Culpables years later

Nick

The day of the gala had arrived. Everyone's nerves were running high. Rafaella and my dad were on the verge of madness and my lovely wife was having one panic attack after another. Noah had been at our parents' villa since this morning and I stayed behind with my mum and Andy. My mum would take him and later Maggie and spend the evening at their new home. She didn't want to stay with us too long and decided to move out overnight.

„I wish you guys a nice evening. Enjoy it and don't get annoyed." My mum kissed me on the cheek and grabbed Andrew to play with him in the park. I gave her Andrew a bag and wished him a nice night. ,,But Dad! I want to go to the party with you! It's unfair that me and Aunt Maggie can't come!" I bent down to be on a level with him.

I stroked his cheek but he was boisterous. ,,Son, you wouldn't be having any fun. Just old people and no kids to play with. The food isn't so good, and there's a lot of talk about business. You'd have a nicer evening with Maggie and your granny, wouldn't you?" He did what any father would struggle to see again. His lip trembled and he looked at me with sad puppy eyes. ,,But I want to stay with you and Mummy." It hurt in my heart to leave him behind. I had sworn to myself since I was a little boy that if I ever had children, I would never leave them. ,,We'll be back when you wake up tomorrow morning. You're a big boy, aren't you?"
He nodded and hugged me. ,,Take care of Mummy." I looked at him and smiled. ,,Always. I'd protect you both with my life."

I took them to the door and waved goodbye. Now I was alone. I'd pick up Noah around 6pm and then we'd go to the gala together. But so that I am not completely alone, I brought Lion on board. He would hang out with me and have a chat. The twins are with Jenna's grandparents and Jenna is with Noah. While he wasn't here, I took advantage of the time to tidy up the house. I wanted to take some of the pressure off Noah. Because when Noah gets nervous, there are two Noahs. One makes a complete mess and turns the whole house upside down, or the other Noah goes on a cleaning spree and cleans everything. Normally the house was always tidy, but when Andrew decided to make our living room his playground it looked like a bomb had hit. After I had sorted things out I grabbed a beer and enjoyed the cold liquid down my throat. Just as I was about to put my feet up the doorbell rang. It must have been Lion. I stood up and let him open the door. "Hey bro? Exciting evening today, right?" Lion, who thinks he's funny. "Exciting, yeah. What has to be done, has to be done. But it's nice that you're here." I let him in and got him a beer from the fridge. "How's Noah? And the baby?" "The baby is fine. She is growing and is causing Noah some pain in his ribs and when he is sleeping. She is doing quite well considering the circumstances. She is nervous but is holding up well. How are things with you? Still at peace in paradise?" I said as we walked to the sofa. He sat down exhausted and closed his eyes briefly. "Everything OK, bro? You look so tired." He laughed maliciously and drank his beer. "You could say that. Don't get me wrong, I love Jenna and I'm happy that she's giving me another chance. But she wants to talk all the time and I hate talking. The twins are also in a phase where they're just whining. It's exhausting."

I can understand that he is exhausted. But being a father is not child's play. And I don't like all the constant talking either. But in the end, that was exactly the point where Noah and I failed. So we need to talk, but now it's not a big problem. "I know what you mean, but it gets better, buddy. Enjoy every moment."  He nodded and looked at the television turned off. ,,I'm glad I have my family. Jenna is my one and all, and so are the boys. Now I can give her anything she wants. Except a private jet,"he laughed, rolling his eyes. ,,Thank God Noah isn't that material. She's happy about little things. I never thought I'd find someone as simple as Noah. But that's the beauty of it. It means I can show her anything."

I've been really lucky with her. She didn't expect me to give her diamonds for Christmas or birthday, she just wants my love and attention. ,,Have you ever heard from Michael? The whole thing in the villa with Noah and Maggie was awful." It's not like my sister has trauma or anything like that. I'd spoken to her a lot about it. She was more angry than traumatised. She always said when she got her hands on him she wanted to punch him in the face. So I'm assuming she's OK. I told Lion that, too. ,,The only thing that bothers me is that he's still out there and no one is going to catch him. If it wasn't for him, Noah and I could have a normal life. Ronnie said he's got his eyes all over us. He has a spy or something. And Noah thinks it's my new employee." Lion already raised an eyebrow and looked at me. "Do you believe it?" I shrugged, and my eyes fell on our photos, which were in front of the TV. ,,Yes, it is. I don't think Noah is wrong, but we have to be careful. If you push someone into a corner, the person becomes aggressive and hits back." He nodded and groaned. ,,And I thought our old life in Mexico would have been stressful. It certainly won't be boring." I rarely think back to my time in Mexico. It wasn't the best period of my life. I was angry, confused and angry at others. I had to get out and far, and that's how I ended up in Mexico with Lion. In México, I measured learning to manage and work alone. There was no one to help me except Lion. We met in a bar where I spoke to a girl who was cute, which he liked. He punched me and we became friends. I didn't know how long it would be before my dad sent someone to get me home. That night, I woke up and fled. By the time Steve arrived, I knew action was coming. ,,What happened to you and Jenna? The last gala didn't end well for you either. It's going to be a great night for you guys tonight." Lion then looked at me pissed. ,,Thanks for the memory bro, it's just not good memories like you said. But Jenna loves events like this. I'm just the kind and loving husband supporting his wife." Now I had to laugh. Lion is like a dog behind Jenna and supporting her. It's funny. Especially because Noah wouldn't be like that. She supports me and is there for me and accompanies me to events. She wouldn't be standing like a dog behind me. She's either standing in front of me or next to me. We're a team. Noah is not one to let down.

