Chapter Seven
2265 Words
It's a beautiful Saturday. We are on our way to Ariana's school for her netball tournament. We slept late last night with these two forcing me to watch high school musical 1 with them. I ended up giving in and today we will continue with 2 and 3. The reason they asked is because their mom refused because there's kissing in between. Did I not laugh. Anita is crazy. They always kiss with Max in front of them now they can't watch a movie. Parents!!
We get to the school early and find a seat in front. Cecilia said we must draw Team Ariana on a box just because she thinks it's cool and she saw it in some white people movie. The game starts and I show them Ari from the court.
They keep on screaming her name as she plays. On their break she looked at our direction and waved at me. I should have gotten her something to drink but they provide them with water also. The game continues and the home team wins 4-2. Ariana scored one goal. We were the loudest crowd in the court and it's just the three of us.
We walk to the car. I am not sure if I'll see Ari cause she'll leave with her friend's mom. Oh wait my boss is here. When did he get here? He comes our direction.
"I didn't know you have kids" he says as finally reaches us
"I also didn't know you watch netball" I say with a smirk. He chuckles
"My daughter was playing" he says and also greets the kids and they greet back and leave to the car.
"They are Anita's kids so I borrowed them to support Ari cause she blackmailed me to come watch her" I say
"I see. So what's the blackmail all about?" he asks with raised eyebrow
"I'd love to tell but it's kind of a secret hence the blackmail." I say and Ari comes running towards us. She attacks me with a hug
"You came. Thank you. Where are your kids that I saw you with" she asks and does not acknowledge her dad's presence.
I tell her it's a pleasure and they are in the car. She just says 'Hi dad' and goes to my car. I hope they get along because Cecilia is kind of feisty.
I look at Travis to find him looking at me. I clear my throat and he quickly moves his eyes everywhere but not to me.
"Where's your wife or baby mama?" I ask. He frowns at my question before answering.
"I don't have neither and I'd love not to talk about it" he says with his modulated voice. It's kind of deep
Okay. I guess I get to be personal with his work and not the outside life. It's okay I can leave with that it's not like he is my friend. He says he will drive with Ariana back home as the friend's mom is about to leave
"So when did you get here" I ask because he seemingly does not plan to leave yet.
He answers with "just the moment Ariana scored the goal" and I ask where is going to take her for the celebration. His answer is a plain "Nowhere I didn't know they have to celebrate". Really? Some things are not in a manual but you create it.
"Okay then I am going to take mine and leave. I'll call Ari for you" I say walking to my car. He is following me
"Or we can all go celebrate together" he says. I stop and look at him briefly.
I suggest we go to my place and the three kids will continue with High School Musical in their bedroom. I decide to cook as the adult is watching soccer comfortably on my couch. I make lasagna, my favourite.
"You have a nice house" he says as he comes to the kitchen
"Thank you. My brother bought it and left it to me when he moved" I say laying the sheets in the pan
"Okay that was thoughtful of him to do" he says.
"Yeah it was" I say. I honestly feel the need to ask him about his relationship with Ari; it's not appealing.
"So what's your relationship with Ari kind of like and you don't have to answer if you don't feel like. I am just asking cause I saw that you two are just father and daughter" I ask. He looks at me firmly and sigh
"Let's just say we don't have any relationship. I am her dad and that's all." He says
"Why if I may ask"
"I don't know how to raise a girl Talitha and I try every day. I got her a nanny to help with that cause i'm a guy." He says shrugging his shoulders
Had I known the story behind the mother. I would give more advice but since he doesn't want to talk about it I'll just give my two cents of it.
"Okay with you saying that I assume the mother is not present. However that does not give you a reason to say you are a guy and can't raise a girl. It takes being present as a parent for a child to acknowledge your presence. Like going to her prize giving and sports day. Helping with homework when you get home. Asking her about school and all" I say. He's been looking at me all this time and I am not for staring contest
"Kids grow to learn Travis. The next thing Ari will be telling you that she wishes you would've let her leave with her mom because you don't care. She sees all the attention her friend's parents give them and she only receives it from her nanny. That's not nice. You now I was sad the other time when she wished that you would just show up once at her prize giving event. I asked myself what she meant by 'once' and I figured maybe you don't have time but honestly you sometimes do. Just drive her to school one morning with some light conversation and fetch her when your afternoon is not busy" I say as I move to check the lasagna.
His head is now bent down as if he is thinking hard. I love kids and I would do anything to advocate for them. I call the kids to come eat. Travis is too quiet as if something is eating him up.
"Ma can we continue eating in the room?" Chris asks. He knows I hate it but just for today I agree.
"You love kids ne" Travis asks.
