Chapter Thirty-Three

Inside the Cunning-ham home, Clarice was lounging with preoccupied AJ. Both relaxed and enjoyed the simplicity of silence and doing nothing at all. With the sun far too hot to venture outside, they preferred the mild atmosphere in the house.

"You would think today has a heatwave with this relentless heat. Didn't summer begin? Why is there this unbearable heat? My body feels like it is boiling."

Murmuring, Clarice began to fan herself with the magazine she was reading. She could no longer stay silent. With the sweat falling down her face like rain, she was ready to disrobe and jump into a stream.

"Maybe you're going through menopause because I feel just fine."

In a matter-of-fact tone, AJ murmured, his hands flying across the keys of his phone as he made a significant comment on a YouTube video showcasing the excellent features of a newly released game. He was lying on the three-piece sofa with his head almost touching the ground. His posture looked uncomfortable, but he was not since he was flexible and agile.

"Ha, ha, ha, very funny, AJ."

Scoffing with a roll of her eyes, Clarice sat up and walked towards the television unit, where the ceiling fan switch was. Turning the knob towards the strongest, she sighed when the cool air cascaded upon her person and around the room.

"That's much better."

Watching her enjoying the artificial air blowing onto her skin, AJ scoffed with a smile and shook his head.

Walking back to her chair, she placed the magazine on her lap and opened it again while smiling at the scene of unbothered Lily playing with her toys in the middle of the room.

"Do you want me to make some lemonade, Claire?"

Offering, as she had walked into the living room after cleaning the bedrooms, Helena was empathetic. She had overheard their conversation earlier and felt the heat as well.

"That would be god-sent, Mom, because I need it."

AJ perked up, the mention of juice sounding satisfying. 

He quickly spoke up, for it was his addiction.

"I want some as well, mom."

His words gained him a glare from Helena, but she did not bother to refuse him. Walking out of the room, she disappeared into the kitchen.

"You sure love servants, don't you?"

Clicking her tongue, Clarice playfully kicked AJ's legs with hers since she had taken all the space of the two-seat sofa after swinging her legs on top of it.

Shrugging, he returned his eyes to the phone screen. 

"What can I say? I was born a prince."

Chuckling, Clarice shook her head.

"Indeed, you are a prince." 

Walking back into the room with freshly squeezed lemonade in a tall jug and accompanied by three glasses on a tray, Helena inputted with a mocking smile. 

"A prince whose dishes are waiting for him to wash, and no fast-forwarding. I want them thoroughly washed."

Groaning, for that, was his worst enemy, AJ obediently stood, for he had no other choice since he was the last one to eat breakfast. However, that did not mean his mumbling had seized.

Handing him his cup of lemonade, Helena was satisfied with his obedience as he walked out of the living room towards the kitchen. Watching him disappear beyond the wall, she murmured.

"He is like his father sometimes."

Taking the filled glass from her mother's hand, Clarice nodded in agreement.

"In a lot of sense, mom. A splitting image."

Chuckling, Helena poured herself a glass, then placed the tray and jug on the end table. Glancing at the slushing liquid in the glass, she smiled. 

"His willingness to do things even if he does not want to do it is enamoring."

"He did get that from Dad. Despite his never-ending grumbling, he was dependable."

Nodding in agreement, Clarice sipped on the soothing liquid, but her mother was still gazing down at her glass. Frowning, for the only time she had seen her this way was when her father had passed away, she worriedly inquired.

"Mom, you okay?"

Lifting her head when she heard the concern in Clarice's voice, Helena forced a smile on her lips.

"I am alright, Claire. It's just that the date your father passed away is coming up soon, and I always tend to space out the days leading to it."

Understandably nodding, Clarice was about to speak, but the sudden ringing of the doorbell made her raise an eyebrow. Helena grew puzzled, for she was not expecting any guests today. 

"I'll get it!"

Shouting as he sped-walked out of the kitchen, AJ rushed towards the front door. Pulling it open, he was amazed at the person he least expected to see on his front steps.

"Hi, AJ!"

She greeted so flamboyantly with a lovely smile that words escaped him. Standing like a statue, he looked ridiculous with one hand on the doorknob while the other awkwardly waved in greeting. 

With his eyes glued on her face, AJ was tongue-tied.

"AJ? Who is it?" 

Hearing his mother's voice as she and Clarice walked to stand behind him, AJ quickly cleared his throat and spoke barely over a whisper.

"Hey!"

The person's smile grew broader, and her voice became loud enough for them to hear her.

"It's Rita! Sharlene's best friend!"

A large smile broke across Helena's face when she heard this. Gently pushing AJ to the side, she came face-to-face with her.

"Oh my. Riri? It has been ages!"

Instantly, she pulled Rita into a warm hug, which she willingly allowed. Soon, she pulled away, her smile broadening, her joy contagious.

"How are you?"

With an ear-to-ear smile, Rita animatedly expressed.

