Chapter 6

RAINA

Even though she slept late, Raina had always been a morning person; she was used to waking up around 6:30.

Thankfully, she woke up feeling better, making her wonder where she got the strength. She sat on the bed and meditated for a few minutes to gain a new determination to move on and live life with the people she cared about.

Raina finished meditating and said her morning prayers. She arranged her bed and made her way to the bathroom to do her morning rituals.

She had no other dress than the one she wore back from the hospital, but it wasn’t dirty or smelly, so she put it on. She brushed her hair with the one provided in her bathroom, after which she put her hair in a bun.

She looked at herself in the mirror and saw that she looked better than yesterday, except that her eyes were a little puffy from the number of times she cried.

Raina slipped her feet into the fancy slippers Clarice brought for her while she was in the hospital, then she exited her room. She did not hear any sounds or voices, so she assumed everyone was still asleep.

Raina went to the kitchen to see if there were ingredients to make breakfast for everyone. She knew her way around the house because Ronald had given her a tour yesterday.

Raina was still surprised by how full the kitchen was. Everywhere was stocked with foodstuffs and ingredients. One would easily mistake the kitchen for a mini grocery store.

Raina brought out all the ingredients she needed, set them aside, put on an apron, washed her hands, and got to work. She made eggs, bacon, pancakes, and some orange juice.

“It smells nice in here,” a woman said, and Raina turned to look at the person.

“Good morning, Clarice,” she greeted with a warm smile.

“Good morning, dear,” Clarice smiled. She was happy to see Raina being so energetic and smiling.

“Are you ready to have breakfast?” Raina asked. “I can serve you if you don’t mind.”

“Sure, I don’t mind, but let me go check up on Adrie and Alexa. I will be right back.”

“How about Ronald? Has he left for work already?” she asked.

“No, he hasn’t. He should be down any moment now,” she replied, then left for the girls’ room.

RONALD

Ronald woke up a little bit late and tired. He couldn’t sleep all night, thinking about what he could do to make Raina happy.

Ronald sighed after his fourth attempt at trying to knot his tie. The tie was not cooperating this morning. He took one final look at himself in the mirror, put on his Rolex, reached for his briefcase, and exited his room.

He dumped his briefcase on one of the couches in the living room and made his way to the kitchen to make himself coffee.

He was shocked as to who he saw in the kitchen. Raina. She had made breakfast, and everything she made looked yummy.

“Wow,” he muttered, which got her attention.

RAINA

“Good morning,” she smiled at him.

“Good morning, Ray,” he replied.

She smiled at that. She liked the nickname Ray.

Raina couldn’t help but assess his outfit. He looked so handsome in his dark blue suit. Though his tie looked as if it needed a little help, his hair was well styled, and the smell of his cologne made her a little light-headed.

“You want some?” she asked.

He nodded.

While making the orange juice, she figured Ronald might want coffee, so she made some too.

She reached for a mug and poured some coffee for him, noticing him watching her.

“Thank you.” He collected the mug, his fingers brushing against hers.

His eyes never left her as he took a sip. “This is the sweetest coffee I’ve ever tasted. The milk and sugar are just the right amount. This tastes so good,” he replied.

Raina smiled. “Will you have breakfast with us? Clarice went to get Alexa and Adrie.”

“I will be late for work if I do.”

“Please?” She pouted.

“Okay, I will just have a little.”

“Thanks. You can go take a seat while I set up the table.” He nodded and did as she said.

RONALD

“Where’s the surprise, Clarice? I can’t see anything,” Adrie complained from the top of the stairs.

“Me neither,” said Alexa.

“Wait till we get downstairs,” Clarice said. Ronald heard their feet on the steps as she and the girls climbed down the stairs and walked toward the dining room.

The girls looked both sad and confused when they only saw Ronald.

“Good morning, Daddy,” Alexa said as she walked toward Ronald.

“Morning, princess.” He kissed her forehead.

“Good morning,” Adrie greeted shyly.

Ronald smiled and kissed her forehead too.

“Good morning, girls,” Raina said, and Adrie screamed for joy as she ran to hug her mom.

Raina placed the plate of bacon she was holding on the dining table, after which she picked Adrie in her arms and showered her face with kisses.

“I miss you, Mama,” Adrie said.

“I miss you too, honey. Won’t you come to say hi to me?” Raina said to Alexa as she put Adrie down.

Alexa walked up to Raina and greeted her. Raina picked her up and showered her face with kisses, causing her to giggle.

“So you are the surprise Clarice was talking about. Adrie and I were beginning to think she tricked us,” Alexa said, and Raina chuckled as she led the girls to sit at the dining table.

Ronald sat at the head of the table while Alexa and Adrie sat by his right-hand side and Clarice sat on his left-hand side.

Raina served them all, after which she took a seat beside Clarice. She said a short prayer, and they dug in.

They all enjoyed breakfast.

“I should get going. Thanks for the food, Raina,” Ronald said as he rose to his feet.

“Wait, I have something for you,” Raina excused herself and made her way to the kitchen.

Ronald took a glance at Clarice. She shrugged at him. “Bye, girls,” he said as he kissed Alexa and Adrie on their cheeks.

“Bye!” they said with their mouths full of bacon.

Ronald hugged Clarice, after which he made his way to the living room.

“I made this for you in case you get hungry,” Raina said as she handed him lunch wrapped in a brown paper bag.

“Thank you,” he whispered. He was surprised, but he accepted the lunch.

Her eyes met his tie again. She groaned as she moved closer to him and adjusted it.

“You are good to go now!” She smiled and turned to leave.

“Wait,” Ronald said, stopping her from trying to escape.

He reached for his wallet in his pocket, took one of his credit cards, and handed it to her.

“Use that for shopping. Buy all that you and Adrie will need.”

She was reluctant to accept the card, which made Ronald grab her right hand and place the credit card in her palm.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You are welcome. Don’t worry about the price. Just buy, okay? I will see you all in the evening.”

RAINA

“How did you do it?” Clarice asked Raina.

“What do you mean?” she asked, confused, as they did the dishes together.

“No matter how much I tried to persuade him, he never stays for breakfast,” she said to Raina with a smile plastered on her face.