Don
Chapter 25

"Why do you ask?"

"Charlie told us about your hand yesterday."

"Charlie has a big mouth."

"I heard that!" Charlie called out from the other end of the table, and everyone laughed.

Dinner was a success and even Larry who always opted for white food, said the food was very delicious, and everyone agreed.

"So, Mr. Cameron, are you and your family all prepared to migrate to Switzerland?" Megan asked Matthew Cameron.

"Oh please, everyone call me Matthew. Yes, Chantal and Trixie are almost packed, and I just came back from China. I keep my suitcases intact."

Everyone had some witty comments about that, like "living in a suitcase.' "In and out of the door" "Time saving," and such.

Matthew continued, "It's not a migration. We'll be staying there for a few months until we get Trixie settled in school. Then Chantal and I will come back. When Trixie has her holidays, we will either go there or she will come back."

"Come back!" Trixie called out from a few seats away.

"Aw, Trixie, you're such a baby!" Colby called out.

"Who said that? I'm not a baby. It's just that I want to come home to mommy and daddy."

Everyone started laughing again, "There. You are a baby." Charlie said.

"Charlie! Will you stop teasing her?" Almita asked.

"Oh, oh, someone is siding with you." Charlie said with a sing song tone and suddenly, "Ow! Ow!"

The group laughed again, and Trixie said, "Thank you, Mita."

"You thank her for whopping me?" Charlie asked with a puppy dog look on his face.

"Yes, you were teasing me."

"Trix, remember we are hosts, and they are guests. Don't be rude," Matthew said.

"Am not." She said, "Was I rude Don?"

"You rude? Never!" and that made everyone laugh again.

"You alright Pixie? Charlie was joking with you. Of course you must come back for holidays. Your mom and dad will miss you very much if you don't"

"And you get to see Don." Colby quipped in.

"Colby!" Megan muttered under her breath.

It was lucky that Colby said it softly, and most of them were not paying attention. It went unnoticed, except for a few people. Don heard, and his face went red. Matthew heard too, and he looked at Don's bowed head.

Trixie said softly to Don, " I will miss you terribly , you know. I wished that I was not going so far away to study. I wished I could study here."

"No Trixie, this is a great opportunity for you. You've already said that other music schools will not accept you because you're so young. Now, you can study music in Switzerland. Go and enjoy yourself, get to your music. Who knows maybe in the future you'll be a great pianist," Don told her.

"You think so?"

"Yes, I think so, and I know so, because you're so talented."

Matthew heard and saw what Don did, and he was grateful for he knew that Trixie was not very willing to go to Switzerland. He knew she was going for her mother's sake. Now, he knows she will go willingly because Don encouraged her to go.

The party went on till past midnight and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and nobody made a move to go.

Ramon came in to whisper to Matthew, and Matthew nodded his head and said, "Go on, and tell them that they can go. Can you stay back a bit to lock up?"

"No problem sir. I can do that," Ramon replied, "The boxes are on the front desk."

"Thanks Ramon. We'll be out shortly."

Finally, it was almost 2am and Don stood up and said, "Thank you Matthew, Chantal and Trixie for a very lovely dinner. I think it's time to make a move. I'm sure Matthew is feeling a bit jet lagged now since he just got back this morning. So, thank you very much, and we hope to see you all again soon. When my Dad comes back from his trip, he will arrange another gathering in Charlie's house .This time, we will celebrate the Camerons' farewell and also an early celebration for Trixie's birthday. We want to celebrate it here with all her new found friends, and when she's in Switzerland, she will celebrate her birthday with her family. Is that alright Pixie?"

"Yes, thank you very much, I would love to celebrate my birthday here before I go. Thank you Don."

"OK then, shall we call it a night? I need my beauty sleep too." Don said and laughter around the table again.

All started to get up, Matthew put out his hand and said, "When you go by the front door, Ramon will hand each of you a small box of WWC Famous Chocolate cake. It's just a special 'door gift'," and before he could continue,
Colby gave a whistle and everyone laugh again. "Thank you, and I think the cake looks pretty too."

After much laughter, they finally made it out of the room and were still standing round talking. Don noticed that the restaurant was closed, and they were the only ones left. Even the workers were not in sight. He didn't know that it was so late or rather so early. They must have been having such a great time that he didn't notice how late it was. They had been here for almost six hours. Matthew and Chantal had been very good host and hostess to be able to keep them entertained for so long.

Trixie turned to Don and said, "Don, will I see you anytime this week for lunch or even for that fabulous ice that we had?"

"We'll see, maybe if I'm not too busy, I might take you out to lunch one of these days. Now, I don't want to promise for I don't really know how free I'll be, alright?"

"Yep, that's good enough for me. Thank you. Oh. I need the Ladies, will you excuse me?"

"OK, you need me to accompany you?"

Trixie laughed, and everyone looked at her and she got embarrassed, said "excuse me" and went off.

Don looked after her back and said to Chantal, "She's going to the Ladies. Is it alright?"

"Oh that's no problem. She knows the way. It's a long way to the private bathroom, near the kitchen. The common ones might have been locked up by now."

Chantal laughed and told Don not to worry, but Don had a feeling all evening, and he didn't want to be seen as a worrywart.

After ten minutes and still no Trixie, he turned to Chantal who was talking to Amita and Megan. "Chantal, where is the kitchen?"

"That way straight and turn right." Chantal said and before she could say anymore, Don muttered 'thanks' and went off in that direction.

"Umm, Trix girl is taking a long time, and Don's getting worried?" Chantal mused.

"Yea, he was very protective towards her in the hospital too." Amita said.

"He need not worry. Here's safe enough." Chantal said.

They didn't know that someone had already slipped into the restaurant while they having dinner and the rest of the restaurant was closing for the day.

Don slowly walked in the direction Chantal pointed; he looked around the restaurant which was indeed very huge. He could see the dimly lit restaurant proper. The chairs were all piled up on the table, evidently for a better way to clean up. There were four-seaters booths lining both sides, and after a while, he eventually got nearer the kitchen area. He saw Trixie coming towards him. Trixie waved to him.

He stood and waited for her. From the shadows a man came out wearing a skull cap. It was pulled right down almost covering his eyes.

Don's heart gave a leap and he shouted, "Trixie run!"

My thanks to newgirl, Thanks NG!