They both were in the living room sitting across from each other.
Dimitri was drinking a glass of orange juice while Max was drinking coconut water. When they left the women to be alone they just sat in Max’s living room taking their drinks in utter silence.
Dimitri was pained by his mum’s half-sister’s death.
Sofia was his cousin from his mum's side while Caleb was from his father’s side.
He knew she was getting better but is trying to understand what could have gone wrong. Her treatments were really expensive since she was battling a very rare disorder and they had not gotten any cure for it yet but only treatments could keep her going.
When he heard of her mum’s sickness, he was in the university then felt bad for her but when he saw Sofia, she was trying to keep it all in and not break down. He was aware of what a strong girl she is and it made him sad to see her in such a manner.
Even when he tried to console her, she glared at him and told him she was okay but wouldn’t talk to anybody. Then her dad died some days after which left her shattered.
She was at school when she received the call but was wondering who would have informed her when she just entered the university. They would have let her come home first before letting her in on it but it was too late to think about that.
She refused to come home, saying she is busy but they knew she came once in a while to pay her mum a visit to assure her mum she was there.
She didn’t even accept any form of money or help from his parents to pay up the bills and whatever expenses. They were comfortable but not as wealthy as Dimitri’s parents. She stuck with her dad and said they will pay it off.
So when the bills were getting too much for her and some of the petty jobs she did weren’t helping he decided to secretly pay the bills and made the doctors promise him he wouldn’t say a word to her and keep the treatment going.
Before and after her dad’s death he kept the payment going.
He even paid the doctors more and sponsored some of the experiments the scientist carried to find out the causes and what could be the best possible safe treatment for such disorder.
He wanted the best for her even though he knew she despise his behavior before and after he was betrayed by his first love.
He sighed and looked up then took a sip before continuing in his train of thought.
He didn’t believe the disorder would be the end of her. Although the doctors told him they can't give a specific thing about it but they will try their best.
Well, it's true that Doctors can only care but it is GOD who heals perfectly. He sat up properly and took out his phone to call his mum, friend, dad, and cousin.
“I really want her to stop crying too much,” Max said after so much time of keeping quiet.
Dimitri paused from dialing the number then looked at the so worried max who is trying to stay calm and not burst right into the room the ladies are at.
“I didn’t know she had complications with the pregnancy and when I knew about it…” he sighed then buried his face in his palm.
“I am not happy about her mum’s demise because if there is one thing about Sofia, she loves and cares for her family and people she considers great to mingle with. But all this crying wouldn't help her solution” he looked at Dimitri who was already looking at him with a foreign look and a frown.
“I am sure her mum wouldn't want anything happening to her daughter and grandbaby.” he sighed and looked away.
“I haven't really gotten the chance to tell her yet but I love her so much, she bought joy to me and… and when she told me we were expecting, I don’t think I have been so happy all my life.” he chuckled.
“I might sound silly but I don’t want anything happening to our baby and wife to be, I don’t,” he said with his voice breaking a bit.
“I understand your situation” Dimitri replied.
Max’s eyes widened a bit before they went back to their normal size.
“You do? Audriana is pregnant too?” he asked and Dimitri shook his head and his eyes turned
“No… just forget about that but I hope she listens” he said not wanting to remember those past things.
“Okay,” he nods.
“I am calling my parents, friend, and cousin, so you don’t mind having them over?”
“Oh, it's no problem. Sofia’s family is my family too” he responds “Do you need more juice?” he asked.
“No, I am fine, thanks”
“Okay”
“Hola mamá,” he said.
***
She entered her apartment in a rush and closed it with full force then rested her back on the door as she breathe in and out so fast. He couldn’t know she was here or out of the hospital.
No one knew yet, she hadn’t even talked to Emily yet so would he… maybe he wasn’t actually following her, maybe he was here for someone else.
This was a large apartment build, she possibly couldn’t be the one he seeks for.
“I better be careful next time” she whispered to herself.
Then a knock was heard on the door she was resting on. Her breathing constricted and she almost fell on the floor.
He saw her then. He did see her.
Her hands were shaken as she stayed still, with wide-opened eyes and a fast-beating heart.
No one makes her this week or scared aside him, he was the only one that controls her and she hates that fact. She sometimes blames her crazy attitude on him.
Slowly she took off her shoes and quietly tip-toed further into the room.
“Miss Copello” she heard an unfamiliar voice and stopped in her tracks.
He wasn’t the one, maybe he sent some else to know her whereabout then so he could know how to approach her the next time.
She decided to be quiet and walked further into the room.
“Ma’am, there is a package for you,” the voice said and slowly it started to get familiar.
Earl! She thought and waited for a while to confirm it was him.
“Maybe she isn't home” she heard him mutter then her phone started ringing.
She walked up to her purse she threw on the floor while she ran and saw Earl’s contact showing on the phone.
Taking in relief breaths she placed the phone on the stand beside the door and picked up her heels then held the doorknob and twisted it slowly.
Gradually she opened it and saw the red-haired man who turned at the sound of the opened door. He was holding a brown envelope and had a little frown on his face.
“Good evening ma’am, here is the info you asked me to check for you,” he said and handed over the envelope.
She looked at him suspiciously and pushed him a bit so she can look at the hallway in search of that one man but saw nobody but the red hair standing in front of her.
She snatched the envelope from his grip and dismissed him.
She heard him hiss and mutter something she couldn’t catch but let it slide as that was not what was important now.
She checked once more then entered inside her room once more and locked the door, preparing to check the content of the envelope.
“Let's see what we have here”
***
“I am fine honestly guys, thank you for coming to see me. Mum will be so happy I have a loving family surrounding me.” Sofia said with a smile.
They all were in Max's apartment except for Emily who needs to be on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy.
“I am glad you are feeling better than before” Moana caress her hair and she leaned in on her.
“Me too, she was the best half-sister I could ever ask of,” Patricia said.
“I know she will say the same too, thank you for being the best aunt” Sofia hugged her.
“Anything for family,” she said and the part.
“Now, for our little one,” Audriana said as she carried a tray that contains a bowl of broccoli soup and orange mixed with carrot juice.
“Now, this is a healthy meal for a pregnant woman,” she said looking at Max and Sofia.
“She bribes me to get her sweet”
“And you must learn to resist,” Donald said coming to take his wife's hands and put his arms around her.
“I remember when Pat here was pregnant with our first baby, she would do everything to persuade me to get her junks and all sort, saying that is what the baby wanted. But after having a talk with the doctor, I learned to resist her temptation for the sake of our baby” he said and kissed her cheeks.
“What? You were tempting me also, by eating those in front of me” Patricia pouted.
“It was because I love you, baby,” he said and she rolled her eyes.
“I am not traveling till we have our dear baby, okay?”
“No more ham, hotdog, or bologna” she pouted, and then all the women faces had horror playing there.
“You eat that?” they asked in unison and turned to look at Max.
“Even I don’t know she eats those” he raised his hands up in surrender and turned to look at Sofia “I will be working from home fully and you are not going to work till after our child is a year old, am I clear”
“Now, I want to be alone” she muttered with a pout.
“You are never alone,” they all said and laughed then continued chatting.
***
Hola mamá - Hello mum.
Sorry, it took long. Do enjoy!