When Kiara arrived at the Pinkerton mansion, after being discharged from the hospital, she felt drained. Vine's grandparents were very happy to have her back, but she was not that happy. The least she could do was to pretend to smile.
Aletha had already informed her that the burial was on the following day. Kiara knew it was a hard thing to do, but she needed to try. After having spent some time with her son, she started preparing her speech. She needed to make it flow; and it had to be convincing.
When she felt that it was OK, she went over to see lady Pinkerton. She knocked on the door and there was no response.
"Hallo ma'am Kiara. It's good to have you back. The lady is in the garden," a maid advised.
Kiara thanked the girl before heading to the garden. The lady was leisurely walking, with her cane in her hands. She felt at peace. Her grandson was well; her great grandson was also well. Kiara too; the mother of her great grandson, was also well. And of course; the other thing adding to her happiness was the fact that Jeremy was completely out of the picture.
"Grandma," Kiara's small voice startled the older lady.
She turned around and flashed a bright smile at the young mother.
"Vincent Lisandro must be very happy to have his mother back home," she laughed quietly.
"He is," Kiara smiled.
They went on to chat about the small matters; until Kiara felt it was the right time to bring in her issue.
"Grandma, I know this might be asking for too much but please, please grandma, for me to feel at peace, please may I attend the funeral of Jeremy Rain?"
The lady turned around and scrutinized Kiara from head to toe. What was she asking for?
"Are you hearing yourself right now?" she asked.
"Please, grandma. I will attend just as a friend."
The lady laughed. Her laughter was full of mockery, then she said, "Is Vine aware of this weird request of yours?"
"I thought to tell you first."
"Well, you will have to ask him." She said before walking away. Kiara had no strength to either follow or say one more word.
The day was long for Kiara. She was waiting for Vine to come to her. She was certain that, for the sake of Vincent, Vine was going to come. He was going to come and ask to have the child for a few minutes, and then she, Kiara, was going to use that time to make her request known to the father of her child.
When it was time for dinner, Kiara was informed that she was still having her food alone in the room. Impatiently she waited for the man to come, and when she heard the door opening, she sat up straight, preparing to make her appeal.
The door opened and …alas. It was Rosaline.
"Ma'am Kiara. I have brought your food. Sir Vine asked me to tell you that, since you were away for some time, its best that tonight he lets you have all the time with junior master Vincent Lisandro. Thus tonight, he is not taking the child."
Kiara's heart sank. Why did Vine think in such a way? She just nodded her head and asked Rosaline to give her some space.
After eating, Kiara had made up her mind. If Vine was not going to come to her; then she was going to go to Vine. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought she looked fine. She slightly brushed her hair, just to be sure. Then, with her son in her hands, off she went to meet the man.
She knocked several times, but there was no response. She then descended the stairs, with the hope of meeting either Gareth or Vine's grandmother. Both of them were not in sight, but the head chef was the one present. He offered to make a call to Gareth.
"Hallo Gareth. It's me, Kiara. May I speak to Vine, please?"
"The young master is drunk, ma'am. He has been drinking a lot, he says he is celebrating your coming home," Gareth laughed.
"Please Gareth, I have to talk to him. Is he so drunk that he cannot talk?"
"Hold on…." there was silence and then Kiara heard Vine's voice. He sure sounded very drunk.
"Vine? Vine, can you hear me?"
"Kiara, the mother of my child," the man spoke.
"Vine, please allow me to attend the funeral. It is tomorrow morning."
"What is happening tomorrow morning?"
"Funeral, Vine. The funeral." Kiara raised her voice.
"I cannot hear you, mother of my child. I will be there soon." Vine said. Soon after that he ordered Gareth to urgently drive him back to the mansion.
When they arrived, Vine went straight to Kiara's bedroom, and he threw himself on the bed.
"Talk to me," he said.
"Vine, this is a difficult request. I know it might sound like I am …."
"Just say it. Anything for the mother of my child," Vine said.
"May I attend the funeral?" Kiara asked. She stopped at that; having no guts to mention the name of Jeremy.
"Go and attend if you want." he said.
What? Kiara was not able to believe her ears. Did he just say he was OK with it? Without needing persuasion or anything? Kiara knew that it was because he was drunk. If not; it could have been a huge issue. So she needed to maximize on that chance.
"OK thank you. What about the driver? Please tell him to drive me tomorrow. Or can I drive myself? I haven't driven my car since it was bought."
"Drive your car," Vine said.
"Vine, what about the keys? The keys were taken away from me."
Vine stared at the young lady for a long while, then he said, "I will get them for you."
He staggered out. Kiara remained seated on a chair, anxiously waiting for Vine to bring back the keys. She waited for twenty minutes and he was not back. Soon it was an hour, and he had not yet returned.
Kiara could not handle it any longer. She went to check in his room, and it was empty. She did what she had done earlier on; asking the head chef to make a call for her. The head chef had to call Gareth, for he was not one of the people with the privilege of calling straight to Vine's phone.
On the other side of town, the young master had just downed yet another bottle when he saw Gareth handing him a phone.
"Who is it again?" he asked, annoyed.
"Its ma'am Kiara." Gareth said.
"Oh, the mother of my child. Excuse us, Gareth."
Gareth moved away, wondering what on earth the two were talking about. Could Kiara be falling in love with Vine? What was happening?
"Kiara?" Vine was the first one to talk.
"Vine, I'm still waiting."
"You're waiting for me?" Vine was surprised.
"The car keys, Vine. My car keys."
"Oh, mother of my child. Why didn't you just say so? Get them from my bedroom."
"Where exactly in your bedroom Vine?"
"You will find them, Kiara. Check everywhere…" and he placed the phone on the counter.
"Vine? Vine, are you still there?" the lady asked in desperation.
Gareth, who was watching from afar, came closer and saw that the call was still ongoing. He picked his phone.
"Ma'am Kiara?"
"Vine was still talking to me. What happened to him?"
"He's already busy with another beer. Is there anything I can assist with?" he asked.
Not willing to disclose the issue, Kiara lied. "I was just asking him how Vincent Lisandro's sleep pattern has been these past few nights. It seems like he's having difficulties falling asleep."
"Oh," Gareth sighed in relief. He was glad it was nothing but just a small matter. He had feared that maybe they were discussing something crucial, and in the drunk state that Vine was, there was not telling what he was capable of authorising. Not that he had ever done any such thing before; but who knows; when someone seemed to be in cloud nine over the return of the mother of his child. Gareth had also not missed the way Vine repeatedly referred to Kiara as "the mother of my child."
Holding the phone close to him, Gareth continued, "You may have to ask from lady Pinkerton or Rosaline. They were the ones who were closely monitoring the junior master. And Rosaline, if I'm not mistaken, was recording all his sleep patterns and feeding schedules."
"Ok Gareth, thank you." Kiara smiled heartily.