Lewis had always been postponing his visit, but decided to fulfill his promise to Clifford Davidson. He came down from the car with a flower to his right hand and a plastic bag on his left. He rang the doorbell, and his face expressed a hint of anticipation and ecstasy as he stood by the door.
The door opened, Taylor Davidson's eyes bulged in shock and amazement. In a second she froze before she let out her scream in excitement. "Lewis!"
Lewis hugged her warmly, "I'm so happy to see you, Taylor. You still look the same since the day of your wedding." Taylor laughed hysterically, "I'm serious. I can see Uncle Cliff is doing a good job. Let me add to his good work and give you this," he handed over the flower to Taylor.
She grew red face and giggled as she took the flower from Lewis's hand.
"You haven't changed from your sweet words. Come in my love."
"Clifford! Clifford!" Taylor called out loud as they walked into the house. "Let me go tell him you're around."
Two children, Kyla and Nick ran out from the lobby to the living room and jumped on Lewis. "Lewis!"
Lewis grabbed the both of them at once and raised them up from the ground spinned around. "My strong little angels!"
"Lewis! You're finally here. I had already given up hopes to see you today, you said you would be here in the morning," Clifford said descending from the stairs.
"I had an impromptu meeting from a studio firm I had a contract with. And the traffic also made things worse. Notwithstanding, I'm here!"
"I'm so happy to see you again. Last time we met was in your first year in college, you were skinnier than this." Clifford chuckled, "I can see you're spending some quality time in the gym."
Lewis laughed, "Oh, please, uncle. Stop flattering me, I don't have enough time for that these days. I spend all day painting, and I rarely leave the house these days except its business."
"But today! I have to keep business aside and spend a good time with my Uncle and his wonderful family!" He hugged Clifford warmly, grinning in excitement.
Taylor stepped out from the dining room, "Pardon me gentlemen. Lewis, your food is there in the dining table."
"Although I ate before coming here I have really missed your delicious food, Taylor."
"Oh please, I bet you can't remember the last time you ate my food and how good it taste."
Lewis shrugged, "Yeah, yeah, that's true. But I'm sure you must be a good cook because Uncle Clifford can't stand a lady without a good cooking skill. Man is a foodie."
"How do you get to know how much I love food? I knew it will come from your mother."
Lewis laughed out loud, "You got it right!"
Clifford tut and rolled his eyes, "Having a sister with a big mouth is just something else."
"Cliff, I'm going to get ready for the session. Meet you in a minute," Taylor said and went upstairs.
"I'm so happy you're here honestly. Although, Taylor and I have to see a therapist..."
Lewis face switched from warm smile and bright eyes, to a popped eyes and slightly opened mouth. He sat up quickly, and furrowed his brow. "See a therapist? What is the problem? Is everything alright."
"Nothing serious, nephew. We have been seeing to the therapist for a while ago. We are both cool, but there is a personal issue at home we had to settle..."
"Don't bother yourself about it, we are fine. Feel free and have some good time with the kids, the nanny will be coming around shortly. I hope you won't be uncomfortable when you see her?"
"Why would I? You know I'm always cool."
Clifford smirked, "You've always got your mother's energy, that's something I love in her. Too bad she fell in love with a gold-digging son of bitch."
Lewis squinted and gave Clifford a side look. "Don't tell me you're talking about the man who gave birth to me?"
Clifford smirked, "If you are really concern about what I call him, why don't you refer to him as father?"
Lewis rolled his eyes and turned his face away, and scoffed. "I can only call him father when I'm out of my mind."
"But to be honest Uncle, I've been hearing things. I know you and Taylor aren't really in good terms and it's affecting the kids."
"I told you we're cool. We are only going to the therapist to handle some minor issues, not every issue in a family that need a therapist must be in a place of abuse."
"I hope you are right. I wanted to spend some time with Nick and Kyla, but as it seems..."
"Don't worry, Lewis!" Clifford cut him. "This is your home, son. You can stay with the kids and spend as much time as you want. We are only spending two hours with the therapist and then we'll be back."
Taylor stepped out, dressed in a more fancy dress and holding a purse. "I'm ready, Clifford."
Clifford stood up and adjusted his shirt, "We'll see in few hours' time. Take care of yourself, be free, this is your home. Will you stay to watch the football this evening with me?"
"Football? Which clubs are playing?"
"Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins."
Lewis eyes popped out, "Really?! What's today? Oh, July Thirteenth, I forgot about it. Thanks uncle, I would have really been mad at myself if I miss it."
"Don't worry, we'll sit here and view it today. I'll be back, okay?" Clifford left the house as quickly as he heard Taylor murmured outside for being kept late.
Lewis had stayed for over thirty minutes in the living room, watching a TV and also using phone. Clifford's children, the four-year-old Nicholas and the eight-year-old Kyla were with him in the living room. Nicholas was playing with Molly his plush toy, and Kyla was scribbling on a paper.
