~ After Cory's announcement Maria and I arrived back at the pool. Only now we relaxed back in the lounge chairs outside the pool. We felt it was time to dry out our pruned bodies in sun. While we watched the girls swim from a vertical view across from us. I even noticed my skin was starting to tan for the first time ever!
Hearing this buzzing coming from her phone, Maria picked it up from laying next to her. While she was still holding her newborn son, she said looking at her phone "I just got the same message Cory announced. He was pretty upset about this whole thing. Which he has every right to be. That was your engagement announcement celebration and an attack on his Kingdom people."
At first, I gave Maria a dirty look laying back in her seat, and said "Please don't remind me!" Which only made her giggle. "I didn't realize how many people were staying in this mansion. I haven't seen most of them here." But being clever I changed the subject.
Looking at her baby from under the thin blanket, "Usually there's more out but everyone is upset and in shock. So they're in their rooms with their families. Some of them might be grieving for their babies. Those ladies and their husbands were excited about their new arrivals. Others are grieving for their family members. We lost some mortal ladies that won't ever wake up. The whole attack is devastating to the Kingdom."
Before I could speak, Nick came outside and came up to Maria and me laying out in our bikinis. He stood between the end of the lounge chairs. Then looked down at us and said, "Thank you, Maria and Sally, for watching Samantha during the meeting."
Seeing Nick, I had some uncertainty about him but lightly nodded. "Your welcome," I said not wanting to be rude.
More relaxed, Maria looked up at him. "That isn't a problem." She said with ease. "You know I just adore having her."
Now noticing her dad was outside, Samantha started to cry from inside the pool as she starts walking up to him. Maria handed him a towel for her as she was coming out.
Nick grabbed the towel turned towards his fussy daughter and said, "Come on kiddo let's get you out and dried."
Nick wrapped the towel around Samantha and picked her up in his arms. "She's been swimming awhile. I am sure she'll probably need to take a nap. She also had a little injury. Oh, and her dress is just in my bag." Maria quickly informed him.
Comforting his fussy daughter, Nick said while he patted her back. "I heard about the accident, I got the message during the meeting. He then kissed Samantha on her cheek as she cried. "I've told you many times Samantha, you cannot run on this stone. When your feet get wet this stone gets slippery." He directed his nose down at the stone. "I think we need to put in a slip pad on this rock. I'll have to talk to Çory's parents about that."
"Probably wouldn't be a bad idea," Maria agreed.
"Yeah, but anyways, ladies you need to get out of the pool and get yourselves ready. We are going for a ride." He said facing us.
"Really?" Maria questioned confused. "Are we are going somewhere?"
Nick said çhuckling, "Yes. To the nearby town where the other Kind people hang out around the neutral buildings. You ladies get to go shopping. Cory feels it's a good idea to get Sally out of here for a little bit. He wants her to buy some nice things."
Maria beamed with excitement, I however didn't.
A bit shaky in my tone, I nervously told. "B-But I-I don't have any credits?"
However, Nick just smiled, "You don't need to worry about that anymore."
With excitement, Maria said looking at my lost expressions, "Cory will take of that and it will be so much fun so let's get going!"
"I've never been shopping before," I replied a bit nervously.
Nick explained smiling, "It's something fun to do. After what happened with the attack. He thinks it would be a good idea just buy something pretty for yourself."
I nervously nodded and turned my eyes away from Nick. I could see he acknowledged I wasn't thrilled about the idea of shopping. Likely, I showed I was scared as Maria and I stood up the get ready.
~~~
Which her inward assumptions were true. Nick read Sally like a clear sky and saw she was very skittish. So he decided not to engage and just got his daughter's dress out of Maria's bag from underneath the deck and took his leave.
~~~
Nick strolled himself off with Samantha still fusing. As Maria and I got our things. Clara came out of the pool without her mother telling her. Once we put our dresses on we each went inside.
~~~
When we reached the hall with our rooms in opposite directions. "Meet me in the hallway once you are ready and will walk down together." Maria told me.
I nodded heading to Cory's room, "sounds good."
Inside the room, I put on the same clothes, I wore earlier. Then I meet Maria in the hallway and started walking when I asked her about Clara's whereabouts. She told me her slaves were watching Clara but she still had the baby. We just had a casual conversation while making are way around the mansion.
Once we went to the living room on the first floor nearby the front entrance our conversation ended. I peered around the room to spot Nick was in a rocking chair holding his daughter as he rocked her gently. She was almost falling asleep and kept blinking her heavy eyes cutely.
Maria sat on the couch by her husband John and he wrapped his arm over her. I took a nervous sat next to her. Soon Jay, JJ, Matt, Mike, Aaron, and Cory walked into the room.