Nathaniel sit beside his mother on the sofa. She was watching an action movie. And she was so focus on it that she frown when he sat making a noise with the chair.
"Nathan." She said angrily.
"Sorry ma."He apologized with a smirk on his face." What's the title of the movie? "
" Why do you ask, you won't watch it"
"It's seem interesting..... but it is a teen movie."
"It's not made for only teen to watch. And the title is stranger things." She replied.
He nodded. "It look interesting, Anna will love to watch it."
"Where is she?"
"She left with her best friend." He answered.
"Alright. Let talk about you Nathan." She said and she paused the movie.
He sigh loudly. "What about me mom? My work is going smoothly and i am happy."
"Are you?" Mrs Allyson asked. He gave her quizzical look. "You know Nathan, i am your mother, you should be able to talk to me."
"I don't hide any thing from you." He said.
"What about your feelings? You keep breaking up with every woman you date. You were twenty nine when Toun was taken from you. And now after Seventeen years, you haven't found another woman."
"Because i haven't found a woman like her."
"Every woman is different. There have their different unique character. You should not compare any woman to Toun. Toun was a wonderful woman but there are other women. You should give them a chance. I saw how Carol look at you but you send her away. You send all over them away. You deserve to be happy Nathan. "
" You don't know what kind of life Toun is living now? Where she is or if you will ever see her again. Open your heart to someone. Like your daughter said, you need a woman in your life and i am not talking about me or your daughter. Anna is twenty three, she is going to leave you someday. She will get married. Very soon she will no longer be that little girl you always know. "She said.
" I know mom. "He was quiet for a while and then he said almost in a whisper." I'm afraid mom. I'm afraid of getting hurt again. Toun took half of me when she disappeared. I was broken, hurt. I...... there is this sadness, hurt, pain i can't explain in me and i don't want it to happen again. "
"I understand. I lost your father and my daughter too."
"But you know daddy didn't leave intentionally. Toun was taken. They didn't care what i feel, what she feels. And now, i am left with no love, just pain. I don't want to hurt anyone neither do i want to get hurt. I'm afraid.... i will forget Toun. "
She smile at him." You are funny. Do you think you can ever forget Toun? You did not in the last Seventeen years. You never will. I might not talk about your father always but he is here"She touch her chest. "in my heart. You won't, i know that. So you have to move on. You can't let the pain of getting hurt make you stop loving. You can't compare how you feel when you were in love and now that you don't want to love. Its been Seventeen years, we don't know what Toun is doing, where she is or how she is. Be happy, I'm sure she will want that for you. "
He said nothing but nodded.
******
Annabelle stare at herself in the mirror. She was so nervous, she was going on a date with Anderson. He had ask out and she decided to give it a try.
She had not go out with anyone since almost two years that Tobias died.
Mia was more happy than she was. She had help her shop new dress even if she insisted that she had nice dresses in her wardrobe.
Mia came into the room. She cover her mouth with her hands.
"You look stunning Bes. Andy will fall so in love with me. I pick the best dress." She said.
"Thanks bes." She appreciated. And she turn back to the mirror. She was wearing a blue dress. It was knee length and fitted. It hug her body perfectly.
"But we are not done. Here." Mia order drawing out her dressing chair.
"What again Mia?"
"You need makeup. I know" She quickly added before Annabelle protest. "It will be little. You are already beautiful but you still have to apply make-up. It's your first date since Tobias."
She nodded reluctantly. It was useless arguing with Mia.
She sat down and she pray Mia would be fast with Whatever she needs to do. She was not a fans of makeup. She never had the patience of sitting and applying different powders and changing brushes. She was please with herself. And she knew without anyone telling her that she was beautiful.
***
"Here." Anderson wave at Anna. She smiles and she walk to meet him. He help to draw out her chair. She thank him and sit. He took a seat close to the open street.
"This place is nice." She commented looking at the environment.
