Chapter 13 - Inscrutable Feeling

He sent a copy to his messenger and Splash's, too.

Tears poured down on her cheeks. She could sense her elation when she took that picture. She knew that she was still indecisive to her daughter's insinuations.

She went down to join them ate their morning meal. They were so focused eating when she broke their silence suggesting for a stroll. Together they went to a nearby park that happened to be the widest. There and then, they took themselves umpteen photos in various poses and corners

For a break from wandering around the spacious park, they ate at the food stand where special individuals were the crews.

She discussed with her child which pictures should be shown to her classmates or not. She assured her that their picture (Splash and Sydney's) she took wouldn't be deleted. However, it cannot be displayed as it was confidential matter between husband and wife. She had to choose among those that they had taken.

"Am I correct daddy?" She pinched at his side waist while asking him.

"Your mom is right. Do you believe us baby darling?"

"Got it dear dad and mom."

"That's better. Let's go home, now. By and by, you and your dad will travel back home, remember?"

She was left alone again. Because she was absent from her work, she washed her dirty clothes. When she was done, she had still a long idle time as she had already food for the night. It was unnecessary for her to occupy the loft, so she remained on the bed downstairs.

She had to grope the content of her heart.

Her daughter was warding off her refusal to be dominated by a man. A man who would probably give her head aches... A man who would cause her pain... A man who would be deceitful... A man who would hinder her from rising to a career she preferred.

A man who would make her face as red as the skin of a mabolo fruit. A man who knew how to touch the right button of her feminity that was most welcomed. A man whom she started to be used to his companionship.

Myself... Hello! Come to think of it.

What if I only mistook his benevolence with me? What if I am just a friend to him? What if he was just trying to please our daughter?

So many what ifs that may remain unanswered unless otherwise I would take a risk.

I refuse that my pride be chafed. I refuse to be presumptuous. The more I would hate to be so assuming. Much more so if I would be defamed.

I would rather be a single mother than depend to a man who would just possibly leave me in thin air. Despite my being a single mother God knows my dignity has been intact until now.

So, what should I do?

It was not only Splash whose heart and mind were in turmoil. Sydney was also experiencing the same feeling. He was also in a disconcerted feeling despite his certainty that he would like to spend the rest of his life with her and his daughter. Still, he was hesitant because he was skeptical about the indifference of Splash toward him.

He was even wondering if Splash has a heart for it seems that he could not attract her. He was unsure if Splash felt the same spark he could feel for her. He knew that she was just pressured by their daughter to mingle with him kindly.

She would not even ask him for anything when in fact, he had the capability to provide them everything. She would not even bother to contact him despite the contact number he gave her. She would not even kiss him back for the sake of their daughter's whims.

She was so unreceptive.

Was her heart numb? Was she even alive who can feel a fellow's feeling for her?

As for him, his inscrutable emotion for her was million times sure. He was hoping to wait for the time that she, too, would have the same complacency to accept him.

If she only knew that he was even ready to bend his knees for her to be with him forever, would she ever believe him?

He refused to convey his sincere intention for her by force. He believed that if he would force her it would be similar to a fruit that tasted acridly when harvested earlier than a fruit harvested on its maturity time.

He was praying to God for her inscrutable emotion for him but how?

When?

"Mommy, I missed you and I love you." Baby Arm lovingly told her by phone.

"Me, too, my child."

"Mommy, I want to go with Daddy in America?"

"What? You will leave me? I thought you love me?"

"I do, mom but I don't want to be away with dad, too. He told me he's going back to his country. His brother needs him there."

Only her guttural cry was getting out from the ear piece of the head phone. She could no longer talk.

"Mommy, please stop crying."

"Hon, what will I do so you won't leave me?"

"Accept my father as your husband."

"We are, aren't we? You even took our picture, didn't you?"

"You're a liar mommy. You told me not to be a liar, but you are. Were you wedded with my Dad?"

"Ask your dad about it. I am a female."

"I will, mommy. Bye! I love you!"

She was crestfallen. She seemed to be doused with a drum of cold water. Her child was her life. She risked her life for her... Why would she choose to be with her father?

She didn't know what to do. She was at a lose for word to talk to him by phone.

At their home in Siksik City.

"Daddy, can we talk for a while? I have a secret to divulge."

Three o'clock dawn the next morning after Baby Arm's conversation with her mother and her father, Grand Jim heard that someone opened Splash's bedroom door.

In the bedroom, she layed down beside her daughter who was still sleeping. It was the only time that she fell asleep. After her conversation with her daughter sleep was too elusive.

At the breakfast table, she informed everybody that her application for leave of absence was approved.

She woke up late in the afternoon and announced that she would be staying at home for a while.

"Baby and I were missing each other." She retorted.

"You're not going to work, anymore?"

She did not reply. She kept her plan mum for now. In her thought she would sternly take care of her child.

Sleeping time amused everyone when Baby Arm went out of her mother's bedroom with her treasured pillow and a blanket. She announced that she would be sleeping with her daddy.

"Honey baby, I'm here. I thought you missed me!?"

She pretended not to hear her. She went on pacing toward the stairs going up to his daddy' s bedroom.

"Adrianne May, you are making it difficult for me!" She did not cry, she wailed as if someone died.

Sydney's heart could not bear to hear her wailing. She carried his child in piggy back ride and got down. She held Splash's shoulder and helped her stood up. He also carried her into her bedroom.

"Together, we shall sleep here in your mommy's bedroom."

Adrianne May slept beside her mother while Sydney was beside Splash. To make the description more visible, Splash layed down between her baby girl and Sydney.

During midnight, a heart to heart talk between Sydney and Splash resulted to a compromise...to get a marriage license.

Again, VEAS project was at rest. It can wait while the insistence of their daughter couldn't.

Splash refused a luxurious wedding ceremony. She wanted it simple and only to be attended by her family and the two primary sponsors.

Granny Reyna suggested a church wedding no matter how simple and small number of attendees there are.

They were surprised when Sydney's family arrived, his parents and a younger brother.

Admiration to Splash was all over their face as they learned of her refusal of a pompous wedding. They knew that Sydney had the capacity to give it to her.

With Baby Arm's insistence, a wedding dance was successfully done. It was a jazz music instead of the usual folk song in the region where Siksik City belonged.

The honeymoon was an adventure using the two Invisible Bag Teleportation. As they have their luggage, they tied themselves with a rope on their legs. They teleported from one place to another to their heart's content.

As they were teleporting, Sydney was seducing her and teaching her coquettishly. Little by little her shyness was fading away. She was beginning to shed off her reservation.

On the other hand, Sydney was more than willing to wait for her acceptance of his discreet sensuality. He preferred to be a gentleman before the eyes of so many but an over sensitive man in reality during their privacy. He could still wait for a little bit more to launch their intimacy.

A girl who was about to celebrate her fifth birthday with the name of Adrianne May Solis Britton had at long last her dream for a real family. It was the best Christmas gift that she would have ever received from her parents.