Chapter 5

Rayna clicked her arrow key again; her chin was on her knuckles; her face displayed her boredom, and the boy was tired. She thought of calling Nathaniel again, but she just got off the phone with him and knew he did not like being watched. Nathaniel didn't like many things. He didn't like the tv one while he worked, but he welcomed Naty into his arms anytime she whined for him. Nathaniel also stitched the cap back. Rayna smiled before she could stop herself. She continued scrolling through her emails, mentally sorting them into 'I'm not going to bother and 'answer as soon as possible.'

Rayna got to work, typed responses to each client, and forwarded some to the production department. Her company made garments; they made all kinds of clothes, but they were different from other clothing lines because they make for other clothing lines or small businesses. Only a quarter of their products have their brand on them. It was a business idea Rayna came up with. She noticed other brands rarely do this. Since she started this, Ganders Garments boomed with clients and opportunities. It was like her own industrial era, but without the mining and smoke.

Rayna sighed and typed some more, but her mind wandered. She wondered what truly happened to Amara. She clicked some more.

Rayna knew there was a pattern somewhere, so she lined up the elements. Someone dies, Nathaniel comes; she gets a letter… shoot, she thought. Rayna stopped typing and leaned back; she forgot all about the letter, but where was it? It was probably on her desk at home.

"That explains the eraser" Rayna quickly covered her mouth and glanced around her office, then remembered she was alone. She sighed her relief and then continued typing. Thinking about it, the letter doesn't explain the eraser, well, not until she looks at it.

The only sound in the room was Rayna's clicking. Rayna looked at her emails; there were still many to reply to. Rayna heaved and continued clicking. She had checked her plan before heading to her office, so she knew she had a meeting in an hour. She typed some more and then closed her laptop.

Rayna threw her head back before pushing her chair from the desk. The emails just kept coming. She stared around; her office was a standard CEO office but color-coded; every color matched the other. Rayna picked up all her furniture and arranged the office for a whole day. It was square and well furnished. Rayna stared at their laptop.

"If I send another thank you, I will scream."

Rayna pulled herself back to her desk as she heard a knock on her door.

"come in."

The door creaked open.

"We'd better fix that- hu," The person said before shutting the door.

"Yeah, or we pay for maintenance," Rayna replied; she gestured at the person; it was Zuri. She was the managing director of her organization. Two other managers reported to Zuri, who gave Rayna a report. The managers were in charge of one branch and all the production. Rayna also had an accountant who said to her. Rayna beamed at Zuri while she sat on the chair in front of Rayna's desk.

"Everything is ready for the meeting; do you have the accounts" Zuri stretched a file over the tables.

"Yes," Rayna said as she took the files. She leaned back and flipped through.

"All right, everything looks okay-"Rayna flipped through some more, then she got up with the file and picked up her tablet.

"I hope everyone is there," Rayna said as she walked to her coat hanger; she picked up her black reefer and wore it over her white turtle neck and black palazzo's. Then she opened the door and waited for Zuri to step out before stepping out and locking the door.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel did not think looking after a baby was this tasking; don't they just sleep all day? Wrong, they barely sleep. He spent his day singing lullabies, rocking Naty, playing with her, and making her food. During the little time she slept, he tried to get some paperwork done, but then she woke up, and it was one need after the other.

"And people have triplets- or become single mums," He muttered while he changed Naty's diapers. Just one day after taking care of her, he had a headache and back pains. All Nathaniel wanted was for Rayna to come home.

"Just because of Naty," he said to her, "just for you" He bopped her nose, and she giggled and beamed at him. He was sure it was for Naty. It's not like her around changes things, but he had to admit she was curious.

Nathaniel picked up Naty and shook her rattle over her. Rayna was an organization freak, but she could not remember the way to places she goes to every day; he had a glimpse of her google map, and down to grocery stores were saved in her favorite locations.

Nathaniel looked around her room; before she left, Rayna told him where everything for Naty was, and she told him countless times to call if he needed anything, but she ended up calling him all day asking him the same questions-

"Have you changed her diaper; it should be full now."

