Chapter Twenty-one.

'I'm so sorry, Arnold.' Lina rose to her feet.

'This must be a lot to deal with.' She said.

'It sure was.' Arnold voiced. 

'But now, I'm only positive about his improvement.' He added.

'He definitely will.' Lina retorted in empathy. 

'Thanks.' Arnold smiled.

'You're welcome.' Lina muttered. 

'So, let's have fun.' She added.

'Of course.' Arnold laughed. 

And strolled through the park with Lina and his son, surrounded by the sweet smell of blooming flowers and gentle chirping of the birds. 

The lush green leafs on the trees danced to the sound of the windy afternoon, and the chattering of children's laughter filled the air.

They all walked hand in hand to the playground section, feeling the softness of the grass beneath their feet.

Arnold helped Frederick play on the merry go round with the other kids at the playground. 

While, Lina just sat on the swing across the father and son.

She stared at the young boy as he played.

He was so cheerful and Lina felt so sorry for Arnold. 

For the first time ever, more than she would like to admit, she wished he and Lori didn't have to break up. 

At least for Frederick's sake.

She was still lost in her thoughts, when Arnold suddenly showed up in front of her.

'Your favourite spot.' He uttered jolting her out of her thoughts.

'You remember.' Lina chuckled wearily, while Arnold nodded subtly. 

'It's sad, it's too small to play in now.' She said.

'No, it's not.' Arnold countered. 

'You look perfect sitting in that swing.' He said.

'It looks like it was made for you just to seat there.' He added and Lina laughed. 

Then, he moved behind the swing and gave her a gentle push.

'What are you doing?' Lina shrieked. 

'Giving you a push of course.' Arnold stated. 

'No, Arnold.' Lina protested.

'I could break the chains with my weight.' She added.

'No, you wouldn't.' Arnold shot back.

'Just have fun. Like old times.' He added after giving her another push, and Lina shrieked again.

'Come on!!' Lina voiced, rather excitedly.

'We came here to have fun, remember?' Arnold said as he pushed her again after she swung back.

And this time she giggled. 

It made him glad and he went on giving her pushes until she claimed, to feel dizzy. 

'You always do this.' Arnold muttered, taking a seat next to her on the swing also.

'Do what?' Lina blurted with a bright curve on her face.

'You always claim to be dizzy, just to make me stop pushing the swing.' Arnold responded. 

'But I'm telling the truth.' Lina uttered and Arnold snickered. 

Her eyes drifted to Frederick who was now on the slide with other groups of kids. 

She kept staring at him to make sure he was comfortable on the slide, before she spoke again.

'I bet he misses her.' Lina said, referring to Lori, Frederick's mother.

'I don't know if he does, Lina.' Arnold responded, realising she was referring to his ex-wife.

'When we moved back here, I set a picture of her up on his dresser.' He went on. 

'But he threw the picture against the wall, when he was throwing a tantrum some days after.' He added.

'He only waves at her whenever she puts a video call through, and he barely smiles.' He concluded. 

'I'm sorry to pry, but did she even attempt to take custody of him instead?' Lina asked. 

'Of course, she did. She was the closest to him when we were still together.' Arnold replied. 

'But, Frederick refused to live with her and her new boyfriend.' He added.

'She has a boyfriend already?' Lina sputtered in awe.

'Yeah, she moved in with her lover after our divorce was finalised.' Arnold whispered, his voice cracked with each word.

'I'm sorry.' Lina voiced. 

'No, you don't have to be.' Arnold told her.

'I only feel bad for my son.' He added. 

'Why's that?' Lina asked quietly. 

'He didn't want her to leave in the first place.' Arnold answered and Lina wondered if he was speaking for himself also.

'He wanted her to be more present in his life but Lori hardly came by the house after she left. I just had to take him away before he became someone else entirely.' He added.

'He is the one most after by the divorce.' He went on.

'Lina, I didn't even know separation can affect a child this much.' Lina listened quietly as he spoke.

'He begged and wailed the day she came to the house to get all her things and that was the last time I heard his voice.' Arnold let out a rough breath, staring on the air.

And Lina reached for his hand, giving it a calm squeeze. 

