Chapter 40

Theodore’s P.O.V

I took a leap of faith, only to come down crashing on the concrete surface of reality. I guess I’d had this fantasy that Maya would tell me she loves me too and we’d never be apart again. Oh, how delusional I’d been to think it were that simple.

To be fair, I don’t blame her for wanting nothing to do with me. I’d hurt her severely, that even I couldn’t completely forgive myself for it. If only I had come to terms with my insecurities and mental health issues earlier, then maybe she would have been with me right now.

When that Brian guy said he loved her too, I wanted to knock the air out of him. How could he say that so brazenly when what he felt for her couldn’t even be compared to what I felt for her! As soon as she walked out of the restaurant, I wanted to run after her but that cocky little bastard had prevented me from doing so. “Don’t you dare walk after her, you cad!” He shouted at me.

I had quickly pivoted on my heels and rushed in front of him. “Who are you calling a cad, you douchewagon? You do realise that this shitshow is all your fault, right?” I snapped menacingly.

He grimaced in displeasure. “Did you expect me to give you a pat on the back for making out with my girl? I knew you were trouble from the first moment I saw you!” he bellowed in fury, and shoved my chest.

My jaw ticked ominously. This little boy had no idea who he was dealing with. I could have easily sent him to an early grave but I held myself back. We’d already caused a commotion so I by all means needed to salvage the little dignity I had left. “You might think you understand what exists between Maya and I, but let me just let you know that you don’t. I’ve known her and loved her longer than you have. And not that it’s a competition, but you’ll never have her heart,” I sliced frigidly, before shouldering past him.

And after that, I had tried so desperately to contact her and see her but she’d denied me that right. It hurt like hell, but I understood where she was coming from. So, after pursuing her for three days, I came to the realisation that maybe there wouldn’t be a possibility of us ever being together. With a heavy heart, I concluded my business trip and boarded my jet back to London.

I hadn’t told anyone about the actual reason why I’d flown to the States, so everyone at home was none the wiser. Well, almost everyone. “What’s with the long face,” my mother fired at me just as I stepped over the threshold of the front door.

I handed my luggage to Ann and Meredith, after they’d welcomed me back home. “I guess I’m just a bit jet lagged,” I told her half-heartedly. It wasn’t a complete lie. I was indeed exhausted from the last couple of nights that had been nothing but sleepless.

She clucked her tongue at me, before narrowing her cool blue eyes that were shades lighter than mine. “Theodore Clifford Duke, I am your mother and nobody knows you better than I do,” she seethed and walked up to me. “Speak now, or I’ll have to spank it out of you!”

I sighed and rubbed my face in annoyance. I know she meant well, but I wasn’t exactly open to discussing such matters with her. “Mother, I told you it is nothing. My business trip was chaotic and-,” I was cut off when she cupped my face and began to examine the now faint bruises on it.

“What in the name of Saint John happened to your face!” she shrieked in horror.

I gently pushed her hands away. “I had a bit of an accident,” I muttered unenthusiastically. Where are those little munchkins when I need them? They are usually my saving grace. I guess today just isn’t my lucky day, is it? “Now, if you excuse me, I need to freshen up,” I said before I made for the grand staircase and marched towards my room with a depressing spring in my step.

When I was dressed and clean shaven, I exited my room and went to the screening room where I was certain my children were. I found them sprawled on the front seats, watching a rather gory action movie. “Are you sure that you two are old enough to watch this?” I said in utter disbelief. When they heard my voice, they both squealed before Aiden quickly grabbed the remote and changed the channel.

Brianna got off her seat and ran up to me. I caught her effortlessly in my arms. “D-daddy! When did you get back?” she beamed with a slight tremor in her voice.

It hadn’t occurred to me sooner, but these two are major hypocrites!

Aiden gulped when he caught my hard glare. “I expect more from you two. If I ever catch you watching anything that isn’t family friendly, I’ll ground you until you’re old enough to watch those things, understood?” I stated authoritatively and they both nodded. I set Brianna back on the floor before I let her lead me to the seat, she’d previously occupied.

“How was your trip?” Aiden asked, not making eye contact with me.

I shrugged, and grabbed the remote from him. “It was boring, nothing interesting happened,” I droned in a monotone voice.

“Then where did those bruises come from?” he countered with a smirk, and I did a double take. Brianna also regarded me with curious eyes, urging me to talk but I kept my lips sealed. They had quickly turned the tables, backing me up into a corner instead. Sometimes I worry…these two are already a handful; I could imagine how terrible they will be when they become teenagers.

“If you don’t keep asking me that question, I’ll let you watch the rest of that disturbing movie.”

The both grinned at me. “Deal!”

I smiled at them before switching back to the previous channel. At least I still had a source of joy in my life.

***

A whole week had passed before I knew it, but unlike the other weeks…I’d chosen not to spend mine in despair. I’d had the hope that Maya would somehow find a way to contact me, as foolish as it might sound, but eventually I let go of that senile notion. I’d accepted that we weren’t going to be together and that she wanted to forget about me.

My work life had improved though. Instead of working into the wee hours of the night, I’d return home around six, just in time to have dinner with my family. It was pointless for me to shut out everything as a coping mechanism, and finding solace in alcohol or women was beneath me as well. I resolved to be a better man, a better father and a better son.

