Gently into the good night

Chapter 32- Reunite for the better?

Two months later......

It's 5th march and it's Paul's birthday. I dreamt about him last night, it almost felt too real .Both of us as children back at home. My heart feels broken and all I want to do is give him a hug. I feel nostalgic and a little grumpy but now I've learnt to accept that we'll never meet and there is nothing I can do.

"Good morning. Here is your tea" Chris says kissing my cheek and giving me a cup of tea. I nod and silently go sit near the window.

"Hey are you okay?" he asks sitting beside me. I nod and look at his curious and worried eyes. "It's Paul's birthday" I say softly but he catches my words.

"Who is Paul?" he asks

"My older brother. I miss him" I say with a small smile. Chris pulls me into his chest gently stroking my hair. "I'll take you to him. Where is he? I am sure he loves you and misses you. I don't know what happened with your family, you never talk about it but whatever it is it'll be fine" Chris says placing a kiss on my forehead. The rest of the morning we sit and talk about all the memories of our family.

He talks to me about his parents who were long gone. How his mother would take him to school every day and how he would go fishing with his father. "Mom and I would walk along the lake behind our house and she would tell me about her childhood. I always think of her and wonder would think be different if she was here? Maybe it would be better, I can't tell but I know she would love you. So would dad" he says squeezing my hand a little.

"I am sure she would" I say flashing him a small smile and placing my head on his shoulder.

The doorbell rings and we are forced to abandon this beautiful moment and are obliged to entertain whoever it is.

It is Peter.

"Where is Christopher? That moron will get us late" he says barging in. He looks at Chris and Chris raises his eyebrow in question. Within a second realisation hits and his expression changes to panic and he runs upstairs to the bedroom cursing under his breath.

"What just happened?" I ask Peter who is perfectly dressed in a formal suite with his hair neatly combed and cologne sprayed.

"We have to finalise a lot of things with the manager and we are already an hour late. Christopher told me to wait at home and that he would pick me up but look at him" I giggle a little. It reminds me of Bethany and I. We were always arguing on the stupidest things and she was always the more responsible one. Stop thinking about it it's never going to happen.

After a few more minutes Chris comes down running and Peter pulls his arms and drags him to the door.

"Bye" He says and gives me a quick kiss before vanishing into the car.

~*~

I am walking through the market and selecting my groceries for the week. As I roam around the market searching for all the things on my list.

"Have you seen this girl?" A voice says behind me.

"She is about this tall" another familiar voice joins in.

"Sorry sir, we have too many customers to remember if she is one of them. But we will let you know if we find her" the vendor behind me says.

"Thank you" another voice joins in. The mumble between themselves and begin walking away. There voice sounds awfully familiar. I've heard this voice somewhere. I silently follow them as they ask vendors and random people on the road. Then suddenly one of them turns back and with one swift motion I turn and begin to walk in the opposite direction. I hear the footsteps follow me.