110 110- Consider It Done
Marissa knelt down, tying Ariel’s shoelaces as Rafael’s honking horn echoed from outside. Abigail must already be seated in the car with him while Marissa was left to deal with Ariel who was a bit picky about everything.
“Why Daddy is barking the horn, Mommy” Ariel’s furrowed in confusion.
Marissa smiled softly, “It’s not barking, sweetic. It’s honking. It’s just to let us know that he is waiting and wants us to hurry up!” Marissa’s fingers quickly secured the knots, “It’s almost done, honey”
Ariel squirmed with impatience,
She tapped her little feet in frustration, “I want to go and sit
near the window before Abi does.”
“You both will get the window scat, love. Alex is staying home, she then glanced over her shoulder and called out, “Alex! We are leaving, love. Take care of Flint.”
“I will!” Alex spoke from Flint’s room. Today he was helping Flint clean his room.
Marissa gave Ariel’s shoes one final tug before standing up, “All set, my pretty girl!” she kissed her forehead with affection, “Let’s go and join them.”
Hand in hand, they hurriedly headed out, where Rafael was standing near the car and Abi was sitting over the car’s roof with her legs dangling.
“Come on, chipmunk,” he held the little girl by her waist and opened the passenger door first, for Marissa, “At your service ma’am,” he said with a bow making her chuckle.
Marissa bent her head and took the seat with a smile. Next, he opened the back door and helped the girls in their seats along with securing the seat belts around them.
“Ready, folks?” he asked after taking the driving
seat.
The car hummed along the road, and a small patch of countryside was passing by. Rafael’s eyes were repeatedly watching his daughters in the rearview mirror.
“Daddy. Do you know there is a big, beautiful house somewhere here?” Abigail asked her father suddenly.
“Yes, Daddy. She is right. It’s the white house!” Ariel favored her sister.
Rafael frowned glancing at Marissa beside him, “The white house? You mean the one in Washington DC? It’s here?”
Ariel giggled, “No, Daddy! It’s the other white house!”
“Don’t look at me like this, Marissa shrugged, “I don’t have any idea what they are talking about.”
Abi leaned forward as far as her seat belt allowed her, “Mommy knows the White House. It’s mommy’s favorite. Alex also likes it a lot!”
Rafael’s eyebrows shot up, “Really, Marissa? You like it?”
“I don’t know what they are talking about, Marissa shifted uncomfortably in her seat and
110 110–Consider it Donn
started looking outside the window.
Rafael could see his daughters‘ eyes sparkling in mischief, “It’s super big and once Alex said that he wished he could have that.”
“Enough of the White House, sweethearts. Now look at your left. That’s your favorite pony there, Rafael felt odd. It felt like Marissa was trying to shift the girls‘ attention from that house. Marissa didn’t say anything else after that and kept looking out. The girls were right. She and Alex liked the property a lot but for some reason, she wasn’t feeling comfortable about telling it
to Rafael.
She jerked when his hand reached hers to squeeze it, “Should I buy you some snack?”
“Yes, please.” Marissa rolled her eyes, “I’m hungry. Thanks for burning my breakfast. Don’t forget you owe me a good sandwich and a Frappuccino.”
Rafael grumbled shaking his head. The girls had started talking to each other about something. She saw guilt in his eyes but didn’t take back her words. Served him right. Who asks about being intimate in the kitchen? She thought with a blush.
The way he asked her about making love to her…
Marissa! Will you allow me to make love to you someday?
Yes. Those were his exact words.
“What are you exactly thinking?” he asked observing her face, “your face has gone red just like a beetroot and you are certainly glowing”
Marissa rubbed her hands on her face, “N…No. I am thinking… nothing, ok. And stop saying such things in front of them,” It was a stern warning.
She groaned and he laughed, “I didn’t even say anything. It’s you who must be thinking something dirty about me!”
This time she didn’t respond.
What to tell him? That yes. He was right?
Nah!
“You are damn lucky!” Rafael asked when the car stopped at the signal.
Without saying anything, Marissa turned to him and raised an eyebrow.
“I mean… look at you, his voice barely above a whisper throwing a cautious glance at the little ladies sitting behind, “In the past, you got the chance to look at me when I was wearing nothing. You know how I look down there?” He pointed to his pants‘ flyer.
Marissa’s jaw was hung open. Was he serious?
“Shut up!” she quickly looked back at the girls and sighed when found them engrossed in their
discussion.
She watched his face and witnessed that mischievous gleam back in his eyes, “Jerk!” after saying
110 110–Consider It Done
“Stop it!” she slapped his shoulders, and he caught her hand laughing uncontrollably.
“You look cute when you blush,” Marissa chewed her lower lip and then saw someone knocking on the window of Rafael’s side.
He followed her gaze and quickly rolled it down, “Yes!”
He was a traffic constable, “Sir. The signal has turned green, and you are blocking the way of all the cars behind you. Just turn around once and look at the line…”
What!
Marissa dived her head a little to glance at the signal light while Rafael looked at the rearview mirror and moved the car ahead quickly.
He didn’t even apologize to the uniformed man and was grinning ear to ear.
They both were avoiding eye contact and stayed silent for the rest of the drive. They both knew that once they uttered a single word, it wouldn’t take time to crack up. However, it was when he stopped the car in front of the Super Mart, she rolled her lips in between her teeth and turned to get off the car.
She badly wanted to tease him but then preferred to help the girls out.
“Take the girls inside. I’ll join you in a while,” he took out the phone from his pocket, “need to make an urgent call.”
Marissa gave
him a tightlipped smile and went inside. Rafael dialed Joseph’s number, “Hey! What’s up!” Rafael sighed when heard his friend’s voice.
“Jo! Is there any property by the name of White House in Kanderton?”
“White House?” Joseph seemed to be thinking about it, “Isn’t it in Washington DC?”
part of H
countryside
“I don’t know, man. My daughters were talking about it. There is a small before the commercial buildings‘ area and then there is a big superstore where…” “Oh… Are you talking about White Palace? Joseph asked him.
“Palace?”
“Yeah. It’s a kind of palace abandoned by a former businessman when he lost his son many years back. It is a piece of art place. All painted and adorned in white.”
Rafael held his phone tightly, “Can you ask someone to connect me to him? Or can you talk to this businessman and ask him if he is interested in selling the property? After such a long time, I have come to know about something that’s appealing to Marissa and Alex both.”
“Sure, man. I’ll see what I can do,” Joseph was about to disconnect the call when Rafael stopped. him, “Wait! Joseph!”
“Hmm?”
“If they demand higher than the market price then please don’t let it go. I need it, For the first time Joseph felt like Rafael sounded desperate.
op