บท 18: Chapter 18 Weakness
"She's here" Raymond said and Aida pulled out of his embrace.
"Dad, I.. don... don't...I" Aida struggled to talk.
Raymond observed her for a while and knew what she wanted to say.
"You don't want to meet her?" he asked and Aida nodded. Raymond nodded understandably.
"I think my presence will only make her mood sour" Aida said sadly.
"Why do you think your presence will affect her mood? Because of your 'little quarrel' with her yesterday? Vanessa is anything but petty. You should come downstairs. She'd love to see you"
"I'm scared"
"You don't have to be scared. I will be there, and Gran Gran will also be there".
"Dad, why did you do it?" Aida asked, which made Raymond stiffen. He knew exactly what she was talking about and there was no need for him to feign ignorance. He knew she was going to ask the moment she entered and had braced himself for all the shock that might come along with it, but when she hugged him he thought that question was going to be skipped, till next time maybe. "When you told me she left because you almost ruined her life, i didn't think of it that way. I thought maybe you unintentionally released your seed in her when you had already agreed on protection or something like that. But what Gran Gran told me yesterday, was way beyond my imagination. Why did you do it?" Aida asked innocently and softly, which only heightened his anxiousness.
Raymond pulled her in for a hug and replied almost in a whisper;
"Because i loved and still love her. I can't explain it any further but i did it because I loved her"
That was one hell of a confession she just heard from Raymond. Somehow, she felt she understood him and felt her hunch was right. Raymond did it for reasons he could not share.
"I want you to know that i don't despise you. I still love you dad. I was just disappointed you did that. It's okay if she despises me." Aida said as she pulled herself out of his embrace. "That's only a sign of how hurt she is. I don't dislike her, i was just angry she left me"
Raymond smiled and nodded understandably.
"We have to go downstairs to entertain our guest as good hosts. It's time for breakfast as well. Come on, let's go" Raymond said.
"I can't "
"Aida, I need you. At least your presence there will ease a bit of my tension"
Aida knew everything he said was true because his emotions were too transparent that morning. His emotions were normally unreadable, difficult to decipher yet his emotions were so transparent at that moment.
Raymond held his hand out and Aida intertwined her fingers with his. He smiled and walked out of the room with her.
When they got downstairs, they saw Mary was already entertaining her and Vanessa was even helping Mary set up the table. Raymond could not help but frown when he saw Vanessa arranging plates on the table. Aida squeezed his hands and when he looked at her she shook her head. Raymond smiled and walked towards them.
"Ugh! Speak of the devil" Mary exclaimed as Aida and Raymond approached them. When Vanessa lifted her head, she saw their fingers intertwined and looked at Raymond with a faint smile registered on her face. Aida pulled her hands away immediately she saw Vanessa staring at them and walked towards Mary. Her action shocked both Vanessa and Raymond, yet they said nothing.
"Good morning, mo...Dr Wilson" Aida greeted shyly.
"Good morning, Miss Michaels" Vanessa responded formally which made the Aida blush.
"You can call me, Aida" Aida said and extended her hand.
"I'm Vanessa" Vanessa replied and firmly shook her hands.
Undeniable, Mary felt the atmosphere around the women seemed more business-like. However, she knew that was the first step towards healing for both mother and daughter.
"Goodmorning, ma" Raymond greeted and pecked Mary's check.
"Goodmorning, Ray" Mary replied with a smile.
"Goodmorning, Va...ne..ssa" Raymond stammered when their eyes met.
"Goodmorning Raymond" Vanessa replied wearing her signature smile.
"Breakfast is ready!" Mary announced.
"Let's eat, I'm starving" Aida replied cheerfully. Vanessa sat between Mary and Aida, exactly opposite Raymond. Breakfast was corn porridge with bread, milk, fried egg and chocolate-mango jam. Vanessa's favorite!
Mary saw how Vanessa smiled when she was served.
"I heard you were coming, so i made them for you" Mary smiled.
"Thank you" Vanessa replied wearing a genuine smile. She tasted it and her smile widened. "It tastes just like mom's. I like it"
"I'm glad you like it, Nessa" Mary replied genuinely happy.
They all ate in silence, until Raymond walked from his seat, pulled Vanessa's seat back and extended his hand out to her. That was when Mary and Aida noticed tears streaming down Vanessa's face. She took Raymond's hand and he walked her to his study after excusing themselves. When he closed the door behind him, he turned to face Vanessa, his weakness, and saw how uncontrollably her tears were flowing. He walked her to the sofa and allowed her to lean on him and bury her face in his chest as she cried. After a few minutes of sobbing, she raised her head to look at Raymond and his heart sunk. Her teary face made him so sad that he didn't know what to do next. Without any warning, he crushed his lips on hers.
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