Chapter 6
When you fell and promised yourself you would never fall so hard again until you meet the one who made falling seem like flying.
~Nikita Gill
"I've gone through the design and gave some corrections and suggestions. Take the team through them immediately, I want an updated version of this model while we are still ahead of our schedule. It shouldn't be an excuse to slack on our current progress." Harry scanned the physical 3D model of the proposed plan of the largest contract of their company.
"Alright, Sir." The head of the design team agreed in a respectful nod, making his way out of Harry's office.
Tension spurred within both Harry and his employees, as they moved closer and closer towards the deadline for the submission of their full plan, requirements and model to the project contractor. The decision of the contractor, and their ability to meet all the design and requirements of the project, would determine if the contract would officially be awarded to his company.
Founded ten years ago by his father after their relocation from Arizona, Haddock Architecture and Construction Limited became an award-winning Los Angeles design team, developing experimental, progressive architectural projects. The portfolio of his company projects just within seven years included aviation, civic, commercial, education, healthcare, hospitality, residential projects. Although his father had set the foundation on years of hard work and sacrifice, after their relocation from Arizona to California, life hadn't given him the privilege to reap the fruits of its success.
The company had been on a standstill after his father's death. The same flight that he'd intended to join his father on, turned out to be a second near-death experience for Harry, and the sad demise of his father. Mourning his father had also led to the determination of keeping his legacy and dream alive. It had made him change his career path completely but was still worth it. He'd walked into the company totally inexperienced, and underestimated, but somehow held on, with diligence and strength from his mother, and from Camilla.
Camilla's death was another emotional blow that made him waver and almost give up, but his mother and daughter gave him more reasons to keep going. He'd managed a constant increase in the growth of the company while handling being a single parent. With the strength of an effective team of skilled employees, Haddock limited had upheld an impressive status and reputation. From winning awards like the 2011 AIA San Fernando Valley Chapter Design Award, and the 2011 Southern California Development Forum Design Award. The firm was also on the best list of options for contractors both from the government and private sectors, and even smaller projects had been given just as much importance as the larger ones.
The importance of the recent project proposal was not just the largest but the first project outside California. Although it was a way to expand the services of the company, it was also a very competitive project, doubling the hard work, as well as the investment needed to obtain the contract. It stood as a giant step in the financial and all-round growth and development of the company. It was definitely a serious project, and he could see a difference in the attitude of the employees towards it.
"Sir, we've got an updated document on the construction materials. Would you like a presentation on that in our meeting, today?" Another employee asked, right before Astrid Hofferson walked in, visibly limping on her right foot. He tried to answer the question but was much focused on her wounded foot.
"Are you limping?" He blurted out, right after deciding to hold back his concern.
"Uhm...no Sir. I'm alright."
"She sprained her ankle earlier, Sir. I'd advised her to have it checked at the clinic, but she insisted." The employee spoke up, much to Astrid's dismay.
Harry frowned at Astrid, noticing how much she tried to cover up the pain, with a smile that irritated him so much. "Thank you, Laura. Tell your team to present whatever information you have at the meeting."
"Alright, Sir." She nodded and left his office.
Harry stood up in silence and walked towards her. She looked startled and uncomfortable, but he ignored it, lowering himself to squat, with his back facing her.
"Get on, we are going to the clinic right now."
"What? I said I'm alright. Get up, Harry, I'm not getting on your back."
"You have two options. You either get on my back or I carry you to the clinic."
Astrid sighed, pushing her hair back in frustration. "Harry, this is uncalled for. It's a minor sprain, I'm alright."
"You had the choice of going to the clinic without my interference." He turned to glance at Astrid, trying to endure the pressure on his prosthetic. "But you didn't."
"Because I didn't have to. I'm fine, Harry."
"Kneeling on a prosthetic leg is a lot harder than I'm making it seem. Please get on my back, or we'll both be hurt. I'm not getting up unless you do."
Astrid hesitated but finally climbed on Harry's back, and he got up, lifting her up in a piggyback ride. "You just had to make a nice gesture more difficult than it seemed."
"Why are you doing this, Harry?"
