The old man really did go fishing. Ewan was amused, watching his old boss step into the sitting room with a basket of dium to small-sized fishes and his fishing gear.
He watched the kids rush to their father, hugging the latter and awning over the catch. He watched Ella leave her knitting, which she had been on while they had talked about the old and recent tis, and hug her husband.
He watched the old boss laugh, kissing his wife and children—only for the smile to freeze on his lips when the latter saw him sitting on the longest sofa in the room with a book in his hands, one he had found sowhat interesting.
Maybe because of boredom. It wasn’t his usual read.
"Ewan."
"In flesh, and breathing," Ewan stated, getting to his feet, aware of the wife and children moving aside to watch the reunion of the two n.
The two stood still, watching each other. Ewan nursed a smile on his lips, knowing a hundred percent from his talks with Ella that this fellow in front of him was the changed, humbled version of the man he had once known—even though he looked quite the sa, only older.
"Are you going to keep staring at , boss?"
The boss kissed his teeth and looked at his wife. "Can you give us so room? Maybe take the kids to bed. Have they eaten yet?"
Ella shook her head. "We were waiting for you."
"Oh my love... well, seeing as this brat has co to see ..."
Ewan laughed, breaking whatever ice that remained in the air.
"You have to eat with the children alone. It’s already late. I will have mine later."
Ewan agreed, considering the ti, considering he had texted his children to let them know that he would be coming back that day. When the ti difference was put to play, he hoped that he would be back to his city in ti for the cake ti Athena had promised a few days ago.
Would there be a cake ti, however, if the cure was yet to be found? He pursed his lips, watching Ella obey her husband, also taking the basket of fishes, while the children carried the gear.
Did the tip that Athena received cover that? And where did they stand now? Her texts might have revealed that whatever tension between them had dissolved, but you could never know with the woman.
And there were external circumstances like Antonio. Her engagent with Antonio.
"What have you tangled in knots, Ewan? What are you even doing here?" His boss’s question was enough to snap him out of his thoughts and make him realize that the latter had taken a seat on the opposite sofa.
"Boss..." Ewan started, stopping when his forr boss shook his head instantly.
"Don’t call that. Call John. Or my baptized na, Jas."
Ewan’s eyes widened a fraction, unable to help the incredulity. Even Ella’s story hadn’t prepared him for this sort of change—the gentleness of John’s voice, the gentleness of the aura surrounding him, the peace in his eyes.
The latter was put up by his appearance, sure, but he wasn’t really bothered in the truest sense. Was that what peace of mind looked like? Tranquility of both spirit and soul?
"Didn’t know you loved the na Jas..." Ewan started, readjusting his sitting position.
John shrugged. "The reverend taught it wise, and I thought it nice to answer both nas of the thunder twins."
Ewan laughed, catching the joke. "So, how does it feel to answer Jas and John?"
John smiled, relaxing into the sofa. "At peace."
Of course. Ewan thought, mirroring the man’s sitting position. Once, he had had that—well, before the death of his parents. Or rather, a portion of that.
"And she makes it all the better, you know... Ella my love..." A mushy expression has overtaken John’s face. "By the way, how is Athena, your wife?"
Ewan frowned. Didn’t the man know of his divorce? "That you live in such a hidden town doesn’t an you live under the rock, John. Surely, you are teasing with that question..."
It was John’s turn to frown. "I have no idea what you are talking about? Did sothing happen?"
And Ewan talked about it.
For so reason, it felt easier talking with this male who had been a terror in the past, who had taught him most of the things he knew now, even in business; who had taken him as a disciple sowhat, a son, and a friend—well, as far as friends could go in that business of theirs.
"Wow... that’s interesting..." John muttered when Ewan was done narrating the story. "And I take it that you want her back, her and the twins."
Ewan nodded like a devout student.
"Then win her back. Get in her graces," John supplied as if the answer was obvious—so obvious that he expected Ewan to know better.
"It’s not that simple," Ewan muttered, to which John snorted softly.
"You think it was all roses when I was set to have my Ella as a partner and wife?"
"Of course not."
Ewan rembered the story all too well. As a matter of fact, he still wasn’t sure how a cri boss had snagged the attention of a want-to-be reverend sister. What had been the enticing concept?
He could understand the change in his old boss, considering the influential power of won and their nurturing grace, but the interest of the woman in his boss—he never did understand. How she saw those tattoos and...
"You are thinking about us, aren’t you? How it happened?"
Ewan didn’t bother denying it.
"Well, it just happened. Not the state we are in now—we worked towards it—but the love..." A sigh. "If you love her, you will uncomplicate the threads, make the sacrifices..."
"She is engaged."
Ewan dropped the revelation, silencing the older male.
John raised his brows and made an O with his mouth. "That’s a special kind of complicated then. So, you have lost her then?"
Admitting it, even in his mind, hurt him, so Ewan said nothing at first.
"I don’t know. But let’s get to my reason for being here..." He supplied after a few beats.
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