Chapter 71

71 Plans For Breakfast

Luke.

Morning came, and I was reluctant to get off the bed. Spending the night in the mansion seemed like a

good idea, but waking up in it did not seem so anymore. I hated breakfast, and this one would definitely

be eventful. I could imagine the list of things we would have to discuss. Caleb‘s daughter was one. Caleb

moving out of the mansion was another. Caleb‘s marrying the reluctant and not–interested Kimberly was

there. Me housing them was an offence that might be discussed. Paul‘s health and prospects and my

future plan for him were prospective topics my father would want to discuss either on his own or

prompted by Stacy. Tia‘s take on everything and her plans for our baby will be addressed. Above all,

Elisabeth‘s exit will be brought up. There was no way breakfast was going to be peaceful. I wished the

mansion’s exit wasn‘t at the right wing. If not, I would have opted to slip away with Tia and call to

apologise later. One thing I was sure my father would be prepared, and Norman would be waiting at the

exit to invite us to breakfast before we leave.

Tia and I were both naked, and I moved close to her and held her. She grumbled in her sleep, and it

made me smile. I kissed her neck and wrapped my arms around her. We were finally at peace. I was

glad Paul was in great hands, and Elisabeth was out of my life permanently. I wished her the best, but I

prayed our paths never crossed. It was seven in the morning, and we won‘t be having breakfast until

nine. My father deliberately kept it that late so that none of us would have an excuse. I am sure he was

geared up for this morning, and I knew he would anticipate our move to dodge it.

I gently moved away from Tia, so she won‘t wake up. I picked up my phone and called Caleb. He

answered almost immediately, which made me believe he was awake.

“Couldn‘t sleep?” I asked him.

“Yeah. The couch sucks,” he complained, and I realised Kimberly hadn‘t softened up. For his good, I

hope she does. He really hurt her beyond repair. “You should have slept in another room,” I told him.

“No. I can‘t. It is best this way. I want to be in the same space she is. Do you think things would have

gotten good between you and Tia if you slept in separate rooms? Hanging around her increases my

chances. She might forgive me sooner this way. Otherwise, the months will roll by quickly, and she will

leave. Every second counts for me.” He said, and I figured he was serious about winning her heart again.

“Well, I wish you all the best,” I said, and he thanked me. “I didn‘t know how fucked up the idea of

spending the night here was until now, Luke,” Caleb said, and I laughed a bit.

“Me too,” I said and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I am prepared for my mother,” Caleb said, which

reminded me why I called in the first place.

“Please do not bring up Regan Adhit at the table. I want to get to the bottom of the matter,

71 plans for Breakfast

and with all due respect, you know how your mother is,” I said, and Caleb laughed. “I wasn‘t going to

bring it up. I still think she isn‘t being honest about certain things. We should discuss it extensively when

we get home,” Caleb agreed, and I sighed. “Has Tia finished going through the business proposal I sent

you?” He asked, and I looked at my wife in bed; she was still asleep. “I doubt she could read anything

with all that had happened. They are auditing the company, and we are investigating Timothy Miles.

Because of the unfinished contracts and missing funds,” I said, and he paused. “I know it would implicate

my mother, Luke,” He said sadly, and I sighed.

“I do not think she was lying about her deal with Timothy,” I told him, sharing my opinion, and he sighed.

“She has disappointed me too many times for me to trust her, Luke. Do not get your hopes up. She

definitely has a hand in it. That is the only way she could afford to pay Regan Adhit Millions of Kins every

year for twenty–three years. Do the math, Luke. There was no way she was cashing that money from the

accounts. They were definitely padding the contracts together, and mother was making father look away.

I do not trust her.” He said, making a lot of sense.

“How about we bring up the investigations at breakfast to give her a chance to come clean?” I asked,

and he was silent for a bit before speaking. He was thinking about his response. She was his mother,

after all.

“Have you thought of what you will do if she is guilty?” He asked. I hadn‘t really thought about it. I did not

know what I would do. I could not arrest her, nor could she pay back.

“Not really,” I said.

“Size everything she has that is of value and auction it. Stop changing her wardrobe. Back her to a

corner. Let her live without money.” Caleb said, and I knew his anger with his mother was beyond what

we were discussing. Somehow I knew my wife was in the mix, but I admired his effort to move on, so I

decided not to bring it up or point it out.

“I see where you are driving,” I said to avoid complicating the conversation. “The woman left her

boyfriend because of money. Father was rich and powerful, and she chose to leave the man for it. We

should ask for the child‘s grave if we want to catch her. Don‘t bring up the investigation Luke; she will just

complicate things for you. I won‘t be mad if you deal with her. Somebody has to; father has let her run

wild all these years leading to this nonsense.” Caleb said, and I laughed.

