CHAPTER 6: That's why you love me

CHAPTER 6: That's why you love me

Sarah hurried into the school premises with a lot of fear and anxiety. She would not be able to take it if anything happened to any of her babies. She almost tripped on her heels, but continued her journey to the children's classroom despite the dull ache in her ankle.

“Mommy!” Robyn exclaimed as soon as she saw her mother.

Sarah hastily picked up the upset child and held her to her bosom. Robyn's little sniffles reduced as she held tightly to her mother with her tiny chubby hands. Sarah gently pulled her away, and held her back to peer into her face.

“Are you okay,honey? Miss Glenda called, and I was so worried. What happened?” She tenderly asked the upset little girl.

Robyn rubbed at her eyes, and looked down at her hands that she was wringing together. Olivia noticed this and knew that her daughter was distressed.

“Come on, baby. Talk to mommy.”

“I was scared and very lonely. There are so many people, and I don't know them. Nobody in my class wants to be my friend. I want to go home. I want uncle Benny.”

Sarah's heart ached for her little girl. She knew the move would affect the children, but she was not prepared to see her baby upset.

Sarah gently caressed the toddler's face and hair. “I know this is difficult for you, baby. I know you miss your former school and your friends. Mommy is really sorry about that, but I promise you, you will make new friends soon. Everything will be fine, my baby. Okay?”

Robyn did not look too convinced, but she nodded hesitantly, hanging on to her mother's words. Maybe if she shared her snack with the girl sitting behind her tomorrow, they might become friends.

“That's my girl,” Sarah beamed. “Now give mommy a big smile.”

Robyn cracked a small close lipped smile, causing Sarah to frown playfully. “That's not a big smile. Come on, smile for mommy,” she added, and tickled the little girl, causing her to cackle with laughter, exposing her missing teeth. Robyn tried helplessly to dodge her mother's attacks.

Relieved that her daughter was okay, Sarah stopped tickling the laughing child. “Is my baby happy now?”

Robyn nodded with a wide smile, exposing her missing teeth, that made her look so adorable–her problems long forgotten.

Sarah got up from her squatting position before the child, and hoisted her up on her hip.

“Where is Liam?” Her eyes darted around the room for signs of her son. In her rush to get to Robyn, Liam had briefly skipped her mind.

“Miss Glenda went to fetch him,” Robyn replied, playing with her mother's hair.

“Mommy!”

Sarah looked up in time to see Liam break out of Miss Glenda's hold, and run towards her, throwing his little body unto her.

“Hello, my baby.”

Sarah Houston him up on her other hip, carrying both children at the same time. She had gotten used to holding them at the same time over time.

“How was school today, baby?”

“It was awesome. I made a lot of friends,” he chirped excitedly, making Robyn's face fall a little. Sarah noticed this, and tried to cheer her up, but Liam beat her to it.

“Are you okay,Robbie?” Liam queried, touching his sister's face.

Robyn shook. “I don't have any friends yet.”

Liam became quiet, and thought about it for a while, then his face suddenly brightened up in a smile. “We can share my friends. Don't be sad anymore, Robbie.”

Robyn nodded eagerly, her beautiful eyes wild with enthusiasm and joy. “Thank you, Liam.”

Signing with relief and pride, Sarah crushed the children in her arms into a bone crushing hug. The children whined in protest.

“You’re crushing us, mommy,” Liam whined, pushing his mother away.

Miss Glenda moved towards the happy trio. “Hello, Miss Tanner.”

Sarah looked up to address the teacher. “Hello Miss Glenda. Thank you very much for today.”

“You're welcome,ma'am.” She turned to Liam and Robyn. “Bye, kids. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye miss Glenda,” the kids chorused.

“We’ll go ahead now.”

“Okay, ma'am.”

Later that night, the twins were preparing for bed, and Sarah was cleaning the dishes in the kitchen when her phone rang. She wiped her hands on a kitchen rag and made for the phone on the dining table. She limped lightly from the tripping incident at the children's school earlier in the day.

“Hello,Benicio.” She unconsciously winced lightly as she settled on the couch.

“Hey. Are you okay?” He queried worriedly. “Is something wrong?”

“No. It's nothing serious,” she replied inspecting her slightly swollen ankle. “I just had a minor injury to my ankle.”

“What? What happened?”

“I was rushing to the children's school, and I almost tripped. I guess I didn't realise that I hurt my ankle at that point.”

Benicio relaxed a bit, but concern still dripped from his voice. “Be more careful next time. Have you put some ice on it?”

Sara sighed, and leaned back on the couch. “Not yet. I haven't had the time. The kids and I just finished dinner. They're getting ready for bed, and I'm tidying up in the kitchen. It's been crazy.” She groaned in frustration. “I miss the feeling of having everything in order and in place. Moving is so stressful, and such a hassle.”

There was a pause from Benicio's end. “You could come back, you know?”

“We already talked about this, Benicio. I’m doing this.”

Benicio sighed deeply. “You are one stubborn lady, you know that?”

Sarah grinned. “That's why you love me.”

Benicio paused, a bit stunned. She had no idea how close to the truth she was.

Sarah frowned at the silence. “Benicio? Are you there?”

He snapped back to reality, and cleared his throat awkwardly. “Yes. I am here. So, how did the meeting go?”

Sarah immediately had flashbacks of her encounter with Edward at the company. He was still the same domineering, and heartless intimidating man she remembered. It's a good thing she was no longer the same timid, scared and impressionable young girl she was.

“Sarah? Are you still there?”

Sarah jolted back to the present, blinking rapidly to dispel her thoughts.

“Yes. I'm still here. The meeting went well. I saw him today.”

Benicio went quiet. He knew that this would happen, but he did not expect it to happen this fast. But wait a minute! Was she referring to who he thought she was?

