DYLAN'S POV
My wife and I were still deciding on how to go about compensating ourselves for our disturbed honeymoon. The main problem with both of us was time; because we had a lot to do. Initially, my dear wife had spoken several times about her desire to move to a smaller space, but that thought seemed to have vanished off her mind. Instead, she was more than happy to be at the usual place, and she was busy redecorating it, adding some of her personal touch here and there.
I had previously gone for a meeting, which I thought was going to last nothing more than an hour, yet it dragged on and on. I never liked physical meetings, but for that one specifically; I really had no option. When it was finally over, I was more than happy to go back home to the lady of my heart. When I walked into the front hall, I was surprised to see that no one came to take my bag away, or something like that. It was unusual. There was always someone at the place, maids greeting, "good evening sir Dylan", or Mrs Silva saying something to me. I wondered what was happening.
At the main entrance when I got in, everything was normal with the usual security guards stationed in their usual places, yet the silence inside made me worried. Where was everyone? I quickened my pace and headed upstairs, only to meet my very beautiful wife coming down the stairs. For a moment I thought I had met a fairy…or an angel…I had no idea what name to call her.
She had hardly taken one step down when she stopped after seeing me, and she smiled her ever so lovely smile.
"Welcome back home," she said.
Oh I was very happy. The laptop bag which was in my hand found its way to the floor, as I freed my hands to accommodate the love of my life. She was looking as stunning as ever, in a very short black dress which was shiny. Her beautiful hair looked shinier than on other days, and she wore some silver jewellery with rose stones to complement her look.
"It's just you and me; I gave everyone time off." She told me.
Oh wow! Wasn't that wonderful? Surely getting married came with benefits. On my own, I had never once thought of asking the staff to excuse me for any reason whatsoever. In fact, I never imagined home without those men and women walking up and down the corridors and greeting me each and every moment we met.
It felt good. I felt the breeze of fresh air. It was just me and her. I could get used to that. I moved towards my lady and picked her up in my arms.
"What shall we do tonight?" I whispered in her ear.
"We're going to eat the dinner that I made, and then we will watch a movie, and after that, you can decide what else we will do." She giggled seductively. Oh; this woman of mine.
The food that she prepared was very nice. I had never known that a simple meal could be that nice. It was very well prepared, and I loved every bite of it. When we were done, Anisha had already picked the movie that the two of us were going to watch. What I loved most about the movie; if I am being honest, is that it was short. I had imagine sitting through an hour and a half or more of screen time. She must have known what I was expecting. She picked a very short sweet little film, which made us laugh. It was a story about the love of two people. With a touch of comedy, the producers managed to come up with a very meaningful well-packed short film for newly-weds. It looked mainly at the life of newly married couples; how to adapt to the changes in life, to welcome in new family members and the various ideas of how to build love on trust and all things positive.
I don't know if my wife had planned for us to leave the theatre after the movie, but we did not. Or rather we could not, could we? We were already engrossed in each other, loving each other in any and all ways possible. I told myself that life could not get any better. I was wondering if all married people enjoyed their marriages as much as we were enjoying ours. I was happy every minute of my life, whether she was besides me or away from me. Just the thought that she was in my life brought me the utmost happiness. I loved the woman with my entire body and soul. I loved her with all the love my heart could ever hold; and more. she became my reason for living…
***.
I later discovered that Anisha was very playful. Funny enough, I did not managed to pick that during our dating period. I guess she was tense then; but she began to loosen up and she was very playful.
"I can't believe you made me play hide and seek. The last time I played that game was when I was ten, I guess. And I only played it because Arianna cried if I said no." I told her.
"Life shouldn't be too serious. We must play all of those games which people think are childish. It brings more fun to life," my wife smiled.
I wanted her to continue smiling. I needed to see that image all the time.
"Come here, Anisha," I stretched my hand so that she could take it, but she did not.
"Catch me," she said and was about to start running in the opposite direction when her phone rang.
Looking a bit disappointed, she picked the phone and looked at the screen.