Someone knocked at the door, and Lewis moved to get the door. He opened it up and met a mid-body sized, young lady hanging a large handbag.
"Hi, I'm Denise, the nanny."
"Nanny?"
Nicholas, Clifford's four-year-old son ran to the door and struggled himself through the space between Lewis's side and the door. Nicholas emerged out from the door and jumped on the nanny.
"Oh, Nick! How are you doing?" Denise held his shoulder as he hugged her thighs. Denise squatted down to Nicholas's height, "What have you been doing today?"
"I was playing with Molly."
Denise grinned and fondled Danny's "Oh, I hope you didn't tear Molly today?" Nick shook his head.
"Good boy!" She had sewn up Molly the previous day when Nicholas played roughly with it and tore the skin.
As Lewis stared at Denise his heart raced, his shoulder relaxed, and a subtle, slow smile spread across his face. While he watched her speak to Nick, he was unable to look away or move an inch from the spot, his mind went blank as his gaze lingered at her smile.
His eyes scanned her dull-pink, full lips, her warm brown skin, and her oval head, and bulging cheek that produced two dimples at both cheeks at every smile.
Lewis was shaken out of his imaginations when Nick shoved him while running back into the house.
"Oh, sorry for my manners. I'm Lewis, Mr. Davidson's nephew," he stretched out his hand towards her. They had a handshake, "Nice meeting you."
"Thank you."
"Come in, please."
Kyla ran up to Denise as soon as she saw her. From the moment Denise came in till Lewis couldn't concentrate on the TV anymore. He couldn't help staring at Denise, he watched her as she cleaned the living room.
Denise went into the kitchen to prepare dessert for the kids, and while she was baking Lewis was watching from the kitchen door without her knowing.
"What are you preparing?"
Denise shook and the plate on her hand fell off and broke on the ground. "Oh no!"
Lewis ran towards her, "Oh, I'm so sorry for startling you. Please step back, let me clean it up."
"No sir, let me do it myself."
"It's my fault it broke. So please, let me fix it. And because I don't want you to get yourself injured."
"And how about getting yourself injured too?"
Lewis smirked, "I'm not the one preparing meal for the kids, so it's fine if I get wounded a bit." Dennis rolled her eyes away and turned aside, but smiled behind.
Lewis cleaned every broken pieces and trashed them in the dustbin. "Thank you," Denise said.
"You're welcome." Denise went back to the kitchen table. "I'm preparing grilled cheese, spaghetti and egg sauce."
"Wow. That's a nice mixture, the kids will love it."
"Just the kids? Don't tell me you won't be eating, the kids and I definitely won't be eating alone."
"If you say so, I don't mind."
As she start preparing the meal, Lewis move on with the conversation. "How long have you been working here", Lewis asked while closely looking for what he could help her with.
About four months, Denise said while she looked up and noticed Lewis constantly rolling his eyes to many directions with a confused face. Denise, smiled though with a face that one could tell litrary meant "what are you doing?" Denise kept starring and wondering what Lewis was looking for.
"So you have worked here for four months, its beautiful how well you've grown into the skin of the kids, a blind man can easily tell that they love you", Lewis replied and turned to see Denise staring at him.
"Why are you staring at me like that" he asked. "It seems as though you were looking for something" Denise answered.
Oh, no, I wasn't. I was just looking for what I could help you do", so that we could finished the cooking faster".
Okay, that's so thoughtful of you, but I think I can manage. You could just go see a movie in the rest room, I will serve the meal when I am done. It won't take long, Denise said. Lewis on the other hand wasn't comfortable with what she said but had to agree to it.
Lunch is served kids, kindly take your spot at the dining table. Lewis please, will you join us?. Denise called out to everyone as she swiftly arranged the food on the dining table. Lewis said the prayer before everyone ate to their satisfaction.
Lewis helped the kids with some of their homework they had been given in school, while Denise washed the dishes. Denise quickly finished with the dishes. She went to the kids room and found out Lewis was still busy with the kids. She couldn't help but to watch how careful he related with the kids. Mr./Mrs. Davidson had stayed longer than the time they said they were going to stay.
Lewis was done with aiding the kids do their assignment. He asked the kids to have some rest which they reluctantly did because they wanted to play.
Lewis then joined Denise in the sitting room. She was going through a book titled "The light within the Tunnel". What's the book about?" Lewis asked.
"Would you prefer talking about a book or you want to know more about me" Denise returned the question. Lewis stayed mute for a while before he could alter a word, I would love to talk about... Before he could complete the statement they heard a knock on the door. It was Mr. /Mrs. Davidson.
Denise welcomed them and turned to Lewis and whispered "I have to leave now. Here
is my number, nice meeting you. I hope to get your reply when next we meet".