culpables years later

Nick

The next few days were weird. My father was back home, tending the bed most of the time. Noah's mother helped him with most of the things. Actually, my mother wanted to come by, but with the things that were going on, it was better for her to stay home. She sent all of us baskets to get better. 

She also sent my best wishes for recovery to my dad. When she heard what had happened, she, like all of us, was completely stunned. 

Noah had hit the flu the hardest. She was sick like I don't know what, so she went to the doctor. The doctor told her it was normal. Right now, the flu wave is going around, and some people are weak and some people are strong.

She was supposed to rest a lot and take vitamins. So it was good that she was at home. Lion and Jenna had come back from their family holiday and had contacted us. They had found out what is going on with Michael and all the things that are going on. They both really wanted to see us, but we told them to stay home, not get sick, too. Since we were stuck at home, we used our time as a family and enjoyed our time together. By now, it was found that the fire was deliberately started in the electrical room and then spread out into individual rooms. Only no one could see who started it.

It hit us, and now it hit my father, who was next? 

About a few days later, I and the others got better. Even Noah, but not much. Andrew and Maggie went to school, and Rafaella went to my dad's office to sort things out for him.

I could have gone to work, but I didn't want to leave Noah and my dad alone. I'd been awake very early in the morning, and I'd done my job and got the kids ready for school. When I was about to go home, I decided to change my mind. I drove to our real home, our house. I parked the car in the driveway and walked into the house. It felt like years ago, the last time I was here. At the entrance were photos of our family with our friends. My favorite picture was the one of Noah, Andrew and me on the beach at our wedding. Noah in a white dress, her hair in the breeze and Andie in his cute little suit. And then the sunset, it was perfect. Above it was a picture of Andie with Lion and Jenna. Since they were his godparents, they're in most of the important experiences. And I walked around the room, and I got stuck by Andrew's room, his toys on the floor, and his stuffed toys on the floor, and there was Ron, his stuffed toy, the lion, which my mother gave him as a present the first time she saw him. And I remember that day very vividly, when the relationship between my mother and me got better, and with Noah's permission, I let her meet Andrew.

She was blown away and started to cry a little when she saw him. Andrew was thrilled with her too, but only because he was bribed with the lion. I took the lion and went into my bedroom and Noah's.

After all this time, Noah's perfume was still in the room. Everything like the old one, our bed, our photos, our closets. I walked around our room, and I let it sink in. I wanted to go home with my family. I was imagining our life right now if it weren't for Michael. I would move the company forward, Noah would work as well, and at the same time, we would take care of our family. Maybe we'd make it bigger. The thought of having a little baby back in the house made my heart beat faster. I loved my family, but right now, we were going through a lot.

My phone vibrated, and Lion's name flashed on my screen.

                                            Lion

Hey Bro, how are u?

                                                                Been better. With you?

Pretty good, actually. Shall we meet? 

Half an hour at our bar?

                                                               Sure, why not? See you there.

It was a good distraction to meet with Lion. We hadn't felt like we'd seen each other in ages. I looked around the house one last time, and I headed off. Lion and I knew right away what bar we were talking about when we said meet at the bar. It was the one on the beach where only a few people were allowed in, so you had peace and quiet. When I arrived at the bar, I saw Lion sitting at a table with a beer in front of him. When he saw me, he got up and hugged me. "Bro, it seems like it was years ago." I laughed and sat down where the waitress came and I ordered a whiskey.

"How was the holiday? How are Jenna and the boys?" He smiled and took a sip. 

Jenna and Lion had two twin boys. Matthew and Alex. They were really cute, and they both take after their mom. "It was nice in itself, but really exhausting with all the rich people. Jenna and the boys really liked it and didn't want to leave. We just wanted to get back home and back to you and Noah."

"I appreciate it, but you shouldn't go back for our shit. You could be in danger."  He shook his head and looked around. "We have your back, always. You're family. How did that motherfucker escape? What's he up to?" "We don't know. First Ronnie shows up and warns us about him, then he sends Noah a package, and then he tries to grill my father."

Lion shook his head and smiled. "I'd like to beat that guy up like that! We'll be ready when he comes, Nick. I promise." We talked for a while. I completely forgot about the time, and before I knew it, it was afternoon. It was good to talk to Lion and just enjoy the time. 

I picked up the kids from school and drove them to my mom's. She was going to take them to the zoo and then have pizza. Even though Maggie was still a little sick, she wanted to go. My mom wanted to talk a little more, but I didn't have much time. I wanted to go back to Noah and my dad. Arriving at the villa, it smelled delicious. There was Noah in the kitchen, and Prett sat at the table eating something. "How are you?" The eyes turned to me. "All right, Mr. Leister, and you?" I nodded and walked behind Noah where I wrapped my arms around her. "How are you freckles?" "Better, but exhausted. Where have you been so long?" "I was still seeing Lion and driving the kids to my mom's."

"Would you like something to eat? I made soup." Laughing, I nodded. I loved it when Noah cooked, everything of her tasted good. Only what was funny is that despite housekeepers and employees, Noah cooks herself  instead of letting others cook.

That's what I loved. Her simplicity. "Can we talk tonight, Nick?" "Yeah, we're all right? We can talk now." She seemed to be thinking, but shook her head. "Tonight, if there's a little more quiet, too." I kissed her and sat down with Prett and Steve who just came to us.

