chapter 10

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Two days later, she was wheeled out of the hospital to a waiting car. ‘Luis?’                                               ‘We’ll be heading straight for the airport.’                                                                                                                                                                                                      ‘Okay. Where’s Chelsea? You promised she’d be here.’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ‘They’re at the airport waiting.’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ‘They?’ she asked as the vehicle moved into thick traffic.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ‘My mother and Chelsea.’                                                                                                                    ‘Your mother?’                                                                                                                                  ‘Yeah.’

Paris was happy to be going back home but she was sure going to miss the little girl she had tended the garden with, gone shopping with, cooked with and lived together for two weeks. At the airport Paris still could not see his mother. The woman must really not like me. She still wondered why his mother was nowhere to be seen. Only Carmella and Chelsea were there.                                                                                                                             ‘Mummy!’ she squealed. Happy she had learnt a new word                                                                                                                                          ‘Baby.’ She said carrying her in her arms and hugging her tight.                                                                                                                                                                                ‘Are you coming back?’ she asked just right after she had pecked her cheek. What do I tell this child? Do I promise and fail her? I won’t fail her.                                                                                                                                                                                              ‘I’ll come back darling.’                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ‘Pwomise?’                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ‘I promise dear.’                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Chelsea smiled as she moved into her father’s arms. ‘I told you Gwanma. I told you she would come back.’                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Paris was shocked. She looked at Carmella her jaw almost on the floor in her mind. Carmella came forward to hug her and then whispered in her ear, ‘Don’t let go of Luis. I beg you. I haven’t seen him this happy my whole life.’                                                                                                                                                         ‘But –’                                                                                                                                      ‘Shh. I had only him for a reason. We’ll talk later dear.’                                                                                                                                                                                                  ‘I’ll miss you.’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ‘Don’t. I’ll visit you so much you would be tired of me.’  Paris kissed Chelsea on the forehead and preceded Luis into the jet. Luis hugged his mother, ‘Be safe Carmella.’                          ‘Be safe boy.’

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