Just A Step Away

Chapter 25

Katherine's POV:

"Where are we heading sunshine?" Darwin asked impatiently.

"You'll see. It's a surprise Darwin, so you need to calm down." I said bemused by his attitude. He is looking like a kid who just can't wait to get his gift from the Santa.

"You know it's been 2 hours since you're driving. Screw breakfast, it'll be lunch time after few minutes." he said the obvious.

"You were not interested in breakfast anyway." I wiggled my eyebrows to annoy him more.

I just loved taking out emotions out of him. He is going to love my surprise because I know his roots are stronger than mine. If I'm this much excited then you can't imagine his happiness after seeing that place.

I finally parked my car and faced Darwin. He was registering everything with frowned face but then soon he figured out.

"Kather- are we-" he opened and closed his mouth like a fish.

I laughed on his expressions.

He remembered this place.

I know. I smiled on his dumbfounded face. I stepped outside the car and he did the same.

I slowly walked towards him and took his hand in mine. Soon I got his attention with a puzzled look too.

"Darwin, remember this beach? We used to come here so often." I laughed at our memory as a little tear shed from my eye.

"Remember how you used to enjoy making houses for us?" I asked him with hope.

I felt his eyes soften when he tried to remember that time. He retrieved his hand from mine and started walking towards sea. I followed him and saw a slight smile on his face.

I smiled along with him, enjoying our small moment.

"Darwin? You remember right?" I cupped his face and asked again.

He looked straight in my eyes, searching God knows what. I observed something strange in him, for one minute he looked just like old Darwin but after a passing minute, he looked like a complete stranger.

He closed his eyes for a second and then gave me a humble look after opening them back.

"Yes sunshine, I remember. You loved my creations, my mud houses but you know, we are adults now and I bet you'll not-" I stopped him by placing my index finger on his lips.

"Sshh. I still love your creations." I said while looking straight in his eyes. I again got lost in his deep eyes. He was searching something in my eyes too. He was looking so deeply as if wanting to read my mind through it. I removed my hand from his lips.

"Darwin, you were the best creator then and you're the best creator even now. If not for everyone but definitely for me. And I've brought you here for our old times sake. I want you to built mud houses for me, for us. Like you used to make before." I smiled and took his hands in mine.

"Will you do this for me?" I asked him with my famous puppy eyes to pressurize him to say 'yes'.

He sighed deeply and smiled widely. "Of course Sunshine. Anything you say."

This made my smile widen even more.

"Thank you Darwin. Come let's start then." I did my victory dance, of course in my head as always. This is what I planned for him, to make him live the old moments again. I promised Aunt Marie that I will bring our old Darwin back. And for that, I should've started from somewhere.

I looked at him as he got busy in making the mud house. He looked so passionate when he built houses whether it be on mud, canvas or on anything.

"You are supposed to help me rather than just sitting and staring at me." Darwin smirked and said.