Endless Love Ch. 02

"Good morning Noah." Rachel said looking at me, smiling.

"Good morning Sir."

"Good morning."

"Have a cup of tea." I drank only coffee. She must've sensed it in my eyes.

"Just try it, you'll love it."

I took a sip. She wasn't kidding. "Wow! Didn't expect to taste like this."

"Where are your other clothes?"

"In the bag."

"Give them to me."

"Please mam. You are doing so much for me. I'll take care of them."

"You said you wanted to visit the museum, I don't have anything to do today. I guess I'd come along."

"You definitely could. You know more about here than I do."

"Then give me your clothes. I'll put them into the washing machine. They'll be dealt with until we are back."

"God, I don't know how to pay you back."

"By giving me your clothes."

"Your husband must be a diabetic."

"What?"

"You are so sweet." I gave her my clothes.

"Such a cheesy line. Be more creative or you'll end up a being single."

"Thanks again."

"Isn't it like the seventh or eighth time that you are saying this?"

"You leave me no choice."

She took my clothes, put them in her washer.

In a few minutes she was ready.

"Come on, let's go." she said with smiling face.

All of us left in her car.

Alice's P.O.V.

I just got out of my classroom. I had to go for a coffee with that jerk who hit my car. Honestly didn't want to go, but I promised I would. So... and he actually paid for the car maintenance.

In a few minutes, I saw his car entering our school fence.

I saw him walk over to me.

"Shall we?", he said looking at me.

"Sure."

In the café

Waiter came at our table and asked, "Your order please."

"What will you have?" He asked me.

"Latte."

"Espresso and Latte."

"So, Ms. Perkins, how was your day?"

"Is it why we are here?"

"I was thinking that we should know each other while we're here."

"I'm not here to get to know you or get you to know me better."

"Is it wrong to have proper conversations with each other?"

"Fine, I will only answer with what I'm comfortable."

"Please do as you wish. This is not an interrogation. Your parents must be proud of you."

"Because you deem me worthy of your attention?"

"No. You are worth it. Your father must be happy."

"Not sure about him. He doesn't like the fact that I need scholarship. Mom seemed ecstatic though."

"You love your mom then."

"I do."

I finished the coffee as fast as I could. I didn't want to stay there any longer.

"Thank you very much Ms. Perkins. Was nice having a coffee with you for a change."

He held my hand in his. I felt so uneasy like never before. I felt so scared. I pulled my hand away.

"I got to go.", I said and just ran to my car.

"And, I don't need the scholarship, take it back or not, I'm not going to use it anyway.

I drove away without a place in my mind.

I pulled over the car near Wingaersheek Beach on the way. I felt a strange void in my heart. I almost felt teary.

My phone rang. I saw, it was Noah. I felt a strange relief wash over me.

"Hello Ali. You're okay?"

"Yes, brother. I am now."

He immediately switched it to video. I didn't have the camera turned on. I couldn't let him see me in vulnerable state of my mind.

"Ali, you better turn on the camera."

I turned it on.

"Ali are you crying?"

The tear that didn't escape my eyes, couldn't stay there anymore.

"Oh my god, what happened Ali?"

"I was feeling so strange, it is okay now."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You know what, I'm back home next flight."

"No, brother. Trust me. I'm okay."

"Please tell me what's wrong."

"I'm okay."

"Did exams go wrong? Hell, what am I asking!"

"You are speaking with me. I'm feeling alright already."

"Hold on a second. Ohh, damn. All flights are booked today."

"Noah, I'm alright. Just hop in on next available flight if you want."

"Okay. But next flight is at tomorrow 3 in the afternoon and the flight is more than 13 hours long."

"Don't worry about me brother I'm alright now."

Noah's P.O.V.

"Don't worry about me brother I'm alright now."

"Damn, I should have brought you with me."

We just said nothing while looking at each other while I was being driven away in the car.

We reached the museum and the guard stopped is midway.

"Sir, you need to disconnect the call after this point." The guard spoke with accent in his English.

"Ali, got to go. I'll call you back as soon as we get out of here. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Now go home and drive safe."

"Bye."

I disconnected the call and locked the tablet screen.

After our visit in the museum, I was mesmerized with everything that she shown and told me. I was actually interested in the beauty of the place but everything I saw piqued my interest in the history so much. I thought I should call Alice and tell her about my experience.

She answered the video call.

"Hey brother"

"Good morning Ali. Oh, good evening. You're alright now?"

This time she looked a bit better.

"Yes. I'm okay."

"Alright. I Just visited the museum. This is amazing."

"You liked it?"

"Can't you see on my face?"

"Definitely."

"I met here a very sweet lady here. She helped me so much."

"Is she with you?"

"Yeah. Mam, come here."

"What happened?"

"It is my sister, she wants to talk to you."

I put us together in the camera. Rachel genuinely seemed pleased to see Alice.