"Hold onto me. Have a little more faith in my prosthetic than I do."
Astrid swallowed, wrapping her arms around his neck, as he balanced her firmly on his back, leaving his office into the hallway. "You didn't answer my question."
"How is it that you haven't gained any weight since high school? Remember how you made me carry you like this after each game on the field?"
"I was quite the monster, wasn't I?"
Harry snorted, "More like a bossy diva."
"I'm sure you hated me so much back then."
"I did."
"Oh." Astrid went silent when they passed a number of employees seated at their workbenches, giving awkward looks that made her feel so uncomfortable. She noticed Harry's unperturbed attitude towards the situation was a shock to her, as he just kept walking in silence towards the elevator. Astrid pressed the buttons to the floor that held the company health clinic. "But come to think of it, you didn't have to do all that, Harry. You didn't need to be on the track, right?"
"Right."
"So why were you there? Why did you stay on the team even when you kept getting bullied and bossed around because of it."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Are you sure you don't know the answer to that question?"
"I honestly don't."
What game was she playing? Did she really not understand the level of his childhood obsession with her? Was she really that oblivious? Or was this a scheme to revive the events of their past? Did she really think that their past relationship was just a game?
"Are you sure you want an answer to your question?"
"I do."
"You're not gonna think less of me, are you?" Harry teased.
Astrid laughed. "Is that what you want? I think I know you a little too well for me to suddenly think less of you."
"Alright then. I stayed on the track because I had a huge crush on a certain girl. Maybe it was my boyish naive mentality but it didn't matter if I was bullied or ridiculed, I kept going back there, just to see her. Quite foolish, don't you think?" Her instant silence drew a smile from him. She finally got the memo, even though it took her much longer than he'd expected.
"Please put me down, Harry."
"Not until we get to the clinic. We're almost there anyway."
It was continuous silence between them till they arrived at the clinic. He then gently placed her down on a wheeled stretcher, after being ushered in by one of the nurses.
"Good day, Sir."
"Good day. She sprained her ankle from a bad fall, please give her the aid she needs."
"No problem, Sir."
"Thank you," Astrid said when he caught her stare. Harry nodded and smiled. "I'll be fine from here, you can go ahead. I'll get back to the office once I'm done here."
Harry ignored her, dialling in a number into his phone. "Hello? Laura? Astrid is in the clinic right now, and I would be sending her home right after her treatment. Please get her purse and the rest of her stuff downstairs...alright...we'll be waiting. Thank you."
He noticed Astrid's confused stare but went on with the second phone call while the nurse worked on her swollen ankle. "Hello?... Yes, in about twenty minutes. No, not my car, you'll be driving an employee home. I'll meet you at the main gate...Alright."
"You know, if you keep sending me home this often, I would feel useless in this company. There's a lot to be done, and I can't be slacking on my part."
"Shouldn't I be the judge of that? Like you'd said, I'm your boss, right?"
"Yeah, but…"
"Then I should be the one worrying about you slacking or not."
The nurse tended to Astrid's foot, while Harry stood in a corner watching in silence. He found it amusing how she kept stealing glances at him but then looked away when she noticed he was watching. As much as he brushed it off, he felt guilty. After his conversation with Heather the previous night, he realized that he might be the reason why Astrid was so worked up about her job and proving herself to him as an employee.
Why she kept neglecting herself and working overtime, even as far as doing things that were outside her job description. He didn't know how to talk to her about it without having to bring up her past, but she needed to slow down. It was funny that with all she'd been doing, it still somehow seemed like "slacking" to her.
He waited patiently till her treatment was over, trying to get his mind off the pile of work waiting for him upstairs.
"It's just a minor sprain, you're going to be fine, just use it daily to massage the swelling, and put on the cast for about three days, okay?"
"Okay, Thank you."
"I'm done with the treatment, Sir."
"Thank you."
"Are you really sending me home? I can still get a lot done if I get back to work."
Harry sat down next to her on the stretcher. "None of this would have happened if you didn't put on those heels to work today. You used to hate them, what happened?"
Astrid buried her face in her palms completely embarrassed. "Do you really enjoy making fun of me?"
