Love, Simply - Chapter 18：That Precious 'Somebody'

“Love is a two-way street, constantly under construction,” Carrol Bryant.

***

“I miss him,” Louise groaned. It has been a week since she saw Cyrus. “I shouldn’t have agreed to that stupid rule,” she sighed.

“Aren’t you faithful?” Kate rolled her eyes. “Ditching your best friend after you found a man.”

“Baby, you know that’s not true,” she hugged Kate. “But why are you here with Willa?”

“Since you love me so much, can Willa spend a week with you?”

“A week?”

“Mmh! I am going to Jamaica. Robert’s mom died last week.”

“I am sorry, how is he?” Louise asked concerningly.

“He’s okay. Robert knew about mom’s incurable disease. Which is why it isn’t affecting him so much.”

“What about Marc?” Louise asked, taking Willa from Kate. “You’re so cute.”

“He’s already in Jamaica.”

“I am sorry I can’t go with you,” Louise said. “But how are you?”

“She was a nice mother-in-law,” Kate sniffed. “She treated me like I was her real daughter every time we visited her. I wanted her to at least meet Willa. She was a wonderful mother.”

“I am sorry,” Louise hugged her friend.

~~~

“Darling, you have to help me with Willa,” Louise pleaded. “Come on. You can sleep in one of the guest rooms. I promise I won’t bother you.”

“I know. I’ve already talked to Kate. I’ll come by after work,” Cyrus said.

~~~

“Willa! You are a gift from God. He won’t avoid me any more,” Louise smirked.

~~~

“Son, where are you going?” Mrs. Smith asked Cyrus, seeing that he was packing clothes. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

“Who?”

“Her name’s Mina—”

“Mina?” Cyrus tensed. “I don’t want to. I am going to stay with my girlfriend for some time.”

“You have a girlfriend?”

“You’ve met her,” Cyrus said. “She accompanied me to the funeral.”

“Kate’s best friend? Are you talking about that tall, handsome lady?”

“Tall, handsome lady?” He laughed. “But, yeah. I am dating her.”

“Wow! You’re dating Suman’s granddaughter. Good for you,” Mrs.Smith smiled. “I don’t know her, personally. I’ve only seen her in pictures, that’s why I didn’t recognize her when she came fro you last time. I heard she’s very rough, and her personality is fierce.”

“Cahir?” Cyrus raised a brow. “She’s nothing like that. She’s warm, gentle, considerate, affectionate, caring—the list goes on. Anyway, none of them are true. Did you see it on social media?”

“Social media? What? Is she like famous or something?”

“She models for her father’s brand. Loulou’s also Kate’s company CEO and biggest shareholder,” he said boastfully.

“Ah!” His mother smiled, “Look at you boasting about your successful girlfriend.”

“Well, she’s cool, right?”

“Let me meet her when she’s comfortable. I’ll tell my friend to forget about your meeting Mina.”

“Mmh! I’m off. Take care of the kids for me——wait, are you going to be here?”

“Go! I won’t go back to France anymore.”

“Thanks, mom!” Cyrus smiled.

~~~

Mrs. Smith smiled at her friends with the kids following.

“Who are these kids?” Daniella asked with a smile. She was one of Evangeline’s closest friends.

“They are my kids,” she said. “Say hello, guys.”

“Hello!”

“Hi, nice to meet you,” Daniella said, “But, where’s your husband’s son?”

“Why? Are you interested in him?” Mrs. Smith laughed. “Cyrus’s with his girlfriend.”

“Pity!”

“Is that his daughter?” Adele asked, staring at Tara.

Though Cyrus resembled his biological father, his siblings looked a lot like him, especially Tara, which is why people often mistook them as father and daughter when together.

“No—”

“My client was late, sorry, I am late,” Laura, one of their friends said, taking a seat across Tyler. “Why are you babysitting other people’s brats?” She asked, glancing at the menu.

“They are her kids. Watch your mouth!” Daniella informed.

“‘What’s wrong with you? Do you think adopting poor children will make you a mother? Why are you presenting people’s kids yours?” Laura taunted.

