Chapter 44
The next morning, she felt Darin’s lips on her cheek and opened her eyes slowly. Darin was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at her with love and adoration.
“Honey, I’m set,” he whispered.
“Isn’t it too early?” She reached for her phone to check the time. “Its seven am.”
“The wedding is ten am,” he rubbed up and down the length of her arm. “Don’t forget that it’s a two-hour drive to get to Belleville from here.”
“Okay,” she returned her phone to the nightstand. “Have a safe trip.”
“Thank you honey,” he bent and kissed her. “What are you doing today?” He asked, standing up.
“I’m going to visit my parents,” she said. She didn’t see them the last time she was home, so she thought it would be nice to spend the day with them.
“I thought you said you have school stuff to do,” he smiled, realizing she just didn’t want to go with him to the wedding. “You sneaky girl.”
“I don’t want to go to Belleville,” Helen made a puppy face at her husband, knowing her secret was already out.
“No problem.” He said good-naturedly. “Why don’t you go shopping or go to the spa today and then we could both go to your parents’ tomorrow together for lunch?”
“Sure,” she liked the idea, knowing it would please her parents. “I will wait to go with you tomorrow.”
“That’s settled.” He kissed her again. “I will be on my way now.”
“Alright, bye,” she said and got up to use the bathroom while he left. She got more sleep when she returned to the room. She woke up to the warm embrace of the morning sun about one and a half hours later
Helen went to the bathroom to wash her face with just water and to brush her teeth. She needed to go downstairs for her caffeine fix before she would come back upstairs and have her bath. She wrapped her robe around herself and slipped into her cotton flax slippers and left for downstairs.
Becky found Mark, the new Steward, who started working a few weeks back, already preparing breakfast. Jack, Darin’s long-time Steward who was even with him abroad, had retired. Mark was standing at the marble-topped kitchen island, slicing some onions.
He already lay the rest of the ingredients he was going to use out in different containers on the cabinet. There was also a pile of potatoes in a basket, so she guessed they were eating a potato dish for breakfast.
Mark cooks for everybody in the house, not just Darin and Helen alone and they all ate the same thing. Unless Darin or Helen demanded any other thing apart from what was on the food timetable for the day.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
The Steward stopped what he was doing and turned around. He bowed slightly. “good morning ma’am,” he washed his hands at the sink. “Is there anything I can help you with?” He asked as he dried his hands with a kitchen napkin.
“Don’t worry.” Helen moved to the cabinet with mugs and opened it. She brought out a mug. “I just want to get coffee,” she said and closed the cabinet. “Okay ma’am,” he smiled self consciously. “Breakfast will soon be ready.”
“That’s okay,” Helen smiled to put him at ease. She knew he was nervous because it was the first time they were seeing each other in close proximity. He had nothing to worry. Darin liked him, so she’s okay. “Well done, Mark.”
Helen filled her large mug up with coffee from the coffeemaker and went to the dining room to enjoy her drink. She flipped on the plasma Tv on the wall as she added milk and sugar into her drink. Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper, walked in just as she was stirring everything together.
The older woman, Darin’s distant relative. She had been working for him since he returned to the state. Helen guessed her age to be between forty-two and forty-five. She was a widow and had three children.
Helen nodded and motioned for her to take a seat.
She and Mrs. Smith discussed household issues for before she went upstairs with an instruction for Mark to bring her breakfast to the living room upstairs.
Helen reached for her phone to call her cousin after she had her bath. She doesn’t enjoy going to the spa or the mall by herself.
“Hey you,” Eunice answered the call in her usual breezy voice. “Are you in town?”
“Yes, I am,” Helen answered. They greeted each other and after a brief conversation, Helen asked if they could go to the spa together.
“Why?” Eunice said jovially. “I can’t say no to my favorite cousin.”
They both burst into laughter.
“Let’s meet at my spa in one hour,” Helen said. “I hope it’s fine?”
“Yeah,” Eunice said. “One hour is okay.”
“See you later,” she said, grinning as she pressed the end call button.
Helen gobbled her breakfast and set out to meet Eunice. She and her cousin had so much fun. Darin was already back from the wedding when Helen got back home with shopping bags in her hands.
“I got something for you,” she smiled brightly at Darin, which was quite unusual, and held out a little shopping bag to him.
“You did?” His face lit up as he collected the bag and looked inside. He found a pack of his favorite cologne and a small velvet box which held a pair of silver cufflinks.
“Oh, thanks so much darling,” he was genuinely touched by the gifts.
“You are welcome,” she giggled. “I hope you like them?”
“Of course I do,” he dropped the packages on the coffee table nearby and stood up to hug her. “I love you, princess.” He kissed her passionately. She leaned in for the kiss, unlike how she used to move away from him after a nanosecond of kissing. Something warm filled her chest, seeing that he appreciated the gifts, despite the fact that she bought them with his money.
She wished she could love him the way he desired. He had been so good to her and her family. He was so loving, caring and giving.