"I'm just curious. I was watching you at the meeting today, you just took them off, and put it back on again. It was quite funny, to be honest." Harry smiled. "Why do you feel the need to wear them, if you hate them so much?"
"I just wanted to look professional, that's all. It took a lot for me to get through that tomboyish high school phase. I guess sneakers don't work in formal settings."
"Not if it's you. I know you can make it work."
"And you wouldn't have a problem with it? I know about the dress code."
"It's alright. Since you work so much, you need to be comfortable while you're at it. If you sprain your ankle one more time, I might not be the only one on a prosthetic."
Astrid laughed. "Neil would be so thrilled if that did happen."
"On a serious note, Astrid." Harry decided to finally have the conversation he'd been avoiding. "I know why you're doing all this."
"What am I doing?"
"All of this. Overworking yourself, doing things you shouldn't even be doing, and skipping your meals. You're a good employee, I get it."
"What are you talking about?"
"Astrid, look, I'm not mad at you for anything. I don't hold any grudges against you for how we ended things in the past, alright? I'm really not. You walked into my office and told us to keep our past aside, I did, but you didn't." Harry went on, with Astrid too shocked to deny his words.
"I gave you this job because I know you...because I'm sure of your qualification and diligence for your work. I didn't do it out of pity, I didn't do it for you to make up for anything. So please, slow down. Stop starving yourself, hurting yourself, and pretending to be okay when you're not. You're all Neil has, and that should be reason enough to take care of yourself. I know how difficult it is, so I'm here to help you, and not to make you feel sorry for anything, okay?"
Harry could tell she was holding back her tears when she nodded with a smile, signifying that he'd been right all along. "Okay."
"So, you'll take care of that injury, be at work by eight, not by seven, because your shift is from nine to five. Most of all, please call me Harry. I really don't mind you being the only exception from that courtesy."
"I'm sorry, Harry."
"For what?"
"I know about Zia's Christmas wish, and I'm sorry I had convinced her that you would do it for her. I raised false hopes that might be a burden to you."
"It's alright. I'm still on that silly dating website, so who knows? I might just be able to make it come true. Maybe you should try it too."
"Oh no, no, no... I'm…" Astrid rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm done with all that."
Harry stared at her in silence, with an increased level of curiosity in Astrid's love life after their break up, as well as the circumstances that led to her son's birth and being a single mother. "Really?"
She nodded with a faint smile, eyes locked on his. "Really."
Their conversation was interrupted by Laura, whom Harry had sent to fetch Astrid's belongings for her to get home. "I got the items, Sir."
"Thank you, Laura." Astrid retrieved her belongings.
"How's your foot, Astrid?"
"It's alright. It was nothing serious."
"Just take care, okay?"
"Thank you."
"I'll be up for the meeting in ten minutes, get everyone ready, alright?"
"Alright, Sir," Laura replied and left the clinic.
"My driver just texted me, he's here and is going to take you home in your car, you can pick up Neil on the way too."
"What about, Zia?"
"It's just twelve. Don't worry about her, I'll pick her up from school later."
"Thank you."
Harry got up and knelt in front of her with his back facing her. "Let's go?"
"I sprained my ankle, Harry, I didn't lose my limbs."
"Too late, I already got down, and I ain't getting up if you don't get on."
Astrid laughed and got on his back. "It's funny how you can pick me up on one foot now when you could barely do it back when you had both."
"Do you really enjoy making fun of me?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck with a smile. "It goes both ways, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess it does."
"Hi, Miss Astrid!"
"Hello, Zia. How are you doing?" Astrid asked, placing her iPhone on a tripod stand for a clearer view during her facetime with Harry's daughter.
"I'm fine, Miss Astrid. I'm still learning how to spell the words on my flashcards, as you told me to." Zia replied, in a whisper. Her auburn hair was up in a loose ponytail, and the bright smile on her face revealed just how excited she was to be on a call with Astrid. Her heart melted, as she returned the smile, Harry was doing such a great job raising his daughter, even as a single father.
"Good girl, but why are you whispering?"
"Because daddy is still asleep and I took his phone to talk to you."
