Chapter 20 Kelsey's New Life
Six years later Kelsey was hurrying out of her office to a restaurant across the street from Ans Bank. She kept glancing at her watch afraid that she had kept someone waiting for her too long.
By now she had come to the curb. Her back was suddenly patted. She suddenly turned her head, "Hey. Just startle."
Kelsey smiled at the man standing nearby.
"Uh, I didn't mean to do that," the man said, looking at the traffic lights.
Once it was safe, he led Kelsey across. The woman let it go, not protesting in the slightest.
"I know," Kelsey said.
"You know what?" the man asked as he still faithfully held Kelsey's hand.
"Knew you didn't mean to startle me," Kelsey replied.
The man's expression immediately turned sullen. He replied, "I think you know how much I love you."
Kelsey chuckled, "That I know too, Gerald."
"Oh, so you already have an answer?" Gerald asked as he pulled a chair for his lover.
In fact, the man was not willing to let go of her hand but he couldn't have held it continuously during their lunch, right? He was madly in love with Kelsey but he was wise enough not to act too weird. He wasn't ready for Kelsey to even feel bad for him.
"Please, Gerald. Not that again!" Kelsey asked.
"Yes, baby. Take it easy, I will always wait for you," Gerald said to calm Kelsey.
A waiter approached them and quickly Gerald ordered food for them both.
"Gerald, aren't you tired of driving from your office to here?" Kelsey asked worriedly.
Gerald looked confused, "No. Why is that?"
Kelsey knew she certainly wouldn't be able to answer honestly. Kelsey was confused about how to face this lover. Kelsey had never thought of their meeting at all.
Six years ago, just as she was wondering where to go, Kelsey suddenly remembered her aunt who lived in Leeds.
Adriana Lieven was the youngest sister of Andrew Lieven who chose to live separately from her family due to problems a few years ago.
Initially, Adriana was shocked when she saw her niece who came to her at the convenience store and as soon as she heard her story, she accepted Kelsey with open arms to live with her.
Adriana had never been married and has no intention of getting married, so the arrival of her niece had cured her loneliness. It was then that she again met Gerald How, het childhood friend who still lived in Leeds.
Kelsey never thought that it turned out that Gerald harbored feelings for her so that in the end she could not refuse Gerald's sincere love for her.
The man was always there for her and even since Kelsey's child was born, he was the one who accompanied her and cared for Kelsey's child. She knew Gerald was a good man who would accept him sincerely.
However, she always felt inappropriate when she was with Gerald.
"Don't lie, Gerald. How long did it take you to get here?" Kelsey asked.
Gerald smiled, "Hey, none of that matters. What matters is that I can have lunch with you. Besides, you know that we can't have dinner together. If you're not the one working overtime, then definitely me. So, come on, baby. Don't think about things like this."
Kelsey again could only sigh resignedly. There was no way she would forbid Gerald to see her.
"Oh yeah, isn't Aiden's birthday next month?" Gerald asked excitedly.
Kelsey paused and stopped eating. She then smiled, "How do you always remember Aiden's birthday?"
Gerald took his cell phone out of his coat pocket. He opened an agenda on his cellphone and showed it to Kelsey. On the agenda it was written, ' My Son's Birthday'.
Kelsey smiled, "You are weird."
Gerald smiled too, "I know Aiden is not my flesh and blood but I have considered him like my own son."
Kelsey didn't know how to respond.
For him, Gerald How was too good. Gerald even put a photo of his son as a wallpaper on his cell phone. However, this was precisely what made Kelsey hesitate to take a further step even though they had been in a relationship even before Aiden was born.
"So how will Aiden's birthday be? Do you want it celebrated at school or at home?" Gerald asked as he looked very excited.
Kelsey looked to think for a moment before replying, "I don't know yet. I haven't asked the kid."
"Hm. Let me know if you have a plan okay?" Gerald asked.
"Okay," Kelsey replied.
"Have lunch with that handsome lawyer again?" Angel asked, one of Kelsey's coworkers.
"Yes," Kelsey replied curtly.
Selena who was sitting right beside Kelsey snapped, "When are you going to marry him?"
This question again, Kelsey thought tiredly.
"I don't know," Kelsey answered honestly.
Angel snorted, "Are you out of your mind? Hanging a handsome and rich man like Gerald How? What else is he lacking?"
"Yes, Kels. He's perfect. He's even close to Aiden. What are you waiting for? He even proposed to you, right? Don't be too picky!" Angel said.
Kelsey shook her head. She was confused. She didn't know either.
"It's not that he's lacking anything. Instead, he's too good and I feel inadequate," Kelsey replied tiredly.
"What do you mean? How inappropriate?" Angel asked confused.
Kelsey turned her head, "Come on, Angel. I already have a child. While he is single. His family is also not just any family. I bet his family couldn't possibly let him be with me. At least his family must think that Gerald has the right to marry a
good woman who is single and has never had children."
Selena pinched Kelsey's arm, "Stop that bad thought! Have you met his family yet?"
Kelsey shook her head quickly.
Gerald had asked Kelsey several times to meet his parents but Kelsey insisted on refusing because she was never ready.
She knew very well that she was very selfish. She still wanted to be beside Gerald but didn't want to. decided to marry Gerald.
She was also afraid that Gerald's family would reject her outright.
"Well, you've never met them so how can you be so narrow-minded?" Selena said, annoyed.
Kelsey rubbed her face roughly. "But I have a bad feeling every time Gerald takes me to meet his parents."
"Kels, don't be like that. Don't you feel sorry for Gerald? He has been with you for a long time. Don't you want to make him a little happy by giving him certainty? I'm sure you actually want to marry him too, right?"
Yes of course. Who doesn't want to marry a nice guy like Gerald How? Kelsey wanted one too.
"Hmm, okay," Kelsey finally said.
"All right, what's up, Kelsey Lieven?" Selena pressed as if she felt she needed Kelsey to make her point.
"I'll answer Gerald's proposal immediately," Kelsey said.
"And is it yes, dear?" Angel asked.