It was a weekend, and I was in my office going over the plans of a new project I’d be starting in Hong Kong next year when my landline went off. With a frown, I picked it up and held it up to my ear. It’s just that, nobody frequently contacts me on the home line. That’s how people on the property contact me when I’m ever at home.

“Yes?” I answered warily.

“Sir, there is someone here to see you. We just let them in, and they must be at the door waiting for you,” one of my guards responded in a formal tone.

I placed the receiver back in its place, and put my desk top to sleep. I dragged my chair back and then went out of my office. I wonder who could possibly be bold enough to show up at my house without prior notice. And whatever they have to say better be important or else there will be hell to pay.

Stepping in front of the main door, I pulled it open. Maya was standing at the other side of it. I froze in my movements, my eyes widening marginally. She smiled nervously and waved at me. “Hi,” she piped modestly.

I blinked several times, and still came up with the same results. She was definitely standing in front of me! “Hi,” I greeted back just as awkwardly. I crossed my arms out of angst. “What are you doing here?” I found my self inquiring. Hell, I thought I’d never see her again so I was utterly amazed that she’d shown up at my front door.

She bit her lip and looked down. “I know that I blew you off the last time that we saw each other and I said some things…which I didn’t mean. Look, Theodore, you caused me a lot of pain and disillusionment. When I left, I was just about ready to forget about you and how I was in love with you but then you came back into my life and scattered everything in all directions. I’d made so much effort to move on but when I saw you again, I realised that I could never forget someone like you. It’s hard, you know, to erase your first true love. I’m sorry for ghosting you and I wanted to let you know that I love you, a lot more than I think is possible to love someone,” she bubbled out in a rushed soliloquy.

I was at a loss for words. Did she just say she loves me? My face remained impassive, although inside my heart was doing backflips. “So, you came all this way just to tell me that?” I voiced sceptically, making her face fall at my rather harsh words.

She sighed, and then moved closer to me that I could smell her familiar scent of peaches. “I also came to ask you if you’d give me another chance?” she pleaded, her doe eyes gazing intently into mine.

To respond to her question, I wrapped my arm around her waist and claimed her lips. Her arms automatically wrapped around my neck as we both deepened the kiss. I poured all my emotions into it, letting her know how much I loved her and that I’d want her by my side…forever if possible. When we broke apart to capture some air, I smiled down at her. “I hope that will suffice as an answer to your previous inquiry,” I murmured huskily and she stroked my hair with her finger tips.

“I don’t think I quite caught that. Care to demonstrate again?” she countered with a seductive lilt in her angelic voice. I’d just leaned in to enrapture her in another earthshattering caress when two distinct voices interrupted my intention.

“MAYA!” the twins screamed so loudly that we both cringed at how shrill they sounded. They ran up to her and shoved me out of the way. I almost toppled over due to the impact, quite shocked at the amount of strength they had combined.

Maya had crouched down and engulfed them in her arms. “Hey guys,” she laughed at their cute antics. Seeing them like that brought a smile to my face. Now my life would be complete.

My mother came to stand beside me. “I told you you’d be back, dear,” she said in a warm tone. Maya got up from her crouch with both the twins in her arms. I could see her struggle, but she didn’t seem to care. I hadn’t seen Aiden this jovial in a long time, and Brianna seemed elated to have her back as well.

“It’s good to be back,” she told my mother and then fully entered the house. She began to chat with the twins as they walked about the foyer. Ann, Matt and Meredith came over to us, probably wondering what the commotion was about. They were usually so poised and demure, but as soon as they saw Maya, the broke into a sprint (except for Meredith, of course) and wrapped their arms around her. Meredith shook her head in disdain, shot me a look of disapproval and disappeared to wherever she had been before. I guess some things never change.

“Are you back for good?” Ann asked, a certain glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Maya nodded slowly, and then glanced at me. “My dad helped me set up here on a work visa. I’ll be staying a couple of miles away from here. I even have a cool job working at a hip restaurant that belongs to my father’s friend,” she beamed.

“I thought you’d be staying with us,” I said and then went over to wrap my arm around her shoulder. All eyes widened at my wayward action, but I ignored them all.

She shook her head. “I think it’s better that way. I’d like for us to take things slow,” she mumbled coyly with a small smile. I nodded. It was probably best for us to indeed take it nice and slow. I wouldn’t want a repeat of what had happened between me and Dana. Doing things on impulse had been one of the few regrets of my life.

“Well, that’s lovely dear. Feel free to stop by for a gourmet meal made by your favourite chef,” Matt remarked animatedly, and winked at her.

After a few more exchanges, Ann and Matt returned to the kitchen whilst my mother took the twins back to her drawing room to help them finish their homework. “This time, you did good son,” she patted me on the shoulder, passed a smile at Maya and then retreated.

Finally having Maya all to myself again, I cupped her face gently with my hands. “Thank you.”

Her face twisted in confusion. “For what?”

I pecked her lips briefly and then pulled her into my chest. “For mending my heart.”

______________________________

Now, this is officially the end of the story.

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~Deetronite