In the car, Maxwell asked, "So, what do you think?"
"I think they know about this. It is either that or they suspected the boys were into something like that. What I don't understand is why they would allow it or even try to cover them up. A child almost got killed for God's sake!"
"Just my thoughts," Maxwell said as he clipped his seat belt. "Those two definitely know something."
"Do you trust Han to do the right thing?"
"He is a decent man, and he owes me a favour. He would do the right thing, or he would have me to contend with. Let's give him twenty-four hours as promised," he said as he started the car.
"I think therapy would help her. We should get both of them into therapy. I know Junior seemed almost unbothered about it, but one can never tell about these things. If there is anything I have learned, it is that unpleasant memories tend to stay with kids more."
"You are right," Maxwell said. "We can get a top children psychologist in the city. Someone who wouldn't even mind working out of his or her office in case the kids feel uncomfortable about going to a place like that." Then he paused as if he just remembered something. "Unpleasant memories. Which unpleasant memories are you talking about?" he said as he reached out to take her hand. "Would you like to share them?"
How did he…? "What? I didn't say… This is not about me, okay? Now, focus, please. About Allysyn…"
"I just wish there could be a day when you wouldn't mind sharing a bit of yourself with me. Even if it is just as a friend," he said with a wistful, half-smile.
Reyona couldn't understand how he managed to disarm yet infuriate her in turn.
"We are friends, aren't we?" he asked when she gave him an exasperated look.
Friends? Since when? Yet Reyona couldn't deny the fact that he had become a bit of that.
"A friend who knows how you taste. Hmm," her subconscious interjected.
Reyona firmly ignored that.
Not that she had set out for friendship between them, but then, it was crazy that he seemed to understand her perfectly most times.
Just like earlier, how could he have deduced that she was somehow referring to her childhood even before she was fully aware of what her statement meant?
When she said nothing, he raised his eyebrows and his mischievous grin materialized as he said "Or am I to believe that we are more than friends?" he asked while wiggling his eyebrows.
"What? No. Friends, fine." she snapped.
He laughed softly and kept looking at her with that new look in his eyes even as she continued, "Now, back to what I was saying, I just don't know what she would think of it. I think that girl is much too sensitive for her age. And now I can see one of the reasons why. What if she doesn't want therapy?"
Maxwell nodded thoughtfully as he said "I think we can just explain what therapy is all about to them, then see what they think of it. We can take it from there."
Reyona sighed "You are right. What about taking them out this evening? Maybe to…yes, what about that restaurant you wanted to go to that day? A change of scenery and all."
"Yes, that could work. It can make her relax enough to be open to it." Maxwell answered.
"Good, let me inform Jane," Reyona said as Maxwell started the car.
She was unlocking her phone when she felt his eyes on her. She looked back at him and asked "What?"
"Have I told you that you are the most brilliant and compassionate woman I have ever met?"
Reyona rolled her eyes as a small smile escaped her, and then she said "Drive".
"Yes, ma'am."
********
Jane had the kids ready by the time they got home.
She told them the kids were waiting in the playroom.
"Who wants to go eat some Chinese…well, whatever they call them," Maxwell said with a laugh as they entered the playroom where the kids were.
"Me! Me! Me! Chicken meatballs! One of them is chicken meatballs. Chicken meatballs are my favourite!" Junior said as he quickly stopped and got off his Ponycycle mechanical horse.
"Oh wow, someone is dressed for the part," Reyona said as she entered the playroom just as Junior ran towards them.
"You like it?" Junior stopped his run and did a 180-degree turn for her while bouncing from foot to foot.
"Of course, I love it," Reyona said, and she really did.
He had on a blue loose-fitting shirt, beneath a black cowboy waistcoat, with black denim trousers. The cowboy look was complimented by his cute tall boots with leather spurs and a patterned silk handkerchief knotted at his throat.
He removed his blue, broad-brimmed hat in a salute to her, then he spoiled the serious look he was going for as he grinned and jumped in place. "So, do you reaaaally like it? Ally said it was silly."
"What? Ally must be jealous," Maxwell said as he bent to the boy's level. "I am sure she wished she had this cool outfit on. I know I would want to."
Allysyn snorted from where she was seated at the other end of the playroom staring at a broad sheet in her hands.
"I am not jealous. I wouldn't want to wear something like that ever," she said without looking up from what she was staring at.
"See?" Maxwell said. "I told you she was jealous. That is what ladies say when they don't want you to know that they love what you have on."
Junior scratched his head in confusion as he looked at Maxwell and asked "Uh? So, she liked it?"
"Of course, she does."
Allysyn turned her head at that moment to probably emphasise how much she didn't like the outfit, but then her eyes met with Reyona's as the latter moved towards her.
She quickly turned away again and practically buried her nose in the sheet.