Nick

The day of the gala had arrived. Everyone's nerves were running high. Rafaella and my dad were on the verge of madness and my lovely wife was having one panic attack after another. Noah had been at our parents' villa since this morning and I stayed behind with my mum and Andy. My mum would take him and later Maggie and spend the evening at their new home. She didn't want to stay with us too long and decided to move out overnight.

„I wish you guys a nice evening. Enjoy it and don't get annoyed." My mum kissed me on the cheek and grabbed Andrew to play with him in the park. I gave her Andrew a bag and wished him a nice night. ,,But Dad! I want to go to the party with you! It's unfair that me and Aunt Maggie can't come!" I bent down to be on a level with him.

I stroked his cheek but he was boisterous. ,,Son, you wouldn't be having any fun. Just old people and no kids to play with. The food isn't so good, and there's a lot of talk about business. You'd have a nicer evening with Maggie and your granny, wouldn't you?" He did what any father would struggle to see again. His lip trembled and he looked at me with sad puppy eyes. ,,But I want to stay with you and Mummy." It hurt in my heart to leave him behind. I had sworn to myself since I was a little boy that if I ever had children, I would never leave them. ,,We'll be back when you wake up tomorrow morning. You're a big boy, aren't you?"
He nodded and hugged me. ,,Take care of Mummy." I looked at him and smiled. ,,Always. I'd protect you both with my life."

I took them to the door and waved goodbye. Now I was alone. I'd pick up Noah around 6pm and then we'd go to the gala together. But so that I am not completely alone, I brought Lion on board. He would hang out with me and have a chat. The twins are with Jenna's grandparents and Jenna is with Noah. While he wasn't here, I took advantage of the time to tidy up the house. I wanted to take some of the pressure off Noah. Because when Noah gets nervous, there are two Noahs. One makes a complete mess and turns the whole house upside down, or the other Noah goes on a cleaning spree and cleans everything. Normally the house was always tidy, but when Andrew decided to make our living room his playground it looked like a bomb had hit. After I had sorted things out I grabbed a beer and enjoyed the cold liquid down my throat. Just as I was about to put my feet up the doorbell rang. It must have been Lion. I stood up and let him open the door. "Hey bro? Exciting evening today, right?" Lion, who thinks he's funny. "Exciting, yeah. What has to be done, has to be done. But it's nice that you're here." I let him in and got him a beer from the fridge. "How's Noah? And the baby?" "The baby is fine. She is growing and is causing Noah some pain in his ribs and when he is sleeping. She is doing quite well considering the circumstances. She is nervous but is holding up well. How are things with you? Still at peace in paradise?" I said as we walked to the sofa. He sat down exhausted and closed his eyes briefly. "Everything OK, bro? You look so tired." He laughed maliciously and drank his beer. "You could say that. Don't get me wrong, I love Jenna and I'm happy that she's giving me another chance. But she wants to talk all the time and I hate talking. The twins are also in a phase where they're just whining. It's exhausting."

I can understand that he is exhausted. But being a father is not child's play. And I don't like all the constant talking either. But in the end, that was exactly the point where Noah and I failed. So we need to talk, but now it's not a big problem. "I know what you mean, but it gets better, buddy. Enjoy every moment."  He nodded and looked at the television turned off. ,,I'm glad I have my family. Jenna is my one and all, and so are the boys. Now I can give her anything she wants. Except a private jet,"he laughed, rolling his eyes. ,,Thank God Noah isn't that material. She's happy about little things. I never thought I'd find someone as simple as Noah. But that's the beauty of it. It means I can show her anything."

I've been really lucky with her. She didn't expect me to give her diamonds for Christmas or birthday, she just wants my love and attention. ,,Have you ever heard from Michael? The whole thing in the villa with Noah and Maggie was awful." It's not like my sister has trauma or anything like that. I'd spoken to her a lot about it. She was more angry than traumatised. She always said when she got her hands on him she wanted to punch him in the face. So I'm assuming she's OK. I told Lion that, too. ,,The only thing that bothers me is that he's still out there and no one is going to catch him. If it wasn't for him, Noah and I could have a normal life. Ronnie said he's got his eyes all over us. He has a spy or something. And Noah thinks it's my new employee." Lion already raised an eyebrow and looked at me. "Do you believe it?" I shrugged, and my eyes fell on our photos, which were in front of the TV. ,,Yes, it is. I don't think Noah is wrong, but we have to be careful. If you push someone into a corner, the person becomes aggressive and hits back." He nodded and groaned. ,,And I thought our old life in Mexico would have been stressful. It certainly won't be boring." I rarely think back to my time in Mexico. It wasn't the best period of my life. I was angry, confused and angry at others. I had to get out and far, and that's how I ended up in Mexico with Lion. In México, I measured learning to manage and work alone. There was no one to help me except Lion. We met in a bar where I spoke to a girl who was cute, which he liked. He punched me and we became friends. I didn't know how long it would be before my dad sent someone to get me home. That night, I woke up and fled. By the time Steve arrived, I knew action was coming. ,,What happened to you and Jenna? The last gala didn't end well for you either. It's going to be a great night for you guys tonight." Lion then looked at me pissed. ,,Thanks for the memory bro, it's just not good memories like you said. But Jenna loves events like this. I'm just the kind and loving husband supporting his wife." Now I had to laugh. Lion is like a dog behind Jenna and supporting her. It's funny. Especially because Noah wouldn't be like that. She supports me and is there for me and accompanies me to events. She wouldn't be standing like a dog behind me. She's either standing in front of me or next to me. We're a team. Noah is not one to let down.