CHAPTER 46

ALPHA MARK'S POV.

“ I can see that, and it is also obvious that they like bonding with other kids their age,” I replied.

“I think that is the main reason why they love it here,” Ava added and there was a brief pause.

“So tell me, what other things do the kids like to engage in?” I asked purposefully, I had already set it that the day was going to be just about the kids and Ava, without me talking about my personal feelings.

With her eyes lightening up, Ava smiled warmly.

“Kendall loves to draw and paint, she is quite the little artist in the house,” she said, and I giggled, it was interesting to hear such stuff,

“And Kenny on the other hand, I don't know what that young chap loves,” She paused, her eyes falling in her fingers as she picked the dirt out in it.

“He hasn't settled on what he likes, just give him some more time,” I advised, not convinced by what I had said because I didn’t understand how children are wired and how things work with them.

“But he loves dinosaurs, he can name every single species of it,” Ava went on to say,

“I don't know what exactly his love for dinosaurs would lead to, but I am just hoping it leads to something more creative just like Kendall.”

“I don't think you should be comparing the both of them,” I chipped in quietly, not in any way wanting to hurt her feelings.

“I know right.” She replied calmly, “I know I shouldn't be comparing him with her or with other children, but it is just that I am worried.”

“You shouldn't be, he is yet to show you the creative side of him doesn't me he wouldn't be creative much more later,” I went on,

“Seasons Change, Kids grow and most things in their life do not remain the same way, just like the way you are probably not interested in the things that used to interest you as a kid,” I added.

“Uhm…” She let out a deep breath.

“I have been trying to shake my mind off it, but it is not working, and most times I see myself forcing him to join Kendall when she paints instead of reading his numerous dinosaur books or documentaries also at a point I stopped getting him books about dinosaurs.”

“Did it help?” I asked.

“No, it was a terrible phase, he became withdrawn to himself, and nothing made him smile, not even Kendall.” She replied.

“With that, don't you think you did too much?” I asked.

“It became clear to me at that point that I was doing too much, and I stopped immediately, I stopped forcing him to paint with Kendall, I stopped introducing him to other new concepts and I went back to buying him his books,” Ava answered.

“I just think you should give him more time, he is still young, and there is still a lot of time for him to figure out what he truly wants.”

“That is what I have resolved to do, after all, I don't have any choice,” Ava said.

We moved past the talk of Kenny not having any creative thing he was interested in into Ava recounting funny moments about the twins.

As we talked, I kept my eyes on Kendall who was playing in the kid's section too close to the pool as if I knew something was about to happen.

Suddenly, Kendall missed her steps as she was trying to tackle Kenny and fell into the water.

My heart skipped for a second, and without a second thought, I sprang to my feet, ran towards the pool, and dived in to bring her out.

Ava, who was in shock, held tightly to Kenny, who was weeping loudly, tears streaming down her face.

I emerged out of the water with Kendall shivering in my arms.

I quickly took my coat from Ava that I had pulled off as I ran and wrapped it around Kendall in a bid to warm her up.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” I asked, my voice trembling.

By now, a small crowd of concerned people had gathered around us.

Kendall coughed slightly as she nodded her head, her teeth chattering from the cold, “I’m okay.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, thanking the heavens that I had my eyes on her when it happened.

If not the whole situation would have been a different story if there was any delay in rescuing her.

I turned to look at Ava who was still very much shaken from the whole incident that had just happened.

While I ran towards the pool, I heard her screaming behind me, running after me.

I handed Kendall back to her and wrapped them in a tight hug, “Everything is fine now,” I whispered into her eyes, trying to pull her out of the shock.

Ava nodded her head as she allowed her eyes which had a helpless expression to fall on Kendall, “My baby,” she said quietly, more tears streaming down her face.

For some reason, by merely looking at her, I could tell that she was blaming herself for what had just happened.

I don't understand why, but I felt it was her motherly instinct kicking in. “Thank you, Mark, I don't know what I would have done…”

“No, you don't have to thank me like that, you would have probably done the same if I wasn't here,” I said, cutting her short.

We stayed like that for a moment, holding tightly to each other, the crowd that was gathered around us slowly dispersing as they saw we were in perfect condition and now having private family time.

Once Kendall had calmed down, I took her back to the bench Ava and I were earlier seated and sat her down before proceeding to check for any injury.

She was fine, but just a bit shaken up.

“I think we should head home,” I said darting my eyes back to Ava who was standing beside me, staring blankly at Kendall like she was some sort of stranger, “She needs to rest.”

Ava nodded in agreement to this, and we gathered our things and left immediately.

The drive back home was nothing like the first, it was quiet with Ava staring endlessly out the window and the twins clinging to each other, trying to comfort themselves in the back seat.