Astrid laughed. "So, is he going to take you out to the park again today?"
"No, he bought a bicycle for Neil, and we're coming to visit you to give it to him."
Astrid's jaw dropped, "You're...coming to visit today? Your daddy never told me about it. Are you sure, Zia?"
She leaned closer to the phone camera, "He wanted it to be a surprise, and that's why I'm whispering. Please don't tell him I told you about it."
"Letizia." Astrid heard Harry call in the background, in a deep, hoarse voice that resonated feelings that should've been non-existent. She could tell that Zia was in his bedroom, and it was obvious that he'd just gotten up from sleep, probably patched up in drool and sleep crust, none of which should spark up any sort of attraction towards him. "Who are you talking to? You can't just call people so early in the morning."
"I'm not telling you," Zia replied, looking away towards Harry's direction, and Astrid quickly took off the band that held her hair up, brushing her golden locks neatly across her shoulders. A reflex action that she started questioning afterwards. She caught the gaze of her father who gave her a quizzical glance, probably also asking the same questions.
"Give me my phone, Zia, I want to see who it is. Is it on Facetime?" Harry's voice echoed through the phone and sent instant shivers down her spine. Astrid waited nervously in silence as Harry and Zia both struggled over the phone, laughing and giggling in a way that made her smile, reflecting the same relationship and bond she had with her father.
"I'm not giving it to you, dad."
"Zia!" He finally retrieved the phone and set the camera in place, revealing his face, still unaware that Astrid was the one on the receiving end.
Astrid froze when she saw him, a totally different picture from what she'd expected. She gaped openly as she observed him through the video. His wild mop of dishevelled auburn hair swept across all corners of his face.
The man had a thin face, yet was so handsome nonetheless, a striking glow up from what she'd remembered in high school. His bone structure was symmetrical, cheekbones high and prominent.. His eyes were hues of the forest, surrounded by dark moss. The kind of green that pushed its way through the piles of gritty snow to remind you that spring was coming. Interwoven shades hiding the chaotic nature behind. Never before have eyes held such danger and beauty all at once. He was a wildfire: reckless, untamed, yet undeniably captivating.
"Uhm...Astrid?"
His expression showed his discomfort in her unusual stare. She felt so embarrassed. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I uh...I didn't know you were the one she was talking to. I...I'm sorry, I…" Harry stuttered, making Astrid believe that maybe she wasn't the only one tensed about having a conversation over the phone, and outside work. These were lines and boundaries, they'd never expected to be crossing.
"She didn't tell you about it, did she?"
"I told her, daddy. I'm sorry." Zia's voice echoed in response. Harry gave her a little frown, but then pulled her closer to him and into the video frame, Astrid now on the call with both father and daughter.
"But you can keep it a secret from Neil, right?"
"Of course" Astrid replied, "He loves surprises."
"So, it's alright if we visit you today? Would it be a problem for Heather?"
"Actually, that's another thing. I'm at my parent's house right now. I came over to spend the weekend here with my son." Astrid glanced at her father again.
"Oh. It's alright, we can visit next weekend, or whenever...you'd be around." Harry shrugged, but with clear disappointment in his eyes.
"But Daddy, you promised we were going to see her today." Zia pouted, the bright smile that lit her face suddenly vanished. "I want to see her today!"
"She's not home, Zia. We can go some other time." Harry tried to console her while Astrid looked up to her father who'd been listening to their conversation.
"Why don't they come over? I wanted to see Harry anyway, right?" Her father spoke up, his eyebrows arched with an expression of suspicion.
"Is that okay with you, Dad?"
"Of course. He has a present for Neil anyway, so let's not hold it back from him." He replied, "It's been a long time, it'll be nice to see Harry again."
Astrid smiled and returned her focus to her call. "My father wants you to come over Harry. It's in Santa Monica, about fifteen minutes away from you, I'll send you the address immediately."
Harry seemed startled like he was hesitant towards the idea of visiting her father. "You mean...your father still...remembers me?"
Astrid nodded, "Of course he does. You both always geeked out about everything science and even had a much better relationship than we did."
