Chapter 62

62 62- Our Kids

Marissa plopped down beside Rata-

all the Lego pieces. *

tran a hook at

*So where to start from? Is it the castle only or do we need to build bridges and towers too?” she brought a small Lego piece near her eyes and turned her face sideways just to find Rafari already looking at her

“Can you look somewhere else? she whispered with a

lake sweet smile and he also made the same face.

mimicking her smile.

“I’m sorry. I can’t help it,” he laughed

“Mommy” Daddy” What you two are whispering” Abi asked them with a pout. Marissa quickly cleared her throat and gave Rafael that warning glare.

“Start with the castle, I don’t know much about them. I

wish he could help us,” she threw a subtle glance towards Alex who was still busy with his tab or maybe pretending to be busy

Rafael followed her gaze, and a soft smile touched his

lips. “Hey, Tech whiz. If you change your mind don’t

62 62–Dur Kids

hesitate to join us. It shouldn’t hurt if we can use some of your engineering skills.”

This time Alex just nodded, and Marissa saw hope.

Rafael was trying to build something and was asking Ariel to hand him over the larger Lego pi

At one point she felt that the castle building was tilting aside.

Marissa quickly reached out to support the small building, he had managed to build. Their shoulders. brushed and she gave him a reassuring smile,

“Don’t worry, daddy. I have got this,” she said softly.

Rafael’s face was serious when he acknowledged her help with a nod, “Thank you, Mommy.”

Her eyes went back to Sophia who was standing in the kitchen doorway and had a ‘See, I told you so‘ look on her face.

***

Marissa was pleasantly surprised when she found Rafael spending most of the day with the kids.

After sitting with them for a while she started the laundry and then went to the kitchen to cut some veggies for the next day’s early morning order.

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82 62- Our Kids

The later orders were usually handled by her staff.

“Are you still with them? I need to do a few more chores,” She bent down to ask Rafael in a whisper. He just pinched her chin affectionately and nodded, giving her a go–ahead.

After getting done with the laundry she wanted to shave her arms and legs. Her face badly needed a cucumber mask to freshen up her skin.

She had also planned to use an overnight mask tonight.

Sending a little prayer on Rafael’s way, when she came out of her room Rafael was leaning back wearily against the sofa.

There was a huge castle placed on the kids‘ desk. It was still tilted and didn’t have windows at all. Even the doors looked faulty.

“Where are the windows?” she asked the girls who were whispering something in Rafael’s ears and the tiredness on his handsome face was evident.

“Daddy said, it’s OK to not make windows because

then a dinosaur might come in the middle of the night

through it”

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02 02 Cis Kids

Ariel gave her the explanation and Marissa saw Rafael clutching his lips together to stop himself from laughing.

“And what happened to these doors?” she asked Abigail who just shrugged fluttering her lashes.

“The door will be fixed once the owner of the

arrives,” Rafael answered with his eyes still closed

“Owner?” she laughed, “who is the owner?”

“Daddy said that the queen is the owner, and the king will not let anyone fix the doors unless the queen

comes back to him.”

Marissa who was planning to laugh hard at the outrageous explanation went still, rooted to her spot.

Was she imagining it, or was it a silent message for

her?

How could she tell the children that the queen was already living in the castle and the king was waiting for nothing?

He just didn’t want to fix anything in the castle.

“Hello, folks!” Sophie and Flint who were out for

grocery shopping entered carrying loads of grocery

bags.

Rafael was at once on his feet. He took the bags from Sophie and quickly looked over his shoulder at Alex, “Alexander! Can you help Flint please?”

Marissa liked it when Rafael made a subtle effort to

teach manners to their son.

“You should stay for dinner. I am planning to make tower sandwiches,” she told him when he was walking

to the kitchen counter.

But he shook his head, “Why don’t I order something for all of us?” he suggested.

“Are you sure?” she didn’t know why she was being

hesitant.

“Absolutely,” he smiled, “You’ve been busy enough today. Let me take care of dinner.”

The girls who were yawning, lying on the rug, jumped in excitement, “Pizza! Pizza!” they started chanting making their parents laugh.

“For God’s sake, Abi! NO!” Flint was quick to reach the girl and made her sit down.

Rafael picked up his phone and announced loudly

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we one of our live

The base put down

Mens Tiew jmmand Turkeywall

preme Ruffel took her

has a singing would you prefer M. Aaron”

sked trimwwwand her her sake of icle, but

Marst we anant jumping as hare charge.

“I can have anything” she smiled hermitantly avoiding

looking at Flint and Soplar who were now again giving

or id and aar what dike Rafaels

eyes did to las fully

“What will www. Refaci

when her sand that

Rafael sand at hot eyes and whispered, “You!”

A

62 62–Our kids

one of them. This time even Alex didn’t act weird to his

touch.

Rafael just kissed his head, respecting his consent.

After tucking them into bed, he got up from their bunk and looked around the little room is kids needed a bigger room, a bigger place where they could make

memories.

He needed to bring it up to Marissa without hurting her feelings. He had witnessed that look on her face when his daughters complimented him that he was the

best dad.

“Where is she?” the moment he was out of the room, his eyes started searching for her.

“She went to the bathroom, will be back in a minute,” Sophie motioned for him to sit.

“Coffee?” she asked him, and he shook his head,

“No way. No more space for anything else in my belly…”

“And in your heart too…” she winked with a knowing grin and Rafael didn’t respond.

“I meant to say sorry, Dr. Sophia. The way I barged

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62 62- Our Kids

into your office that day and…”

“Oh, that’s not a problem, Rafael,” she gave her hand a careless wave and then pointed towards the large envelope placed on the corner table.

“Do you know what’s inside it?” Rafael curved down his lips and shrugged.

“Our landlord Amir. He sent Marissa a notice to pay in full otherwise we need to leave this place,” poor Sophie was continuously looking over her shoulder, just to

check if Marissa was still in her room.

“What?” Rafael frowned in concern, “Do you have any

documents …’

11

“We don’t. That’s what he’s taking advantage of …”

Rafael nodded and stood up offering his hand to Sophie. Sophie took it in confusion.

“Thank you for trusting me. Let me know if I can do anything for you. I owe you one.”

With hesitancy, Sophie shook his hand.

Rafael saw Marissa coming out of her room and went to her. He needed to hug her.

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He took out his phone and sent a quick message to Dean, “Arrange a meeting with Kate’s fiancé. It’s

urgent!”

“What were you two discussing?” Marissa had seen them shaking hands.

“We were just discussing kids,” he then leaned over to brush his lips over her forehead, “Our kids!”

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