27 The search for Louis 2

“Did you remember those days when I was courting you?”

“Oh! Yes, I remember. What about it?”

“That is how father feels about Mom right now.”

“Phil, Are you real?”

“Just watch out. Otherwise, why does he wish to have lunch at her place? Does he not have food at his house?”

“I'm not seeing it that way.”

They got off the car, Phil picked Daniel from the back seat, and they headed for the house.

At Louis Bailey's Suite. Cairo.

It was 8:35 pm, six and half hours after he boarded the flight from London to Cairo and about nine hours after he left the registry. He got to his suite after he let his team members know that he had returned with mixed feelings. Guilt because he gave room for Olivia to leave his life and curiosity – how did she end up as Denise's wife and decided to give him his baby?

At that moment, his team members got in to welcome him back. He was delighted to have them because he did not wish to be alone. Then, ushered them in with a plastic smile.

“Kindly come in,” he said after he opened the door for them.

“Welcome back, boss. How was your flight?”

“Thank you. My flight was fine. How was the Exhibition today?”

Eric gave him the breakdown of all that took place at the Exhibition that day, and he was pleased.

“Oh! That is good. I'm impressed. You're such a great team.”

“Thank you boss.”

“As you can see. I'm just coming in, and I need to have my late dinner, do you mind joining me?”

“Sure boss.”

Eric accepted on behalf of the team.

“It is all right. Let us meet at the Gaming Center in the next thirty minutes.”

“Wow! That will be great.”

The team members cheered before they stood up to leave, but Eric stayed back. Louis looked at him after the team left and inquired.

“Do you have any message for me, Eric?”

“Yes, Boss. Dr. Quain called to ask after you. It's like he wanted to meet you at the registry but missed you.”

“Oh! Thank you. I will get across to him. Anything more?”

“None for now. See you later.”

“It is all right.”

Eric took his leave, while Louis switched on his phone and gave Dr. Quain, who had been glued to his phone all day, a call. He picked his phone the way a dog would rush at a bone.

“Hello, Mr. Bailey. Where are you? Are you all right?”

“Hello Dr. Quain. Good to hear from you. I am back to Cairo, and I am all right. I learned that you called my team members to check on me. Thank you for your concern.”

Now, the doctor, who was not interested in the gestures, went straight to the point.

“I was at the registry for the marriage ceremony when you called. By the time I came out of the registry to call you, your phone was already switched off.”

“Oh my God. I did not know you were there. I must have ruined your day.”

“I'm happy you are calm.”

“Yes. I should be. I just feel I should be alone for now.”

“It is good. I can see you are on top of the situation.”

“Yes doctor. I will switch off now. Bye.”

“Hello.”

Louis had switched off before the doctor could say anything more, but he was satisfied that he gave him the honor of confiding in him and putting his fears to rest. He looked at his phone, took a deep breath and muttered.

“At least, I can sleep well this night.”

He sent a message of advice to his mail to encourage him again.

(Be strong. I love your remarkable resilience. You are a role model to many people. Thank you. Dr. Quain.)

Louis breathed in and out before he walked into the room for a shower. Thereafter, he joined the team at the Gaming Center. He had his late dinner while they had their pop corn, termes, Dora mashwy, stick meat and ice cream. The team played some games with new friends they made while Louis watched, but the team would not let him be.

“Boss, you had late dinner, you need to stroll around for proper digestion.”

“It is all right. Let's go.”

They took a tour of the hotel when the ladies were tired, they complained.

“Boss, we are going back to our rooms. You can continue.”

Mr. Bailey laughed heartily and asked.

“I thought what a man can do,.”

The guys completed the sentence for him.

“A woman can do better.”

They laughed ecstatically, and Louis advised.

“It is all right. You can return to our rooms.”

“Thank you boss,” the ladies thanked, and walked back to their room relieved of the stress of the day. Louis got to his room by 1 am and slept off without any hindrances until 7 am the next day.

At the Bailey Native Home.

After Arthur gave Nichole a warm but quick hug, she was infuriated. She returned to her room and walked to the bathroom for a quick bath, as though she was trying to wash off the touch of Arthur. After her bath, she returned to her room to apply her cream before she laid down on her bed to sleep. Her blood was boiling as she thought of the activities of the day, especially how Arthur was stalking on her. She hissed, but then, she remembered Louis.

“Oh! Louis. Where are you?”

Then, she jumped up from the bed and set out to call his number again, just to clear her doubt. To her surprise, the line connected, but he was on a call. She furrowed her brow and looked at her phone again. She waited for a while before she called again, but that time, the phone was switched off. Then, she wondered, “What could be Louis's problem?” She muttered to herself.

At Arthur's Apartment.

He drove off with Julie at once and when they got into his house, he walked to the bathroom for a bath. He felt so fulfilled for the first time in thirteen years. Not only that, but he looked at himself in the mirror and smirked over his mischief against Nichole today. Suddenly, he remembered his late wife, Rosy, and was moody. Then, tears gathered in his eyes and he allowed them to flow freely while he watched himself in the mirror. After he had allowed his anguish to flow away with the tears, he said, “Rosy, I have given my heart to Nichole and I think she deserves it. She loved our children and took excellent care of them in your absence. Giving her myself will not be too much to compensate her. Rest on, Rosy and goodbye.”

Thereafter, he had his warm bath and felt relieved from the burden associated with the death of Rosy. Then, he got off the bathroom and walked to his bedroom in his nude. He looked at the bed before he laid down and muttered.

“It was not a bad day after all. My son Denise got married, and I found love.”