Astrid's eyes widened when she realized what she'd just blurted out unconsciously, too late to take that awful statement back. Harry went silent at that instant, looking just as shocked and confused as her father was. Andrew Hofferson just smirked, watching his daughter tremble in embarrassment.
"Uhm...I mean, it's alright if you don't want to…"
"We'll be there." Harry interrupted. "Right, Zia?"
She nodded gleefully, her smile returning instantly. "I can't wait to see you, Miss Astrid. I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Zia. Don't forget to bring your flashcards because you promised your daddy you were going to win the spelling bee competition, right?"
"Yeah."
"So we need to keep practising hard, okay?"
"Okay, Miss Astrid."
"I'll text you the address, Harry."
"Alright."
"Why would his daughter be calling you at this time? Why would she need you to help her with her spelling bee competition? Wasn't her mother right there when this conversation was going on?" Her father began a stream of questions once she got off Facetime, his eyes eager for answers.
"Uhm...Dad...Harry is a…"
"Divorcee?"
"No...He is a widower."
His jaw dropped in shock. "You didn't tell me about this...why?"
Astrid sighed, "Because...I didn't want you to get your hopes up. I know how much you wanted us to remain together in the past."
"Get my hopes up? Or yours?"
"What?"
"You're my daughter, Astrid, and I know you. I was watching you throughout that phone call, you even took your hair down to talk to him."
"Dad, whatever is on your mind, just erase it. Harry would never even give me a second glance in that direction, especially when we've done this before."
"Because you abused his feelings for you in the past?"
"Because Harry is still in love with his late wife! Doesn't that seem familiar to you, Dad? He's still holding onto the past, and I'm not getting involved with all that."
"Astrid, the strength that makes him hold on, has a limit." Her father stood up from the armchair, "I only lasted that long...because I refused to admit that I'd reached and exceeded mine."
"What about Stanley, Dad? What about my son? I know I shouldn't be saying this but...what if there's a good reason why he…"
"Why he left his pregnant fiancee a week before his wedding?!" Her father exclaimed in anger, the first outburst, she'd seen from him since Stanley's disappearance.
"Do you see? The problem isn't just Harry, Astrid. You're also holding onto the past, and maybe that's the reason why he also wouldn't want to be involved with all that."
Harry pulled up to the suburban home situated in a secluded neighbourhood, holding the exact address Astrid had sent him. 1902 18th St. Santa Monica, CA 90404. Although the distance was about eight miles away from where he lived in Beverly Hills, it had taken him a little more than just fifteen minutes to locate his route, even with the help of the GPS. His daughter Zia hadn't helped, unleashing all the energy of her sugar rush in her excitement to meet Astrid and Neil again.
The indescribable bond that Astrid had formed with his daughter, was both a cure to their loneliness and also a red flag. As much as he appreciated Astrid's concern towards his daughter, he also hoped that it wouldn't raise Zia's expectations, now that she saw Astrid as a mother figure in her life. It was something he didn't expect, and he almost wished he hadn't taken Astrid to her school that day, but seeing how happy Zia was, and how much Astrid's presence meant to her, he just couldn't be selfish.
It wasn't like she was a replacement for Camilla, they were never going down that route again. She was just a friend to Zia, and he hoped the end of her spelling bee competition would take away reasons for their constant visits, and slowly dissolve that bond. That way, he'd only have to worry about working with her on weekdays, now that her presence was becoming a distraction from his initial plan.
He pulled his gear to a stop, taking off his seat belt. "We are here, Zia. Thanks for making twenty minutes seem like an hour."
She jolted in excitement, struggling with the belt of her car seat. "Yaay!"
"Calm down, she's not going anywhere, okay? Wait, I'll get you out of there." Harry got out of the driver's seat and headed to the back, gently unhooking her out of her car seat. "This is why I tell grandma not to give you any candy in the morning."
"But grandma said you loved candy too when you were five."
"Yeah, but I wasn't a loud and noisy child." Harry tugged gently on her cheeks, drawing a laugh from her, as he scooped her up into his arms.
"I'm going to ask grandma, you might be lying."
"Go ahead, I've got nothing to hide. I was quiet, peaceful and…"
"And had no friends in school."
