Chapter Eighteen.

'Oh, great.' Lina muttered and set the plate she was holding back down on the table. 

Before she could wrap her head around it all, Arnold's mother, Lisa shrieked out her name.

'Crystalina!!!'

'Oh my Goodness, it's so good to see you.' Lisa said and moved closer to her.

'Bring it in.' She added, widely opening her arms to hug Lina, which Lina did briefly and withdrew.

'I heard you're out giving people the justice that they deserve.' Lisa went on, not giving Lina a pace to speak.

'That is really amazing, Lina. You are a super woman.' She added and Lina nodded shyly. 

'Why don't we continue to chat over dinner, Lisa.' Natalie chipped in when she saw how uncomfortable Lina was. 

'Sure.' Lisa said and stepped away from Lina. 

'I'm sorry my husband couldn't make to dinner. He had a lot on his table.' She added.

'It's fine. I'm glad to have you, though.' Natalie said.

'Good evening, ma'am.' Arnold greeted, after the older ladies had exchanged pleasantries. 

'Good evening, Arnold.' Natalie replied, with a bright curve on her lips.

'It's good to see you after all these years.' She added. 

'It's good to see you too.' Arnold responded.

'Please have a seat.' Natalie said and gestured across the table where he was standing. 

'Thank you, ma'am.' Arnold muttered. 

Then he helped Freddie take a seat first before he sat down, himself.

'Hey, little man.' Natalie said to Freddie who had been quiet all along, and he smiled.

'You seem a little shy, don't you?' She added and moved closer to his seat.

Then squatted beside him and went on.

'You don't have to be shy, okay? I am going to make sure you're comfortable here.' 

'There is enough to eat, and you can also have some cupcakes and icecream if you don't mind.' She said and Freddie's gentle smile turned into a wide grin.

'Oh, you like that right?' Natalie chuckled and Freddie nodded.

'Good boy.' She said and patted his shoulder. 

'He's so adorable, Arnold. You're doing a great at raising him.' Natalie said to Arnold, after she got up.

'Thank you, ma'am.' Arnold replied. 

'You're welcome.' Natalie said and turned to Christopher. 

'Please inform your father that dinner is ready.' She told him.

'Okay.' Christopher replied and proceeded to call his father.

When Nathan joined them at the table, they all sat and started to have dinner.

As they ate, Lisa wanted to continue to chat with Lina, but Arnold didn't let her.

He recalled her say at the cafe, that she didn't want to answer anybody's questions. 

His mother was not an exception.

'Mom, Lina must have had a busy day today helping her family put together this amazing dinner for us and she must be tired.' Arnold muttered, politely. 

'I'm sure you could do the catching up some other day.' He added and Lina's heart gladened at his show of kindness towards her.

'You're right, son. How inconsiderate of me.' Lisa lamented.

'I'm sorry, Lina.' She proclaimed.

'You don't have to be, ma'am. It's fine.' Lina muttered quietly and shot Arnold a glance.

She mouthed a thank you, when their eyes met, and he nodded to acknowledge that.

'Since you are still in town, we should have coffee together sometime.' Lisa suggested. 

'Of course, ma'am.' Lina nodded in approval. 

'That's great.' Lisa chuckled. 

Their dinner went on with less talking now, except for both older ladies who couldn't help but catch up, because they haven't been in contact for a while.

A few minutes after they were done with dinner and the dishes were cleared, Natalie suggested they had some wine and talked for a bit. 

While the adults had wine, Freddie nibbled gently on his cupcake and icecream. 

Lisa was the life of their discussion and she kept it going.

'I'm excited that we had dinner together tonight, Natalie.' Lisa said. 

'My family and I are all glad to have you.' Natalie replied. 

'We would take our leave now, ma'am. It's almost Frederick's bed time.' Arnold said.

'Oh, okay then.' Natalie replied. 

'Catherine and I should sort the dishes now, so Lina will see you off.' She added and Lina's heart skipped a beat.

'Su.... sure.' She stuttered and got up from her seat.

Natalie headed to the kitchen with Catherine, while Lina walked Arnold and his mother out to the door.

When they got to the lawn, Lisa took Freddie in her arms and proceeded to the car.

'I'd give you two a minute.' She whispered audibly enough, as she walked away.

'Mom!?' Arnold gasped in awe, but Lisa was very much away to hear him interject.

Frederick waved at Lina all smiles.

'Bye, Frederick.' Lina waved back at the little boy and he giggled, leaving Lina in awe because he warmed up to her quickly.

She moved her gaze back to Arnold and took a deep breath. 

His gaze met hers too, and she started to speak as she didn't want any awkward silence between them 

'Arnold, I want to start by apologising to you.' Lina started.

'There is nothing I can say or do to justify what I did to you and it was wrong if me to act like we were best of friends again, completely ignoring your feelings.' Her gaze fell to the ground.

'Lina....' Arnold voiced, basically trying to stop her from apologising. 

'Wait, let me finish.' Lina interrupted him.

'I'm really sorry, Arnold. I know that I hurt you.' As she spoke Arnold felt ease that he didn't know he needed. 

'I have absolutely no excuse for doing what I did, and even if I did, it's not a good enough reason, Arnold. You're an amazing person.' She went on 

'You didn't deserve to be abandoned like that.' Lina felt relieved as she apologised. 

'I'm deeply sorry.' She concluded 

'It is fine, Lina. I believe you're truly sorry.' Arnold said.

'Thank you.' Lina exhaled. 

'But, what I do not believe is that you had no good reason for doing what you did.' Arnold said and Lina's eyes glinted in puzzlement. 

'I hope you find me worthy enough to tell me your reason, someday.' He added and Lina cleared her throat. 

'In the meantime, I do hope we can still remain good friends.' He concluded. 

'Sure, of course.' Lina spat in one breath. 

'Great.' Arnold said. 

'Good night, friend.' He added and extended her a handshake. 

'Good night, friend.' Lina took his handshake and they stayed that way for a moment.

Her hand in his comforted his entire being.

Lost in each other's eyes, they communicated in a language their voice couldn't express. 

Arnold withdrew his hand after a few minutes and started walking back to his car.

When he got to the driver's side of the car, he shot Lina another glance. 

Then she held her hand up, and her fingers fluttered in a gentle wave.

Arnold's lips curved into a smile and he got in his car.

As he drove away, he knew deep down in his heart that he wanted more than friendship from her.