"Have you eaten? did you feed her? the food is in the kitchen".

"Is she asleep? She should be asleep- a baby should sleep now."

Nathaniel told her everything was okay each time, but that didn't stop her from calling. It was annoying, but he didn't hate it. With each call, Nathaniel could hear her worry turn to relief. She even put him into consideration; the thought made him smile. It had been a while since he was fussed over.

"She is something hu," he said to Naty, who giggled her response before whining; Nathaniel rocked her- what could she want now?

He crossed out everything in his head. Is she hungry? But she can't be. He rocked her, and her whining turned into a tantrum. It seemed like the more he rocked her, the louder she became. He didn't know what to do.

"Think," he mumbled, but his mind was blank. He looked around helplessly.

Just then, the door opened.

"Nathaniel, I went to the store to get some ingredients for a lasagna dinner- why is she crying?"

"Oh, Rayna," Nathaniel called to her. He sprinted to the door, "she started crying and- and I don't know what to do!".

"What, has she slept?" Rayna replied; she glanced from Nathaniel to Naty. Rayna dropped all the groceries on the floor while she stretched to carry Naty, who had her hands trying to Rayna. Naty screamed at the top of her lungs; she drooled saliva and cried while she did this.

"Ssssh," Rayna rocked her, "Nate could you put the bags in the kitchen? I think she's tired."

Nathaniel nodded before picking up the bag; he watched her walk around the parlor. Rayna moved around while rocking Naty. Nathaniel watched her sing a rhyme to Naty, who had stopped screaming but continued to sob.

"Twinkle- twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are…." Rayna sang and practically danced around the parlor. Slowly Naty stopped crying and closed her eyes. Nathaniel watched as Naty closed her eyes and fell fast asleep. Rayna rocked her for some time before placing her in her crib.

"I- uh didn't know you could sing that well," Nathaniel said as he walked towards her, he peered at Naty in her crib.

Rayna turned to look at him, "you think so? It isn't nearly as good as my mum or Roberts singing; you know" Rayna glanced at Naty.

"My mum used to sing us happy birthday each year; it was the best part of birthday celebrations," Rayna said the last part in a lunging tone.

Nathaniel sat on the three-seater couch "use, so she doesn't sing anymore?"

"she's dead- my parents are dead," Rayna said flatly; she crossed him and sat beside him.

"I'm sorry," Nathaniel replied; he nervously glanced at her.

"It's fine; how could you know?" Rayna heaved; she looked at Nathaniel and smiled; she saw him relax. They sat in silence for a while before Nathaniel said

"my dad disappeared after throwing my mum into much debt with shady people- we spent our lives trying to repay, my mum worked two jobs, and I worked with the school."

"that's awful; no wonder Amara said you were never around" Rayna picked up the remote, "and she looked up to you. You were her hard-working prince who will always protect her."

"When did you figure it out" Nathaniel replied, face down and hands locked together.

"I honestly don't know. It popped into my head that you were related, then I started seeing similarities"; she scrolled through some channels and glanced at him, "were you hiding it?"

Nathaniel looked at her, then at the flipping channels. "No, I was not trying to keep it a secret. I was just- " he rested on the chair and threw his head back. "Some prince I am."

Rayna looked at him; her eyes grew warm, "as I said, Amara looked up to you very much, which is why I'm sure she died knowing you'll do the right thing- I mean, you're not the one that saw her and didn't recognize her."

"You saw her," Nate replied; he tilted his gaze to her; Rayna continued to stare at the tv.

"Once, someone was looking at me; I didn't know it was her; when I noticed, she vanished. I rushed out, but I got distracted, and I didn't find her- if you're a horrible prince, then I don't deserve my title as her princess," Rayna finished with a defeated chuckle. She continued to flip the channel; the tv was on mute, not that any of them were watching it.

"Well, it's like you said, she usually knew what she was doing- I just wish she asked for help instead of being so cryptic." Nathaniel stared at the ceiling; he couldn't help but feel there was something they were missing.

