Chapter 104 A family lunch
NOVA
They discharged me two days later, allowing me to return home after two weeks of being in the hospital instead of the initial promised one week. After the attack at the hospital, Dashiell transferred me to another hospital. This time, he didn't let anyone know my location, not even his secretary. He wanted to avoid the episode he walked in on, with the man trying to strangle the sweet life out of me, something I couldn't debate.
The timer went off, causing my focus to return to the present. It was noon, and I was preparing lunch for my kids. Since I was hospitalized, I have only been able to speak with them twice. I didn't call them like I promised on the day they attacked me because of how my voice sounded. Dashiell said I would only scare them off with the voice instead of quelling their worried heart, and I listened to him, knowing he had a point there.
I had just switched the cooker off when the doorbell went off. "I'm coming!" I yelled, wiping my flour-covered hands on my apron as I made my way to the front door. The knocking grew louder, and I couldn't help but smile. My babies were finally coming to visit, and I was excited about it.
I was more than eager to meet them, and I knew they felt the same. Having been separated from each other for two weeks, it felt like I might combust from worrying if I didn't see my cute bundles of sunshine.
I swung open the door, and before I could even process the sight before me, I was almost tackled to the ground. Willow and River, my little bundles of joy, flung themselves at me, wrapping their arms tightly around my waist.
"Mummy!" Willow squealed, her emerald eyes sparkling with excitement. "We missed you, mummy!"
"Mum, we missed you so much!" River chimed in, his brown eyes shining with love.
I laughed, tears welling up in my eyes as I hugged them tightly. "I missed you both too, so much!"
And I did. I missed them so much that it hurts. It was the first time I had been separated from them, making it feel like I was being punished by the distance between us.
As we stood there, locked in a warm embrace, I caught sight of Brion, standing in the doorway. He had a small smile on his lips as he watched us. He didn't interrupt, though, letting us have the much- needed reunion.
"I promise this will be the last time I go away for a long." I lifted my fingers, grinning when they did the same. "I don't think I can be separated from you guys for that amount of time again. It will kill me," I moaned, looking up at Brion, who winked.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Brion asked, his eyes filled with concern.
"I'm good, just happy to see the kids," I replied, smiling. "Seeing their smiles made my day 100 percent better. I feel like I can soar through the sky," I joked, ruffling my babies' hair.
Funny enough, River didn't complain about his hair, something he would have screamed about.
Brion nodded as he handed a bag to me. "I brought their favourite snacks. The kids wanted to get some cookies for you," he added with a smile. "Yours is there."
"Thanks a lot, dear. I appreciate this." I took the bag from him and ushered them into the house, gesturing for them to wear the slippers I put out next to the door, leaving the one they wore out.
As we sat down to lunch, the door swung open and Dashiell walked in, surprising me. I figured he wouldn't return until late at night because of the meeting he had. Seeing him back so early, and for lunch, caused me to raise a brow. It was almost as if he planned this. His eyes scanned the room, landing on Brion, who stood by the kitchen counter.
The tension was palpable as Dashiell's gaze narrowed. "What's he doing here?" he growled, his gaze still locked on Brion, whose expression was nonchalant. Unlike Dashiell who looked like he was just a few minutes from throwing a punch, Brion didn't even seem to care about his presence as he helped himself to the rice, ignoring him.
I forced a smile, trying to defuse the situation. It was getting awkward, and I didn't want the kids to pick up on anything. "Brion brought the kids over for a visit. We were just having lunch. Is there anything wrong with it?"
At my words, my babies raised their heads, their eyes widening when they noticed him. "Mr Dashiell!" River yelled before I could say anything, waving at him as a small smile appeared on his lips. Dashiell's eyes flicked to the kids, a small formation on his lips. "Hey, guys. Long time no see." He walked over to Rivers and patted his back. "Didn't know you were going to come over, buddy!" "Yeah." River nodded, grinning at him. "We came to visit mummy. What are you doing here?" He looked genuinely confused as his gaze flickered from me to Dashiell, almost as if he were connecting a puzzle.
"Uhm..." Dashiell rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable as he tried to think of the right excuse to give. Telling them about our relationship was the option because I had warned him about it.
"You also came to visit mummy, didn't you?" Willow asked before Dashiell could figure out a convincing lie.
"Yeah! Of course!" He gobbled it up without a moment of hesitation. "I heard you guys were coming over, so I wanted to catch up with you." He patted River's right shoulder as he said those words, smiling. "So, did I do well?" He lifted an eyebrow, his gaze flickering from Willow to River.
"Of course." River tapped the chair next to him. "Join us. Mum made enough lunch for everyone," he said, sounding like a young master inviting someone for lunch.
"Then I will trouble you to accommodate me for lunch." Grinning, Dashiell sat on the chair, earning him a glare from a now scowling Brion.