"Hello there."

"Hello, I'm Alice."

"Alice, it's a beautiful name."

"Thank you. I wanted to thank you especially for everything that you have done for my brother."

"Ohh, it's nothing. Don't worry. He is a fine young man."

"Alice, I'll tell you everything when we meet."

We talked for few more minutes, then the driver arrived with Rachel's car.

"Hey, I'll talk to you later. We are going back to her home."

"Can't you talk in the car?"

"Yeah sure, why not?"

We talked more while the driver was driving Rachel's car.

When we reached her home, we saw another car in the parking.

"I will call you back, okay?"

"I will be waiting for you."

"Bye."

I disconnected the call.

"My husband is back. Why don't you meet him?"

"Sure."

We went in the house, he was reading a newspaper.

"Hello honey." Rachel said smiling at him.

The man got up from the table and hugged her. They kissed each other. It is not everywhere that you see this kind of love that I saw in their eyes.

"Hello my love. Who is this young man?"

"Noah Perkins."

The smile on the man's face faded for a while and came back again. It looked more like surprise.

"Hello Noah. I'm Daniel Smith." he shook my hand

"Nice to meet you sir."

"Nice to meet you too, Noah. And Daniel is fine with me."

"Okay, Daniel it is. You are a very lucky man. She is really sweet lady."

"Yes, I'm very lucky indeed. You don't see such a loving woman these days."

"That's true."

"How are you here, so far away in this region of the world?"

"It's a long story. I'm sure your wife will tell you everything."

"Yeah, she doesn't hide anything."

"That's great. Okay, I'll take your leave then. I have to return to Moscow and then back home to Boston. I have to catch my flight back home which is tomorrow afternoon."

"Why don't you stay here tonight?"

"You've already done a lot for me. I don't want to be a burden."

"It's nothing like that Noah. It's not everyday that we have a visitor from our own country. Besides, you will have a lot of time to tell your side of the story of how you met my wife."

I was confused, to refuse would maybe offend them and to accept... I even had to send the driver back his home.

"We both were going tomorrow to Moscow anyway. We'll drive you to your hotel before 2 pm."

After some thinking I agreed.

"Okay, but I will cook for you tonight."

"You don't have to do it, alright?"

"I must. You have been a great host. This is the least I can do."

"Hard as it is to admit, I might actually have a change of taste. I get bored of your cooking Rachel." Daniel smirked.

Rachel had a naughty smile on her face.

"You liar. I know you love my taste." She winked and kissed him.

"I love the way you love each other, but come on. I'm here, right?"

"Don't be a prude Noah. Such a handsome young man like you must've had experience."

"Yeah, I do." I remembered the fateful night of our birthday. My smile faded but I managed to smile again somehow.

"Then don't worry. We are open minded people."

"Alright. In your defence, you cook awesome and tasty. I wouldn't agree with Daniel here. And in my defence, I am not really bad at it, believe me."

"Thank you Noah." Rachel kissed me on my forehead.

I sent the driver home back, assuring him that even if he doesn't take passengers on his way back, he'll get the money.

Alice's P.O.V.

I felt calm after speaking with Noah, but I still missed him terribly. I've never felt this sense of loneliness ever in my life. I felt my eyes starting to well up again. But I controlled myself. I know that he'll know. I've known since I was ten years old.

'He will be back soon Alice Perkins.' I scolded myself.

I went to his room and laid there. I hugged his pillow, so that it could make me feel less lonely somehow.

Within a few minutes, I fell asleep.

Noah's P.O.V.

I made some Lasagne for both of us.

....

"...so I start to walk towards her and before I can say something, her pepper spray is out of her pocket and it's particles are in my eyes."

Daniel started to laugh hysterically. "She is like that. She has courage, that's for sure."

"Yeah, I'm sorry." Rachel said looking at me.

"And I said it's alright. After few years from now, you'll laugh at it remembering this. Don't worry. By the way, do you always carry it with you?"

"It was just a coincidence, I assure you."

"That's alright. Given the situation, I can understand you being paranoid." I wanted their feedback on how the food was.

"How did it taste? The lasagna?"

"It was really delicious. You can really cook and tasty at that." Daniel said with genuine feelings in his face.

"Yes, it was really tasty. I loved it." Rachel said with happiness too.

I got up from the table and bowed, "Merci Madame et monsieur!" (Thank you Miss and Sir)

The next day

I will never understand but within a little amount of time, I liked these people. The kind of affection they have shown me is amazing. Almost familial. I took out my tablet and started a video call to Alice. It was her lunch break. In these two days, the kind of time I spent here is nothing like I've ever experienced anywhere.

"Hello Ali."

"Hello brother."

"How was your day so far?"

"Just boring."

"Hmm. It'll be alright. You know, I met her husband. They wanted me to stay one more night. I said I'll stay only if they let me cook for them."