"Amara was always cryptic. When we played pirates, I'll walk around for hours before I found her next clue. Then she says, 'I knew you'd find it. I designed the mystery with you in mind' she did that every time." Rayna laughed at her memory; she turned to Nathaniel

"Then we found out there was a man across my house that sold a pen that the ink was the same color as a pencil led, so we spent all our pocket money on a packet of them, we will write a message and use an eraser to clean it, the paper will be so dirty or dusty that no one will understand it. Amara was so good at it that you couldn't tell the difference between it and black paper. It was much work, so we split the pens and gave them to each other". Rayna finished with a glance at Naty, who slept like a log.

"That must be when Amara started leaving letters all over the house" Nathaniel sat up and turned his body so it faced Rayna.

"I'll spend all morning erasing the letter, and then- what's wrong?" Nathaniel looked at Rayna, and she looked like she wasn't blinking; she had a blank expression on her face, then she suddenly got up.

"Letter, eraser- I got a letter from the social service lady. I forgot all about it". With that, Rayna sprinted to her room. Nathaniel glanced at Naty, still sound asleep. He glanced at the tv and then at the opened door.

Rayna walked out some seconds later with a relieved face. She had a black envelope in one hand, and her other hand whipped no existing sweat.

"Lord, I'm such a forgetful person- I can't believe I forgot" She flopped on the couch before she resumed her ranting, "I felt like I would have a panic attack" Rayna placed a hand over her heart. She took some breaths to calm herself; her eyes slowly closed then popped open when Nathanial burst into laughs.

"What is so funny," Rayna said with mock irritation.

"I'm sorry, it's just-" Nathaniel said before he was overcome with laughter. Rayna chuckled, but she was still confused.

"Down to your floor tiles are organized, yet one little distraction and you've forgotten a whole conversation, it ironic" Nathaniel laughed till Naty stirred in her bed. Rayna giggled

"Sssh, you'll wake her- and your right. I can't seem to remember, so I organize everything, so I can see if I forget anything" Rayna sighed before looking at Nathaniel, he had stopped laughing, but his eyes sparkled. Rayna stared at him.

"Have I got something on me?" Nathaniel said; he stared at his clothes and absently ran a hand through his hair.

"No- no, it's just," Rayna huffed, "Amara laughed in the same way about this. It amused her the first time I forgot a whole conversation" Rayna chuckled, then turned to face Nathaniel. She put her arms on her sides.

"Amara said, 'Rayna! How did you forget all I said'" Rayna's impression of Amara made Nathaniel burst into laughter.

"Sssh," Rayna snapped nervously, then glanced at Naty, but she giggled as hard as he was.

"I said what conversation and Amara said 'you can't be serious, I- I just told you- I talked to you, but you know who I am right, she was furious with me… I told her I didn't remember and-" She gulped down some laughter before saying, "she believed, for a whole day too."

"What did she do when she found out?"

"She chased me around the house with a hose- we both had colds for a week!"

Nathaniel slapped his mouth with his hand, so he didn't burst out laughing.

"You know," He said after they both calmed down, "the letter is still in your hand."

"I'm sorry I-,"

"-forgot?"

Rayna smiled her apology while Nathaniel shook his head. Rayna's smile wiped away when she held the letter and turned it over. It could have been sold together because it had no opening. Each side was pressed down like a dumpling. Rayna felt the letter, then she shook it, and Nathaniel watched

"Should I get the scissors?"

"No," Rayna held up the letter to the nearest light before smiling, "The envelope is the letter."

"I don't-" Nathaniel also broke into a smile; he shook his head, "That makes much sense. Precaution against anyone who wanted to have a quick look". Rayna nodded before turning the letter over again.

"So, how do we open it?"

"I have an idea."

