Culpables years later...

Chapter 25

Noah

After last night's party, it was pretty weird. Maggie didn't realise that Nick and I had broken up. Since Nick  had the conversation with her, he could decide for himself what to tell her. He just said that we needed a break and that I had slept with someone else. Since Lion had told the big story, Nick had to tell her. Unfortunately. Maggie didn't say it, but I could see how she looked at me differently now. I had hurt her big brother. I just had to give her time to process it. Nick was so disappointed in Lion that he was almost angry. We had spoken briefly about him the other day, but he had blocked it. I accepted that he didn't want to talk about it, but it hurt me to see him and Lion like that.

The three of us were shopping for our new house. Nick said I could set everything up however I wanted, but I didn't want to make the decision on my own. So I took my two boys shopping. Andy was in such a good mood since yesterday, telling everyone he was going to be a big brother and would take care of her so much. Nick was also very excited about the gender of our baby, only the Lion thing was distracting him. So my job was to get him to think differently. And how could that be other than shopping? By the time we got to the store, Andy was already freaking out at the entrance. So many things for the house and toys. ,,Mom? Can I look around?" ,,Yeah, honey. Just stay close." Excited, he ran to the toys, and Nick and I stayed behind. ,,Where's Steve?" Nick took my hand and walked with me through the store just behind Andrew.

,,He's always in the background. He's always close behind us in his car, a new tactic that Michael uses to catch us and we can surprise him. The police can't get ahead." It wasn't a bad idea, just Michael was always one ahead of us. I put on a smile and walked around the store with Nick. ,,You know what surprises me? That you go shopping voluntarily. I remember times when you hated shopping." 

Nick laughed and kissed my hand. ,,Well. I'll do anything for my family." I laughed, and together we had a great day. It was a successful day. We managed to find a lot for the house and for ourselves. After a long shopping trip, we decided to go for some nervous food. The baby needed a lot of sugar. Then there was a party in my stomach. So we went to a sweet little cafe that reminds you of Paris. We ordered ice cream from the menu, and even Nick ate a lot of it. Just as we were about to pay, an old acquaintance got in the way. Briar was standing at our table with Ronnie. Nick looked at them both open-mouthed, and so was I. ,,Dad, who are they?" ,,He's grown so big. Unbelievable. Hey you two. We wanted to say hello." 

,,Hey Leister and Morgan. And Junior Leister." What happened here? Nick paused and looked at both of them in turn. Briar and Ronnie looked at each other in love, and that was the answer.

Wow. I didn't think that. ,,You know, after rehab, I was looking at what was good for me and then suddenly I met Ron. Obviously neither of us was perfect, but together we learned to love and do good. We both know we've done a lot to each other, but we want to put that behind us." 

,,As long as you're happy. You deserve to be happy, too. And, by the way, Ronnie? I'm still driving better than you." He laughed and nodded at me. ,,Good luck to you and all the best." Nick looked at me mischievously and raised his hand to say goodbye. As they left, I looked up to Nick, who didn't seem quite clear. "Who was that Mummy?" I looked up to Nick who seemed to be pondering what to answer. "It were old friends, Andy."  It didn't seem long before he turned to his toy. "You know, Nick, I think I've seen it all."

Instead of driving back to the leister property, we drove back to our old house to say goodbye. So we could have a good start on our new home.

When we arrived, you could see how we were all feeling. There was silence. We had all been through a lot in this house, not always good things, but for the most part. Andy was on Nick's shoulders and Nick's hand in mine. We'd be handing over the keys tomorrow. I remembered the afternoon when Nick showed me the house and said it was a gift for me so I could graduate. I remembered the kidnapping, Andy's first birthday, my graduation party, Nick's birthdays where one of them went full throttle. Or the romantic moments. Where I came home from uni one night and the whole house was full of blue roses and candles. Andy was at our parents' house and Nick had a lovely dinner with me and made love a few times. There are so many memories and now we have to be ready for a fresh start. The four of us. We walked around the house one last time, meticulously marking each room. ,,It's served us well." ,,I know. It's just hard to let go. I mean, we've been through so much. Andy lived his first years here and we could watch him grow up." Nick pulled me over to him and Andy and we all paused. It was time to let go.

After saying goodbye to our old house, we drove to our new one. The first changes were already taking place. Craftsmen and painters were already busy working for us, and the first furniture was already in some rooms. Slowly, it took shape. Andy didn't know what he liked the Most about the situation. That he would be a big brother, that he would get a bigger room with a huge garden or directly the ocean on his doorstep to surf. Nick was just as happy to have the sea on his doorstep. The two of them bonded over their passion for surfing. I was completely out of it. I was never going to get on a surfboard again. So I was hoping my daughter would have the same hobbies as me and we could do them together like Nick and our son. What Nick was looking forward to was his office. Of course, he had a small one in the old house, but he wanted to expand. His own retreat. With a little bar and a couch and all that. I didn't get involved.

And me? I was looking forward to the baby room and the rest of the house. I wanted to plant something in the garden, our bathroom with a giant tub and rain shower, and our room with a big bed so all the kids could go to bed with us.

My personal highlight is my own little library. With all my favourite novels and works of literature. Nick always shakes his head and says I read so much. That's a good thing, isn't it? I don't let him bother me. I mean, there's nothing wrong with reading, right? It promotes education and the imagination.