Harry laughed, hanging her backpack across his shoulders. "You cunning little girl. One more word and I'll take you back home."
Zia smiled sheepishly, "Daddy, can Miss Astrid braid my hair too? I want to look pretty like she is."
"But you are pretty, Zia. You're pretty like mummy, remember?"
"Yeah, but Miss Astrid is so pretty, and I like her hair."
Harry gave her a quizzical glance, as they headed to the doorstep of the house.
"You really like Miss Astrid, don't you?"
"Because she's so nice and pretty."
"Alright then, she'll braid your hair just like hers, okay?"
"Okay."
Harry rang the doorbell before realizing that he wasn't just going to meet Astrid, but her father. This was going to be one awkward experience that he wasn't prepared for, but he had to, for Zia, and also for Astrid's son, Neil. He'd just hoped that his past with Astrid would be avoided in every conversation, especially with her father. It took a few seconds at the bell was answered, with Astrid being the host who ushered them in.
Harry's jaw dropped as soon as she stepped out. She looked a lot different than her usual formal appearance at work. Maybe he just hadn't noticed, or maybe he'd used work as a distraction. Even after twelve long years, she was still the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, probably justifying ten years of obsessing over her. She was dressed in a sky blue romper and dark kimono jacket. Her tall frame and slender body were like that of a Victoria secret model.
Her blue eyes, like the sea, were calm and emotionless. Long, wavy blonde hair, so smooth and silky, almost as if it was tailored from gold fabric. Her perfect skin that looked so fragile yet so soft and the unerring amount of freckles around her nose that she usually concealed beneath layers of makeup. She looked so young and much closer to the girl he'd fallen in love with years ago.
He might have laughed off Zia's numerous compliments towards her, but children don't lie, Astrid was beautiful, and it only took removing that veil of prejudice to see it clearly. She greeted them with a bright smile, a smile that shone like stars after dark, with no city lights to dim them. For at that moment time stopped to stare and admire her, inattentive to whatever she was saying. It was an involuntary action, one that he wished was within his control.
She lifted Zia into her arms, both of them greeting each other with smiles and laughter, totally ignoring his presence. He didn't mind, because her full attention on Zia, gave him more time to keep his on her.
Why on earth was Astrid still single? She never mentioned being a divorcee, but clearly stated that she'd never gotten married. Ignoring the fact that his relationship with her never worked out, she was still an amazing woman and even if she never loved him in the past, she still deserved to be loved. So who was it? Who was the guy who abandoned her with a child to raise all on her own? Was it Eric?
No, it couldn't be.
"Daddy?"
Zia pulled him out of his thoughts, only to find Astrid also staring at him with a confused look. "Hi, Astrid."
"Hi, I hope it wasn't difficult to find your way here?"
"Besides this little girl's gruelling excitement to see you? It wasn't."
"Miss Astrid, daddy wants me to be silent all the time, and it's boring."
Astrid laughed, "You don't say."
"So that's what I get for driving you here, huh Zia?"
"She doesn't have to be like you, Harry. Let the girl live" Astrid teased, her smile highlighting the radiance of her beauty. "Come in, my dad is excited to see you again."
Harry tried to ease the tension as Astrid led them further into the house, towards the living room. He noticed and recognized Astrid's father right away, sitting on an armchair with Neil on his lap.
"Mr Harry!" Neil squealed in excitement, immediately running towards him with his arms wide open. Harry smiled, picking him up, and throwing him into the air.
"How are you doing, Neil?"
"Good. Mummy didn't tell me you were coming."
Harry brushed his blonde hair from his face with a smile. "That's because I told her not to tell you. I have a surprise for you, Neil."
"Really?!"
"Yeah, but first, let me say hi to your grandpa, okay?"
"Okay."
Harry walked towards Astrid's father, still holding the little boy in his arms. "Good day, Sir." He greeted him with a handshake.
"Harry?" Andrew Hofferson exclaimed in shock. "Whoa...is this you?"
Harry nodded with a smile. "Yes, Sir."
"You look so grown up...and different. It's a good difference."
"Thank you, Sir."
