When A Man Wants - Episode 6

 

FREDDIE LYON IS SIX! HURRAY!

ANIKA

I checked the time again , it was already some minutes past 4pm. I sighed, I was sure that Tommy won’t make the birthday party again this time.  It was not a problem, another reminder that he wasn’t the father. Wonderful!

I had tried to tell him I would be having guests but he wasn’t even available to listen, so I just gave up. Afterall, he wouldn’t be around for the party.

Wiping my hands against the handkerchief, I went to the table where I had placed the cake . Then I carried the tray to the sitting room. Freddie was looking bored and cute in his suits, he held a blown balloon in his hands.

I smiled and quickly but carefully placed the cake at the center table, then I removed my apron and placed it on the seat.

“Freddie darling, why do you look so sad? Birthday boys must not look sad, remember?”

He said nothing. I knew the problem was the same, Tommy wasn’t here even  though he had promised he would try and make it.

“Tommy would be here okay, he went for a meeting, a very important meeting. It doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love you….”

He said nothing but instead went to the settee by the window and knelt in front of it, looking through the window.

“I don’t have any friend here mummy. Nobody will come for my birthday

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. Why did you bring us here? I want to go back home….”

I felt sad for my little boy so I stood up to go pacify him but he sprang up immediately, looking all excited.

“They are here! He is here!”

Then just like that, he jumped down and ran towards the door.

“Hey! Come back here!” I shouted at him but the door was already opened and I saw him ran into the arm of the man we had met that day. Urm....Veee..something.....vincent, right.

The young man looked quite surprised and in his hand was a bottle of wine. He looked cleaned up, better than the last time I had seen him. Even his hair was well cut and he looked dapper. Behind him was the young lady and she managed a smile as she sighted me. Lisa was looking beautiful in the pink short gown she wore.

“Hi.” She greeted and I smiled back.

“Thanks for coming.”

The man quickly waved at me as Freddie gave him no chance. He just pulled him inside and dragged him inside.

“Wow! I thought you wouldn’t make it.” I said as she got inside.

“Wow! So this is the Lyon’s den” She said and I laughed. “It’s so beautiful!”

I could hear Freddie’s voice as he explained to Vince how to play his video game.

I have never seen my son like this before……not even with Tommy….

“So, where is the paparazzi, where is everybody? Are we too early?” Lisa asked as she took a seat.

I stood with primed lips.

“Well, it’s just us. I don’t like fuss and too much publicity, I prefer a quiet low key party.”

The woman looked at me as if I had two heads, then she started laughing. “Are you kidding? Your whole life is publicity….”

Okay, this girl always make me feel somehow….

“So, where is Mr Lyon?” She asked.

“He is…urm…..he will soon be around” I lied and she nodded. She spotted the family album at the corner of the room.

“Oh, can I take a look?”

“Sure.” I replied and went to bring it.

It was a picture of myself and Freddie, when he was a year old, Tommy wasn’t in the picture then.

“I guess Mr. Lyon has always been a busy man.”

I knew she meant his absence but I said nothing. She had no business knowing about so many things in my life and she had no right to judge me. I don’t like this woman and I know she doesn’t like me either.

“Anyways, I will soon be on my way…” She said all of a sudden, closing the album and standing up.

“You are not staying?”

She shook her head. “I have to get to somewhere, it’s a research thingy.”

“Okay , well, we will send your cake .” I replied  trying  to be as sweet as possible but she didn’t seem pleased. Instead, she looked around and was heading towards the door.

“Please take care of Vincent and I really do hope you mean to look after him. I do not expect any issue from your husband…he knows we are coming right?”

I swallowed and nodded slightly. That was a lie…

“You don’t like me much, do you?” I finally asked her. I could sense my anger boiling up …

She shrugged. “No. I don’t. In fact I don’t trust you at all. First you met us in the plane and accused my friend of something. Now you are inviting him to a party. I do not know what this is all about but I really do hope your husband knows we are coming.  I’m sorry but it’s nothing personal.

Read " Broken-Broken " by the same author ( Tobi Loba )

. When it’s six, I will be back.” Just like that she turned and left. I could hear her car being driven out.

I sighed, well at least, she’s gone.

My husband won’t be back till late in the night. The time was okay for my son and his new friend to get along. Maybe I could tag along too.

“Mum, can I cut the cake now?”

Freddie was in the room and as usual, he was holding Vincent. In Vincent’s hand was a tab and it was positioned in a way that I could see what was written,

I AM SO SORRY ABOUT LISA”S ATIITUDE. SHE MEANS NO HARM.

I smiled and nodded. “It’s okay Vince. I understand her concern.”

We exchanged smiles and we all walked to the cake. It felt so strange as often times I had always been the only one in all Freddie’s birthdays, except for some of his friends who used to be around then at UK.

I already positioned the standing camera and I have set the timer. Freddie was standing in front of the cake, holding the knife while Vincent stood at his right, I went to take my stand beside him.

“Everyone , say cheers!” I shouted and as Freddie and I said cheers, the front door opened and my husband stepped in.

“What the hell is he doing here?” He demanded. I was dumbfounded, I didn’t know what to say, I didn't expect  him and even in my state of shock, the camera flashed.