FLOWER

Chapter Sixteen

Days went by and Cleopatra's smile became as radiant as the sun,she still didn't go out much but when she did,she made the best out of it,Theodore on the other hand tried his best to make her happy when he was around and Evelyn kept her busy,Maria had come to visit a few times,and she was shocked at how happy her Madam was.
Cleopatra was loved and cared for like a gem,she didn't ask but was given,she didn't wish but was granted, everything was on her beck and call.

Even as she sat on the grasses with her head rested on Theodore's shoulders she felt truly at peace.

"You are quiet,is there something wrong". Theodore asked as he stroked her hair.

"I just love it here,but I know I'll have to go back,Theodore I don't want to go back". She said softly as she played with his fingers.

"You don't have to go back". Theodore said as Cleopatra laughed, she had started doing that more often.

"I am married Theodore,Aaron might not love me but he knows this,he's expecting me to come back". Cleopatra said,she still felt pain anytime she remembered Aaron's name.

"Do you want to go back". Theodore asked, even he didn't want her to go back,he hadn't exactly told her he loved her because he knew she belonged to another,but seeing her speak about Aaron was hurting.

"No". Cleopatra said as she looked at Theodore and smiled,she had gotten used to him so quickly,he was always so kind to her.

"Do you want me to leave". Cleopatra asked as she touched his cheeks,his skin was so warm and soft she wanted to touch it forever.

"No". He said as he kissed her fingers and she giggled.

Somehow she knew she had feelings for him but she didn't know what it was.

During the evening Theodore got a call from his family doctor that Evelyn his mother had stopped taking her medications or adhering to her treatment,the doctor warned that if the situation continued Theodore might loose his mother .This made Theodore unhappy and majorly disappointed, he hadn't been keeping a close eye on her,and she always assured that she was responding to treatment, it was all a lie and he held himself accountable for it.
He sat on the porch and closed his eyes,he had learnt that from Cleopatra,he gripped the railings and frowned,all he could feel was hurt, he felt he had failed as a son,he always thought he could take care of his mother even after his father's death, but now he felt he had failed not only his mother but his late father.

A soft hand stroked his back and massaged his temples, he opened his eyes and found Cleopatra smiling at him.

"You're frowning,is there something wrong". Cleopatra asked repeating his sentence at the garden.

"Its nothing". Theo said,he knew Cleopatra had her own problems,he didn't want to bother her with his.

"Tell me Theodore". Cleopatra whispered as she touched his chin and looked into his magnificent eyes.

"My mother is sick,I should have noticed but I.....I didn't, I feel like I have failed her as a son". Theodore spoke barely audibly but Cleopatra heard every word,she wanted to make him feel better,to make him understand that somethings are above his ability,she liked that he loved to be in control but she wanted to him to understand that he didn't always have to be so in control of everything,that he could still share his pain.

So she did what she thought was best,she held him by his collar and kissed him ferociously like she was sending a message that he didn't need to carry every problem on his shoulder,that she was there for him as long as she could.
After they broke apart for air she rested her head on his chest and sniffed his cologne with her eyes closed,while he rubbed her back,and together they watched the moon.

Not caring about the troubles ahead,because they had faith that love would supersede.