Genre: Romance
Rating: NC 17
Disclaimer : Standard disclaimers apply. The characters belong to Shalz R.
Chapter 12: Part One : Just Friends!
Although his family was happy and satisfied with what he had told them, Ian knew he hadn’t given all the details to his family. They knew that she had once stayed over but he couldn’t tell them how he had found her, that he had been watching her work that night, that they had dinner together. He couldn’t tell them of the feelings she had stirred in him that night, and last night. He couldn’t explain to them the need he had to see her last night and this morning. He couldn’t tell them that even though he had just been with her, he was eagerly waiting to see her again, when she would come to his house. He, probably, couldn’t even explain them to himself.
Sometime later he walked away from the room, into his library. He picked up a book but couldn’t read it. He took his book to the stream, but couldn’t stay there either. He went up to his room and sat in the front extension of it, relaxing himself on the bench under the window. This place was good. From here he could see the right gate directly in front of him. From here he would be able to see Sonya when she comes.
He could hardly read. His attention was caught by every single activity on the gates. Even when the guards moved he looked up to see if Sonya had arrived. It was only ten-thirty now; barely two hours from when he had left her house. He was confused as to why hadn’t she come as yet, “She had completed all her work! Most of it anyway! Why didn’t she come? What could be keeping her till yet?” he thought, as he got tired of waiting. He sighed and kept trying his best to read his book.
Mrs. Maxwell walked into his room, looking for him. She saw him sitting by his window, his book open in his hands, and his eyes staring out into the woods! She looked worried for a moment, thinking Ian was feeling depressed again.
“Ian!”
Ian turned around with a jerk, “Mom! Yeah!”
“What’s the matter, Ian?”
“Oh Nothing Mom! I was just thinking … I would go for a walk. Or maybe ride around with the kids!” what he really wanted was to see Sonya. Mrs. Maxwell sat down beside him.
“Are you feeling alright?” Mrs. Maxwell asked concerned.
“Oh Yes, Mom! I’m ok. Don’t worry” he said and smiled. He wasn’t lying and she could see that. He had actually been looking happy.
“You did take a walk in the morning, didn’t you? You want to go again?”
“Yeah! Just wondering! Actually mom, I have just this week at home. Then I’ll be out again. The next bit of shooting will be outdoors. I’ll be out for at least a month, maybe more. I just wanted to stay here and enjoy my new house as much as possible.” He smiled.
Mrs. Maxwell smiled too. She was glad in her choice of the interior decorator. Sonya had really done a great job. Moreover, now she had actually gotten him out of his shell, got him to be friends with her.
“Are you looking for something?” she asked; she noticed him looking out of the window again and again.
“No Mom! Just! It’s a good day!” he answered.
“Oh yes!” she said. “In more ways than one” she thought and left the room, smiling, leaving him to resume his reading.
Ian resumed his so-called reading and remained seated in the place. He took short walks across his room trying to read, always taking a peak at the window when he crossed it.
Thus spending his time, he didn’t realize when it was lunch hour. He reluctantly went downstairs to join others on the lunch. He was hoping it would be in the dining hall for that place did give some view of the right gates. The family, however, decided to have it near the waterfall. Even then he did his best to monitor the movements towards the right gate. After lunch he took Sera and Evan to play in front of the right gates, between the rows of trees erected by Sonya on both the sides of the gate. Come evening he resumed his position by the window in his room.
As the sun set, the lights of Maxwell Manor came on. The lights around the stream looked like tiny jewels from the distance, and their reflection shimmered in the water. The gate lights were also turned on. Soon the moon was shining in the summer sky and the stars peaked out one by one.
Ian paced up and down his room, looking towards the gate every now and then, his book still in his hand. He was not only amazed but also disappointed that Sonya didn’t turn up all day. Tired of pacing the floor, he went and sat on the bench by the window, crossing his arms on the window and cradling his chin on his arms, as he looked out wearily. Still hoping, still waiting for her to come.
It was soon dinnertime, he went down again and silently had his dinner. The family noticed him quiet and lost in his own thoughts. Every now and then he’d look towards the gate.
“Are you expecting someone?” Mrs. Maxwell asked.
Ian sighed and replied with a disappointed, “No, Mom”
Dinner was over. Ian had hardly participated in the conversation going on. His mind was elsewhere. He quietly walked back to his room. He stood near his window, still looking out, “Why didn’t you come, Sonya?” he whispered to himself. He had barely sat down when a thought struck him, “What if she’s not well? She looked all right in the morning. What if something’s happened after that?” he got worried. He got up and went to the phone, picked it up and realized that he did not have her number. Irritated he banged the phone down.
