyes around.
They were currently in the living room of the ancestral house. Thyago decided to give her a tour of the whole house first before they took their brunch. It was actually her request because she got intrigued by the intricate and unique design of the house.
"Glad you liked it." He replied.
"Like is an understatement. I love it! It was unique and classic. It looked like a medieval era house." She couldn't help to state looking astonished.
"It is. It was the house of my great grandparents." He replied smiling being amused while watching her.
"It was amazing your family preserved and kept the house design. It was indeed beautiful." She said true to herself appreciating the construction and design of the house.
"I never thought you will like it. You're an Interior designer and your type of design is quite modern and minimalistic. Some even thought it was scary because it was old. Mom actually thought of changing this house to a modern style before, but Dad was against it so the plan never happened."
"Yes, my type of design is modern, comfy, and minimalistic because that's what customers usually demand but it isn't mean I won't appreciate the beauty of old and classic design like this. If I own this house, I wouldn't change anything, not a bit. It was indeed a lovely and a unique house that needs to be preserved and protected."
"It's yours technically..." He replied.
"Uh?" She gave him a questioning and perplexed look.
"It's your house too. As your husband, what's mine is yours too. This house has been passed for the firstborn child of the family from generation to generation and as the only child, I'll inherit this house from my parents. This will be your house too that we will soon pass on to our child when the time comes." He seriously stated.
There he goes again, talking about wealth. Does the thought it will please me and made me happy if he told me what's his was mine too? Wealth has no meaning to me. It would please me instead if he said he appreciates that I love the house. Simple as that...
Thyago invited her to roam around the hacienda after giving her a tour to the house. They started to the corn plantation and they prefer to walk for it's just near the house. As they walk together along with the tall grasses they pass through, Thyago suddenly took her hand and clasped it together. She got stunned at first but she tried not to show it because for the nth time around she felt again the tingling sensation that affects her every time he touches her. She somehow tried to pull it off him but when he noticed her, he caught her hand again and tightened his grip never wanting to let it go.
"I like it better when I hold your hand this way." She heard him muttered.
He then met her gazes giving her a warm endearing smile as she never tried to argue after that. Deep inside her, she likes him holding her hand too. Walking together silently while enjoying the moment, she could feel the thumping of her heart that start to deafen her. No one bother to start a conversation until they reached the wide corn and sugarcane plantation.
Roaming her eyes in the vast land, she couldn't help to get astonished. It was a huge plantation of corn and at the west part of the land is the sugarcane plantation which is as huge as the latter. She was in awe when she saw the place. The thought that this hacienda is just their family vacation place, she realized how rich they were. Thyago suddenly picks corn and peels it. She gave him a curious stare when he offered and hand it to her.
"Taste it. It's good." He told her.
She took one bite and tasted the corn as he told her. She never got contented when she took another bite and then another. Well, he's right, it really tasted good. She could feel his intent stare and she couldn't help to get conscious as she chew.
"What do you think?" He asked having that mischievous smile.
"It's good. It's sweet and juicy." She replied in between chews. She saw him pick another corn for himself and bite it too.
"This was really a huge plantation. Do you export of this?" She asked out of curiosity.
"No, we have a manufacturing company. You know, canned corn that you often see in supermarkets and also a sugar manufacturing company that supplies the whole town." She was in awe after hearing what he have said.
"I thought you were in Real Estate? I didn't know your family owns some agricultural and manufacturing businesses too?"
"To inform you my lovely Wifey, the Williams are known in Agricultural business such as farming, livestock, and husbandry. Meaning my ancestors are originally farmers who took pains in developing and improving this land. Then my father put up his own businesses in the Capital and follow his heart to enter politics. You see I have the blood of a farmer and I'm proud of it. As my wife, you should never forget that." He said gallantly with a warm smile on his lips.
Looking at his husband now, she thought of him as a humble person even though he was born and grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. That beyond his achievements and success, he still appreciates the fruit of hard work and hardship. All along she thought he was raised with a luxurious kind of living with whims and caprices but she was completely wrong. He's a person who knew where he came from and he's damn proud about it. He was humble and she simply adore that side of him.
"What else do you harvest?" She curiously asked.
"We also have pineapple plantation at the South part of this land. We harvest and deliver it straight at the public market and some different shops. We also have a small grape orchard at the back of the house."
