"Is there anything left, Liz?" Anna asked sitting on her chair in an open cafè near the shopping mall with eyes glued on the notepad and pen between her lips.
"Let me check off the list." She paused for a moment checked off and replied, "No we are done for all things."
They took a sigh of relief and by then their order arrived. Taking a look around them they enjoyed their cappuccino.
This is that time of the year when there's light, love, hope, smiles everywhere. As it is the Christmas Week and all the streets, malls, shops everything is over crowded with people. Some with their lovers, some with families while some alone with their big shopping bags and earpods in their ears. And every child reminds of Marcel's child who was at the hospital.
It's been almost past one month since that day when she left the hospital and ever since she never visited him. But she was constantly in touch with Dr. Maxwell and she had every update regarding their recoveries. After one week of their fight the baby was shifted to Fiona's room as he was completely healthy.
Marcel's wounds almost are healed but fractured arm which he got broken when he rushed out of the room that day following Anna and fell off the stairs, is not completely healed. She was thinking to make a call to Dr. Maxwell but as she picked her cellphone to make the call, Liza tapped her hand bringing her out of her thoughts.
"I think we should go home unless you want to convert us into cold coffee" she said almost shivering.
Looking towards her Anna smiled because she know Liza can't sit much in cold, so after paying the bill, picking up their bags they moved towards their car.
Reaching the house Anna went to her room and Liza sat and opened all the bags in the living room because she is still like a child excited to decorate the Christmas Tree every year. Reaching her room, sitting on her bed she called Dr. Maxwell but his cell was not reachable but she tried a couple of more times, and unfortunately every time with the same result.
"Is he irritated with me and is purposely avoiding my calls or is he busy somewhere?" she talked to herself.
Talking to herself she realized that it's Christmas Week and he might also be busy with his family of course.
She took a deep breath and laid down.
Suddenly she is awoken by the door bell as she is a light sleeper and even a slight sound is enough to wake her up. Looking at the time she realised that she had been dozed off for almost an hour. She turned towards the door waiting her maid to come and inform her about this uninvited and unwanted guest as she has no guests lined up for today. She has a big room with hazel and cream coloured wallpaper paired with dark brown curtains on her window. She does not like excess things so their is minimal furniture along with big closet, that too two separate ones. One closet the bigger one is for clothes while the other one is for shoes and accessories. She is very peculiar about her appearances.
Anna had made lot of rules to be followed both by her staff at home well as office and also her sister. And one of the major rule of the house is that when ever there is a guest at the door one of the maids will go and get necessary information from the guest then inform her, after that she'll decide whether to invite them in or not. When Anna permits the guests will be seated in the guest room until she attends them. She was quite strict regarding this rule particularly since she made it
Her gaze being fixed at the door she waited for the response and within a couple of minutes Isabelle knocks at the door and enters with the permission.
Andy is a middle aged lady with lines of age and experience on her face but life doesn't take her grace away and in her 50s also she was not less than a beautiful spirit lady with always a smile on her face. She has been with the family for almost 20 years so she knew everything very well including Anna's past. Anna and Liz are close to Isabelle and hence address her like their family member. Isabelle also cares for them as her own children but treats them respectfully simultaneously.
With a head gesture and a raised eyebrow Anna asked about the guest, "There is a man with a baby in his arms. Marcel and is eager to meet you."
she replied formally although she very well is aware about who Marcel was.
Anna took seconds to process what she heard. Shook her head and replied, " Didn't you asked about the purpose of their arrival?"
"I did asked but he is sticked on meeting you and saying its important."
" Hmmm… Ok get them seated in the guest room I'll be their in 5 minutes." She replied chewing her lips, which she usually does when confused.
"But madam don't you think it's unnecessary to invite the past?" Isabelle said in a low tone.
Anna looks at her blankly thinking that she she saying the right thing and it would be better to listen to get. But her curiosity changed her mind and getting up from her bed she said, "I know what you meant to say but, by the time I come give him coffee with milk and a teaspoon of sugar."
Isabelle looked at Anna, nodded and went. Though Isabelle was familiar with Marcel she didn't asked anything to Anna because she knew had she been inviting him in her house then it must be something important or she had something in her mind.
