Chapter 9

Edward's POV

I am sitting at work, in my office, alone. I am day dreaming, imagining myself on a boat, on the open water just enjoying the sound of the waves and relaxing. I want to take Lisa and the kids away this year in December for the holidays, they deserve a break, so I end my daydreams and I plan to make it a reality. I call my assistant, his such a nerd, his name is Solly. Lisa insisted I have a male assistant and I actually like this guy, his efficient and I never have to ask him twice. "Solly, can you please come in here for a minute" he comes straight away, note pad and pen, ready to get instructions, I love it. "Please find me a holiday destination, somewhere local, maybe Kalk Bay Harbor, ok wait, not maybe. Get me accommodation there, book flights and make sure we are in first class. It will be my wife and myself and my four kids, I think to myself rather than say it out loud that Romeo will probably give me grief about going, since he's a grown man and all but he needs to spend time with his siblings, this will make Lisa happy. I also need you to get me two cars I can rent that side, one for us all and one for just me and Lisa in case we want to separate for a day. Make sure Romeo has his own place and space, I want him to feel like I thought about him, also get reservations at restaurants, some nights just for me and Lilly and most nights for us all, get back to me when you have some plans in place, he leaves in a rush and I am on a mission. Within the hour, Solly has booked a cozy home on the beach and I love it. It is huge and we won't get in each other's way. There is an upstairs apartment for Romeo, with his own entrance, we are close to the beach and there is a warm swimming pool for the girls. Dillan is easy going so I know he will love the place regardless. I have been to Kalk Bay Harbor, you can buy fish and chips there and have it on the pier by the small boats, because I know Lisa like to try the local's cuisines and she wants to experience their lifestyles. There is a very nice man named Albert who works on the corner, creating the most beautiful sculptures out of wire and metal, I hope he is still there. The girls will enjoy the sea lions and seals and the boys will enjoy the talent out there, although I know they are both in serious relationships, I think they are just two young and they have time to explore. I am at peace when Solly lets me know everything is in place and in three weeks we will be in the Western Cape, relaxing and sightseeing.

Lisa's POV

I love Christmas, it's only a few weeks away and I can't wait. The friends and family, the atmosphere, the food and drinks, the decorations and festivities, it is all just amazing but I hate the festive rush, the shopping and the everything is always so full. I need to get the girls Christmas shopping, Ed said he had a surprise for us and I can't wait for him to come home, first, so I can have his credit card and second so he can tell me what this surprise is all about. Sometimes I get bored being a house wife but moment like this, like today, I live for. Hope has grown so much, she has the most amazing smile and wild, thick bushy hair. She is one of a kind and just a joy. I hear the garage and I know that Ed is home. Dillan is with, with, oh, I always forget her name. I've never met her but he told me about her so maybe she is not that important although, they have been dating for three years now and my Romeo is seeing, Lilly. I am very uncertain about her, she always breaks his heart, the last time they were together, she disappeared with no reason or at least that is my assumption because it is so hard to get Romeo to talk to me anyway let me go greet my husband.

Edward: "Sugarplum, I'm home"

Lisa: "Hi handsome, why are you in such a good mood?"

Edward: "I couldn't wait to get home, where are the kids?"

Lisa: "your sons are with their girlfriends as usual and your daughters are with the nanny trying to teach Hope how to count, it is the cutest thing to watch."

Edward: "that one needs to slow done, I don't want her growing up too fast."

Lisa: "so, what is the surprise?"

Edward: "I booked us a holiday, we are leaving in three weeks, I wanted it to be a surprise for you but I need your help."

Lisa: "oh, Ed, that's so sweet. Thank you. We need some family time. What do you need me to do?"

Edward: "everything is arranged, Solly was amazing, as usual but I know this week is the week you do shopping so I didn't want you to get the girls things they can't use at the beach. Get them some comfy clothes and shoes and swimming gear and let the boys do their own shopping, did you cook?" I know we have a nanny and a security and a maid that cleans and does the laundry and we are probably rich enough to hire a cook but that is one thing I asked my wife to agree with me on. I love my wife's cooking and when we got married, so many years ago, we barely knew each other for 6 months when we decided to get married, I asked her to make sure she always makes our meals and she asked me to always make sure I was a good father to our unborn children. When we eventually had kids, I messed up and never kept my promise to her but things are better now.

Lisa: "Yes I did, are you hungry?" Hello? Edward is acting strange, he goes off to Lala-Land and I can't get him to pay attention tonight.

Edward: "Yes, sorry baby. I am starving. I am going to take a shower; will you have supper ready when I get out? I will pour us wine and we can have a nice family dinner, just me and you and the girls."

Lisa: "sure Hun." I watch my husband walk up the stairs. We have grown old, our bodies are different and strength and energy is not what it used to be, but I love him so much. We are not that old, late 40's, I think we still got it, I smile at my strange thoughts. This night has been perfect so far. I start to prepare the table and warm the food when the girls and the nanny appear, they are laughing and having a conversation about eating before your bath or eating after your bath, they have always eaten first and then had their bath, this ensured that they slept peacefully because the warm water relaxes your body, a story my mother use to share with me. They wash up and as they sit down for dinner, Edward joins us.

Edward: "so girls, how was your day?".

Rose (10): "it was good dad, I like school. I am sad school will be over soon.

Hope (3): "I don't know how my day was daddy."

Edward: "oh come on Hope, use your imagination."

Hope (3): "I can't."

Edward: "why not?"

Hope (3): "I traded my imash- sination today with a friend at daycare and he gave me sweets, so now I don't have imash-sination daddy."