“Laura, what’s wrong with you?” Daniela asked, offering an apologetic smile.

“Am I wrong?” She rolled her eyes. “She’s sterile.”

Tyler was a quiet person, but he couldn’t stand this lady insulting his mom like that. Tyler knew that Mrs.Smith wasn’t his biological mother, but she adopted him and his siblings, reunited their older brother with his father, and has been taking great care of them.

“That’s enough!” Tyler said he didn’t raise his voice or shouted. He was calmed and composed as he stared at Laura.

“Who are you?”

“I am her son. Why?”

“Don’t talk to me like you’re on the same level as me. You’re somebody because that mule took you in. Don’t act big,” Laura said, staring him down.

“Aren’t you ashamed, Laura, saying this to a kid?” Adele asked, feeling embarrassed to be seen with her. “Don’t mind her!”

“Tar, you usually have your makeup with you, right?”.

“Yeah?”

“Lend her a mirror,” he said. Tim laughed, ‘did she not feel the makeup running down her face?’

Laura’s face turned black in embarrassment.

“I respect my elders and everyone, but I won’t let anyone insult my mother like that. Yes, she’s sterile. She doesn’t want a reminder,” Tyler said, scrutinizing his mother’s friend, especially Laura.

“Do you know that feeling? You don’t know. I don’t know it, but we’re old enough to know that she doesn’t want and need us to remind her, Tyler said, not wanting to waste his time arguing with this kind of woman.

Laura seemed old enough to be his mother. He didn’t want to disrespect her.

“Yes, we were no one. We know that. We’ll be forever grateful to mom. You didn’t do anything for us, who are you to look down on us?” Unlike her brothers, Tara didn’t mind about offending some insignificant woman.

“You know Cyrus’s became Larson Inc. co-owner,” Tara smiled. ” That’s your biggest client, right?” She smiled devilishly. “I can have him fire you anytime. Don’t be obnoxious.”

“Who will represent you? I am one of the biggest and competent law firms around here,” Laura said, her breath became heavy.

“There are other outstanding law firms out there that will gladly represent us. Stop being a distasteful human being, before I tell my brother to fire you.”

“I am sorry, Evangeline. I don’t know why she became like this,” Daniella said, feeling disconcerted and apologetic.

“Let’s go, mom,” Tara said, pulling a teary Mrs. Smith up.

~~~

“Mom, I am sorry,” Tara apologized to Mrs. Smith, “I couldn’t stand it—”

“I am not mad,” she smiled. “But, it feels so good to have your kids protecting you.”

“No matter what people say, you’re our mom,” Tim said, finally saying something.

“In the future, if you guys meet anyone like her, ignore them. It’s not worth giving them your time.”

“I am hungry,” Tyler frowned, his stomach growled loudly.

“I’ll cook for you. What do you want?” Mrs. Smith smiled brightly at her son.

“Anything. We’re not picky eaters,” Tara said.

“Thank you, mom.”

“For what?”

“I’ll have a long life,” she laughed.

~~~

Cyrus and Willa fell asleep in Louise’s room. He arranged a few pillows to prevent her from falling off the bed if she were to roll over.

Louise picked up Willa, gently putting her in the crib.

“I am sorry I fell asleep,” Cyrus yawned.

“I know you’re tired,” Louise said, running her fingers through his hair. “Are you hungry?”

“No. I am tired,” Cyrus said, rubbing his eyes.

“Okay! Sleep in any room you want. I am going to work,” she said, putting her hair up, a pencil behind her ear. “Don’t worry about Willa. I’ll know if she wakes up,” Louise said.

He was disappointed that she didn’t kiss him. Cyrus was the one who told Louise not to be so intimate with him, but he realized that he didn’t like a reserved Louise.

