Chapter 11: He Is A Stranger!
Louisa stood rooted to the ground, her mouth wide open and eyes bulged so much, it looked like it would pop.
"What the hell is going on? How is this happening?" Louisa thought, mentally slapping herself for leaving Liam's room when she did. "But, what is Kingsley even doing here, he is not a patient anymore. Is he?" She wondered while retreating to a corner where she won't be spotted by Kingsley and Liam.
She keeps peering at them from the corner, wondering what the two of them could be talking about while being all smiley to each other.
After a while, they shook hands. Kingsley walks off with a wide grin plastered on his face while Liam waves childishly after him, smiling widely as well.
Louisa breathed a sigh of relief, and walked briskly towards Liam, holding his hand firmly and taking him away with her.
"Mommy,what happened?" Liam asked after his mom closed the door behind her.
"You tell me, Liam? Who was that man you were talking and smiling to?" Louisa asked,her left arm akinbo and peering down at her son.
"He ia a nice man mom. We met at the restroom and we talked a little. That's all." Liam explained.
"Well, it didn't look like that to me. You two seemed to talk more than a little. How can you be so comfortable around a stranger?"
"His name is Kingsley mom, he is a businessman, not a stranger."
Louisa rolled her eyes,wondering how to approach the matter at hand, without sounding suspicious or wicked to Liam. She did not want him to ever talk to Kingsley again but she can't just up and tell him that. Liam would finish her with questions.
"Listen my baby," she started, bending down to her son's height and taking his hand so that she could have his full attention. "We have been in this hospital for years and finally we have a chance to cure you and go back home. I do not want anyone or anything to disrupt our plans. I do not want unnecessary association that will tie us to this place for longer than necessary."
"Okay mom,but Kingsley is really nice. You should meet him….."
"HE IS A STRANGER," Louisa emphasizes, her eyes boring into Liam's and the little boy recoils, a little frightened at his mother's demeanor.
Realizing she is being too hard on the innocent boy, Louisa softens her eyes. "Am sorry. But you need to listen to me, okay? Do not go around conversing with people you do not know."
"Yes mommy". Liam nods.
"Promise me Liam. Promise me you won't talk to that guy or any other strangers again." Louisa persisted, holding out her little finger to cross with Liam's in a promise sign.
"Yes...."
Just then, the door slid open and Dr Fred walked in, hands in pocket and looking grim.
"I have bad news." He said immediately he entered and sat on a chair adjacent to the bed."
"What's wrong Fred?" Louisa asked, dreading what she might hear.
"Professor Craig called. He is delaying the surgery by a week due to personal reasons." Fred explained.
"Personal reasons?" Louisa scoffed. "It seems his son got his irresponsibility from him."
"It's okay Louisa, everything will work out fine." Dr Fred reassures, patting her shoulder gently.
Looking at Liam, he notices that the boy is not as cheerful as he used to be. "Yo little champ, is something wrong?"
Liam shakes his little head, still looking downcast.
"He is alright Fred, he just came back from a walk and needs to rest." Louisa cuts in, unwilling to entertain any discussion involving Kingsley. "We should excuse him. Rest well baby, I'll see you in a bit." She concluded, turning Liam to bed and shooing Fred out of the room. She slides the door close behind her.
"Let's go get some drinks and relax." Fred suggested. But then, Louisa didn't respond so he leaned forward to see her face only to realize that she was simply walking, unaware of her surrounding.
He places his arm around her shoulder, drawing her close to him. He got the reaction he was expecting as she quickly detaches herself from his embrace, looking around to check if people saw them.
Fred bust out in laughter, looking at her embarrassed flushed face. "I was talking to you but you weren't listening, so I decided to try something else."
"You could have tapped me." Louisa replied, still looking around.
"Can you stop acting weird? You are not a teenager who can't be around boys, you know."
"This is an official setting Fred. You're a doctor and am your client. Besides, I can't have rumours flying about me again. I have had enough."
"Alright, let's just get some drinks. You look like you could use one." Fred suggested again.
"I agree." Louisa replied. She really could use something to take her mind off the unexpected incident that happened earlier. She still can't believe that Liam and Kingsley met. They not only met but talked as well while smiling widely at each other. Jesus, how can this be?
What if they meet again? What if Kingsley realizes that Liam actually resembles him. Even if he doesn't realize, what if someone else tells him? What if....
Louisa shakes her head, trying to clear all the 'what if's' plaguing her mind as she walked beside Fred on their way to a coffee shop inside the hospital premises.
"Hello Dr Fred!" A pretty blonde walks up to Fred and Louisa smiling. "I have been to your office to see you but here you are."
"Yes, Miss Linda? How may I help you?" Fred said, trying to hide his surprise at running into Linda all of a sudden. The girl won't just leave him alone, is she a leech or something?
"Wouldn't it be proper manners to introduce your friend and I to each other first? Linda said, pointing at Louisa while playfully blinking repeatedly to appear cute
Fred scoffs, what a fine one to talk about manners. "Louisa, this is Linda. She is a volunteer at my department. Linda, this is Louisa. She is my client and also my friend."
"Just friends?" Linda asked, raising her eyebrows.