Rayna got up and walked into her room. Nathaniel heard subtle sounds of shifting items before Rayna came out with a nail clipper. Nathaniel raised a brow; Rayna sat on the dining table and hunched over the letter. Nathaniel walked over to the dining table; with one arm on Rayna's chair, he leaned forward to see what she was doing. Rayna could have passed for a statue if not for her hands making skilled movements around the letter.

"Smart," He whispered into her ear; Rayna jumped with a squeal, then she slapped her hand on her mouth and glanced at him.

"don't do that," Rayna whispered; she nudged him before resuming focus, "I'm trying to cut the paper open without tearing it" she continued souring the sides till she got a hole, and she glanced at Nathaniel with a smug look. That's when she realized that her nose practically touched his cheek.

"You're too close."

"Am I?"

Nathaniel glanced at her; she carefully avoided his gaze while she sawed through the paper. Rayna looked nervous; that made him smile cheekily at her.

"Am I?" He repeated; this time, he said it in her ear. Rayna could feel his breath in her ear.

"Yes. Move Nate," She breathed. Rayna worried her message didn't come off as sassy as she had hoped. Nathaniel sat on the chair beside her and then tilted his head to the tv. His face frowned.

Rayna glanced at him, then squared her focus back to the letter. The next time she glanced at him, the chair was empty. She turned to see that Nathaniel was staring at the tv with the same focus she had just broken out of.

"Nate, what's that."

Rayna stared from him to the tv Nathaniel stared at.

"Na-" Rayna started, but Naty's waking-up whining cut her off. Rayna sprinted towards her.

"Ssh- ssh- ssh, Naty. Rayna's here" Rayna picked her up and rocked her around. Naty's crying reduced stifles, but her tears kept on coming.

"ssh," Rayna chimed. Nathaniel's head tilted sharply to the sound. Rayna walked into her room.

Bathing a baby was tasking, but a crying and screaming one? It was impossible. Rayna knelt in front of her tub while Naty cried on her bathing chair. Rayna yelled comfort at Naty, but nothing seemed to work, so she decided to bathe her as fast as possible. Rayna picked Naty out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel she kept kicking away.

By the time Rayna had freshened up Naty for the night, she was quiet. Rayna knew that meant a tantrum was coming up, so she shoved Naty into Nathaniel's arms.

"Rayna, wha-."

She shot him a you'd-better-be-quiet look, and he did just that. Rayna rushed to the kitchen; decided to make some custard for Naty, she bought cold custard that day, and from the instructions to her knowledge of cooking, there was a bowl filled with what looked like custard.

While Rayna filled Naty's bottle with water, she heard her yelling and Nathaniel's failed attempts to soothe her. Rayna walked to the couch Nathaniel sat on; she stole a glance outside her balcony.

"Night already?"

"Rayna, hurry."

"Sorry"

Rayna quickly placed the bowl on one of the free dining chairs and then rushed to pick up the whining Naty. Rayna stuffed the food into Naty's open mouth. She immediately turned to a giggle.

"Boy, are you cranky when your hungry, hu- love" Rayna smiled at Naty, who happily gulped her meal.

"Did you finish with the letter?" Nathaniel said while he sat in front of the letter. He picked it up and then added, "So no."

Rayna rolled her eyes, "I was almost done."

"likely story"

Rayna rolled her eyes and fed Naty a spoon, "I was, then I wondered what you were doing, and Naty started whining- you know the rest."

Nathaniel picked up the envelope and the nail clipper and started sowing the envelope.

"I saw disturbing news. Someone is dead- again, that's the third time this week," he said. Nathaniel glanced at her; Rayna looked deep in thought while she fed Naty. After some seconds, she said

"Including your tip?"

Nathaniel nodded, "The same execution style, and they are all unclaimed bodies."

"There's a pattern here," Rayna said, she cleaned Naty's moth with the spoon, "And as soon as we open that letter- well, I don't know."

Rayna got up with Naty tucked to her side, "If we get that letter opened."

