Months went by. Nick was back to being himself and he worked hard at the company. Gabriella and Trevor were surprised with the sudden change but no one dared ask him anything. He would watch his daughter sleeping but rarely carried her.
One afternoon, Nick was seated next to Trevor, watching him play with his daughter. He looked at her and smiled.
" My queen is too sad today." Nick realized she was staring at him in a confused manner. Trevor smiled.
" Nick, take her." Nick nodded and carried her. Immediately she was in his arms, she cried as she tried to reach out to Trevor. Cynthia ran into the living room thinking something had happened to her. She was surprised to see Nick holding the child. Nick tried to make her calm down but her cry became worse. Trevor took her and she went silent. Nick looked away. Cynthia smiled as she held back her laughter. She wondered why the child would love her uncle more than her father.
" There my queen. Don't worry Nick. She will soon get tired of having me here."
" Why do you call her that?"
" She makes me feel special. Like I am a king."
" By doing things like loving you more than she loves her own dad?"
" I didn't think of it but it is also one of the reasons."
" Whatever" Nick answered and looked away.
" Nick, what will you name her?"
" I wish Ivy was here to do that. I've always wanted her to be the one to do some things and naming our firstborn is one of them.
" So you will wait for Roel to return her so that she names your daughter? Nick, just get this done with." Gabriella said, standing at the door, grocery in hand. Nick nodded . She laid the grocery aside, walked towards them and hugged Nick. She then carried the baby.
" I'll name her Regina. Regina Robinson." He faced down, sadness written on his face.
" Regina Robinson Daniels." He looked up at Regina and excused himself, walking away.
" He must add the Daniels?" Trevor asked smiling.
" Of course. He loved her and she is the mother to her child."
" True."
" Did you convince him to name her Regina?"
" No I did not. I love the name though. Isn't she a queen?" Trevor said playing with Regina's fingers.
✓✓✓
Roel searched for opportunities for Ivy and he took her to auditions. Ivy did not get accepted but she didn't give up. Roel kept hoping that they would not accept her in any of the auditions and he was happy they were all rejecting her.He did not want her to do acting at all.
Ivy was lying on the settee. Roel walked into the house and sat next to her. She sat up and took her walking stick. She left for the kitchen as Roel watched her. She came back with a plate of pastas and meat. She handed it to Roel who was surprised.
" Who cooked?"
" I did."
" You?"
" Yes. I wish to live the normal life I lived in the past. I'm sure I used to cook for you."
" Of course you did." Roel said. He tasted the food and was very pleased. He turned to Ivy who was facing down.
" Did you taste it?"
" Yes."
" How was it?" He smiled and she wondered why he was silent.
" You cooked it and you don't know how it tastes?"
" I know."
" Then why ask?"
" To know if you are pleased."
" I am." He laid the plate on the table and turned to her.
" Always, I am pleased with you."
Ivy half opened her mouth to speak but before she could say anything, she felt his lips on hers and his hand on her waist. Roel carried her up and walked away with her. He laid her on the bed and pulled away from the kiss.
" You better sleep. By the time I come back you should be asleep. Otherwise, Ivy, you will hate me." With this, he covered her and left the room. She smiled and gently closed her eyes.
Roel walked downstairs and quickly took out his phone. He called Oliver who answered on the second ring.
" What is it? I thought I asked you never to call me again. I said if i needed anything, I would call you." He was using a subdued voice.
" Gabriella is searching for Ivy." Oliver answered. He was seated on the bed, on his hand were some printed photos.
" Of course she is. She will always help her sweet Nick. I don't care anyway because I am sure they cannot find us." He was still speaking in a subdued voice so that Ivy does not overhear him.
" You speak as if you do not know your mother."
" Trust me, she won't."
" I'm holding a photo of you seated in a certain bench, wearing a black suit and next to you is Ivy, with a walking stick and she is in a purple dress."
Roel was shocked. He turned to his room and walked out of the house.
" Are you sure?"
" Yes, I got it from her files. I think she is having you two followed and she already knows where you are."
Roel hang up, upset. He walked to his room and locked the door. He sat next to Ivy on the bed and gently kissed her cheek. She turned to her right side.
I should think of a solution as soon as possible.
✓✓✓
Nick walked to the living room and was met by the cry of Regina. Cynthia tried to comfort her but it only made things worse. He asked where Trevor was. He had left early that morning, saying he was going for an interview at a certain restaurant. Nick took Regina into his arms and cooed her. She continued crying and he took the remote, turned on the television and tuned in to a business channel. Cynthia walked to the kitchen and got Regina's bottle of milk. She handed it to Nick who tried feeding her but she did not stop crying and hitting the bottle. Nick gave up and handed Regina over to Cynthia. She fed her and surprisingly, Regina stopped crying and drank the milk. Nick watched as Cynthia fed her.
" If you knew what to do to stop her from crying, why did you not do it sooner?"
" The milk was hot so I had to wait for it to be cool."
Nick turned back to the television and silence covered the room as Cynthia fed Regina and Nick watched the business news.
Nick thought about Ivy. His eyes were on the television but his mind was on Ivy. He wondered what he did wrong. To him, Ivy might have chosen to go along with Roel as the doctors explained. If it was true, what could be her reasons? Was she threatened? Was Nick the problem? He did not think so. He had talked to her very well before she gave birth. She did not seem off in any way or angry at him. But why would she leave with his brother?
Regina stretched her arms towards Nick. Cynthia smiled and took her to Nick. He carried her and she slept in his arms peacefully. He smiled while looking down at her.