"I have been well and been meaning to visit, but because of my hectic schedule, I had become so occupied that I kept putting it off. I know this is a late welcome, but welcome to Colorado!"

Laughing, Helena brushed her inability to visit aside, for she understood her circumstance.

"It's quite alright, Riri. We have all become so busy that free time is uncommon, and thank you, dear. Your presence here today is what matters."

Sighing for Mrs. Cunning-ham was always an understanding individual, Rita was relieved.

"When did you all arrive?"

"About a month and some ago."

"Oh, that's great! How are you enjoying it so far? I bet it's much different from our town back home."

Chuckling, Helena fervently expressed.

"Well, it is a lovely change from England, that's for sure."

Smiling, for she loved how happy and serene Helena looked, Rita was relieved. 

"That's wonderful." 

Nodding, Helena suddenly offered, for she did not appreciate Rita standing in the unforgiving weather.

"Why don't you come in?"

Shaking her head, yet appreciative of the offer, Rita smiled.

"It's alright because I am not staying long."

"Oh, no. Okay."

A little disappointed, Helena's shoulders sagged.

"Don't worry, Mrs. C. Maybe one of those days, and planning with Sharlene, we can plan a family outing." 

"That would be wonderful."

"Is Sharlene home by any chance?"

Frowning, for she found such a question odd, Helena glanced at Clarice with raised eyebrows.

"No. Why? Doesn't she work in the same company as you?"

"Yes, she does. I tried to call her but could not get through to her. I may or may not know where she is, but I don't want to jump to conclusions."

"That is odd."

Clarice inputted with a frown.

"It is."

AJ muttered but with a gigantic blush on his face.

"Maybe she..."

Rita swallowed her words when the loud sound of a vehicle entering the neighborhood captured everyone's attention. 

Twisting around to face the road, she farrowed her eyebrows, for one car was heading their way. Putting her hand over her eyes, she squinted to get a better view of the vehicle, but the gleaming sun prevented such.

Nosy neighbors who had heard the commotion came out of their houses with raised eyebrows, for this was a sudden and rare disturbance. Following the vehicle with their curious eyes, they were eager to find out about the occupants inside the vehicle.

On the other hand, Helena and the others were curious about where the vehicle was heading.

"Does someone have a special visitor coming in today?"

Curiously asking, Helena was perplexed. 

Inputting, Clarice was also curious.

"The car looks rich, mom. Whoever bought it must be filthy rich. I wonder who they are. They did not lose their way around the crossroads, did they?"

Murmuring that last part, Clarice was intrigued.

"Forget about that."

Whistling under his breath, AJ was mesmerized by the cars.

"Don't you see the model of that car? The Bugatti looks like it came straight out of a racing game. Wow. Slick."

Rita hummed in agreement while Clarice snorted, but she silently admitted to AJ's statement. The car was indeed marvelous and eye-catching. 

Waiting for the noise to decrease or for the vehicle to pass, everyone became tongue-tied and shocked when it suddenly stopped in front of the house.

***

Everyone was shocked as they watched the unbelievable scene unfold in front of their eyes. 

"What is going on?"

Helena whispered in disbelief as she looked at the car in amazement.

"Did we win the lotto or something, Mom?"

AJ murmured, his eyes unable to avert from the gorgeous vehicle.

"I think we are about to find out."

Clarice murmured. 

As if in slow motion, the vehicle door opened, and someone stepped out. 

The first thing they witnessed was the shining black shoes the individual wore. Their casual blue jeans and their white button-down blouse followed soon after. 

It showed off their defined muscles. 

Shamelessly, they looked on, and they were not the only ones. 

Bending their heads to catch a clear view of the individual and squinting their eyes, since the hot sun prevented them from seeing clearer, the neighbors were outrageously staring while whispering amongst themselves.

The young and old females began to fangirl, their blushes prominent because the young man was an exceptional sight.

With the sunlight gleaming on his face, he looked fascinating, outwardly and ethereal. They could not help but swoon with breathless sighs, though their family members gave them stingy eyes for such dramatic outrage.

'He is just a pretty face,' the eye-rolling men remarked in the heads. However, they could not ignore the fact the pretty-faced man looked affluent.

At that moment, when he stood to his full height, a dark cloud covered the sun, and a temporary form of shade descended. Helena and Clarice caught the person's familiar face, and the shocked expression on their faces was almost comical.

It was Nicholas Ross in the flesh.

They both grew curious about his sudden visit. Raising an eyebrow when he smiled in their direction, Helena and Clarice shared a look. Quickly, he walked around the vehicle towards the passenger side, where his unseen guest sat. 

Without dallying, he opened the door, and to their amazement, Sharlene stepped out garbed in a beautiful dress. 

Rita gasped in surprise, fighting back a squeal.

This reaction was not because Sharlene was stepping out of the vehicle but because of the elegant way she did it. That is, with her dainty hands in Nick's large one, as he gently helped her step out as if she were a princess stepping out of her carriage.