Chapter 35

35 35- My Girls

“Alex. Go and call your sisters,” Marissa shook her son’s shoulder when saw waiters placing the dishes on the

table. O

“Mom. I ordered cheesy chicken!” Alex made a pout when he saw a small mountain of stir–fried veggies

with the chicken.

The head waiter who was serving them nodded at Alex, “Don’t worry, sir. You get your cheesy chicken in no time,” he then turned to a winter and whispered something in his ear.

“Alex. Your order is getting ready, in the meantime you can bring your sisters. Their food will get cold,” Alex was making funny faces when he got out of his chair.

He went to that netted area and found Robert looking down through the net.

“Robert. Nice to see you here,” Robert turned to look at Alex and then glanced back. He wasn’t much

interested in talking to Alex.

“Have you seen my sisters?” Alex’s eyes were looking

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for the girls.

“Yeah. They were not letting me stand here but I still managed the spot,” he told Alex about his achievement with pride and started talking to another child.

Alex took the round of the whole gallery even the part

where there was no net.

“My sisters are getting irresponsible,” he muttered to himself and hoped that they had already gone back to the respective table.

However, he was disappointed when he didn’t find

them there.

“Sweetheart. Your sisters?” Marissa knew he hated

these endearments, but sometimes she couldn’t help

“I looked for them, but they are nowhere to be found,” Marissa and Sophia both got to their feet,

“What!”

“Mom. Don’t worry. They might be roaming in between the tables,” He eyed the huge rooftop and couldn’t find his sisters anywhere.

Marissa and Sophia went to the spot where they sent

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35 35–My Girls

Abi and Ariel.

“Hey, Robert. Have you seen Abi and Ariel?” Sophia asked the same boy who was now getting annoyed.

“No! I’m not their mommy,” He was about to turn away when Marissa kneeled in front of the boy not wanting to show worry on her face.

“Listen, darling. We can’t find them anywhere and we need your help right now,” It was something tried and tested with kids.

Treat a kid like an elder and he would gladly become the most helpful individual.

Alex wanted his mom not to plead with this boy but

now he was also concerned about his sisters.

“Fine!” Robert said with a somber expression, “I saw them waiting for the elevator standing among that

crowd.”

“Oh, man!” Marissa mumbled and looked at Sophia.

“Don’t worry, Mar. I’ll look for them here and on the lower floor. You go to the lobby and look for them. Keep your phone with you. I’m sure they won’t let a child exit the gates without an elder.”

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Sophia tried to console her friend who was getting panicked with each passing minute.

“I’m such a loser Mom, Sophie,” she didn’t want to cry

because this was not the time.

“No, you are not. Now go, I’ll ask a security person to deliver the message to the main gates and all the floors. Don’t worry. Sometimes kids like to take elevators for fun. We might find them inside.”

Alexander held his mom’s hand, “I’ll accompany you,

Mom. Don’t worry,”

Now he was feeling guilty for not keeping an eye on his

sisters.

They entered the elevator, Sophia was the first one to leave the elevator to look for the girls while they stayed to reach the ground floor of the restaurant.

***

Rafael was looking at the girls who were silently observing him.

“Hello,” he whispered.

“HI there,” the one with black hair answered, “How are

you sir”

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Rafael crouched down to be at her eye level.

“I’m good. What are you doing here? And is there anyone accompanying you both?” he looked and

up shot a questioning gaze at Joseph.

Instead of answering, Abigail raised her hand slowly and touched Rafael’s nose tip.

“He–he…” she chuckled.

Rafael closed his eyes when felt the touch. It took all his willpower not to cry, “Are you people alone?”

Abi shook her head, “We came here with our mom. She wanted to celebrate with us. She got her pay today and it was good. She says she can spend too much on us because we are rich for a few days.” Rafael had to bite back his quivering smile when he heard the little girl giving him details with a solemn face.

To him, it seemed more like an annual report on yearly

sales.

“That’s great!” he then turned his attention to the blond one who was standing there with an attitude just like Valerie.

“And you, little one? Are you enjoying it here?” he was

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35 35- My Girls

scared to even touch them with affection.

For him it was just a dream, he was aware of who they were. Their faces were enough proof of it.

“I don’t talk to strangers,” the blonde girl flipped her hair with an attitude, “Mommy doesn’t like it. Even if my sister stop you and talk to you… you should not talk to her. Because we are strangers.”

Rafael felt proud for a moment. The way the girls were talking to him with such confidence, Marissa deserved all the appreciation.

And he decided to ignore the grammar too because that was just adorable.

“Rafael,” he felt Joseph’s hand on his shoulder, “What are these girls doing here in the lobby? Shouldn’t they be with Marissa? She must be getting worried for

them.”

Joseph was right, Rafael realized, and got up.

He so wanted to talk more to these munchkins but just a few days back he promised himself to win over Marissa’s heart.

Once she would be fine with the idea, then he would

35 35–My Girls

take another step to be in the lives of the kids.

His kids.

“Little ones,” he said to them softly, “Either tell me where I can find your mom. Or you two are coming with me so that I can talk to a security desk officer.”

He wanted to walk ahead when Abigail hurriedly held his hand making him freeze in his tracks, “Why don’t you take us to the floor where we can see the sky?”

Oh, now he understood. They were on the rooftop.

He didn’t like that how these girls made it down in the elevator without an elder accompanying them.

He needed to bring it up with Marissa in the most

non–offensive manner.

“Rafael. It’s best if instead of taking them to their mom, you contact security,” Rafael gave a slight nod to his head and looked around.

A man from security was standing at some distance. Rafael and Joseph started walking to the man when they heard a loud, familiar voice behind them.

“Where do you think you are taking my girls?”