Book 1: Oh love, how could I forget~ (Lance Stroll)

Chapter 67: It Took Time

"Do you want to come with me?" Seb offers her to stay with his Family while she's still partly confused and such.

"Can I?"
"Yes ofcourse. My wife would be able to answer some of your questions too." He smiles
"Okay.." she softly answers

They fly back to Switzerland that night. She went on that plane with a heavy heart. Seb didn't ask her any further. He knew silence was better. She didn't speak further.

Exhausted from all the crying, she fell asleep.

All was a blur again. She wakes up with the smell of warm chocolate. She slowly looks around and see a very cozy room. She gets up and walks out. Carefully, Quietly. It was an unfamiliar place but it was cozy, warm and very at home.

"You're up?" She was probably Seb's wife. "I'm Hanna" she gives the sweetest smile as she gets her a cup. "Hope you like chocolate"
"I do.. thank you" Lily's voice cracks even though it was already soft. "Do you want some breakfast? They already ate earlier"
"Oh.. I'm sorry I was so out of it"
"It's fine honey.. you don't have to worry about anything here" She says as she puts a plate of toast infront of her and putting her hands gently on Lily's hand.
"You don't have to push yourself to think here. You can take your time."
"Thank you..." Lily smiles and starts to eat her toast.

After a while, they went outside and saw Seb near the crops.
"He's been trying to grow some vegetables" Hanna softly chuckles
"Good morning!" He waves hi to Lily and Hanna as they walk towards him to help.
"Have you ever done gardening? How about Chickens?" Seb asks as he gives her some boots and gear. "A little" Lily starts to help out and so does Hanna.

All the work made her mind a little more peaceful although she can't help but look at Seb and Hanna. They were such a loving couple. They were really couple goals. There was this natural thing between them. Sweet scent of love.

"You alright?" Hanna hands over a cool glass of lemonade and sits beside her as they look out the simple life, the clean air and the beautiful nature.
"Yes.."
"It's a bit tiring yeah? But it's rewarding don't you think?"
"It is.. It really is" Lily sips some more

"So.. what are you thinking about?" Hanna slowly starts to ease the conversation.
"Life... love... choices... decisions I have to make" Lily sighs
"Sometimes it's okay to stop and just take it all in"
"But.. it's too much.. I can't just.."
Lily starts to tear up again. She just couldn't help it.
"I know honey.. It's very difficult.. the situation you are in.."
"I love him... I really do.. I just.. how.. how do you two seem so fated together? Is it because me and Lance are really not meant for each other? Is that it?"
"Honey.. no.. it's not that"
"But you two are the perfect couple. The best couple I've seen"
"Not everything is what it seems honey.. Love is.. Love is like farming.. it's hard and rewarding. We weren't this way before you know. We also had our ups and downs. There were times that we argued, disagreed on things, we also had a moment when we were at breaking point but that didn't stop us.. from loving each other"
"The breaking point... what happened?"
"We.. well.. actually broke up"
"Weren't you scared?"
"Of course I was. Even if he was my childhood friend.. that didn't guarantee anything.. God, he was even a world champion.. he can get anything he wanted"
"Then.. what did you do?"
"We just.. let it all flow. We took our time to live on"
"What happened afterwards when you two broke up?"
"Eventually.. time took its course and we accidentally met up again"
"Who took the first move?"
"We both did" Hanna softly chuckles.
"If you asked me back then if we were getting back together.. I would've said no. My mind was so troubled but when we met again.. everything was just clear again. After that we... we earned everything back together. Slowly we tried to build our love and now this is the fruits of it all"
"What if.. we don't get back together?"
"Then maybe.. maybe there'll be a blessing in disguise"

She cried.. cried her heart out again.. She couldn't bear to think that maybe they weren't for each other.

It wouldn't be long until she had to make a decision.

She wakes up again with her phone vibrating.

She sees Charles calling.
"Shit. I forgot" Lily hurriedly answers the call

"Hey" her voice cracked.
"Ma belle!" Charles was so glad to hear her voice
"Hey.. whats up?"
"Why didn't you call? Were you having so much fun there?" He seems to be a bit jealous
"I uhh— Seb and his family have been really nice"
"You should've brought me toooo" he says
"Next time" Lily softly chuckles
"I was going to the hotel but Seb called me saying you got knocked out."
"Ohh what'd he say"
"He said you'd be staying there for the summer break and that you were excited and that uuh—" he pauses then continues "it's somewhere near Lance" he coughed.
"Uh—" she panicked but tried to shake it off
"Yeah he is"
"So ma belle.. when do you plan to go back? Do you want to go to Greece or maybe Europe?"
"Uhm.. I don't know maybe I'll.. take a vacation.. go back home for bit.."
"Guess I'll be coming back home too for a while then.. you just tell me when you're getting back yeah? I'll pick you up"
"Uhm.. yeah ofcourse.. I'll call"
"Oh wait.. yes! I'll be there in a bit.. Ma belle I need to go"
"It's okay.. gooo have fun"
"You too.."
"Thank you Charles.. thank you"

Lily opens the doors again and hears a small chatter. She sees Seb, Hanna and the little girls helping each other to set up for dinner. Seb sees her and introduces her to his kids. It felt warm when they were all having dinner together. The girls easily bonded with her and even invited her to play.

"Come on girls, it's bed time already" Seb came to fetch them
"Oh noo.. we still want to play with Aunt Lily"
"Did you ask her if she still wants to play?"
"Aunt Lily can we play with you some more?"
"Tomorrow after school yeah?" Lily smiles as they go to their room.

"Little angels yeah?" Hanna chuckles as Lily nods
"They're really lovely"
"You're a natural honey"
"I've never really been good with kids... you guys are just really great parents.. raising them and such"
"Oh please. We're all just always figuring out this parenting thing too" Hanna says honestly
"How'd you know?"
"How'd I know what?"
"How'd you know you were ready to raise babies"
Hanna chuckles again
"I didn't but... with him here, I— I found strength to go through the process" She smiles as Seb comes back to the kitchen

Lily went out the backyard and sees the beautiful night view. Her phone started vibrating.

Unknown number calling

"Uhm.. hello? Who's this?"
"LILLYYYY!!!" a very excited voice already gave away who it was
"Chloe?"
"Yesss!! I've been messaging you this whole time but you didn't reply"
"Oh.." Lily scrolls through her messages and it had tons not only from Chloe but the boys and when she sees Lance's name, she sighs
"Sorry I.. I didn't have my phone with me all day"
"It's alright atleast I'm speaking with you now. So are you going?"
"Going where?"
"Here in Switzerland"
"How'd you know I'm here?" Lily was quite confused but because of her being so out of it, she gave away her location without meaning to
"You're here already??! Omygosh! Where you staying?? Why didn't you stay here?!" Chloe was as excited as ever
"I'm around.. I think Thurgovia?"
"Thurgovia? Why there? That's around 4-5 hours atleast from here"
"Uhm"
"It's okayy.. It's alright. I'll have someone pick you up on wednesday"
"Wednesday? What's up with that day?"
"Seriously? Didn't Lance invite you? Why is he being so silly. There's a small celebration here for our mom. I already told you about this last time and if he didn't tell you he's gonna hear from me tomorrow"
"Ohh.. uhm.. well" Lily didn't know what to say or how to say that things are just not okay right now
"I'll see you on Wednesday yeah? wear something nice tooooo" Chloe ends the call before Lily could even try to make an excuse not to go.

She sighs.

Everything started to move again— fast and she couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow awaits.