“Thanks!”

~~~

Sometime later, Louise changed and fed Willa, putting her back in the crib. She didn’t cry long until she fell asleep.

“Darling, wake up!”

“Leave me alone,” Cyrus mumbled, shaking Louise’s hand off of him.

“Go to your room!” It wasn’t that he didn’t want to get up, but he was too tired that he didn’t mind Louise sleeping in the same bed with him. “Fine. I am sleepy. I can’t bother with you,” she said and checked on Willa.

“How can you sleep so peacefully? I envy you,” Louise said, rubbing Willa’s small back.

~~~

“What the hell is this?” Cyrus was unable to get out of Louise’s grip. “How can she hold someone to sleep like this?

“Loulou! Let go,” Cyrus wriggled his body. Louise had her feet in a tight lock around his, while she pulled him close to her chest, her hands hugging Cyrus. “Now, I know why you told me to go to my room,” he sighed.

“Cahir—”

“I heard you. Stop moving around. Your thing is pocking my thigh,” Louise said, her eyes still closed. “You take care of things first,” she loosened her hold.

Willa sat up when she heard Louise’s voice. She happily clapped her hands. “My beautiful baby, come here,” Louise picked her up. “It isn’t too early for a bath.”

“Did your friends leave?” Cyrus asked, coming out of the bathroom. “I haven’t seen them around.”

“Ben went to visit his father in Florida. The others are—I don’t know. They should be here.”

“I’ll make breakfast.”

“Thanks!”

~~~

“What’s wrong with you lately?” Cyrus asked.

“Me?”

“Is there anyone else here?”

“There’s nothing. You told me I was too intimate with you— I am doing my best—”

“I don’t like it,” Cyrus whispered.

“Huh!”

“I don’t like you being so distant.”

“You said you didn’t like me being so—”

“I like it. Don’t be so reserved and distant with me. You don’t kiss or hug me lately. And—I miss you.”

“Mmh!” Louise smiled. “Is that all?”

“I am sorry.”

“Do you even know why you’re sorry?” She asked. “There’s no need for you to be feeling sorry. You have the right to say no to something you dislike. A relationship is about compromising, understanding, and communication.”

“Even though you said you like it, I am still going to be cautious around you not to make mistakes. What if I—”

“Loulou! There’s no doubt about it. It is who you are. I love that about you, and I shouldn’t try to make you change.”

“And you. Don’t endure something you don’t like.”

“I love you. Then, I like it. I am not enduring. I truly love that side of you,” Cyrus grinned. “I love everything about you. There’s nothing I’d change.”

“Why are you doing this to me? Are you taking lessons from someone? You’re making me flustered and all,” Louise beamed. ‘Man, why do I love him so much?’

“I am glad!”

~~~

“You were wrong. You were disrespectful to Evangeline,” Daniella shouted. “How long have you known her? I know you don’t like her. It’s not her fault that Larson didn’t marry you. He didn’t love you. You have an amazing husband. Why are you still living in the past?”

“I have the right to hate her. Who are you to scold me?” Laura yelled.

“We’re sorry. We got it all wrong. I thought we were friends, family,” Adele laughed. “I don’t even know you anymore.”

“Apologize to Evangeline, Laura,” Daniella suggested.

“Apologize? Why? Everything was true.”

“Laura!!!”

“Are you going to be like this? Don’t be arrogant. Evangeline will not fire you. But, if her precious children persist, she isn’t going to stop them. It’s because of her that you’re living this lavish life. Your law firm would have been nothing if it weren’t for her. Even though Evangeline is our friend, but she’s still our boss, “Adele reminded her.

“Why do I need—”

Pak! A slap landed on Laura’s cheek. “Daniella!”

“How old are you? Do you think our lives are a drama? It’s embarrassing. Don’t let your husband and children see this side of you. It’s utterly sickening. I thought—”

“Don’t say anymore,” Adele said. “Let’s go. Don’t contact us if you don’t apologize to her. It’s not that we’re standing up for her and going against you. You shouldn’t have insulted her and her kids, adopted or not, they are hers.”

Laura knew that she was in the wrong, but she couldn’t admit it. She loved Larson, but he married Evangeline. Laura couldn’t accept it, despite being friends for so many years.

‘Is it worth it to lose those precious friends over something like this?’