Going back at the main door Isabelle opened the door and there is Marcel standing with the baby in his left arm all covered up and an umbrella in his right hand for the snowfall. She gestures them to come inside and follow her.
Getting them comfortable in the guest room Isabelle said, "Kindly wait here, Madam will be here in 5 minutes."
"Isabelle...." giving it a pause Marcel continued, " Isabelle, isAnna mad at me?"
Looking at him with confused expression, " How could I tell you this? You must be aware of this much better Sir." Saying this in a soft voice she turned to leave closing the door behind slowly as not to disturb the baby's sleep. Within a couple of minutes coffee also arrived and just the same as he drinks. He was eagerly awaiting Anna. Putting on her cardigan she went downstairs, where Liza was so much involved in her Christmas decorations that she hardly noticed Anna. The guest room was on the end of the corridor that starts from the living room. Reaching the door she took a deep breath, calms down her mind and heart, knocks at the door turns the knob and opened the door. Her mind was constantly thinking about the reason that brought him here.
It was a big lighted room with a queen sized bed at the end of it and seating couches on the left of the room with an led television on the right wall. The bright colors of pink and white adds a positive touch to the room and windows opening towards the lawn makes it a perfect room. There also she has her separate chair that was right across the left corner at the end of the couches.
Taking a deep breath and going towards her chair right across Marcel she said, "Hello, what on earth brings you here today?" In a vile tone.
No matter how much she cares about them she spoke bitterly with a straight face without any sign of emotion, neither anger nor care.
Marcel keeps looking at her as if in some expectations of love or care from her.
"How are you Anna?" Marcel asked with a slight smile and soft voice.
Sitting their and looking at him and his child with a blank face she replied, "I'm sure you didn't took pain of coming here just to ask this?"
Marcel know she is mad and hurt after what he did that day. "I'm here to apologise for what I did that day in the hospital room. Dr. Maxwell told me everything the other day after our fight."
Interrupting him in between she said, " Excuse me, did I heard Our Fight? Did I fought with you that day?" with a bit taunt in her tone and a raised eyebrow.
" I mean the day when I misunderstood you. After you left I went after you but fell off the stairs and broke my arm and later on when I went to him the next day for getting Fiona discharged from the hospital, he refused. After a bit of argument he told me he cannot do so because it was not me who's paying the bills and everything, nor does I hired them. It was you who did every best possible thing in your hands to save us, to save Fiona and Daniel."
She took a deep breath but her expressions remaining the same as she was aware of this already. Dr. Maxwell informed her on the very same day about everything.
Marcel looking at her continued, "I was out of my mind back then. Few days back I asked the doctors to let me take Fiona and Daniel back to my city but they refused, as they are not sure about the care she'll get at my place. I also am doubtful about the same because neither are my parents there nor can I give complete care to her. As I have to look after my work also which have been at loss since past month."
Her expression was clearly saying that she don't give a damn about him, his situation or his parents. But to give her heart the content she wants she asks,
" Where are your parents then?"
" They are at my brother's place in Shilong and didn't knew about what happened here."
"Hmmm…" she nods.
" They appointed a nurse for full time care of Daniel but she is after all a nurse. Her care cannot replace a mother's affection. And his mother is in no place of this right now."
" Sorry to interrupt you but for your kind information I am already aware of all this. So if you are about to continue with the same then kindly cut it short and come to the point as I don't have an entire night to waste." She said coldly.
Marcel looked at her, trying to find some thing that's lost after she left that day. She was not looking the same as she was back then a month ago. The care and affection in her eyes is long gone instead there is this cold vibe around her which clearly is the outcome of his rash judgement. After all there was no gain for her neither emotionally nor materialistic one then also she did all she was able to but what she got was hatred, false accusations from him.
It was getting hard to find exact words for expressing what he wants to say. There was absolute silence for few minutes. Then Marcel stood up, and started moving towards her. She watched him coming with her heartbeat increasing. He came to her bent down over her and laid down the baby in her arms and went back to his place. She just sat there holding the baby trying not to drop him down but still her expression doesn't change but she looked at him in confusion as to figure it out what is he trying to do now. She looked at the baby and in a matter of seconds her heart melted. With tears in her eyes she kept looking at him. After all what was his fault in things that his father did. Maybe he is suffering too just because he is Marcel's son and he is unfortunately paying for his sins.
All this crossed her mind.