8. Shock

GENESIS

It had been a month since Elon switched to homeschool. He had even become more lively with Lana — his teacher — around. The lady was a sweetheart and even Genesis liked to chat with her whenever she took a break from Elon's classes. It was like a breath of fresh air having someone to relate to amidst the strangeness of the staff in that house.

Lana was packing up now as she was done with the day's work. "You're a smart kid, Elon." She remarked. "Continue like this and you'd be ahead of your peers in no time."

"Thank you." Elon smiled.

"Alright, let me be on my way. I promised to make my kids burritos for dinner." Lana waved her goodbye and rushed out of the room.

Genesis was all smiles when she looked at the boy, but it dropped as soon as she saw that he was looking sullen, lost in thought.

"Elon?" She called but did not get any response.

"Elon?" She tried again and all she got back was silence.

So she poked his arm with her finger and that seemed to do the trick. He was drawn back to reality and he blinked at her.

"Hm?"

"You were lost, I was calling you." She said to him. "What's the matter? You seem down."

"Oh, it's nothing." He shook his head forcing a smile. "It's just..."

"It's just what?"

"My mom used to make that. It just reminded me of her." He gave a tight-lipped smile, one that did not reach his eyes.

"Burritos?"

"Yes." He nodded and smiled. "Hers was the best I've ever had."

She breathed. Her heart went out to the boy. She could not imagine what it felt like to miss the presence of a mother at such a young age. Then an idea popped in her head on how she could possibly brighten his mood.

"Would you like me to make you one for dinner?" She asked him, smiling softly. He was supposed to be following a diet plan, but one cheat meal would not hurt, right?

His eyes widened. "You know how to make it?"

"Yes." She nodded and laughed. "I learned it from my grandmother back home. It's a pretty good recipe."

"I'll decide that." He laughed heartily, drawing laughter out of her too.

"I'll make it, and rate it on a scale of ten. Deal?" She presented her hand for a handshake.

He took it, his smile still on his face. "Deal."

***DANTE'S POV***

He was going to check up on his son when he heard laughter coming from the room. It was not the kind, no. It sounded like one that came from deep within, radiating happiness like he had not felt from his son in a long time. The door was left ajar, so he took a look inside as discreetly as he could. Then he saw that it was the nurse that must have been responsible for that laughter.

At this point, he could no longer be surprised. Elon had let her farther than he let anybody else. And even though he was a little bit jealous, a warm feeling engulfed his chest as we watched his son be happy. It touched him that, despite the unfortunate circumstances, the boy still had joy within.

He decided not to go in. He was sure that his presence would ruin that moment as the nurse always looked like she was about to explode whenever she was near him. So he took the stairs and entered the kitchen to get some water. It was not like he was actually thirsty, he just did not feel like getting back in the confines of his home office.

He poured himself a glass of water and stared outside the window, at the backyard. He recalled playing with Elon in that open space a few months back. Within himself, he hoped they would be able to do that again, that his son would run around like he used to.

He was engrossed in his inner wishes that he did a notice the new presence in the kitchen. And when she put on the tap, he jerked and looked behind him with wide eyes.

"What are you doing here?" His voice came out harsher than he intended. But it was not like he really cared how it made her feel.

"I was going to make some dinner for Elon. But I'll leave if I'm intru—"

"It's fine." He cut her off, letting out a sigh. He should not be rude to someone trying her best to help his son, that was the least he could do. "The kitchen is all yours."

He felt a little bit strange saying that to her as the kitchen was his wife's favourite place in the whole house. He shook his head lightly, deciding not to think too much of it.

"Should I make you a wrap too?"

He dragged his gaze to her at that question. She was staring at him innocently as she dried her hands.

"A wrap of what?" He asked her.

"Burritos."

One of his brows rose at her response. He eyed her from head to toe and then he asked. "You're sure you can make them?"

"Yes." She nodded, forcing a little smile. It was very obvious that she was uncomfortable in his presence. He did not blame her though, he had not given her one reason to be calm around him since they met.

"Hmm." He chugged down what was left of the glass of water. "Then I'd like to try some."

"Okay." She walked over to the fridge and pantry area and started selecting some ingredients.

He turned around again and faced the backyard. He was well aware that she would rather have him out of the kitchen, but it was his house after all, and he was going to stand wherever he wanted.

After a while of listening to her stirring and cutting, he began to perceive an appealing aroma, one that had him inhaling a lungful of air. No, it was not exactly like the one he used to perceive while his wife cooked, but it reminded him of her all the same. He couldn't help it, so he turned back.

"Where did you learn to make this?" The question was already out of his mouth before he could catch himself.

"I learned it from my grandmother." She responded as she poured some rice into the sieve that she had placed in the sink.

'It smells lovely.' He wanted to say, but his ego did not let him. Instead, he nodded and turned around, doing his best to pretend like he was not dying to taste the meal. In fact, he was already salivating, so he was doing a lot of swallowing as he stared out to his backyard.

A few minutes passed of him bearing the assault of the aroma, then he heard a phone ring. It had to be hers, he would rather roll in mud than have a Taylor Swift song set as his ringtone. From the corner of his eye, he saw her excuse herself to the backyard to receive her call. He almost laughed, she was one of those people that believed that receiving a call in the kitchen would lead to an explosion.

He was there, still looking out the window when she came back in and called out to him.

"Sir?"

He turned to the side to look at her. "What is it?"

"The agency wants to exchange me with another nurse." She took two steps towards him, making sure to keep a reasonable distance between them. "They reckon that my skills and qualifications match another patient's needs more than they do with Elon."

"What—" He restrained himself from flaring up. Why!? Why did they have to do this now that his son had gotten so used to Genesis. No doubt, the news of her leaving would leave the kid in shambles. "Is there nothing that can be done?"

"None that I know of."

"What if I pay more to keep you here?" He hated that he seemed to desperate to have her around. But he was not ready to see his son fall back into his shadow again.

"The agency takes pride in providing the best match for patients. I doubt they'll agree to that." She explained, letting out a sigh.

He was so frustrated that he almost punched the wall. He breathed in and out, racking his brain for possible solutions. He could not let another important person be stripped away from his son just like that.

Just then, an idea popped into his head. It felt like the most stupid thing he had ever thought of and he wasn't even sure how to say it to her. But staying silent was not going to keep her here, so he said,

"The new nurse can come."

"Huh?" She looked confused and shocked. "The treatment with Elon, I'll have to stop if I leave—"

"You'll continue with it." He did even let her land. "I have a plan."

"And what's the plan?" She tilted her head, staring at him with hope. But all the light from her face vanished as soon as he spoke the following words:

"Marry me."