"Yes I do hence I am into family law" I say. We are seated on the bar stool in the kitchen.
"Nice. May I please have some more of lasagna if it's still there" he says as he finishes up.
I take his plate and serve him more. I move to the chair and sit. It feels good to be sitting like this with my boss and no work in between.
"So tell me about yourself Ms Family Lawyer" he says shoving the fork with lasagna in his mouth.
"You know already who I am and how old I am and a little about my family so there's not more to tell" I say
"This is the part where you tell me about the extras like who you are dating and what not" he says with a smirk.
"Uhmm am not dating but having fun when I miss it." I say and he chokes on his food.
What??! I am telling him more about myself aren't I. I pour him a half glass of water. I ask "you good now" and he says yeah I can continue.
"I love my space clean and organised and also I love cooking" I say changing the choking topic and he says "I can see looking around"
"So what about you?" I ask. He clears his throat and says "same here"
Chris comes with the three dishes and puts them in the sink and opens the water a little. He knows the gist around. They must not dry up with food.
"Ma, Ari fell asleep so we stopped the movie. Can I go play outside" he asks. Poor child she must be tired from running on the court
I agree. And start doing dishes having a conversation about court cases with Travis. I must say he is very intelligent and the career he chose suits him very well. It's like he sleeps and breathes law.
Also I passed all my modules and I am graduating in four months. I am so excited I can finally start applying for being an attorney. I hope there will be vacant posts at Patton Holdings. I love the company and I feel at home. Speaking of the company I asked about Pearl, she was fired because of gossiping and spreading lies.
It's been 3 hours since Travis has been here. I didn't expect him to stay this long as he loves burying himself on work. Maybe he is waiting for her daughter to wake up then they will leave. Not that I am complaining, I am enjoying the company. If my sister or home was around I'd probably be there every Friday.
"So how many toys do you have for your fun?" Travis asks. Just like that
"I only have one. I don't play too much. I do it only when I am bored or having the itch to" I say. It's funny how we decide to talk about s*x.
"Owh so meaning you've got a good toy that it's indisposable" he says. I laugh at his statement
"Not that it's indisposable, just that I don't want to mix and match. I prefer it and once tired of it I'll find another one." I say standing up to get ice cream for the kids.
"Wow you are something else Miss Curtis, I thought you are all innocent and maybe someone's trophy" he says following me to the kitchen as we were sitting in the lounge.
I laugh sarcastically to his statement and answer with "Could have been if men were not conniving bastards and no offence"
"None taken. I sense trouble in paradise" he says
I don't really want to talk about the issue. It's done and dusted and I believe I am over it but revisiting it is just a no for me.
"Not really let's just say I am not a relationship person because of experience and accepting that some of us will die single with lots of money" I utter
"So you don't want kids of your own" he asks.
"I do and when I am finally settled in my career I will just get the sperm" I say. The kids fetch their ice cream.
"Wow every second you make sure to amaze me Babe" he says chuckling.
Wait did he just call me Babe . Oh my Goodness that sounded so sexy. I can feel my chick burning up. Wait am I blushing. This guy smiles more as he looks at me. Mxm. I decide to look for something to do and end up checking up on the kids just to get rid of my pink cheeks.
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Travis enjoyed his stay at Talitha's place. The conversations they had which were flowing and unforced. He liked her more. What he didn't understand was what his heart was doing especially when she told him that she doesn't do relationships and the irk when she was talking about her s*x life. He felt jealous and wished it was him who she was having fun with
He still doesn't want to rush things because he holds her dear and does not want to hurt her. Since last year he is making progress in letting go of his wife. He got rid of her clothes by donating them to charity. He even changed the bedroom style to what he likes as the previous one was chosen by the wife.
What Talitha said to her about raising Ariana caught his attention so he is going to as her to help him in raising and understanding her daughter as that will also bring them closer. He likes her a lot and it frustrates him these days as he gets jealous when Tali says she's going out with her friends. He always asks himself what if she gets another sexmate but also holds himself as they are not in a relationship and since he is having a f**k buddy.
The past few months he's been good to her. Bringing them lunch and also taking her for coffee under the "you are my assistant" card but he's actually trying to know more about her. There are some chapters she's not opening up to him like when he asked her about having a kid for the second time and she became sad and also when mentioned something about r**e which made her uncomfortable to talk about. Another thing he also has not mentioned the passing of his wife.
Talitha also never shares the story behind "Men are conniving bastards" as she would say when asked about not being in a relationship.
Their relation/friend/work-ship is good. Recently Tali is forcing him to go on blind dates because he needs to have a stable partner to raise Ariana with as she says. It's her he wants to raise her daughter with and have more but scared to make a move.
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- Writer
