CHAPTER 8… SPENDING THE NIGHT
"She's running a fever," Timothy said and brought out the meds from Bella's backpack.
He handed them to Selena who took them and examined for a while.
"The housekeeper wanted her to take these."
After looking at the drugs carefully, Selena shook her head.
"Is she having any pains?" She asked but Timothy shrugged, he didn't know.
Selena turned to Bella and smiled sweetly.
"Baby," she called softly, "do you feel any pain anywhere?"
Bella shook her head and yawned. Selena nodded and laid her down properly on an empty couch before coming back to seat by Timothy.
"She can't take this one. It's pain relief but she has no pains. Also, it's too strong for her" she said and pulled the drug for pain relief out.
"The others are manageable but they'll have effect on her if she hasn't had dinner."
"About that," Timothy pulled the bottle of dissolved supplement and gave to Selena.
Selena smiled and guessed, "Supplement?"
Timothy nodded.
"She hasn't had dinner"
Selena nodded softly and stood up. She dropped her veil on the seat besides Timothy, giving him a perfect view if her tanned skin.
Under the florescent lights in the room, her skin shone so beautiful. Her brown eyes, just like Bella's, was very captivating and held nothing but warmth in them. Even her stretched black hair that fell to her neckline glowed so much that Timothy couldn't help looking at her.
"Uhm, I'm just gonna make something snappy in the kitchen," Selena informed him. "Want a cup of coffee?"
Timothy nodded slowly.
"Yes, please. Black, no sugar, low cream. Thank you."
Selena smiled and left him in the room. While she busied herself in the kitchen, Timothy went to seat besides his daughter and stroke her hair lovingly.
"I'm sorry baby. I really am." He mumbled sadly.
He felt it was his fault that Bella had to meet with Raina. If he had sent Raina out of his office when she came, none of this would have happened.
"You'll never be hurt by her again, I promise."
Selena who had just come out with a cup of coffee for Timothy stood by the door and watched him. A smile crept its way up her lips at his soft and tender actions.
Somehow, it felt like she was meeting a totally different man from the one she had encountered the first day.
Selena cleared her throat and Timothy looked up at her. He stood up and met her halfway across the room.
Selena handed him the cup and watched him take a sip from it.
"Thank you," Timothy said and looked away.
They stood there in silence as Timothy kept sipping from his cup. Each were thinking what to say to the other.
"I should…"
"You could…"
Both of them began to talk at the same time which helped clear the awkward air as Selena laughed and Timothy smiled faintly.
"Go first," Timothy played the gentleman part and waited for Selena to speak.
Selena nodded.
"I was going to say that if you wer-"
She was interrupted by the beeping sound of a timer from the kitchen.
Timothy watched as Selena dashed into the kitchen, halfway through her statement and a smile etched on his face. He did find her amusing. A different part of the fiesty one he'd met the first time.
Selena turned off the timer and pulled out the tray from the oven. Since she loved snacks, she decided the would make some alongside the porridge she was making for Bella.
Almost an hour later, she was done and dished a portion for Bella and Timothy. Something told her that he hadn't had dinner.
When she had set the table, she came into the living room and called Timothy. He woke Bella up and brought her to the table.
"Care to join in?" Selena asked, pointing to the plate of food across her.
"I figured you didn't have dinner yourself so…" she shrugged and didn't continue.
Timothy looked at the plate of food for a while before nodding and taking a seat.
Selena scooped a spoonful of the porridge and held it before Bella.
"I know you're sick, but, if you want to be well like me, you'll have to eat this whole bowl." She said with a serious expression.
Bella took a quick look at the bowl before looking back at Selena.
"Did you take porridge too?" She asked.
Selena nodded and rubbed her hair soothingly.
"I did." She said. "My brother made some for me before going to work"
"You have a brother?" Timothy asked casually and Selena nodded. His brows furrowed. He didn't expect her to have a brother.
"Open up"
Bella started to eat and after a while, she insisted that she was full so, Selena helped her take the drugs.
"I'd just take her upstairs. It's late already. I guess you could spend the night." She said, taking Bella into her arms.
Timothy nodded and began to eat. He hadn't touched his food until Bella had finished hers. A kind of relief washed over him now that she had eaten.
Selena helped Bella into her bed and covered her up. She was about to stand up when the child called out to her.
"Miss Selena, thank you for the meal."
Selena turned around and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"You're always welcome. I've got some cookies baked just for you tomorrow, so, sleep well."
Bella nodded and closed her eyes after Selena left.
Selena returned to see Timothy standing up, he was done. She reached for the plates before he could and grabbed them.
"I'll just clean these up so we can talk. There's a few things I want to ask you." She said and gathered the plates before entering the kitchen.
Timothy went outside and stood before the door. He shoved his hand into his pocket and watched the quiet streets.
It was almost two in the morning so the streets were very silent. Save for the bright and glowing moonlight, the streets would have been dark.
Selena was suprised when she came out of the kitchen and couldn't find Timothy. She looked in the rooms but he was nowhere. When she opened the front doors, she was suprised to find him there.
Selena walked to him and stood besides him.
"It's beautiful, right?"