“Him. Who?”

“Edward,” she answered flatly.

Benicio was surprised. “How?”

Sarah sighed deeply. “Apparently he owns Apex Aviation.”

“What? How the hell did I not know this?”

“Your assistant did a shitty job at background information,Ben.”

Benicio exhaled deeply. “Okay. It's fine. It's not too late. We can still terminate the contract.” He was willing to go that far to protect Sarah from Edward.

Sarah sighed, and rubbed her temples tiredly. “We can't. It's going to taint our company's reputation for future business partnerships. Besides, I won't be working directly with him. He's not involved with the project. Plus, he is very influential and respected; he could cause problems for the company.”

Benicoo got suspicious. “Did he say something to you?”

“Nothing I can't handle. Don't worry, Ben,” she assured him.

Benicio could not help feeling worried. “I’m serious, Sarah. We can cancel. I don't want him bothering you and the kids.”

“Don't worry. I can handle him. However–” she paused. “There’s something I certainly need?”

“What is that? Just say it.”

Sarah groaned. “A housekeeper. I feel like I'm losing my mind. It's only been a few days but I can't seem to get everything in order around the house. The unboxing, the cleaning. Taking care of the kids, and work. It's too much,” she groaned, gripping her hair in frustration.

“You said you were making provisions for a live-in housekeeper, right?”

“Yes. Irene made arrangements with the agency. They said they would send over the applicants tomorrow for the interview.”

“Oh that's great. At least you can get some relief soon.”

“Yes, that would be marvelous.” She paused, and continued. “It would actually be nice if you were here.”

Benicio's face morphed into a smile. “I could fly there as soon as tomorrow if you would want that,” he casually suggested, although he was praying that she would say yes.

Sarah smiled warmly. “That would be wonderful, but no. I know you have so much to do with the projects and deals the company is handling currently. I know the kids would be super thrilled to have you here, but you are needed over there.”

Benicio's face fell with disappointment, but he tried to mask it from his tone. “Alright, if you say so. Are the kids awake? I want to say goodnight.”

“Hold on. I’ll check.”

Sarah got off the couch, and slowly limped to the children's room. She saw them about to get in bed, already dressed in their pjs.

“It's Uncle Benicio,” she announced with a smile, waving the phone at them.

Both children scampered out excitedly.

“Uncle, Benicio?”

“Mommy, I want to talk to him.”

“Okay, my darlings. Get in bed, and I'll put him on speaker.”

The children got in bed, and Sarah put the phone on speaker, and settled on the bed watching them with a smile.

“Hi,Uncle Benicio,” Liam called excitedly.

“When are you coming, Uncle Benicio? I miss you so much,” Robyn asked a little sadly.

Benicio smiled at the sound of their voice. He loved them a lot and he missed them greatly already.

“Hi Liam. Hello princess. I miss you guys so much. I'll be coming over soon to visit you, princess. I promise. Uncle Benicio is also very lonely, and he has nobody to play with anymore,” he complained dramatically.

Robyn felt bad for her uncle. He was lonely, and had no friends anymore or anybody to play with–just like her.

“Uncle Benicio, you are just like Robbie. She has no friends too,” Liam informed.

“Is that true,Princess?”

“Yes,” Robyn answered in a low voice.

Sarah caressed her beautiful soft curls. She was worried that she was still a tad bit affected.

“Don't worry, princess. You're going to have a lot of friends soon. You know why?”

Robyn shook her head. “No.”

“Because you are the sweetest, kindest, and most beautiful little girl in the whole wide world.”

Robyn smiled widely.

“And anybody would want to be friends with you. So just give them time, princess. They are just being shy. Once they see how magical you are, they would all want to be your friends.”

“You promise?”

“Yes,princess. I promise.”

“I can share my friends with you and Uncle Benicio,Robbie. Don't be sad anymore,” Liam offered, patting his sister's hair.

Robbie smiled and nodded at her, and Sarah felt her heart expand with joy and pride.

“That's my boy. Thank you, Liam. Am proud of you,” he praised the toddler with genuine pride and happiness.

The little boy's grin widened at the praise, and he puffed his chest in pride. “Don't worry, uncle Benicio. I'll take care of mom and Robbie.”

“That's good Liam. Very brave of you. I miss you guys so much. I love you. Take care of mommy, and listen to her, okay? Don't give her a hard time.”

“Okay, Benicio. Good night Uncle Benicio,”they chorused.

“Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”

Sarah picked up the phone. “Okay,Benicio. It's been a long day. I have to tuck them in, and retire for the night. I feel like I'm dead on my feet,” she groaned.

“Alright. Remember to call me and keep me updated—and please make sure you attend to that ankle.”

“Yes,chief,” she teased with a salute. “Goodnight, Benicio.”

“Okay, good-night.”

Sarah dropped the phone and tucked the children into the bed. She finished the dishes in the kitchen, and returned to her bedroom. She had just stepped out of the shower, when her phone rang. Tying the sash of her bathrobe tighter around herself, she picked the call.

“Irene? It's late already. Did something happen?”

Irene had moved with Sarah to handle the partnership and project with Apex Aviations. She had been very helpful to Sarah with the move, and the settling in.

“Madam, I just got an email from Mr James Dover's secretary. There's someone who will join, and supervise the project.”

Sarah's brows pinched. “I don't understand. I was not informed of this, and it was not stated in the contract. Who is this person?”

“The CEO. Mr Edward Van Huxley.”

Sarah felt a mixture of anger,foreboding and anxiety. This could not be happening. The last thing she wanted was to be in close proximity with Edward.

“There’s more, madam?”

“What Irene?” she snapped.

“He canceled the agreement of using a liaison officer between the two companies. The executives of both companies involved in the project would have to work together physically from one company building,effective from tomorrow.”

“What?”