Beneath The Orange Sunset ✔️

48

~48~

After Maxime and Sebastian had left, Samuel face timed his sister. He needed to keep in touch with her more often. Joelene expressed her feelings about the lady who warned her about the stalker man. Samuel was interested in meeting her and probably extend his appreciation for the kind gestures. Luckily Joelene had photo saved in her phone gallery. She'd sent a photo of the lady to Samuel.

When Samuel saw the photo, he felt troubled but in a good way. He would never have believed that in a million years he would ever cross paths with Henrietta. It was just absurd to think of.

Henrietta... Tough girl.

Well, now that Henrietta was close to his sister, it's better to keep her closer. She might come in handy in the nearest future. Who knows?

Samuel soon got busy in the kitchen. He found some fresh carrots, garlic, Onion and pasta. Sebastian must be a great cook to have his kitchen all stocked up. Samuel didn't notice any maid or cook around the house.

With all these ingredients, Samuel decided to prepare spaghetti bolognese. It was the right meal for a cold day and not to mention spaghetti was one of Maxime's favorite so why not.

Speaking of Maxime, Samuel let memories of their first night in Sebastian's house roam through his head. He blamed his sudden burst of romantic energy on the atmosphere of the house. The house exuded some kind of sexual aura especially at night when the environment was in a state of quietude, the tension was even higher.

The swimming pool was one of such places. At night the lights around the area was yellow and dim. The flowers have been trimmed and designed like a maze garden. The dark sky seemed broodingly enchanting. The air whispered soft mesmerising words that only the skin could understand.

Samuel blinked back into reality when the onion he was chopping circulated its stinging gas to his eyes. He quickly rinsed his face. He brought the spaghetti to boil as he chopped tomatoes and parsley.

Samuel could see the pool through the large kitchen window. In fact the house was designed in such a way that you could see the pool from different angles. He caught himself smiling for no reason at all.

He suddenly wished he could afford a big beautiful house like this one. He imagined preparing a breakfast of eggs and toast bread while watching Maxime run around the flower maze with a little kid...

You need to work twice as hard.

"Samuel..."

Samuel looked up to see Maxime walking towards the kitchen. He barely heard the car sound or the door opening.

What was he thinking?

Samuel opened his arms and hugged  Maxime. "How are you?" he asked.

Maxime breathed. He gave Samuel a second look. "You're wearing an apron?"

"I'm cooking."

Maxime raised the pot lid and inhaled the steam. "Spagetti... Hmm, smells nice," He eyed Samuel again. "You get dressed up just to cook spaghetti?"

"Just admit that I look sexy."

"You don't." Maxime threw a piece of chopped carrot in his mouth.

Samuel smiled. He stirred in all the vegetables in another pot and covered it to simmer. He took off the apron and folded it.
"You came alone?"

"Yes. After picking Didi up from school, Sebastian dropped both of us. Now he is heading back to his office. He said he has major work to do on my case."

"He is going to be so busy this days."

"He told me everything, I will still tell you about that later. How is Joelene? Is she alright, with the stalker and all?"

"Yes. She made complaints about it to the police already," Samuel said. "Guess who warned her."

"I can't say right now, tell me."

"Henrietta,"

"Henrietta?" Maxime repeated. "Really?"

"She is the lady that warned Joelene about the man! It's literally a small world out there."

"And she has no idea Joelene is your sister."

"No idea."

Maxime shook his head in disbelief.
"I had a similar encounter today," he said. "A lot is happening that I can take in at a time. I feel like they're about to break me. Can you hold me, please."

Samuel wasted no time. He held the young man's hands and squeezed lightly. "What is it? Tell me."

Maxime breathed. He stared at Samuel's eyes. They somehow gave him strength and courage.
"Sebastian took me to go see someone somewhere in Longueville.  You wouldn't believe who?"

"Who?"

"Husein. Our driver."

Samuel did a double take.
"Wait, he survived?"

Maxime nodded. "He survived, he is on a wheel chair and he can't..." Maxime swallowed back anger. "He can't remember anything. Can't even remember me."

"How did that happen?"

"I don't know, I don't even want to hear the details. It hurts..." Maxime rubbed his chest with his left hand.

Samuel knew the bad memories was coming back. Seeing Husein in that situation must have erupted all the negative encounters with Emile. "Come here." Samuel let Maxime rest his weight on him. "It's okay."

"I don't know, we need to help him. I hate seeing him in that situation."

"I know. It's okay." Samuel looked at Maxime and gave him an assuring look. "If you want to help him, we will. Okay." Samuel bit his lower lip. Maxime's droopy eyes melted his heart. He didn't know why his long dark curls always got in the way. But that didn't stop him from cupping Maxime's face and planting a warm kiss on his lips.

"Are you two a couple?" A thin voice penetrated the air.

Both men turned their heads to find Didi staring at them with bright happy eyes. A big school bag was hung over her small shoulders.

"Yes," Maxime answered somewhat eyeing Samuel suspiciously. The kid was eleven years old. How could she have known they were a couple?

A couple?

"Who told you that?"

"My daddy."

"Daddy told you?"

Didi nodded amicably.
"You two," she wriggled two of her small fingers. "...look good together and I like it." She giggled and then waved before running up the stairs.

Maxime laughed. He tapped Samuel's chest. "What have you been telling her?"

"Nothing I promise."

"Didi... She just warmed my heart." Maxime rubbed his forehead absorbing the sweetness of her innocent words.

"You needed it right?"

"The warmth?" Maxime sighed. "Yes. I was feeling overwhelmed with everything." Maxime said. "Would you like to have one?" He picked a plate waiting for Samuel to bring down the spaghetti bolognese already.

"Kids? Of course, you know when you think about those times when they're no longer kids and you wish you can take back the hands of time."

"You feel that too?"

"Yes. I will totally sign up for anything that will make my kids remain kids forever. But they  grow up too fast."