Nick

The next few days were weird. My father was back home, tending the bed most of the time. Noah's mother helped him with most of the things. Actually, my mother wanted to come by, but with the things that were going on, it was better for her to stay home. She sent all of us baskets to get better. 

She also sent my best wishes for recovery to my dad. When she heard what had happened, she, like all of us, was completely stunned. 

Noah had hit the flu the hardest. She was sick like I don't know what, so she went to the doctor. The doctor told her it was normal. Right now, the flu wave is going around, and some people are weak and some people are strong.

She was supposed to rest a lot and take vitamins. So it was good that she was at home. Lion and Jenna had come back from their family holiday and had contacted us. They had found out what is going on with Michael and all the things that are going on. They both really wanted to see us, but we told them to stay home, not get sick, too. Since we were stuck at home, we used our time as a family and enjoyed our time together. By now, it was found that the fire was deliberately started in the electrical room and then spread out into individual rooms. Only no one could see who started it.

It hit us, and now it hit my father, who was next? 

About a few days later, I and the others got better. Even Noah, but not much. Andrew and Maggie went to school, and Rafaella went to my dad's office to sort things out for him.

I could have gone to work, but I didn't want to leave Noah and my dad alone. I'd been awake very early in the morning, and I'd done my job and got the kids ready for school. When I was about to go home, I decided to change my mind. I drove to our real home, our house. I parked the car in the driveway and walked into the house. It felt like years ago, the last time I was here. At the entrance were photos of our family with our friends. My favorite picture was the one of Noah, Andrew and me on the beach at our wedding. Noah in a white dress, her hair in the breeze and Andie in his cute little suit. And then the sunset, it was perfect. Above it was a picture of Andie with Lion and Jenna. Since they were his godparents, they're in most of the important experiences. And I walked around the room, and I got stuck by Andrew's room, his toys on the floor, and his stuffed toys on the floor, and there was Ron, his stuffed toy, the lion, which my mother gave him as a present the first time she saw him. And I remember that day very vividly, when the relationship between my mother and me got better, and with Noah's permission, I let her meet Andrew.

She was blown away and started to cry a little when she saw him. Andrew was thrilled with her too, but only because he was bribed with the lion. I took the lion and went into my bedroom and Noah's.

After all this time, Noah's perfume was still in the room. Everything like the old one, our bed, our photos, our closets. I walked around our room, and I let it sink in. I wanted to go home with my family. I was imagining our life right now if it weren't for Michael. I would move the company forward, Noah would work as well, and at the same time, we would take care of our family. Maybe we'd make it bigger. The thought of having a little baby back in the house made my heart beat faster. I loved my family, but right now, we were going through a lot.

My phone vibrated, and Lion's name flashed on my screen.

                                            Lion

Hey Bro, how are u?

                                                                Been better. With you?

Pretty good, actually. Shall we meet? 

Half an hour at our bar?

                                                               Sure, why not? See you there.

It was a good distraction to meet with Lion. We hadn't felt like we'd seen each other in ages. I looked around the house one last time, and I headed off. Lion and I knew right away what bar we were talking about when we said meet at the bar. It was the one on the beach where only a few people were allowed in, so you had peace and quiet. When I arrived at the bar, I saw Lion sitting at a table with a beer in front of him. When he saw me, he got up and hugged me. "Bro, it seems like it was years ago." I laughed and sat down where the waitress came and I ordered a whiskey.

"How was the holiday? How are Jenna and the boys?" He smiled and took a sip. 

Jenna and Lion had two twin boys. Matthew and Alex. They were really cute, and they both take after their mom. "It was nice in itself, but really exhausting with all the rich people. Jenna and the boys really liked it and didn't want to leave. We just wanted to get back home and back to you and Noah."

"I appreciate it, but you shouldn't go back for our shit. You could be in danger."  He shook his head and looked around. "We have your back, always. You're family. How did that motherfucker escape? What's he up to?" "We don't know. First Ronnie shows up and warns us about him, then he sends Noah a package, and then he tries to grill my father."

Lion shook his head and smiled. "I'd like to beat that guy up like that! We'll be ready when he comes, Nick. I promise." We talked for a while. I completely forgot about the time, and before I knew it, it was afternoon. It was good to talk to Lion and just enjoy the time. 

I picked up the kids from school and drove them to my mom's. She was going to take them to the zoo and then have pizza. Even though Maggie was still a little sick, she wanted to go. My mom wanted to talk a little more, but I didn't have much time. I wanted to go back to Noah and my dad. Arriving at the villa, it smelled delicious. There was Noah in the kitchen, and Prett sat at the table eating something. "How are you?" The eyes turned to me. "All right, Mr. Leister, and you?" I nodded and walked behind Noah where I wrapped my arms around her. "How are you freckles?" "Better, but exhausted. Where have you been so long?" "I was still seeing Lion and driving the kids to my mom's."

"Would you like something to eat? I made soup." Laughing, I nodded. I loved it when Noah cooked, everything of her tasted good. Only what was funny is that despite housekeepers and employees, Noah cooks herself  instead of letting others cook.

That's what I loved. Her simplicity. "Can we talk tonight, Nick?" "Yeah, we're all right? We can talk now." She seemed to be thinking, but shook her head. "Tonight, if there's a little more quiet, too." I kissed her and sat down with Prett and Steve who just came to us.