“Tia and I have a better idea,” I said, and he was silent, which indicated he was attentive. “We will go and

get your grandparents from Dome without her knowledge. We can then ask them questions about what

your mother told us. If truly there is a dead child, there should be a grave. If this man loved her as much

as it seems, the baby should have a tombstone,” I said.

“Why do you say that?” Caleb asked.

“Because only love can cause the man to feel betrayed to the point of blackmailing her for

71 Plans For Breakfast

revenge. If what she says is true, this man is blackmailing her only to make her life miserable. Tektite is a

big company; he does not need her money. The man obviously feels insulted and wants to get back at

her by taking away her peace and causing problems between her and our father by forcing her to act

suspiciously.” I stated. “You are on to something Luke,” he agreed. “If there was a child between them, it

would have a grave and a tombstone,” I said. “I like your idea Luke, and we will stick to it. I will bring up

stuff to stop her and father from stirring up shit during breakfast. I really do not feel like discussing my

personal life with them, and I know the feeling is mutual,” Caleb suggested, and I agreed. “Breakfast will

be eventful as always,” I said, and he laughed. “It seems like we would be the ones turning the heat up

this time around,” He pointed out, and I laughed.

I heard Emma crying in the background, and Caleb hung up so he could attend to his daughter. It was

terrific that Caleb, whom I was six years his senior, beat me to fatherhood. Emma’s voice made me

remember Paul. I only heard him cry once. When he came out of his mother. I hoped the hole closes on

its own like the doctor had predicted so they wouldn‘t have to carry out open–heart surgery on him. I

planned on visiting Neev to check on my son in three months. Finger‘s crossed, Paul won‘t have other

complications that would be life–threatening or make living challenging for him. I doubted I would be able

to forgive Elisabeth for what she did. It will take a while to get over it. Even though I knew Paul would be

fine. There were still uncertainties about other symptoms that may arise from the drugs.

I went to brush my teeth and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My beards were overgrown and busy. I

was definitely visiting the salon soon. My beards were not long, but I needed to cut and carve them. The

whole stress about Kimberly and then Paul kept me so occupied that I forgot to keep my appointment

with my barber. After brushing my teeth, I linked one of the staff closest to my room to bring Tia a tuna

sandwich and returned to bed. A few minutes later, the staff told me they were out of tuna but had

smoked salmon. I doubted what that would taste like between toasts, but I had no choice but to allow

them to use it.

The sandwich arrived forty-five minutes later, the same time Tia woke up. Her hair looked dishevelled,

and she looked beautiful. She was also completely naked, so she wrapped the sheet around her body

when she figured the staff had entered the room. They left when they delivered the snacks, and Tia went

to brush her teeth. She was serious about her morning‘s breath, and I had to respect her consistency.

She returned to bed a few minutes later and straddled me. I grabbed her and kissed her deeply, and she

responded. I travelled with my kisses down her neck. Her moans were pleasant to my ears and an

excellent way to start the day.

“How are you feeling now?” She asked me, and I smiled. “Elisabeth is gone, and Paul will be fine. I am

delighted. I think we should have dinner with your folks to thank your father for his quick thinking.” I said,

and she raised her eyebrows, surprised.

“And we should make sure Dr Green‘s licence is suspended.” She said, and I shook my head.

71 Plans For Breakfast

“Not really. He did say the hole will close up, and he did talk to your father about it. I think there has been

too much sadness already. Let‘s move on.” I said, and she smiled at me. “Are we dodging breakfast?”

She asked me, and I shook my head. Her smile faded away. “I know, Tia. But I doubt my father will let us

skip breakfast.” I said, and she got up. “You know it won‘t be pleasant, right?” She asked, and I nodded.

“As long as no one is attacking you, I can handle it,” I said, and she smiled.

Tia reached for the tray of sandwiches and bit into it. I kept quiet about what was in it, but the look on her

face said it all.

She put down the sandwich and took a gulp of the grape juice they served. “The Salmon is salty,” she

complained, and I cringed a bit. “Sorry, darling. They had no tuna, and I figured you might get hungry

before nine. “I apologised to her, and she smiled at me.

“The juice will do just fine. I think we can survive till then,” she said, and I pulled her closed to me. She

stood before me while I was sitting on the bed. I bent my head and kissed her flat

belly.

“I can‘t wait to meet our child,” I said, and she giggled. She bent down to kiss me, and I pulled her back

to bed. I knew I would never get enough of my wife.