'She's also broken all her promises to come visiting. Only makes him more furious.' Arnold spoke again.

'My poor boy.' He faltered. 

'He is going to be okay, Arnold.' Lina whispered. 

'I may be meeting Freddie for the second time only, but I know he is a fighter and he is strong, just like you.' She added and Arnold shifted his gaze to hers.

'You both will get through this phase.' Lina went on.

'And he will speak again, I believe that.' She added. 

'Eventually, Lori will realise she's making a huge mistake being absent from his life.' She concluded and Arnold chuckled. 

'Thank you, Lina.' He breathed. 

'You really don't know how much these words mean to me.' He added.

'I'm glad you feel better.' Lina smile.

And looked away in Frederick's direction to see that he was running towards her and his father.

Then she got off the swing, Arnold followed suit and Frederick ran to her wrapping his small arms around her waist. 

'What's going on, young man?' Lina blurted and squatted in front of him.

'Well, Freddie knows you are the reason we're having so much fun here today, and he thought to thank you. Right, son?' Arnold said and Frederick nodded in affirmation.

'You're welcome, boy. Come here.' Lina chuckled and wrapped her arms around him.

After they disengaged from the hug, Arnold suggested they went for boat rides down the park lake.

But when they got there, Frederick had a fright for the water and they changed their minds, so they left the park.

After all, they've been there for 4 hours.

Before returning to Lisa's house, they stopped by at a restaurant to have lunch first.

After which they dropped Frederick off at his grandmother's and returned to the county.

The drive back was quiet but it wasn't awkward.

Arnold sprang up a conversation anyways.

'I want us to have dinner together tonight.' 

'Tonight?' Lina blurted, taken aback.

'Yes, we could go anywhere you want.' Arnold said. 

'Just to say thank you for making Freddie happy after such a long time.' He added.

'Okay, then. Dinner it is.' Lina rebutted.

'Great, I'd pick you up at six.' Arnold revealed.

'Okay.' Lina muttered.

Shortly, a call from her mother came in.

'Hello, ma.' She said after answering the call.

'Where have you been, Lina? I got back at twelve and you've been out for three hours.' Natalie blurted from the other side. 

'I thought you won't be home until later tonight?' Lina spoke.

'Change of plans, Lina. Something came up.' Natalie retorted from the other side.

'Where have you been, though?' She queried before Lina replied.

'I went to town with Arnold and Freddie, mom. I should have told you, I'm sorry.' Lina replied and Natalie gasped. 

'We're on our way back, now.' Lina added.

'Oh, take your time.' Natalie teased.

'Come on, mom.' Lina muttered in protest.

'But, you need to be back before 6pm.' Natalie said. 

'What's happening by 6pm?' Lina asked.

'Your aunt and uncle are here. We need to discuss sending the rest of your grandmother's clothes to charity.' Natalie replied. 

'Oh, okay.' Lina murmured disappointedly and Arnold shot her a glance. 

'See you soon.' She added and Natalie disconnected the call.

'Something came up?' Arnold asked almost immediately. 

'Yeah, we kind of have some family discussion to do over dinner.' Lina replied. 

'It's okay if we can't have dinner today. We can reschedule for some other time.' Arnold said. 

'Is Sunday fine by you?' Lina asked.

'Sunday is perfect.' Arnold responded and she smiled. 

'Sunday it is, then.' She muttered and rest of the ride back to her grandmother's house went quiet again.

When they arrived, Arnold alighted with Lina just to walk her to the door.

Lina said goodbye after they got to the door and grabbed the knob, but Arnold held her back gently. 

'Thank you for today, Lina.' He said after she let go of the knob.

'I had fun.' He added.

'I had fun too.' Lina expressed with a warm smile.

And they stood there for a while just staring at each other.

Arnold closed the gap between them subtly.

And leaned in slowly. When he saw that Lina didn't budge. 

He reached for her face with his hand and moved his lips closer to hers.

Everything seemed to move so fast, and Lina thought to stop him, but she might want it too.

The very core of her existence was craving for him as much as he was for her. 

His lips was an inch away from hers, when he suddenly hesitated, his lips barely brushing against her cheek instead.