"It's Ciera," she smiled, but I could tell that she was a little nervous. "Hallo?" she answered the phone, set it on speaker and then placed it back on the table.
Both Ciera and KJ were on the other end, asking Anisha to come and be part of the K JNR PRODUCTIONS. Anisha seemed hesitant at first, but they coerced her. Ciera was even humble enough to apologise for her past 'mistakes', and she promised to love and accept Anisha and to be nice to her all the time. In the end, my wife asked for at least one week for her to inform her current employer about the new developments, and then she was going to move over to K JNR PRODUCTIONS.
Our life was moving sweetly and we were both very happy. As for me, the word happy could not describe how I felt. I felt like a boy who had finally managed to get something which they had dreamt of for a decade. We often had double dates with Pete and Arianna. We also hung out with Ciera and KJ; but those two were not very outgoing. The meetings with them were not as lively as the ones with the Rockridges.
Valentina called us often, and she introduced us to the new love of her life, David. She spoke about David almost every minute, screeching at a very loud voice. I was getting used to it. She made Anisha happy, and that was all that mattered to me. Anisha loved and valued her a lot.
Our happiness was cut short on the day that we received the news that Liam was in a home, among other children there, hoping to get adoptive parents. At first we thought it could not be true, but when we checked with the Woodruffs, we discovered that it really was the truth. Mrs Woodruff, sadly, was no longer in a position to take care of the little one. She had discovered that she was expecting their first child. It had come as a surprise to them, for their plan was to wait at least for two more years before welcoming their own little one. Mrs Woodruff was having serious morning sickness, prompting her to not renew the fostering period.
We congratulated them on the new life on the way, but while we spoke, I was able to tell that Anisha was no longer herself.
"Why didn't you tell us?" she asked, already on the verge of tears.
They explained that they had assumed that we were still away on honeymoon, and not wanting to disturb us, had taken that initiative.
Anisha changed from that day on. She spoke about nothing but the sadness of being an orphan and having to live at the mercy of some well wishers. She spoke about how sad it was that Liam was born into a well to do family; yet now he was living like some rejected child, who nobody loved.
ANISHA'S POV
When I was informed that someone wanted to see me at the reception, I assumed it was my one and only husband. I went there, my lips already curving into a smile, and I saw an unfamiliar face.
"Mrs Anisha de Milo, is that you, ma'am?" the man asked.
"Yes it is me. How may I help you today?" I asked him.
The man went on to explain that he was there for my signature. My signature? For what? For the adoption papers. I needed to sign and affirm that I was willing and able to become the adoptive parent, together with my husband, to Liam la Martina, who at that time was residing at the children's home.
I failed to believe what I was seeing. Immediately I knew who had made it all happen. I scanned through the papers and before signing them, found myself running out and headed towards the parking lot. I drove myself all the way to the Children's hospital, and upon arrival, I asked to see doctor de Milo.
"He's currently busy, ma'am." The girl at the desk looked at me from head to toe, and resumed what she was doing. She seemed to be a new employee. I had visited the office several times before, and had not seen her.
Without wasting time I called Dylan.
"How busy are you, dear husband; I am here to see you." I said.
The lady immediately stopped her typing and looked at me with shock written all over her face.
"Oh I am sorry I did not realise that you are Mrs de Milo. I was…"
Before she finished, my husband walked in and I ran into his arms.
I could not wait to get out of the many gawking eyes. Once we were alone, I burst into tears of joy. I failed to control them.
"What did I ever do to deserve a man like you? You brought Liam home to us! You facilitated for us to adopt him?" I looked up at him and cried some more.
"I did." He smiled. "I saw how much the little man means to you; and the noble thing was to have him home with us. No-one can know and love him better than you do; it is the right thing to do."
"So I am now mamma. And Dylan, you are now daddy. Mamma and daddy." I said through my whimpering.
"Mamma and daddy," my husband echoed my words.
Oh God. Once again I found myself wondering what on earth I had ever done to be given the de Milos' only son as my own husband; to love and to hold…to hold and to love…