She is a foreigner

When I walked into my home two days later, the confetti went off and all the staff cheered and clapped at my surprise.

I turned to them with a smile and bowed humbly as Kan pulled me close by his side, hugging me. 

We had to keep up the image that all was well with us.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling at everyone and looking at the WELCOME HOME sign, the balloons, the ribbons. My eyes fell on Oliver, who was sleeping in my father’s arms.

I hurried towards him.

“Hi baby,” I said gently, moving behind my father to stare in my son’s face. 

He startled up at my voice, looking around and then his eyes found mine.

“MA MA”

“Yes, my baby.” I pouted as my father transferred him into my arms. “Thank you,” I said, with a slight bow as my eyes scanned his face for signs of exhaustion. 

I knew Oliver could be a handful, and solely caring for him would exhaust anyone.

But my father still seemed bright-eyed. He raised his hand to pat my hair, and seemed to remember we did not have a normal relationship and put it back down.

I turned away quickly as the memory of the pain in his eyes when he confronted Blaine flashed through my mind. 

He was really proving he cared about me. But why did he not do so earlier?

I bounced Oliver in her arms, and he giggled, staring at me and already messing with my hair. 

I placed my nose against his neck and inhaled the sweet fresh baby scent.

“I miss you so much, my pumpkin.” 

Oliver let out a high laugh from my nose, tickling his neck. Kan smiled as he walked up to us with a cake. 

I smiled at the WELCOME written across the cake. 

I glanced at Oliver to urge him to blow the candle out, but he was leaning in already and blowing it out.

I laughed as everyone around laughed and cheered. He had learned to do that from his first birthday and now could never resist blowing out a candle. 

I went down the hallway, to the round-shaped, outdoor courtyard. 

The large outdoor space had a beautiful floor of trimmed live grass, one large tree that served as a giant umbrella from the sun and rain, and a nice selection of outdoor furniture. 

I took a seat in one of the cane chairs and settled Oliver in my lap.

The housekeeper showed up with the cake all cut up on a platter. another maid followed closely behind, pushing a wheeled tray containing different meals.

I noticed my father standing by the entrance and I nodded at him with a smile. 

He smiled back and walked in to sit beside me.

I watched the maids make the table in front of us and wondered where Kan was and what he was up to this time.

“We can eat together today, Mr Grigor.” I smiled at him shyly, and he smiled back gently. 

I had thought about many things during my stay at the hospital. One, if I had died on the floor of the room that day, would I have regretted refusing to share a meal with my father?

Yes. I would have.

I ate while simultaneously feeding Oliver. 

My father offered to do that, but I politely declined. I had been without my son for so long and missed him so much.

I had just kissed Oliver’s temple when I heard my father say, “Kan is not his father.”

I almost choked on my food. 

“What do you mean?” I asked, with a frown. “Oliver has blond hair.” 

I could not meet his eyes.

“Has Kan always dyed his hair?” My father said gently and I grimaced. 

If he had seen through that, does it mean everyone would see it immediately?

“Yes.” I replied quietly in defeat. I should be able to trust my own father with this secret. “His mother has blonde hair too.”

“So she is a foreigner,” he said, and I was not sure that I liked his tone.

“As am I.” I said. “As my mother was.” I looked up at him, not finishing the sentence.

He smiled mischievously and looked away, and for some reason his smile was infectious, and it had me smiling too. 

Finding my father again, and getting to know him, I saw he was a really cool man.

I wondered what must have gone wrong then between him and my mother, that he could just disappear like that? 

Why would a man like this be so cruel?

Well, I have only spent a few days with him. It would be unwise to just jump to conclusions like that.

“He has the Tucker boy’s eyes.”

I looked up in alarm, almost asking how he had realized that, but I remembered his confrontation with Blaine in the hospital hallway. 

I looked away in deep thoughts.

If my father had realized it immediately, it meant that Blaine would realize it the day he set eyes on Oliver. Even more reason why I should make sure it never happened.

“I think he is on to you.” He said, “Some suspicious people have tried to get in here under false pretexts.”

I looked at the old man beside me and for one moment I wondered if the man I thought I knew was really the man sitting here now. 

He was way more observant than the average person, although he was always so quiet and calm.

“You should not deprive a man who wants to care for his son.” He continued calmly.

“Care? Oliver is just another pawn to his inheritance. Blaine does not care about anyone but himself and maybe his mother,” I said hotly in one breath, surprised at how intense I suddenly got. 

Oliver threw his head back to look at me, his mouth slack in surprise.

I smiled at him and kissed his cheek, and he looked away again, digging his tiny fist into the cake and coming away with clumps, leaving crumbs behind everywhere.

“You don’t know these people,” I said more quietly.

“And by these people you mean your husband too?” My father looked up at me. I frowned.

“Don’t you like Kan?”

My father shook his head. “He can be really loving and gentle. And he is an impressive young man.” 

I blushed unintentionally at my father, praising Kan like that. And all accurate descriptions.

“Then what bothers you about him?” I asked, suddenly realizing we were now speaking like father and daughter. 

These were the most words we had ever exchanged between us.

He shook his head. “Tell me about these people first.” He turned to me. “I want to know all about these giants of the country.”