"A grape orchard! I would probably love to go there!" She excitedly stated. Grape is her favorite fruit and she just loves them for snacks.
"It was actually my mom who love grapes, so my Dad decided to grow them at the backland area of the house as a gift to her. Besides he loves wine too so we also make wines out of it." He narrated.
She realized it was so sweet of his father to give his mother such a gift like that. His father has good taste when it comes to choosing gifts to give. She might married Thyago because of money but money and wealth is not her happiness. How she wish he was like his father when it comes to giving gifts and surprises.
"We're not getting a big amount of money in this land in comparison to Real Estate businesses but my father still runs the business because we owe everything from here and we started from here. Besides a lot of people rely on this hacienda and we can't just take for granted those people. It's the original land of the Williams and we value it so much although we got some big businesses we run." He explained.
He has a love for his ancestor and a sense of appreciation towards the people he owes to. Why did he never see this side of him before?
"I guess this land is twice bigger than I expected." She uttered.
"Anything that reaches your eyes, my family owns it." She heard him proudly say.
Really boastful! I can't believe I even call him humble! Should've known it better...
"Come on, I'll show and introduce you to the farmers." He took her hand and pulled her as they walk through the small passage of the plantation.
It's just a few minutes walk when she saw a group of farmers harvesting corns. She noticed that they examined each corn before they pick the fruit and put it in their basket. She could see that they have processes and procedures they follow in harvesting and it felt so nice watching them. Some farmers curiously look at them and some give them a surprising look. She just gave the people a warm and genuine smile as they come nearer to them.
"Is she your wife Sir Thyago?" An old lady asked that took the attention of everyone.
Everyone suddenly stopped working and took down their hats as if showing their respects to the owner of the hacienda. Thyago then smiled and possessively put his hand on her waist. When she looked at him, the brute seemed proud with all smiles.
"I'd like you to meet the very special woman in my life. This is my wife, Beatrice Williams. As you all know we got married yesterday and we're here for honeymoon." He announced.
She suddenly felt her cheeks flushed hearing the last words he said. Her embarrassment went stronger when the farmers suddenly cheered and gave them a round of applause. Some of them whispered to one another and some of them held their hands and congratulated them.
"You finally found your match young man!" An old man with soft features stated.
"Yes, Mr. McCain. I've searched for her and when I found her, I made sure to never let her go." He joked that made the old man laugh so hard. As the common saying: jokes are half meant, she glared at him when she realized he was pointing to something.
Yeah, you moron! You even pressure me just to marry you...
"Is she the woman you once told me?" An old woman said with eyes teasing approached them. The old woman obviously scanned her features and she couldn't help to get conscious about it.
"Yes, Mrs. Petterson," Thyago replied. She then wonders what does Thyago and the old woman talking about?
"Oh my! She really is an adorable woman!"
"I told you so," Thyago replied looking so proud.
She gave Thyago a questioning look but he just shrugged his shoulders as an answer. It's kinda annoying because she cannot follow on their conversation and it's as if they were talking about her like she wasn't around. She has no idea at all what they were talking about but it was too obvious she was the topic. She wanted to ask and confront Thyago about it but she knew it was not the right time and right place.
"I'm glad you finally won her heart. I'm so happy for the both of you." The old woman commented.
She saw Thyago answer the old woman with a smile. A smile that didn't reach his eyes and that made her curious and think deep. Why did she have a feeling she was not the girl they were pertaining to? His sad smile shows it all...
"I knew then your worth to have her. You've waited long enough, young man." The old woman said with sincerity in her voice. She then came near her and offered her a corn.
"Here, taste this. These corns are sweet and delicious, just like your love for each other." She jokingly added.
It's kinda funny but they might have mistaken her for someone else. It shows on Thyago's face that she's not the girl they pertaining about. Out of generosity, she took the corn and smiled at the old woman. When she looked at Thyago, she found him intently watching her and now wearing a sheepish grin as if enjoying the scene. She cocked her eyebrow giving him a questioning stare but he just playfully smirked at her as a response. Thyago manages to get updates with the crops and ask for the farmer's needs. He talks to the farmers very humbly with respect, especially to the old ones. She didn't know he married a man with the a huge heart for the needy and was so down to earth. A warm and genuine smile crept in her life as she look to the man behind her thoughts.