"Yeah. You've never been here before?" He asked a little surprise.
She shake her head. "This place is a little expensive."
He nodded in agreement.
"You are gorgeous." He commented staring at her. She blushed.
"Thanks."
They order for something to drink and they talk about each other.
"I'm a lawyer." He said. Annabelle almost spit out her drink. He quickly stood up and place his hand on her back.
"Are you okay?" He asked concern.
She nodded her head, he did not believe her. She smiles and said. "I'm fine."
He went back to his seat. There was concern written all over his face.
"You are a lawyer or a law student?"
He chuckles. "Don't i look like one?"
"No no no, i didn't mean that."
"It's okay."
"You know, the way you dress..... and you play and sing in a secret club at night. It surprising." She shrug.
He gave a heart warming smile. "I know. That's my secret life actually. I love music and my dad is not a big fan of it. So i do it in secret."
"You shouldn't. Music is everything. Music is wonderful." She commented.
"I agree. But i love him and i don't want him to feel like i am disobeying him. I've been okay with it. And i am proud to be a lawyer."
"I'm amaze." She said sincerely. "Where do you work?"
He told her and he leave her stunned.
"Oh my God! Who could have thought? But it amazing how you handle your work life and personal life. I know you are a good lawyer as good as you are when you sing."
"Thank you." He was pleased and proud. "And you? What do you do?"
"I'm still daddy girl." They laugh. "I'm having my doctorate. I am also working at powell."
"Powell?"
She replied with another nod.
"Wow. So you are a private investigator."
"Yes. I dream to work with the forensic department someday. I love to reveal truth."
"It's a nice dream. I believe you will be great at it." He said sincerely. She blush.
"I also sing and i play the guitar."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Well i don't only play the guitar. I'm a multi instrumentalists."
"Great. That's amazing! Will you mind if we go somewhere?" He asked, pleading with his eyes.
She chuckles "Of course."
"Okay." He said with a smile. "Let's go." He offer his hands. She look at him with a smile,then she took his hands.
He payed for their drink and they leave in his car. She asked where he was taking them but he just smile.
They got to an apartment somewhere down town and he stop the car.
" Here we are." He grin and he came out of the car. He walk around the car to her seat. He try to open the car door for her but she beat him to it.
"It okay." She said.
"No, it's not." He disagree.
"Alright. Forgive me."
"I already have."
"Where is this place?" She asked curiously.
"You will find out soon. Let's go." He take them into a shop with a lot of instruments. There was a thin skinny guy with beard and odd dressing sitting on a couch watching T. V
He turn around and look at Anderson. He look glad to see him and he stood from his seat. "Andy. What brings you here today?" He asked with a sincere smile on his face.They shake hands. Then he saw her behind him. "Hi."
"Hi." She said back.
"Jack,this is Annabella. Anna this is my best friend Jack." He introduced.
"Hi." He said stretching his hand forward. She took it politely.
"Hi." She replied then he let go of her hand.
He have a stupid grin on his face and he gave Anderson a look she don't understand. "Welcome to my shop."
"Thanks. Its such a nice place." It was indeed true. The musical instrument were well arranged and neat and the shop was attractive.
"Thanks. You are the first girl he bring here in a long time." He wink. She smile and Anderson hit him on the arms. "So what brings you here Andy?"
"I want to show Anna the basement."
He open his arms wide. "It's all yours bro." He sat back on the couch.
"Thanks." And he lead Anna down a narrow staircase that leads to a basement under the shop. He push open the metal door and he turn on the switch.
Her mouth went wide open at the room in front of her.
***********
CHAPTER THIRTY COMPLETED. THANK GOD.
QUESTIONS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ANNA AND ANDY? WILL THEY BE A MATCH?
ALTHOUGH I ALREADY HAVE THE STORY PLAN BUT I CAN STILL HEAR YOUR IDEAS.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTER.
THANKS FOR READING.