Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds ✔️

26. Heavy Thoughts

Daniel Reynolds

"Hello everyone." This Aarav guy said and my Dad stood up from his place to give him a hug.

"This is my wife, Geeta. My daughter Savannah, her husband Jack. My son Daniel and his wife, Kiara." Dad introduced Aarav to everyone and we all gave him a handshake and/or a hello.

"Aarav, son, I'm so grateful that you saved his life. I cannot thank you enough for whatever you've done for him in the past few years." Mom said and gave Aarav an affectionate hug.

"Don't thank me Aunty, as a doctor it was my duty. Moreover, your husband is genuinely one of the best people I've ever met. He's a father-figure to me." Aarav said and mom smiled at him.

"Still, thank you so much. We're beyond grateful to you." Savannah said with a smile.

"Come on, don't thank a son for saving his father's life." Aarav said.

Mom, Dad, Savannah and Aarav were talking for the next hour or so. I was still accepting the fact that my father was alive and was back in our lives now. It's so weird and unnatural. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to have him back. It's just that, it all feels a bit surreal and not in a good way.

Kiara on the other hand, was quite the whole time. Her face was looking a bit pale and the usual glimmer that her innocent brown eyes carry, was lost now. She had a worried expression on her face. She was physically present here but mentally was somewhere else. She was starring at the floor without an ounce of emotion on her face. I wonder what's wrong with her.

"Are you okay, coraźon?" I softly asked as I kept a hand on her thigh.

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at my face. She shakily nodded and tried giving me a fake smile in order to assure me but I know her better. She was bothered about something and if I'm not wrong she's having thousands of things on her mind right now.

I just wish she tells me what's wrong. I could help her maybe. I need her right now. I need her to be with me in this tough time but when she herself is not perfectly alright, I cannot empty my truck load of worries and emotions on her. I'm not going to add to her list of things-to-worry-about.

"Do you want me to take you home?" I asked her in a hushed voice. I still kept my hand on her thigh and drew some comforting, invisible patterns on her skin. She was still in her jeans and top that she was wearing when she left the bakery earlier this morning.

She kept a hand on mine, which was previously on her thigh. She again gave me a small, fake smile and shook her head sideways.

The more she was denying, the more worried and concerned I was getting. There's something definitely wrong with her. What was the reason for her sudden change in behaviour? Why was her face so pale and why was her body so still? She was partially unaware of her surrounding and what was going through her mind so bad that she wasn't even talking or looking at anyone?

These questions clouded my mind and I was getting worried by the second.

"No, Kia. I'm taking you home." I said and was about to get up when she pulled my forearm towards her, gesturing me to sit down.

"We can't leave right now. You father will think we're rude and are not happy to have him back." She tried reasoning but her voice was still very nervous and uncertain to assure me completely.

"I don't care. He'll understand and it's not like he's leaving. We'll meet him afterwards." I said and got up from my seat. I put my hand out for her and she nervously too it. I securely wrapped my fingers around her hand and she got up too.

"I'm sorry everyone. I need to take Kia home. She isn't feeling too well." I said and everyone nodded.

"What happened?" Mom asked and Kiara shook her head sideways.

"Nothing serious, Ma. Just a bit tired." She said and Mom nodded her head.

"I'm sorry to leave when you just arrived." Kiara said to Dad but he shook his head sideways with a smile.

"It's not the last time we're meeting. It's absolutely okay. Go have some rest, beta." Dad assured Kiara. Although my Dad is Spanish, he has picked up words from my Mom's vocabulary over the many years that they've been together.

"Bye, Daniel." Aarav put his hand out for me and I took it, bidding him farewell.

"Bye, Aarav. Thanks again for saving his life." I gestured towards Dad.

"Bye, Kiara." He looked at Kiara and she further went still. She did not take his hand but instead, nodded her head saying, "B-bye,".

I left her hand and wrapped my arm around her waist. Both of us walked out of my Mom's apartment with heavy thoughts running in our minds.

QOTD: What's your favourite dessert?