Sun & Sea - Book 2

Sun & Sea - A new beginning

Both Arthit and his mother were deemed fine to go by the medical team, with control appointments of their wounds, and since Arthit wanted to cut the costs, they departed as soon as they got medical approval, not before visiting their father and husband all together. His condition was stable, and he still hadn't woken up. M would have wanted to stay with him, but they had to find new ways to refund the debts they had.

Arthit was the one to lead the way to Talay's house, who was waiting for them there, still dealing with the last preparations for their stay. He rang the bell, and Talay was very quick to answer it, as if he had been waiting for them. He looked a bit anxious though, shifting from one foot to another, wondering if they would like the place, if it was clean enough. He had the help of a maid to tidy the house, the only staff from this house he could trust of his father's employees.

In truth, he had nothing to worry about, everyone looked amazed at the place. Arthit's family, because they hadn't lived in such huge spaces for six years, and Kao, coming along as the family's foster child, jumping everywhere and exclaiming before such riches. His enthusiasm made everyone laugh.

Arthit was walking a bit behind them, to let them enjoy their first time in this house he had already been to. Talay approached him stealthily to murmur in his ear:

"You should show some surprise, or they'll know you've been here before..."

Arthit turned at him with a frown. "Stop it!" He said, slapping silently Talay's arm. Talay quietly chuckled. But he knew he was right, and Arthit too, so Arthit walked closer to his family and tried to copy their exclamations. Talay was smiling. He walked forward too, brushing against Arthit when he passed by him.

"If all of you would please follow me to your quarters," he invited them grandly, and led the way up the stairs.

They arrived in a long corridor, almost looking like a hotel. Talay opened a first door:

"Here are our guests rooms for important customers." He paused. "I'm sorry, I did my best, to be honest we don't really have guests." He looked a bit sad. "Those were all storage rooms, but I did my best to turn them into suitable bedrooms."

He was holding his hands behind his back to hide them so no one would see him twist them with stress. Would they like them? He was so intent on checking their reactions, everyone scrutinizing the room, that he didn't notice Arthit hadn't gone in yet. He startled when Arthit covered his hands with his, standing next to him.

"It's ok, we'll be fine. Thank you already so much for what you're doing for us." He smiled gently at Talay, who suddenly felt uneasy and broke the contact, holding his hands at his side again. Arthit looked hurt and Talay felt even worse.

"Huh... Let's move to the next one!"

And he opened the doors to a room for everyone, letting them choose which room they preferred. He had furnished them all with a bed, a night desk and a wardrobe filled with luxury clothes, so they could pass for an important family that shouldn't be messed up with. It was frugal, but he hadn't had time to do more. Arthit looked at him from afar, still wondering about why Talay had reacted so vividly while they had been so close before, and slowly caught up with everyone. Maybe he was just stressed out by them moving in. Also, Arthit had surprised him. He was probably overthinking, so he decided to let go. About the room, he didn't really care about which to choose, so he would be fine with anything his siblings and mother would decide.

He ended up with the one closest to the stairs, Mek next to him, then Nubdao, and they had given the furthest one to their mother, so she wouldn't be too bothered by noises and could rest better. Their installation was quick, too, because they had brought nothing along with them, everything had disappeared within the fire that had taken their house and their little brother and son.