“Not yet, Mrs. Bailey,” she responded happily.
“It is all right. Do you mind if I check you?”
Harriet gave her husband a questioning look, and he nodded in approval. “I will be delighted,” she said happily. After the lunch, they walked back to the parlor and took their seats. A few seconds later, Nichole put forward, “I guess you will return to work, Henry.”
“Yes, Mrs. Bailey.”
“That is good. Harriet, come with me,” she declared and got up. Harriet got up too, and followed her to the guest room.
In the Guest Room
“Give me a hug, Harriet,” she demanded. The surprised Harriet gave her a hug and wondered if it was part of the checking. After a tight hug, she released her, and said, “Your parents were here yesterday.” At that point, Harriet learned the reason for the lunch and the meaning of the tight hug. Just as Nichole envisaged, she let out in agony, “My father called my Henry, my Treasure a criminal, just because he loves his daughter.”
Nichole drew her closer to her again, and said, “He told us, and he is full of regret.”
Now Harriet was weeping heavily and Nichole used the unfounded myth that was used to deceive pregnant women, especially the first timers like her, “Stop crying, or your baby would have colic.” Just like a magic, she stopped crying at once, and Nichole continued, “Kindly take your seat.” Thereafter, she said, “I understand how you feel, Harriet.”
“Has he considered how he would feel if he finds out that his father-in-law sees him as a criminal? If my husband were his son, would he address him as a criminal?” Harriet poured out in a rush. Now Nichole’s face beamed at the epiphany that she just got.
“Do you mean that Henry is not aware that your dad addressed him as a criminal?”
“No. I kept that away from him. I only informed him that he said we should put our wedding on hold.”
“Oh! My God. You are such an intelligent child,” Nichole praised.
At the Parlor
After Nichole left with Harriet, Henry saw it as an opportunity to confide in Arthur. Then, he called his attention, “Uncle.”
Arthur faced him and answered, “Yes, Henry. How may I help you?”
Then, Henry began by saying, “I am proud to inform you that God has blessed me with a good wife.”
“That is good to hear. Congratulations.”
“Thank you sir, but there is a problem,” Henry pointed out. At that point, Arthur leaped forward. He wished to know whether there was another challenge apart from the one he was aware of. Then, he inquired hastily, “What is the problem, Henry?” Henry took a deep breath and narrated how his wife informed him of her father’s intention to put their marriage on hold. To Arthur’s excitement, he did not mention ‘criminal’, and he concluded with, “I feel she should forgive her father and let us move on as a family. She would respect your opinion if you talk to her.”
Nevertheless, the excited Arthur spoke, “I understand how you feel, and your parents’ in-law feel the same.” Now, Henry showed surprise and wondered how Arthur got to know. Then, he continued, “They were here yesterday, and they are deeply sorry. They are at a loss on how to correct their mistakes.”
“That is good to hear. I wish that my wife should let go, and we will all move on as a family,” Henry explained.
“It is all right. Let’s see how her meeting with my wife would go.”
“I will be most grateful if the meeting would bring peace,” he said, and looked at the guest room. At that moment, he saw his wife and Nichole walking to meet them in the parlor. He got up and met his wife, who looked downcast, and embraced her. Then, he said, “I know how you feel, my Sunshine. Kindly let go. For my sake and our baby.” “I have let go, my Treasure. I am sorry that I caused you worries.”
Likewise, the excited Henry held her tighter and appreciated, “Thank you, my dear. I will always appreciate you for this. Can we see mom and dad now?”
“Yes, but you are returning to work.”
“I know, but our happiness is as important as the work.”
“It is all right by me if you say so.”
Harriet gave her father a call, and they looked at her expectantly. Although, they could not see Hon. David, but they could imagine his joy when he picked. Thereafter, Henry and his wife appreciated Arthur and his wife and left. Immediately, Arthur got a call from the appreciative Honorable and his wife. After the appreciation, Arthur informed him, “They just left here, and the good news is that Henry was not aware of the derogatory word that you said about him.”
“That is good news. Does it mean that my daughter did not inform him?”
“No, she did not. He is only aware of putting the marriage on hold.”
“Okay. I appreciate, once again.”
Two Months Later
Arthur was at peace with work and family. Louis's emotional life was no longer a concern to him because he had not shown any sign of suicide attempt. Besides, he had his secretary, Cassandra, who he would always call upon if he wished to speak with him, and he was unreachable. To avoid seeing Cassandra, Louis would always check on his father very often. With that, he kept her at bay.
Meanwhile, he was not aware that he had stepped on a big toe. Sir Relish had been devastated since he learned that his daughter was in detention because of her connection with Stephen. Apart from that, Henry’s marriage did not go down well with him. Sir Relish believed that he was bitter with him when he attended the Wedding of Henry and Harriet, despite his propaganda to stop it.
'What kind of friend, are you, Arthur? Couldn't you have thought of a reconciliation between Henry and Whitney?' Sir Relish deliberated in his mind. To rub it in, Arthur had not given him a call to commiserate with him. When, he was inviting his friends to the Daniel De Pianist event, he sent a random message to his friends, including Hon. David, and they honored the invitation. Nevertheless, Sir Relish – a Senior Knight needed more honor, and so, he did not honor the invitation nor felicitated with Arthur.