The Twin
Page 22
“There’s my baby girl,” he said, as Nila quickly went to her doting grandfather’s arms. She was clearly a granddaddy’s girl. “Hey,” George greeted Bella as he kissed her on the cheek. They had come a long way. Their relationship was close, despite its rough beginning. Bella grew to understand his protective nature. Niles and Noah were like him but in a different way. Any initial anxieties she had, were now squashed. George made the journey easy. He welcomed her with open arms, never mentioning money or Noah’s shares of the company. It was assumed she owned them. And she was now Niles’ wife. And George was fine with that. She was the mother of the future of his company. And any more grandchildren would come from Bella and Niles. George was pushing for more.
Niles grabbed Noel and carried him. “Hey pop,” he said, as he hugged his father. They were still mending their relationship. George had scaled back controlling everything around him. Ingrid claimed he was getting too old to care. George said it was because he trusted Nicole and Niles’ vision for their company. Things were looking up. He had no worries.
“Surprise!” everyone yelled, as the children laughed. Their extended cousins ran to greet them. Bella looked around at the house full of kids. Some were from the neighborhood as well as children of Langston Financial employees. Bella’s parents stood off to the side. Next to them was Dani and Chrissy, helping manage the large crowd of kids.
“Hey girl,” Dani said, as Bella walked over to them. Bella greeted her friends then hugged her mother and father. “Hi mom,” she said, as she kissed Connie. “You look so beautiful baby,” her mother said. Lewis kissed Bella on the cheek then excused himself to the back of the room. “Noel and Nila are getting big,” Chrissy gushed, as she fed her four-year-old macaroni and cheese where she stood. He darted over, to get a mouthful, then would run to play. “I see you wore the dress,” Bella said to Dani. She was Bella’s most loyal customer. Bella was ordering better quality garments. She catered to a more exclusive clientele and she was turning huge profits. George and Ingrid spread the word and Bella’s Boutique was suddenly the it place for fashion.
She looked around for her father Lewis. She wondered where he’d gone. She could see him walking off with George. Bella smiled. The two were like old pals, always stealing a moment away from gatherings to talk business and sports. Bella watched as her babies ran around with the other young children. Nicole headed back to the kitchen to resume her duties as overseer of the food and activities. Niles, Austin and several of his close friends and co-workers headed toward the family’s theater room. Niles and Austin had grown closer now that he and Nicole were in a good space. “Where’s the beers?” Niles shouted. There was a game on and it was perfect timing to escape the screaming children and get in some guy time with beers and hors d’oeuvres.
Niles looked back. He turned around and walked up to his wife. He kissed Bella on the mouth then whispered in her ear. She laughed like a giddy schoolgirl. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear and out of his way. The way she blushed. The look she gave her mother and friends. The way her foot turned to the side as she got comfortable. As if he would be in her ear for a minute. Her mother blushed. Bella’s was a real genuine love affair. It was obvious to everyone around them. They were unapologetic in their bond.
“Hey,” Niles greeted, acknowledging their presence so as not to be rude. The women all spoke and smiled. Niles was admirable. He had come a long way. Gone were his flirty days of different lovers. Gone were his fears of commitment. It was him and his wife. His first and only love. And they were open in their displays of what they meant to one another. There were times when it seemed no one else was in the room but them. Theirs was a particular love affair. Connie knew it all too well. She and Lewis were still in love. Their fifty years together were as strong as ever. She was happy for her daughter and Niles. They were madly in love.
Niles walked back to his waiting friends. Noel ran to him and he swooped him up. The men continued down the hall. Bella smiled. Niles always said little things to her that made her moments away from him memorable. On purpose, she believed, to keep her thinking of him. Even if he was only going to be two rooms away, down the hall. It worked. She was thinking of him. She couldn’t wait to get home. Get her children to bed. Cuddle under her husband. Her family was complete. And it was everything she wanted.
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Smokey Moment