Nathaniel got to work; he turned the letter around and kept on sawing,

"Screw this," Nathaniel said and slapped the items on the table; Rayna shot him a questioning look. Nate sprinted back to the kitchen and then to the letter. Rayna's head spun round on the cair when she heard the snip of the scissors

"What did you do?" Rayna picked up Naty and rushed to the dining table. She set Naty on the dining then beamed at her before shooting Nathaniel a disdainful look.

"Re-lax," Nathaniel replied with an eye roll, "the letter opened."

"You cut it?"

"It's fine."

"But-"

Nathaniel gave her a smug look before handing her the opened letter. Rayna shrugged before entertaining Naty. Nathaniel rubbed his thumb over the opened letter, which was now an A4 paper with folds.

"yep, we have some erasing to do" Nathaniel rubbed his fingers together, and the lead left a stain on his thumb.

"Well, we'd better get started; we'll take turns." Rayna held out a giggling Naty to Nathaniel. He rolled his eyes before beaming at Naty, who grinned at him.

The next few hours went this way; each took turns taking care of Naty and erasing the paper. The cycle broke when Rayna made another meal for Naty. It was midnight before Naty slept. Rayna put Naty in her crib [it was right beside her bed so that she could see Naty once either of them woke up. It made Rayna feel better to know Naty was right beside her].

Rayna stifled a yawn with the back of her palm as she walked out of her room. She closed the door slowly before rubbing her eyes. Rayna had changed the

"Tell me the letter is erased."

"It is"

"You're messing with me," she said before flopping on the sofa. Nathaniel handed her the letter.

"Yay" Rayna screamed [but in a quiet way]; she brought Nathaniel into a tight hug before she could stop herself. Then she moved away.

"Sorry," She said with an apologetic glance. Nathaniel pulled her to him; he hugged her back.

"I'm not bothered," He breathed into her ear before he let go. Rayna's cheeks glowed, and she quickly turned away. After some time, Rayna slowly turned back to Naty; he could hide the humor from his eyes. She ignored it.

"Do you want to do the honors?" Rayna said; she held the letter towards him.

"Why don't you do it," Nathaniel said before pushing her hand back to her.

"O-Okay," Rayna took a deep breath, then started…

Dear Rayna, how is my baby? I'm assuming you're with her by now. If you do not already know, this is Amara, and I am thrilled you're reading this.

I know it's a lot to take in, but I'm going to drop a bum shell; if you are reading this, I have lost all contact forms. Excuse my rough writing. I'm in a hurry. I will make this as brisk as possible in case this letter falls into the wrong hands.

I came across a top-secret file.

Usually, I won't bother about it, but it had some familiar names on it, and while everyone was distracted, I copied it into a flash drive. Some days later, these guys came to take me away, and Naty (I'm assuming you named my baby Naty) was the only way I could tell you. I hope you are with Nathaniel, he is my brother, and I always wanted to be the one to introduce you guys.

Sadly, this is the only way I could acquaint you guys. I am so sorry, and I know you both always said I should ask for help; stupid, stubborn me still waited for the last moment. It's late, but I need your help. The only things that keep me going these days are my last contact with you two; Rayna remember my last contact with you? Please decode my message and find the flash; they will look for it but don't give them. I'm counting on you both.

I love you, my prince and princess.

Rayna held the letter in her shacking arms; her eyes swarmed with tears. Nathaniel looked up; he tried to keep the tears from his eyes. Rayna had the letter to her heart and leaned into the sofa.

"I guess we have no choice, Nate. We are going to solve this" Rayna looked at him; she scootched over to him and pulled him into a hug; she felt his muscles ease as he hugged her back. They gradually pulled apart and turned away to clean their tears.

"Right, let's get ready for tomorrow- today," Nathaniel said as he got up.

"Y-yeah," Rayna replied; she sprang to her feet, her eyes were still teary, and her heart ached; she didn't want to think of what Amara went through during all that time, at least not now. She looked at Nate and had to admire him for keeping his eyes dry. Rayna knew his heart ached as much as hers; she felt it in that hug. Still…

"How good at you at cutting veggies" …they had to push through; they had to make sure all this ended in the right way.