"Where is your dad?" I asked and the question made that boy look at the car confused before he answered, "Daddy,... is not well," but before I could respond he added in a hurry, "But he will be,"
"I am sure he will," I passed him a smile.
The boy thanked me after I handed his sleepy sister to the man accompanying him but couldn't help asking, "What's your name?"
"Gideon," The sparkle in his eyes was beautiful and it made me bent to his level before I said, "Gideon, you have to take care of your sister more," in response the kid kissed my cheek before saying, "Thank you, You are very pretty,"
"And, you are a great guy," I wonder who was his dad. I wonder why his father wasn't well but I forgot about all of it when I took my Nick back to my place. We played Mario and he helped in making the dinner.
I was here to see if I could feel Noah or my kid's presence but I was not doing more than making myself a fool. I took Nick to movies and to a theme park. He enjoyed it a lot but missed Abbey too. It was the reason that we decided to head back five days before our original date. This must be the last time I was in San Francisco or the place where I last saw him. I wanted to go and see his office or our home from afar but I couldn't collect enough strength. Maybe one day I would visit that place without any regrets. I thought while Nick was reading a picture story leaning to my arm as we wait for our flight at the airport. For a kid aged four, he was really smart.
"Nick, follow me hon," I took him to the female restroom but before I could get in I saw Gideon with the same man who accompanied him to the station that day.
"Hello," I said and both looked at me as if they have found their savior.
"Hello, can you pease help me?" The voice was indeed very cute.
"What's wrong?" I asked looking at the man. "We are,..."
"Amber has run into the restroom. We are men,...how can we?" Gideon didn't let the man answer.
"I will help," I said but the moment I tried to take Nick in he resisted,
"I won't go,"
Gideon seemed a little younger than Nick and made him feel embarrassed to get into the restroom. "You won't mind having an eye on him," I asked the man beside Gideon who looked like his caretaker and not the family member.
"I will be more than happy," I spare a glance at Nick that clearly meant to stay right here.
Getting in I found Amber staring at the mirror. She seemed pissed. "Amber?" I called to get her attention.
"Remember me?" I added,
"You are the fairy." Her face still had the annoyance. She didn't want me here.
"Your brother is waiting for you," I tried to talk.qq
"I don't want to go," Her voice wavered.
"Why?" I asked with caution,
"I don't want to see him," Her voice was so low and vague but I collected what she said,
"You don't want to see who?" Huffing she contemplated for a minute before answering,
"Dad,"
"What's wrong with your dad?" I don't know why but I really wanted to know. My question made her silent.
"I can't tell," She said,
"Why?" I asked,
"I promised Gideon,"
"Hmm, then you should keep your promise but you love Gideon, right? So, you should not make him wait for you." I tried to get her out,
"Gideon is stupid,....he doesn't listen." Her lips were pursed showing how mad she was.
"Do you trust me? If yes I can listen to you," She was so small and there was something bugging her.
"I don't want my daddy." She started crying out and before she could fall I held her body and hugged her.
"Hey, shhh,..." I said rubbing her small heaving back.
"Why you don't want your daddy?" Now I was seriously worried.
"You won't tell anyone," She asked sobbing in my shoulder.
"I won't, I promise."
"My dad can't see. I...prayed so much...for him and he can't see. If Ron gets to know,...he will make fun of me."
"Oh, Honey,...no one will make your fun." I rubbed her back and tried to relax her.
"Does he love you?" I asked while she hiccupped hiding her face in my neck.
"I don't know but he gifted me a doll...I don't wanna talk to him,"
"You should talk to your daddy. Daddy loves their daughter the most." I kissed her hair and held her to see her face.
"What about Ron?" She asked,
"Tell him that you have the best father in the world who gave her dolls. I am sure his father never gifted him one,"
"How do you know?" She asked,
"I know a lot,"
"Are you a fairy?" Her question took me by surprise.
"No, I am not," I answered,
"My nana said you are a fairy God sent for me." I smiled at her innocence.
"Then, I am a fairy," I said kissing the back of her hand while she giggled.
Kids could be very innocent and easy to deal with.
"Can we take a picture?" She asked and I took out my phone. She smiled looking at the camera while I kissed her clicking the picture.
