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Arlo’s POV
Seated alone there with the restaurants attendants treating like so guest who wanted to be left alone seed relaxing enough. Had it been up to ten minutes I’d been here? It seed even shorter. Making wonder what little Richard was doing here all by himself! Oh wait, he was coming towards my table.
I heaved in a heavy sigh. I wasn’t ready for this. What would I say to him? Did Tara force him to co here? My mind briefly crossed the mont I had shared with Tara earlier at the hospital. That hug was everything I needed...still, it didn’t feel enough in so way. I realized now that Tara wasn’t the one I had been mad at. I was angry at myself. But why?
"Hey little buddy," I said as Richard made his way over to my table. He took his seat opposite of mine and kept his gaze locked on mine. I promised myself not to feel overwheld or anxious. The kid was just seven years old! But to be honest, Richard wasn’t always intimidating, especially when he didn’t even an to be. "Did Tara ...I an, did mommy send you over? Or was it my sister?"
He shook his head in response. "I told mommy I wanted to be here with you." He said simply. "What did you order? I’m hungry. We haven’t had anything to eat since last night when we ca rushing down to the hospital." He explained.
"Oh of course. What do you want to eat?"
"Sa thing as you."
I nodded then signaled to the waiter to fetch us both the sa dish. Then again ca the silence that always seed to overwhelm sohow.
"I’m telling you the truth. Your sister wanted to co here after mommy said you left because you wished to be alone, buy her girlfriend kept calling so she has rushed out now. And mom knows you will take care of so she let co stay with you." Richard went on to explain and I was forced to flash a smile.
"Wait, so mommy went out? To where?" I blinked, realizing how creepy that must have sounded. I took in a quick breath to refresh my question. "I’m asking because I would like to know how...I an, where to drop you afterwards? Should I take you ho?"
"We’ll sort that when we get to the bridge." I actually chuckled at his response. Richard can he so...sarcastic sotis.
"Okay Richard. We will." I replied, then we entered the stage of silence again. This ti it was saved by the waiter who ca with our al. We ate silently.
"You know what, I’ll get my driver to drop you off after our al. I’m sick, and I don’t want to infect you with my sickness, do you understand?" I said to him slowly with the hope that he would just nod and agree like a normal seven years old kid was supposed to. But I knew he had other plans.
"You know mommy went to see my real dad. He called and was asking to et with her. She doesn’t keep things from like before now."
My heart skipped a bit at the ntion of that. Of course she would start getting close to this ex husband of hers. Who knows, they might decide to settle their dispute and get back together for the sake of Richard.
I smiled back. "Okay, thanks for telling that."
"Doesn’t that make you angry? I know you love my mommy."
I nearly choked on my food that I had to carry the glass of water and empty its content. Richard looked satisfied from that reaction of like that I began to wonder if this kid was really seven years old or seventy years.
"Do you really love my mommy? Are you still romantically interested in her?"
My mouth fell open as I heard his question. "Richard, how do you know about that word? Or the combination of both words?"
He shrugged. "I love romance books now. You are so much like the male leads in these fictions. So caring and even physically well described, all of your attributes."
Now this was just too much. "You are a really smart kid, you know that right?"
"Don’t try to change subjects." He said strictly.
I gulped and swallowed hard. "Yes. I still love your mother. And I know I promised not to bother you with my dramas but you also deserve the truth. Because I know how much you respect ."
Why did it feel so hard waiting for his response like I was speaking to my future father in law?
"So you really like her." His eyes were wide open as if in shock. I, again, nodded. "Fine. Truth is, I’m really scared even though I act like I’m okay. I don’t know who my real dad will be. He gives off a bad aura, like I will end up hating him. For abandoning and for hurting mom."
I nodded, finding myself really connected with him. "You have every right to be scared. But I’m sure your dad will really love and cherish you."
"Maybe. Or maybe I will finally get to understand why my mom has been hiding from him all this while." He concluded.
"Truly, he might sound and act like such a dick, but deep down I know he would cherish you after seeing what an amazing person you are."
"There should be a bleep machine sowhere around." Richard teased and I was forced to laugh at his joke. "I just want my mom to be happy in the end. That’s all I want."
"You’re a good kid, Richard. I have to hand it to you."
We ate and as ti passed, it gave Richard a lot of inspiration to keep throwing shades at . But the strange part of our conversation was that I began to feel good—no, great. I felt great.
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