He picked up her bag of clothes and walked out his balcony door and out of the gates. He walked up to her house, reaching there in less than ten minutes.
He looked for a bell on her backyard gate and found the door open. He opened it and walked in and found the back door of the house also open. He walked in slowly, looking around the kitchen, the couch by the window, rest of the room but Sonya wasn’t there. he placed the bag on a sofa and walked out again, looking for her around the house. he found the front gate open and remembered that last night also the gate was open, “Why does she always leave the door open?” he thought as he closed the door and then walked in again through the backyard door.
“Sonya!” he called out.
A door opened and Sonya came out puzzled.
“Ian!” she said looking at him and then at the time. Just about the time he came last night.
“Why do you keep all the doors open? It’s an open invitation to trouble. Do you think its safe, keeping the doors open at this time of the night in a place like this? Last night also it was open and tonight it all open again!” he hollered while she stood there dumbly listening to him, half-surprised, half-scared.
“I – I – I’m sorry. I’ll just lock them.” She stammered.
“I’ve locked the front yard gate.” He replied sternly.
She just stood there unable to think or say anything. He took a deep breath and calmed down a bit, “I’ve got your bag of clothes!” he informed her, expecting to hear the reason for her not turning up.
“Oh!’ she said confused, “Why did you take the trouble? I would have got it when I went there!”
“But you didn’t! You told me in the morning that you were planning to! I was expecting you all day! What happened?” he asked losing his temper again. How could he tell her how much he had waited, how worried he had been!
“Oh!” she said even more confused, “I thought that now that you had your coat, I would pick up my bag whenever I could! I’m sorry I didn’t mean to … I had work … a new project … I was working on it all day. I’m sorry!”
Ian was truly disappointed. He felt he had waited the whole day in vain, when she didn’t even mean to come. He felt very irritated.
“Its ok.” He said and turned to leave. “Lock the door!” he said quietly as he walked out of the door.
Sonya stood there for a moment as she watched him go out. She was confused that he was so disappointed, and felt sorry that he left in such a way. She hurried after him.
“Ian! Wait! Please Ian!”
Ian continued walking towards the gate; she ran and caught up with him.
“Ian, please! I’m sorry! What’s the matter?” she asked panting slightly.
Ian didn’t say anything, and turned his face away from her, trying his best to control his temper.
“Ian, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting! Really! I’m sorry!” Ian did not reply, “Please don’t leave like this!” she whispered.
“Its ok!” he said through clenched.
“Why don’t you come in for some coffee? Please!” she whispered her voice giving away.
“Sonya, I said its ok!” he blurted out angrily before realizing that she was probably near tears. He turned to face her; his voice became softer and all anger melted away into nothingness at what he saw. He swallowed, feeling guilty for making her cry, “On second thoughts, a coffee might be good!” he said softly and tried to smile.
At once her eyes lit up. She smiled a bit, “It’ll be ready in a minute!” she said as she turned towards the house. She had gone a few steps when she noticed that he had started walking towards the gate!
“Ian!” she called out puzzled.
“I’m just closing the gates. I’ll be right in!” he smiled. She too smiled and turned towards the house. Her eyes were moist with tears she was hurriedly wiping off. She didn’t know why she was crying, but she didn’t want him to see that she was!
He came in a few moments later and sat down on the dining chair, as she got herself busy with making coffee. Ian sat for a few moments wondering what to say; he was feeling very guilty for being so rude. He got up and walked up to her in the kitchen area.
“Sonya, I’m sorry!” he said without looking up at her, unable to look up at her.
She turned around, “Sorry? What for?”
“I’m sorry for being so rude! I really am sorry!” he said finally looking up at her. She could see that he was sincere.
“Its alright!” she said slowly, not knowing what to say, she again busied herself in the coffee.
“Did you have your dinner?” he asked trying to make conversation.
“Yeah! Some time back. Would you like something to eat?” she asked
“No. I had dinner too!” he answered, as she poured out the coffee. She handed him a cup and together they went and sat on the dining table.
“So what’s this new project about?” he asked.
“It’s a small project. It should be over in another two days according to the schedule.”
“And after that?” he asked
“After that, Mr. McKenzie will give me another project!” she said smiling, “I was working on its designs only. Now of course most of them are completed.”
“Speaking of designs, I was thinking, would you still have the designs you made for my house? Remember back then you were trying to show them to me and umm… I was in a hurry!”
Sonya smiled wittingly.
“Okay! So I wasn’t interested then. I just felt I wanted to see them. Could I see them now? That is if you still have them.”
“Of course I do have them! Come I’ll show you.” they picked up their coffee cups and she led them to her study.
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