Chapter 102 Leave tomorrow
After making love to Arthur, Aurora fell asleep in his arms. Arthur could hardly sleep because he kept staring at her, thinking of how far they had come.
Without doubt, he knew they were destined for each other. ‘I have to make this work again. And this time, without mistakes.’ He thought, slowly and carefully caressing her face in a way that wouldn’t wake her up, but unfortunately, she ended up waking up.
She slowly opened her eyes and when she saw him staring at her, she smiled widely.
“Hey.” She uttered in almost a whisper, and he responded with a smile. “You didn’t sleep?” She asked, and he shook his head.
“I couldn’t. I couldn’t stop staring at you.” He answered, and she scoffed, looking away.
“Stop teasing. How is your leg?” She asked as she sat up. She took a look at his leg and looked at his face again.
“I wasn’t teasing. And for my leg, I don’t know. It feels numb.” He answered, causing her to furrow her brows.
“Is that a good thing?” She asked, and he shrugged with a chuckle.
“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because I’ve been in the same position for hours now.” He answered.
“Oh, yes! That’s true. I’m so sorry about that.” She answered, getting out of the bed before Arthur could stop her.
“What are you doing?” He asked.
“I need to get you back on the chair. Maybe blood isn’t flowing into that leg well. We don’t want complications, do we?” She asked, and Arthur shook his head, staring at her as she moved the wheelchair closer to the bed.
After she positioned it well, she moved closer to him and helped him get on the chair.
“Argh! I can’t wait for this to end. I hate that I’m stressing you so much.” He said as he breathed out loud.
“C’mon. I am not complaining. Should we head out to see the boys?” She asked, grabbing her clothes and putting them on.
“Yes, we should. They had finished preparing dinner about an hour ago, and they came to call us, but I told them you were asleep, and we’ll come out as soon as you’re up.”
“Oh really? Thank God. My stomach won’t stop growling.” She responded, and he chuckled.
After she was dressed, she pushed Arthur’s wheelchair out of the room and headed to the living room, where they met Theo playing cards with the boys.
“Mummy! You’re up!” Rowan, who was the first to see them announced, causing the others to look up.
“Mummy!” Ryan and Riley called too. “That was quite a long sleep.” Ryan added, and Aurora laughed.
“Mummy had to rest. But we are ready to eat now.” She answered, rubbing her stomach.
“Well, it’s time for dinner already. So we already made dinner for everyone.” Ryan said boastfully, and Arthur raised his brows.
“Really? That’s good of you boys.” He commanded them, and they smiled happily.
“You all go and wait at the dining table, okay? Theo and I will set the table.” Aurora said, pushing Arthur to the table, while Theo helped him up from the wheelchair and made him sit on the dining chair.
The kids also positioned themselves on the chairs, waiting for their Mum and Theo to set the table.
Aurora headed to the kitchen, and Theo walked behind her. Getting to the kitchen, she found the trays already prepared by Theo on the kitchen table.
“Miss Aurora.” He called, and she turned to look at him with a grin on her face.
“Yes, Theo?”
“Have you two talked? Are you going to stay back?” He questioned her out of curiosity, and she bobbed.
“Yes, we have. I think… I think I’m going to stay back and be with my family.” She answered, and a wide smile lit up Theo’s face.
“Finally.” He heaved a loud sigh. “The boys would not be disappointed.” He added, making Aurora crease her brows.
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, the boys kept saying that they are very happy you’re back now and they never want you to leave ever again. They even said they have this sort of plan for you all as a family…”
“Plan? what plan?” She butted in, and he shrugged.
“I have no idea. They refused to tell me too. But I’m just so glad you have decided to stay back. You alone can really take care of your family. No one else can do that for you, not even me.” He added as he went ahead to carry one of the trays.
“But I must confess that you’ve done an excellent job in our home too, Theo. It will never be forgotten.” Aurora added, lifting a tray too.
He smiled in response as they headed out of the kitchen to the dining area. They met Arthur and the boys chatting about random things while they set up the table.
After they were done setting up the table, they opened the serving pots and saw different kinds of meals prepared. They had pasta, fried rice, potatoes, porridge, chicken, bacon, steak and so many others.
The table was filled up, leaving Arthur in awe.
“Are we celebrating something?” He asked, raising his head to look at Theo.
“I asked the same thing.” Aurora added with a giggle.
“Of course, we are. You’ve been away from the house for about a month now, and Miss Aurora is back home. It does call for celebration.” He answered with a smile.
“Awwwn. This is so thoughtful of you, Theo. Please join us.” Aurora uttered, and Arthur nodded in agreement.
After he settled down, Ryan gave a short prayer before they started eating. Some minutes into their dinner, Arthur decided to say something to Theo.
“Theo.” He called, and they all looked at him.
“Yes, boss.” He answered.
“Thank you so much, for everything. If I don’t appreciate you, then I am a wicked man. You have been so good to me and my family, especially my children. You’ve always loved and treated them as your own.
“You’ve always watched out for us and tried your best to make sure we are okay. I want you to know today that you’re seen and highly appreciated, Theo. I bless the day I made you part of my household.” Arthur uttered, and Aurora kept nodding to everything he said.
Theo smiled widely and slightly lowered his head. “Thank you too, Mr. Arthur.” He answered.
“That isn’t the only thing I want to say though. I also want you to know that as of tonight, you are discharged from your duties as my butler.”
“What?” The smile on Theo’s face faded off immediately, and confusion and sadness took over.
“Why?” Aurora asked in awe too.
“I am not discharging you because you have done anything wrong, Theo. And I’m not saying you should leave my house. But what I meant is that I am now giving you the freedom to live your own life.
“You said something when we got back from the hospital, how are you supposed to find a woman when you’re always in the house, and honestly, I couldn’t help but think about it. You have done nothing but serve me for years now.
“It’s time you moved on, Theo. Get a woman, settle down, have your own kids and be a father. As far as I’m concerned, you’ll be a great father to your kids. You deserve happiness, and you won’t get the fullest if you keep serving me.
“This is why I’m discharging you, but I promise that I’ll provide whatever you want and I’ll be here for you as a friend.” Arthur further explained, and after he finished talking, there was silence in the house.
The kids kept looking at their parents and Theo. “Is Uncle Theo leaving?” Riley asked, looking at Arthur.
“Yes, Riley. Uncle Theo has to go and live his own life too. He has to get married and give birth to children who would eventually be your friends.” Arthur responded, trying to make them happy after he saw their countenance change to a sad one.
“You’re leaving?” Rowan mumbled in tears, turning to look at Theo. At this point, tears filled Theo’s eyes as he nodded in response.
“Yes. But I’ll always reach out, okay?” He muttered, trying to force on a smile, but he couldn’t. He was going to miss them so much. They were his best friends.
The boys got off their chairs and went closer to Theo so they could embrace him. They all broke into tears, and even Aurora couldn’t hold back.
“We are going to miss you, Uncle Theo.” Rowan muttered, holding him tightly.
“I’ll miss you all too. So very much.” Theo mumbled, kissing them on the head one after the other.
“Daddy, can he please wait till tomorrow before he leaves us?” Ryan asked, looking at Arthur with tears in his eyes.
“Of course. Theo can leave anytime he wants. I just wanted him to know he is free.” Arthur answered, and Ryan turned to look at Theo.
“Please leave tomorrow.”
“Or the day after tomorrow.” Riley added as they all refused to let go of him. Aurora looked at Arthur with tears in her eyes, and he held her hand, trying to console her too.
“It’s all for the best.” He uttered, while they all just kept crying.