We all laugh at Hope and she doesn't understand why this is funny, to her it was quite serious and she even said she needed money so she could buy it back from him tomorrow.

The next day, I come downstairs and I find everyone around the breakfast table, Lisa is telling the boys what Hope said last night and they are all laughing and asking Hope to repeat what she said, she obviously obliges and tells them that she gave her imagination to Tom at school, I love the way she says imagination, they are so cute at this age. Everyone starts laughing again, she is very impressed with herself. We enjoy breakfast together and it seems very strange to me, everyone is in a good mood and I can't quite get use to all the chatting and laughing and debating, I feel so detached and I know for sure now that the holiday I booked is long overdue and much needed, so I decide to tell everyone seen as they are so happy this morning, I might not get this moment again.

Edward: "guys can I have a minute please?" everyone settles down and pays attention to me so I continue, "I booked us a vacation in the Western Cape." I smile and wait for everyone to react but it's quiet.

Romeo: "for how long?"

Lisa: "almost 3 weeks, we will only be back in the new year."

Dillan: "are you crazy? Three weeks mum, I can't be away that long."

Hope: "mama crazy"

Edward: "guys, you have your own rooms, Romeo you had a studio upstairs with your own entrance so you will have privacy and it's a beautiful place."

Romeo: "I'm not going"

Lisa: "we are all going"

Dillan: "Mum, you and dad can't just make decisions like this. You have to speak to us first."

Edward: "first of all you are underage, so you don't have a choice but I really want to spend time with all of you before you get married or move away, come on guys, at least google the place, have a look at it, think about it. We are right on the ocean and there is so much to do.

Romeo: "Can I bring Lilly?"

Dillan: "Can I bring my girlfriend too?"

Hope: "Can I bring Tom?"

Rose: "the boy who took your imagination is not coming with us on holiday Hope."

Edward: "ok, everyone, listen. I haven't always been a good father and I haven't always been around or considered everyone but I have been trying, I work on my marriage every day because part of being a good father is respecting your children's mother and the one thing I feel still needs improvement is spending time with my family, so please, grant me this?

Dillan: "Fine. I'll go.

Edward: "Romeo?"

Romeo: "Ok, sure.

Lisa: "Thank you boys."

Hope: "yes, we go also.

And just like that, the tension is over and everyone laughs at Hope's last comment. I kiss Lisa goodbye but she offers to walk out with me, I don't know why, she has never done this before but when we reach the door, she says she needs to talk to me. We walk outside and she says maybe I should look at making the vacation two weeks instead of three, we don't want to get fed up of the place, three weeks is a long time, it takes me a few minutes, I always think about things before I make a decision or just agree with someone but reluctantly I know she's right, I got carried away, three weeks is a long time for us to sight see one place. "I will let Solly work on it today'' she smiles but the smile isn't in her eyes I know there is more she wants to change so I tell her to make a list and send it to Solly. I just want her to be happy so even if she wants to go on holiday for two days so be it. She also surprises me and says next time, we should book a holiday just for us, the boys are grown and the girls have a nanny. I drive to work thinking about how far I have come and how happy I am and I know that this is how I want things to be so I am going to work day and night to keep things this way. The day flies by and I don't even realize it is time to head back home, Solly told me today he is happy with the new me because there is no more long hours and work on weekends, he explains that his boyfriend is very happy and I didn't even know he was into men, I have nothing against gay men, I have nothing against anyone's sexuality but it came as a shock because Solly is basically ,wait now this makes sense, I always say he is so efficient and a great assistant, which just makes so much sense now that he told me he was gay, I laugh out loud alone in my car, thinking that a year ago he wouldn't be as comfortable telling me such things or even talking to me at all even our relationship is different and better in fact all my colleagues have recently made comments or said something while in conversation. I told Lisa that it is as if they needed to get it off their chest that I was a real asshole and pain when I was so cold and closed off to the rest of the world. I get home and rush inside, I can't wait to see my family, while taking off my tie and removing my jacket, I am calling out for Lisa. The house is quiet so I start searching room for room but she is no where to be found.

The intercom phone rings and the security guard at the gate calls the house. "Sir, we have a problem. I need you to come down to the gate immediately." I am immediately annoyed and ask him if he has seen Lisa, he says he last saw her walking the grounds and she had her cellphone with her so I say I will come down to the gate in a few minutes and I call Lisa. She says she will meet me at the gate and we can take a walk after and maybe we can make out in the garden, she giggles like a teenager and I thank God silently that this woman loves me so much.

I meet her halfway down the path and we walk hand in hand down to the gate when we see a young man standing at the gate. We both don't know who this is and why our security called us to the gate, he knows the rules. This is dangerous. I call to Peter, our security and we make sure it is safe before getting any closer, Peter says he has searched the young man for weapons and he doesn't even have a cellphone, he doesn't seem dangerous so we get closer to find out what he wants. He introduces himself as Warren and there is something in his eyes. I can't quit tell you what it is but it stands out to me and I am distracted by my wife sobbing. She has just started crying like full on tears, I am half in shock and half paralyzed "Baby what's wrong? Why are you crying?" I am so confused but she continues crying, I try and hold her upright but she has fallen to her knees on the floor and she is really crying she can't even speak. They boy is just standing there and I ask her again to say something or at least just try to calm down and she finally manages to speak in between sobs. I try and kneel down to make out what she is saying but it is difficult because she is crying so much, so I get down right next to her and put my mouth as close to her face and I see her point the young man and I hear her whisper, "my son."