At Dover – Denise's Apartment
His Godfather, Mr. Nicholas Fields, called the previous day to request that they should resume their walkout.
“All right, Godfather,” Denise accepted, but he had one problem. He felt that his wife would be grabbed by the mysterious man in his dream, and he thought of how to keep her safe by requesting, “I would be happy if you would pick us.”
“That will be nice. I will pick you and afterward, we will retire to my house.”
“That will be all right by me. Or we can take my wife to your house before we commence the walkout.”
“You are right. See you in the morning.”
“It is all right.”
That Saturday morning, at 6 am, Mr. Fields drove to his house and picked him and his wife. He took them to his apartment and left Olivia in the care of his wife before he left with Denise.
(Peck)
Denise gave her a peck before he left. Then, they drove to their regular tea shop and parked before they began their exercise. They walked for about one hour thirty minutes to and fro the tea shop, where they finally settled down for tea.
“Waiter.”
Mr. Fields called out, and the cheerful waiter walked hurriedly to them.
“Good morning to you. What do you care for?”
“Good morning. Tea for me.” Mr. Fields requested.
“Good morning to you too. Tea for me.” Denise ordered.
“It is all right. Give me a moment, please.”
The waiter announced before he left, and the two relaxed and began to wait for the waiter. Then, Mr. Fields asked.
“How are you enjoying your marriage?”
“Marriage is the best thing that would happen to anybody. I am a witness.”
“You are right. If the couple feel the same way. Marriage becomes a nightmare when you are with the wrong person – the person who does not have the same opinion with you.”
“You are right, Godfather.”
Then, the waiter arrived with the two cups of tea and served them, and Mr. Fields paid with his credit card. Subsequently, the waiter left while Denise hinted, “Godfather, there is something bothering me.”
Mr. Fields dropped his tea cup on the saucer and asked with a look of consternation on his face, and asked, “What could be bothering you again, Denise?”
He could not believe that Mr. Bailey could be bothered by anything at that juncture because his need to get married, which he saw as paramount, was already settled? Now, Denise who had not sipped his tea cast a glance at his tea and then to his Godfather before he announced with a sad tone, “It is my brother, Louis.”
Then, his Godfather furrowed his brow and asked, “What about, Louis? Is he ill?”
“No, Godfather. He is not ill, but he had been acting strangely since I got married.”
At the point, Mr. Fields was distraught. He sipped his tea again and asked.
“What do you mean, Denise? I saw him at the registry on your wedding day. How does he behave strangely?”
“That is the problem. I did not see him at the registry. He was supposed to be my best man, but he disappointed me and had never called me since then.”
“Since then? You mean he had not called to apologize for disappointing you even until now.”
“Yes, Godfather. Even when I posted our pictures on the family group platform announcing that my wife is pregnant, everyone commented, but he did not?”
“This is strange. I know that your family is a united family that your late father fought hard to maintain, and now your uncle and father is doing the same thing. I don't know what could be responsible for Louis's behavior.”
“It baffled me too because there was no rift between us. Right from when I announced that I was getting married, he had been joyful and encouraging.”
“If you did not see him at the registry as your best man, what did he come to do there then?”
“I had been wondering too. I got home after my honeymoon and found the suit he wore in the guest room.”
“This is serious.”
Mr. Fields gazed into the space for a while before he asked, “Is your Mom aware of this?”
Denise nodded his head in disapproval. Mr. Fields asked again.
“What about your father?”
Denise cast a searching glance at him before he responded.
“No. Father is busy with his marriage preparations, and I would rather not distract him.”
The bewildered Mr. Fields asked hastily.
“Your father is getting married?”
“Yes.”
“That is good. He had honored his late wife, Rosy. I think he deserved to remarry.”
“Yes.”
“I just pray he marries an accommodating woman that would uphold the unity and peace in your family.”
“You are right, Godfather. He is getting married to the right woman.”
“I see. You sound so sure. How do you know?”
Denise smiled softly and announced, “He is getting married to my Mom.”
Now, Mr. Fields was gob smacked, and gave Denise an incredulous stare before he quipped, “You cannot be joking with an issue as momentous issue.”
Denise smiled again and proceeded.
“But I am not joking. That is the best thing that would happen to us as a family.”
“That is a piece of good news, but, why is Louis trying to make the joy in Bailey's family incomplete?”
“I wish I know,” Denise responded sorrowfully. Then, the Godfather jolted as an idea suddenly came to his mind before he demanded,
“Have you attempted to call him?”
Denise frowned and asked, “Why should I call him? He wronged me, he should call me and apologize. I should not be the one to call him.”
Now, Mr. Fields took a deep breath and encouraged him, “Yes, he wronged you, but two wrongs cannot make a right apart from that, you are his senior. Just give him a call right away.”
Nevertheless, Denise, who could not afford to be disrespectful to his Godfather, tried to wriggle himself out of the hook by making an excuse.
“He may be busy by now?”
Mr. Fields, who knew where he was going, smiled and reminded him, “This is a weekend. Just give him a call.”
Denise sipped his tea before he reluctantly called Louis’ number, while Mr. Fields watched him with interest. He looked at Mr. Fields when his phone began to ring. After it rang for five times, the call cut. Then, Mr. Fields defended Louis at once, “Maybe he is not close to his phone. Let's give him some time. He will call back.”
“All right, Godfather.”
They engaged themselves on other discussions while waiting for Louis's call.
“So, tell me. How did it begin between your parents? I never noticed that they were in a relationship.”
“It baffled me, too. When I got off my honeymoon, I tried to chat up with my family members on the family platform by posting the pictures of my wife and me. I was surprised to see mom's and father's engagement pictures and videos. I was awestruck. Not only that, I have not heard time to ask how it all began.”
“Wow. That is a brilliant idea. I don't think anybody outside the two of them would be ideal.”
“We the children could not ask for more. Their coming together is the best thing that would happen to us.”
“You are right. What about your wife, what is her idea about getting a job?"
Denise face beamed with pride before he enthusiastically responded.
“I don't she is willing to get a job. She preferred to be independent.”
“That is good. If she can be self-employed, then you are better off.”
“Yes. That is undoubtedly what she wanted.”
At this point, Denise looked at his wristwatch and inquired.
“Godfather, it is over twenty minutes and Louis had not called back, do you think I should call him again?”
Mr. Fields looked at his time too and declined while he picked up his phone.
“No. Don't call again, I will do that myself.”
He called Louis number, and he picked his call at the first ring, and they began to discuss while Denise listened attentively.
“Good morning, Mr. Fields. Good to hear from you.”
“Good to hear from you too, Louis. I'm just checking on you. I hope you are good?”
“I am good, Mr. Fields. Thank you for checking on me. How is your family?”
“My family is fine. How are you?”
“I am good.”
“It is okay. Have a pleasant weekend."
“Thank you. Have a productive weekend, too.”
(Cut)