"I think I know why you wanted me to come up here with you Sir," Ms. McCrae said as she poured tea on the teacup she set before me.
"Really? Besides the reason I told you?" I smiled at her as I took a sip of my tea.
"I think this is the true reason. The reason you told me was only an excuse."
She also poured tea on her teacup and sat opposite me.
I looked at her with a frown for a couple of seconds.
No. There's no way she knows.
Or did Leila say something??
"Uhm.. what do you think is the reason?"
"You don't like that I'm working around the house, do you?"
"Ahh," I said, letting out a breath.
"Yes. Yeah. You worked hard yesterday so I thought it was best to distract you away from the kitchen today."
"Thank you Sir but that was unnecessary," she smiled.
I just cleared my throat, having nothing to say. I don't want to argue.
"But it was great to sit down with you and listen to you play. I prefer it over spending time in the kitchen."
I gave her a small smile.
"Good."
I did my best not to grin from ear to ear.
****************
We had a noisy lunch with so many people gathered in the dining room. It was the first time that all of the seats were occupied. I sat with mama on my left and Ms. McCrae on my right.
Ms. McCrae took the seat with my invitation. I don't want her to feel left out of the family again. I tried to include her in the conversation throughout the meal and I noticed that mama has taken quite a liking to her. I was totally ignored even though I was sitting between them and I had to push back my chair a bit.
Mama asked Ms. McCrae some personal questions about her parents, her father's job, if she has a boyfriend, etc. She gave direct, polite answers but didn't expound on it.
Well, her father is indeed a businessman, but on a larger scale.
Mama prodded further about her relationship status though. Ms. McCrae confessed that she doesn't have exes either. That means she had never been in a relationship.
That was refreshing to know and a bit odd. How is that possible?
"You have striking features dear. I wonder where your family roots came from," mama said as we were finishing our meal.
I smirked. She's even interested in her ancestry.
"My father is Australian ma'am, with Scottish roots while my mother was a mixed race of Chinese and Filipino and Spanish," Ms. McCrae answered.
"You are pretty," mama said with an adoring smile.
Ms. McCrae gave back a polite, grateful smile. I caught myself staring at her again.
Sure. She's a bit detached, but she's polite and kind. She treats Leila and Lana well. Not to mention that she is rather pleasing to the eyes. Mama agrees with that.
How is it that she never had a boyfriend?
"You had not been talking Arys. Is something wrong?"
I turned to mama.
"Nothing mama. Will you be resting after the meal?"
"We need a little walk to digest."
"Alright. We can walk to the garden if you like."
"That would be nice," she beamed at me.
Mama and papa took their walk with me after lunch was over. Ms. McCrae had excused herself to go up to her room and see how the girls settled in. I asked mama about how everyone was divided into their respective rooms as we were walking by the library.
It turned out that all the girls shared a room with Ms. McCrae in the guest bedroom like how the boys share a room with me. Aunt Dasha and Uncle Ruslan are in Rayana's room while Aunt Aigerim, Uncle Roman and Lana are in Adilet's. I don't think five girls would fit on the bed in the guest room. I'll remember to check on them later.
"I find it strange that someone young and pretty from America found her way here in Kazakhstan. It is strange, don't you think son?" mama was saying as we walked through the family room into the living room.
If I didn't know the true reason myself, I would ask the same question.
"She said she came here to seek a new adventure, mama. It's a youthful aspiration according to her."
Mama looked unconvinced. There are more interesting places than Kazakhstan.
"Youth is beautiful. She should do everything she wants because she can. Life is but a passing moment after all," papa said.
"I am not against her working with you dear. It's the contrary. I just find it unusual, that's all," mama said in turn.
We walked through the living room and reached the threshold into the garden. I led the way on the narrow path walk, mama and papa following behind me.
Unusual, indeed.
Kazakhstan is a good place to hide and I'm a good cover. Such is the circumstances that brought her to me. And yet…
I know her story and who she really is but I can't help myself from falling for her. What if she'll leave all of a sudden when I am already crazy in love with her? Would I be able to handle it? How could I stop myself from liking her? Is it even possible to stop?
"Son? Did you hear me?"
I turned around to mama and papa.
"I'm sorry mama. I was just thinking about something," I smiled at her.
We reached the end of the pathway and I ushered the two of them towards my mother's favorite couch.
"I was asking you about Arina. She is giving birth next month, isn't she?" mama said as she took her seat.
"Yes mama. Early week of January," I answered her.
Papa took his neat next to her while I grabbed a chair from the nearby tea table.
"It is wise for Senti to settle down with his wife. It was a lost for you but thankfully he found a suitable person to replace him," Papa told me as I took my seat, facing them.
"Yes papa. Ms. McCrae will do well. And I am happy for Senti and Arina. By the way, would you like Leila to bring us tea?"
"I don't want my tea for now. How about you dear?" mama turned to papa.
"I'll have it when you are having it," he smiled to mama.
I looked at them with a smile. What a marriage.
"Alright. How about a game of chess?"
I gave papa a mischievous wink.
"Oh. You think you can beat me in chess already?" he laughed.
"Go. Get your chess board out son."
"I'll get it from the library papa," I said, standing up from my seat.
I half walked, half sprinted towards the library. I took the chessboard from the low table at the lounge area and started back to the garden. It had been sometime since I played chess with papa. I doubt that I'm any better than before but I like the challenge of playing against him.
We spent the afternoon playing chess with mama observing our game. Most times however, she coached me against papa. In the end, papa still won against the two of us. We played another round and papa won again. That was the time I realized I had to give it up. I walked them to their room after the game was over. They need their nap.
I opened the door for them when we reached their room and they walked in on their own. Papa and mama have their room built for them here in Üy Dalasí but they won't leave Nursultan and äke and ana. A retired life is not for them just yet. They keep insisting that ana and äke still need them.
I started on my way towards the girl's room but I halted next to Rayana's door. Tatiana will be there too and it will be weird if I knock on an all-girls room. I fished out my phone from my pocket and turned around, walking back towards the lift. I dialed Ms. McCrae's number.
"Hello Sir?"
"Hey. How is your room situation?"
"It's fine Sir."
"How about the bed?"
"All of us volunteered to sleep on the floor until it was decided that the youngest two will be sleeping on the bed. That would be Rayana and Diana."
"Did you tell Leila about the need for extra beddings?"
"I'm with her in the spare room Sir. We are bringing the beddings upstairs now."
I nearly stumbled on my feet as I got out of the lift on the ground floor.
"Alright then," I told her and ended the call.
She's with Leila!
I hope Leila won't think that I am too hands-on with her. But of course! She's my manager so I should be concerned if she has appropriate sleeping arrangements.
Yes. That's right.
*******************