Gideon thanked me when we two girls finally came out. I boarded the flight after bidding them farewell and only then I realized that she doesn't have the picture. She never asked for the picture. Getting my cellphone out I looked at the girl. Her blonde hair and blue eyes make me think of someone.
"Isn't she cute?" Nick asked,
"Yes," I kissed my boy's head and give him my cellphone to play the games.
Life came to normal. The whole day I will try to run with my boss and keep up with my active young boy. It helped me forget about my past at least for the whole day. Because at night I couldn't help but dream about my Noah. My dreams kept my family alive. I wonder if one day I would visit Noah's grandma or Carol. They could tell me where Noah's grave. But then, I recalled how rude she was when I tried to reach her in search of Noah. I never blamed her for not accepting me as a family. She lost her Noah and his great-grandkids too.
Time flew and Nick was about to turn five in a day. I was busy with Mrs. Saad who was helping me out in catering to the party for fifteen kids from his class. Nick kept on telling me what his friends liked most and we anticipated his cake when I put Nick to the bed.
I wrapped his gift after he was fast asleep and fell on the bed knowing tomorrow was packed.
I woke up to someone knocking at my door. Thinking it must be Nick I walk to my door with my eyes half-closed. It was still night and I was sure it was his nightmare.
"Sydney?" Panic in Mrs. Saad's voice alarmed me.
"What happened? Is Abbey fine?" I asked,
"Yes," She managed but seemed distraught and this made me get to the worst scenario.
"Nick!" I called for Nick and walk out of my room to check on him.
"Sydney, stop, nick is fine." I was stopped in my track.
Taking a deep breath I asked,
"Tell me, what's wrong,"
"I was,...I think,...you know,...Noah is alive," I knew I have heard it wrong.
It took me a few seconds to react.
"Noah, who?" I asked,
"Your Noah," She looked at me in disbelief,
"I saw him dead...His hands were cold." I don't know why my voice came out bitter.
"I don't know. You figure out," was her reply.
"First you tell me what proof you have," Of course, I couldn't allow myself to believe her.
"Saad and I read an article today. It says that Miller enterprise welcomed Noah Miller after his long leave." was her answer. An article? Seriously?
"Where is it?" It has to be fake news. I knew that already.
"It doesn't have any picture." I scrolled down. I was not even disappointed. I already knew it was not the truth.
"But you have to see for yourself," she pressed,
"You don't know Carol. Noah never participated in any media coverage. They are plotting something and using his name." Why the hell on the earth I didn't want to believe he was alive. But I knew the answer and said not allowing my voice to waver,
"If he was alive he would have come for me. Why can't you understand?" I was getting mad at how dumb she could be.
"Sydney, if you don't want to know I will figure out," I knew she was going to waste her time.
"I will talk to Carol," I ended our conversation because she seemed satisfied after my answer. She hugged me before getting out and I assured her that I was fine. But the reality was quite the opposite. I couldn't sleep after she left. My last time with him kept going on in my mind. I ingested two cups of coffee and worked on checking the different emails. My fingers ached to do the research on the matter but I refrained.
Nick got up at around 7 and jumped to hug me. "Happy birthday day," I tried my best to fake a smile. His cake arrived and friends started pouring in our space.
"You seem tired," I tried to ignore Mrs. Saad and get to serve some refreshments.
Whenever the question about him being alive or not popped I tried to not give it mind and then hated myself for being so cold.
"Sydney, follow me." Mrs. Saad came to whisper after we were finished cutting the cake.
"This is Nick's birthday," I passed her a glare.
"Saad is calling you," Of course he was my boss and I had to follow Mrs. Saad to their place leaving kids with two of the mothers who followed their sons to the party.
"Mr. Saad?" I tried to keep my voice casual.
"Sydney! I can't give you much but it seems Noah is running the company officially since yesterday." He seemed surprised yet sure,
"It could be his look-alike. You really don't know the family and their power." I didn't want to have this talk.
"And, why you so want to believe this?" Saad asked and I didn't have an answer.
"If he was alive I would have known," My voice came out without any waver.
"There is no way to confirm until he meets one of my trusted contacts. But,...here is a picture I have been sent because I too believed it wasn't true." Mr. Saad said passing me his cellphone.