CHAPTER 56
Damien's POV
When my plane landed in Las Vegas, I heaved a sigh of relief. I was finally home, I beamed in excitement. I couldn't wait to see my mom.
I stood in the departure lounge with my luggages, looking around for dad. He called to apologize for not coming back to China for me but I told him not to bother. He promised to come to pick me up from the airport.
There was no sight of him. I looked around once again and then, I saw a hand waving. It was Andrew and I saw my mom behind him. I beamed in excitement and ran like a little child into my mom's arm.
"Mom", I called while laughing. I didn't realize how much I missed my mom until then.
She hugged me tightly and sobbed.
"Mom", I called again with a chuckle before releasing her from my embrace.
"I'm home now, mom. Come on."
"Oh! Damien", she touched my face, as if to be sure it was really me and it wasn't a dream.
"I missed you, mom. Let's go home." She was still looking at me in tears. I wonder why she was crying when she was the one who sent me to China. I chuckled within myself.
"I missed you too, baby." She finally smiled and we moved out.
"Where is dad? He promised to come to pick me up?"
"Am I not enough?"
"Of course you are. I just want him to make up for not coming to China like he promised before he came down here. After all, I went to China because of him."
"I asked him not to bother that I would come to pick you up."
"Uhmm", I mumbled with a smile. "Is there something I am missing?"
"What?" She asked ignorantly.
"Are you two living together now?" She eyed me. I laughed out loud as we got to the car.
"Welcome, Damien", Richard greeted me with a nod.
"Thank you, Richard, how have you been?"
"I've been good." He replied.
I fastened my seat belt as mom got into the seat beside me. "How have you been, mom?" I asked, holding her long hands firmly.
"Not fine without you", she drew me closer to her bosom. "Welcome back, son. I love you."
"I love you too, mom." The ride home was silent.
When we were a few meters away from home, I asked naughtily. "Is dad home?"
She knew the point I was driving at. She threw me a scowl and looked away. I tried to control the laughter bubbling inside of me.
"Mom, come on. Answer me. Are you two living together now?"
"No", she answered sharply and I nodded. I wasn't satisfied with her answer. I was hoping it was going to be a yes.
"What about your baby girl? Why didn't you come with her to the airport?" I asked, remembering the little girl I saw in her arms the last time we did a video call.
That was two weeks ago when she went to the Philippines. She called to inform me of the award she was given and I congratulated her when the girl appeared.
I was wondering who she was and asked mom. She said the baby was hers but I found it very hard to believe.
"She is still in the Philippines with her mother", mom answered.
"Oh! You know what?" I smirked.
"What?" She answered with curiosity as the car drove into the big house.
"I was thinking you and dad made some babies while I was away....." I didn't finish before she slapped my head and I ran out of the car, laughing so hard as she trailed behind me with her raised fist.
****
Nina's POV
I was happy my son was finally back home. I felt fulfilled. He had started talking about starting work with his father the next month. Ever since I arrived from the Philippines, I have been feeling sick.
I didn't want to leave Daisy with her aunt in the Philippines but she insisted they had some things to sort out. Ellah wanted to leave with me too but her mother refused to let her go. I had some things to sort out in America so I had to leave. I was expecting Daisy to be back home toe next week.
I slept all through the day and when it was almost 5 pm, I tried to get out of bed to give Daisy a call and to type out some of my written work when Damien came in.
I hadn't seen Amar for two days and I wondered what was with him. He spent the night the day Damien came back from China and I envied the way they talked around almost all topics. It was obvious Damien was really close to his father. That was what I wanted, all along but I was filled with jealousy.
"Mom", Damien called and hugged me. He was grinning from ear to ear and I wondered what was wrong with him. He was a grown-up of 25 years but was always behaving like a child to me.
Well, he will always be my little boy, I thought. My little Amar. I wondered why I didn't name him Amar junior, I chuckled.
"Mom", he called again, jerking me out of my thoughts. "What were you thinking?"
"Nothing", I mumbled.
"How is your body now? Nadia told me you weren't feeling too good, that was why I decided to let you rest for a while before we went out."
