Chapter 53 Phone Is Off
“Arthur…” Lucia sighed resignedly.
“Arthur, Lucia and Theodore were just leaving a few days before us. Don’t make it like you’re never going to see her again.” It never occurred to her that Arthur could be so indecisive. Sophie was both amused and annoyed.
“Can we go now?” Knowing that she had gone beyond the bottom line, Sophie apologized and urged him.
“Let’s go. Come, Theodore. Give daddy a hug.” As he was answering Sophie, he gave a sign to Theodore, who was reading by himself on the couch. On hearing his father’s calling, he soon walked over and raised his arms up high. And Arthur lifted him up. Though the child remained silent, his tight grip signified his reluctance to leave.
While Arthur was holding Theodore, there was something different with his look. Lucia noticed that and instantly grabbed her trunk, hoping to go out first, but Arthur’s grip stopped her.
“Let me.” He wouldn’t let her do any heavy work though he was holding Theodore.
“Then I’ll take Theodore.” Lucia didn’t want him too exhausted as well, but her suggestion was turned down immediately.
“Don’t even think about it.” He glanced at her, and went out with one hand holding Theodore, the other dragging the trunk. Lucia and Sophie exchanged a look. Both of them seemed to understand Arthur’s behavior but was also at the same time a little amused and resigned.
When they went downstairs, Lucia took the passenger’s seat first. Sophie and Theodore took the back seats. Lucia didn’t want Arthur to choose anything between her or his mother, so she would let Sophie to take the most important seat.
Her little action warmed Arthur’s heart. His hands remained on top of hers while they were waiting for Theodore to fasten children’s seatbelt. Every cell in his body was yearning for her. Lucia silently held his hands tight and gave him a big smile.
When Theodore was ready, Arthur let go of Lucia’s hand and started the engine, driving them to the airport.
With Theodore in the car, the whole way was filled with laughter and happiness. Just like Arthur didn’t want Lucia to leave, Sophie also didn’t want her grandson to leave. The elder one and the young kid chatted with each other, filling every minute passed on this road.
At last, they arrived at the airport. As soon as Arthur arrived, stuffs especially for shareholders came to help them move luggage, which allowed Arthur some time to say goodbye to Lucia.
Arthur held Lucia in one of his arms with Theodore in the other, while Lucia was laying his head on his shoulder.
Theodore comforted, “Mom and I will be waiting for you in USA. Come and find us soon, daddy.”
Intelligent as Theodore was, he could see clearly how his parents were reluctant to leave each other. Honestly, he didn’t want to leave his father, either, but he found the corner of her mommy’s eyes turned red. He didn’t want her mommy to cry, so he would be the guy to improve the atmosphere.
“I will. And Theodore must take care of your mother and wait for daddy to pick you up, alright?” While saying, Arthur could not help leaving a kiss on his soft little cheek.
Meanwhile, Lucia hid her face in his neck, fearing her tears would drop out the minute she looked up.
Not long after, the airport staff came to remind them that it was time for boarding. Though Arthur could hardly part with them, he forced himself to let them go. Before they left, he repeatedly urged them to be careful on the road. He finally stopped talking until the airport staff reminded again. But he seemed even more reluctant to let them leave.
“Take care, Auntie Sophie.” Lucia said, after taking over Theodore from Arthur, whom she looked again with deep affection.
“Right, you too. Theodore, you are a little man now. Take care of your mommy, alright?” Sophie nodded to Lucia, then talked with Theodore.
“Don’t worry, grandma. I will.” Theodore patted on his chest in a manly manner.
“Miss Webb, this way.” Seeing they were almost done with saying goodbye, the staff pointed to Lucia which way to go. She turned around and walked away, not daring to look back.
Arthur’s eyes followed her all the way, until he could no longer see her when they went into a corner.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
Lucia had found her seats with Theodore in the first class. The air hostess came to ask her if she needed anything, but she stopped after saying the first few words.
She turned to little Theodore to check if he needed something. Theodore, while lying in her mother’s arms, shook his head. Then the air hostess went away.
“Don’t cry, mommy.” Laying close to her chest, Theodore patted softly on her arms.
It turned out that the reason why the air hostess went away was because she caught sight of Lucia’s crimson eyes. She seemed so low and didn’t want to be disturbed.
“It’s okay, mommy.” Theodore’s comfort was of great help. She managed to pull herself together and conceal her feelings lest Theodore should be worried.
She knew they were only going to separate for a few days, but when she turned around in the VIP room, her heart ached. She even didn’t dare to turn back, for she was afraid that she was going to rush into his embraces once she did so. These sentiments had nowhere to go but eventually turned themselves into tears.
“Mommy, are you missing daddy?” Theodore seemed to know it all.
Lucia smiled, and patted his head, “Yeah, mommy do miss daddy. But he will come for us soon.”
“So…” Theodore said in his childish way, while wiping Lucia’s tears away, “Mommy should stop crying.”
Lucia clutched his hands and kissed on it. She nodded and stopped feeling sad.
Soon, the plane took off, with everyone’s expectation, heading to USA.
On the day of 23rd, Arthur had packed everything without Sophie’s reminding him. In the early of morning, he drove to her place to pick her and Jan up, so that they could return to USA together.
Before departure, he intended to video chat with her first, but no one picked up.
He called again but only to find her phone was off.
“What’s wrong, Arthur?” The minute she walked downstairs, Sophie noticed her son staring at his phone.
“Lucia’s phone is off…” There was something worrying in his voice, though he seemed normal.
Sophie was not concerned at all, “maybe she’s busy doing other stuff. You know that Auntie Esmae is almost her last relatives. Sure, she’s going to spend a lot of time with her. And she’s not going to stare at her phone screen all day long. Don’t worry. Let’s go New York first, then we will make contacts with her.”
But Arthur still felt something was wrong.