"So, how has life been? I heard you're doing so well now, and you run a company."
"Uh...yes Sir, I do."
"That's amazing. I wouldn't say I'm surprised, because you were such a brilliant and responsible young boy back then. You were destined to be a leader."
"Thank you so much, Sir."
"No, thank you, Harry. Thank you for everything you've done for my daughter and my grandson. I really appreciate it."
"It's alright, Sir. It's so nice meeting you again."
"Same here." He looked over towards Zia. "Wow. Is that your daughter? She's so beautiful."
"Zia, that's my father." Astrid introduced her father to Zia, who was still in her arms, settled on her hip.
"Your Santa clause?"
Astrid laughed. "Yes, my Santa clause."
"Hi, Zia. How are you doing?" Andrew smiled, waving at the little girl.
"Hi." She gave a shy smile, looking at Astrid. "I'm good."
"Why are you always shy when you meet someone new, Zia?" Harry asked.
Astrid rolled her eyes. "I wonder who she takes after in that aspect."
"It's you, daddy. I took after you, right Miss Astrid?"
"Smart girl," Astrid replied.
Harry shook his head. "You two look for the slightest chance to gang up on me."
Zia leaned into Astrid hugging her tightly. "Because we're girls, and you're not."
"Do you hear that Neil? Why don't we go and see your surprise and make them jealous? Huh? How about that?"
"Yeah!" Neil exclaimed in so much joy. "Is it a bicycle?."
"I don't know. Why don't we go check it out?"
"Yaay!"
"We'll be back right back, Dad," Astrid said as she headed towards the front door trailing behind Harry.
Her father insisted, getting up to join them. "Don't worry, I'll join you guys."
They all headed outside the front door towards the front yard. Astrid watched Harry carry Neil towards his car. Opening the boot, he pulled out a brand new Woom branded bike, placing it down on the walkway, with Neil jumping in ecstasy.
Astrid glanced at her father in shock. "A Woom brand? Dad, that's over three hundred dollars."
Her father just smiled in silence, as they both watched Harry gear up the little boy in a helmet, gloves, arm and knee pads. He gently attached the training wheels, before placing Neil on the bike. Tears blurred Astrid's eyes as she watched Neil ride slowly with Harry's guidance. Her son was so happy, the pure joy that radiated through him was all she ever wanted for him. Through the endless hours of three whole years watching him in machines, paying for her carelessness with a life that he didn't deserve, living a life much different from most kids his age.
Neil had gone through a lot, and even with all her efforts, she wasn't able to correct her mistakes and give him the life he deserved. Harry had changed all that in just a few weeks. Right after meeting him that night, he'd been trying to make her son's life a little normal, trying to give things that he lacked as a child, and trying to be the father that Stanley never was.
"Mummy! Look! I'm riding a bike!"
Tears rolled down her eyes as she waved at him. "I can see you, Neil! Good job!"
"Miss Astrid, are you crying?" Zia suddenly asked Astrid shocked to realize that she and her father had been watching her the entire time.
Astrid immediately wiped her tears. "Of course not, Zia."
"You're lying. Look, you were just crying."
"I'm just really happy, Zia, that's all."
"Do people cry when they are happy?"
"Sometimes they do." Astrid glanced at her father who was still watching the entire scene with a bright smile on his face. "I'm really happy."
"Mummy! You're not watching! Look!" Neil exclaimed again from the distance.
Astrid glanced at Harry, and he held her gaze for a while. She wished she could pour out her emotions to express the weight of his little gestures towards her son, her appreciation for the countless times he'd made her son happy. She wished she could express how much joy that he'd brought into her life even after how they'd parted ways in the past, even how much she'd hurt him in the past.
She locked her eyes on his, even if she should've been looking at her son. For weeks she'd been holding herself back, for the slightest chance that Neil's father might return, to be the partner and father that he'd promised. But her father was right, it was time to stop living in the delusion she'd created for three years. Stanley was never coming back, and it was time to let go of the past.
"I'm watching you, Neil. Mummy is watching you!" She called out to her son, and with her gaze still on Harry, she mounted with a smile.
'Thank you.'