"Out? Where?"
"I'm taking you out." He beamed. I found his actions suspicious.
"Taking me out? When did that start?"
"Can't I take my mom out again?"
I shook my head and got out of bed. "You want something", I declared with confidence. "What do you want?" I knew Damien to always be so sweet that way whenever he wanted to take something from me. Especially something he knows I can't let go of easily.
Money isn't the problem so I wondered within me what it is that he wants. Could it be he wants to ask me to accept that bitchy girlfriend of his? I thought within myself.
"Seriously, mom?", he questioned with hands akimbo.
"Ok. What Is it?"
"Nothing, mom. I just want to take you out. But it looks like you prefer your man to me", he said and turned back.
"Shut up", I snapped at him with a smile.
"I'll go and look for a random girl to take out since...." I ran after him and hit him playfully on the arm.
"Ouch, mom. That hurts."
"Serves you right for talking too much", I pulled out my tongue at him. "Let me get dressed."
"Mom, you look good this way", he said. I was in shorts and a blue top.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"It's a surprise", he said and took my hand, dragging me out of the room.
"A surprise? Now I'm scared. I don't know Damien to be a surprise guy. Or do you want to introduce me to a new girlfriend of yours or to that silly girlfriend of yours Vivian?"
"Mom", he groaned.
"Let's go", he said. I was hoping he would say something about breaking up with Vivian but he didn't say anything.
I wondered what was going on as I followed him to the car. He took the car keys from Richard and got into the driver's seat before driving out of the compound with a confused me, sitting silently beside him and anticipating the surprise.
****
"What is wrong with you, Damien? How could you forget such an important thing?" I was filled with anger for his silliness.
He brought me out for nothing. He realized he wasn't with his wallet and I wasn't with my credit card as well. He made me look like a fool, after entering a jewel shop to pick up a necklace I found nice. He drove for hours round the vicinity and I wondered where he was taking me to, not until we came across the jewel shop, at the far end of the street, very close to the town market.
"I'm sorry, mom", he looked sincere and I sighed.
"You are supposed to always go out with your wallet, Damien in case of things like this", I said softly. "Let's just go home,"I realized it was already getting dark.
"I was trying to persuade you to go with me and I forgot I wasn't with my wallet", he was with a baby face.
"Persuade me? Well... You just persuaded me for nothing. I was actually anticipating the surprise my son had in stock for me." I couldn't help the anger I was feeling, despite trying so hard to control myself as we drove home.
"I'm sorry", he apologized again.
"It's ok", I said and we kept silent.
When we drove in, I saw Damien exchange a look with Richard. Richard smiled and nodded at Damien while Damien smirked in response.
I wanted to ask him what the look was for. I decided against it as I walked up to the door. I felt Damien was old enough to handle his own affairs and I wasn't supposed to prey into it. I thought of Vivian and sighed. Then I decided I would give them my support if he still wants to make her his wife as he had always said he would, right from high school.
I opened the door to the house and went in to meet the whole place in pitch darkness. I didn't feel Damien's presence behind me and I wondered what was happening.
Where is Damien? Where is Nadia? I asked no one in particular as I tried to look for a way to get to flick the lights on. My phone wasn't with me, which was why I was angry at Damien. I really liked the necklace we found and if only my phone was with me, I would have done a cashless transaction just to get the necklace.
I felt a movement and jumped up in fright. I was about to turn around to run out of the house when the light flickered on and there were screams from Damien, Richard, Nadia, and Amar was on his knees.
I looked around in confusion and saw the cake on the large table with my name on it. That was when I remembered it was my birthday. I couldn't figure out how Damien got to enter the house before me, and also Richard.
"Meere Khushee", Amar called. My eyes flicked back to meet him. I completely forgot about him.
Why was he kneeling down? He didn't offend me, not until I saw the shining jewel in his hand.
He smiled nervously, hesitated for a while and we locked eye contact before he stretched the ring at me and asked softly, like someone who was having lots of doubts.
"Will you marry me, Nina?"