"Marcus." Tears well up in Louisa's eyes as she looks at the tall, well-built man standing in her front, it has been ages since she had seen him, it brought sad memories to her.
"Lousia is this you." Marcus straight forth his hands and touched her face to confirm if it was real or his imaginations playing a trick with him.
"Marcus...Marcus." Lousia hugs him and he held her tight and close to him as tears also filled his eyes.
"Lousia, I have missed you."
"Me too, I.miss you so much." Lousia closed her eyes as she left the warmth of his body to envelop her.
They retired to a nearby cafe and sat down with two cups of coffee on the table, Marcus stare at Lousia who has her eyes on the coffee, like a guilty young lady.
"Where have you been?" Marcus asked her, breaking the silence when he knew it was getting awkward and he had to get her speaking.
"Things have been difficult Marcus." Lousia looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "My husband died and we moved to California, I returned to set things right, but everything had weighed me down." She looks down again. "I am stressed, but now it is all okay."
Marcus stretched his hand across the table and took her hands in his. "Why didn't you find me, I thought you disappeared, I searched everywhere for you, but I couldn't find you, you never said a word, you just ran away."
Lousia looks up at him. "I am sorry Marcus." She pressed her lips together as her lips quiver, she held her chest as if her heart was in pain.
"What about her?" She asked and Marcus stares into her eyes. "How is she now?" Her lips quiver and her eyes flicker. "How is Cindy doing?" She closed her eyes and open them again. "How is my daughter?"
Marcus gently squeezes her hands gently and warmly. "Cindy is okay, she has grown, she is now an adult," Marcus told her and Lousia press her lips together again and tears rolled down her cheek.
"Does she know?"
Marcus shook his head. "I did not tell her, I said nothing to her Lousia."
"Let it remain buried then." She sniffles and swallowed hard.
"Lousia, she has to know." Marcus has hidden this into his heart for a long time now, whenever he watches Cindy, he always wants to tell her about the secret.
"No." Lousia shook her head profusely. "She don't, what would she think of me, what person would she see me as? A person who had an affair with her father? No, Marcus, let that secret stay buried, she should remain your wife's daughter." Lousia looks down again.
"Then let's get married." Marcus words made her look up sharply. "We still love each other, it would be a lot easier if we get married."
Lousia pulled her hands away from his and bite down her lower lips. "No Marcus, my son Jeffery would be hurt." She shook her head again.
"He would understand."
"No."
"Then don't you want to see Cindy? Don't you want to be with her?" Marcus said in a loud voice.
Angry tears rolled down Lousia's eyes. "Which mother on earth wouldn't want to be with her daughter, huh! Marcus." She covers her face with her palm and exhaled softly.
She looks up to Marcus who was silently looking at her. "But, I can't, Marcus, I can't, it hurts me but, I still can't." She said softly.
Marcus could see the pain in her eyes, he stretched his hands and held her hands again. "It is okay Lousia, it is okay." He looked into her eyes with tender eyes.
"I miss her, I do." She closes her eyes and tears rolled down her cheek, she remembered how she had left her child and how she has always watched her from afar.
"I know." Marcus who understands her sadness more than anyone walked over to her and embraced her as he pats her on the back gently. "I know." He said softly as he consoles her, the cafe was quiet and only light music played in the background and they think of their memories that were filled with sadness and joy.
...
When Marcus returns home, Cindy placed the things he bought into the fridge and turn to see her father staring at her and was lost in thought.
She wonders why he was like that, but the reason she had turned to him was for something else. "Dad, you forgot to buy the milk." His father was still in a daze. "Dad, Dad..." She called out again.
"Huh! Cindy." He was pulled out of his thought and look at her.
"You did not buy the milk." She pointed at her list.
"Ah...I forgot that."
"You are so lost and why were you staring at me like that?" She asked with her lips curled up, and curious as she leans close to the kitchen cabinet.
Marcus smile. "You ate so pretty Cindy and no matter what happens, know that your father and mother love you so much." He told her seriously.
Cindy smiles and embraces her father. "I know dad, I know."