"And you didn't suck."

"You didn't ever tell me if I did."

"What am I supposed to say that it is hideous? Especially after it was actually tasty."

"Is that actually a compliment? I don't see sarcasm in it."

"Yeah smartass, it is a compliment. I love your cooking."

"Thank you very much."

"Is that your sister?" Rachel asked me.

"Yes." I looked back at the tablet and took the camera in front of Daniel's face. "Meet Mr. Daniel Smith."

The joy I saw on his face was something else.

"Hello Alice." Daniel said looking at her.

"Hello Sir." said Alice.

"It's Daniel. Nice to meet you. You look gorgeous dear."

"Thank you sir, I mean Daniel. Nice to meet you too."

"You know your brother is an amazing guy."

This time Rachel was looking into the camera too.

"Yes, he is."

"So what do you do?"

"Studying medicine."

"That's really great."

Then I heard the bell ringing.

"Sorry, I gotta go. Lunch break is over. Bye, see you."

"bye, take care."

I ended the call.

She already had breakfast ready for both of us. After finishing the breakfast, I took all of my clothes and put them in my bag. Remaining stuff was in the hotel where I was staying. They got ready and then we walked to the car. We talked more on the way to Moscow.

When we reached the hotel, Rachel hugged me. I felt a strange kind of relief. She had a good look at me. I saw a little tear from the corner of her eyes.

"Hey, is everything alright?"

"Just that if I had children, they would be just like you both."

"If I'm not rude, may I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you have children?"

"It's a medical condition. I can't be a mother."

It literally broke my heart to know such a thing. I hugged her again and wiped her tears.

"You have been like a mother to me. I'll never forget that."

I couldn't believe what I just said, but didn't regret it either.

"You have a mother, don't you?"

"Having another mother and one like you doesn't hurt."

She then hugged me again.

"So sad that I have to go, but now that I have our office here I'll come here again."

"Sure, we'll be waiting. Bye."

"Bye, take care you two. I haven't seen people so caring, amazing and in love with each other so madly. Don't ever change."

Daniel shook my hand. They got in the car and left.

Ronald's P.O.V.

I was driving my car downtown while my phone started ringing. It was Peter. I pulled over and answered the call, putting it on speaker.

"This is Peter."

"What happened?"

"There is new information. About Tobias."

"What's that?"

"Please check the document I just sent you."

"Okay, hold on a second."

I opened the mail he just sent me.

"It says, they are married for 17 years. How is this girl 19?"

"Both of them are 19, her brother. They are twins. Angie is second wife."

"This is interesting. Find out if Angie is their mother. If not, find the biological one."

"Already on it, sir."

Huh. Leverage. This is going to be a good one. If Angie is not their biological mother, Tobias has a lot of explaining to do to his children.

The next day

Noah's P. O. V.

I came back in Boston, Alice was waiting for me at the airport. When she saw me at the arrival, she just ran to me and jumped right into my arms. I caught her and hugged her. I rested her on the ground. She didn't leave my embrace, hugged me even tighter.

"I have missed you my big brother."

"Alice, you are older."

"As far as I'm concerned, you are my big brother."

"I love being your big brother."

"And I love being your little sister. Don't take that away from me. Ever."

"Okay my baby sister." I touched her nose. I saw her giving a strange look at me.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just that I missed you so much."

"You don't have any idea how much I have missed you. Come on, let's go home."

Alice's P. O. V.

When he hugged me, I felt a strange kind of relief that I've never felt before. But it feels oddly familiar. I don't understand why. But whatever it is, I really feel safe, loved whenever I'm around Noah. If what I feel is what I think it is, I'm in a big, big trouble.

"I'll drive." Noah said looking at me.

"No, you must be tired."

"I practically slept in the whole flight. I'm alright."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep." I gave him the key. We put his luggage into the boot. He opened the door for me and then got inside.

"Chivalry does exist."

"It does mam."

I couldn't help but keep looking at his sweet and handsome face for the whole drive.

"Is there something in my teeth?" He asked me curiously.

"What? No. Just wondering, what else you did there that I don't know."

"Except for what happened in the office and times when I went to washroom, nothing."

"Okay, I believe you.

A week later

Noah's P. O. V.

I was looking for some of pictures and stuff in the attic, I saw a box. I tried to put it on the corner where there was a ladder. It was heavy. I couldn't place it properly, so it fell down. I saw some photos in the attic of when we were little kids. It has very nice pictures of us. I put them in my hand, climbed down of the attic. I opened the box there were some documents. I saw a paper, one of which was the property papers. It was named under my father's name. According to that, the house was in suburban Lexington. I compared some pictures that weren't identical to the mansion that we owned right now. I felt a strange connection to the pictures, it was a feeling that these pictures were taken in this house in Lexington. I made a decision, I want to see this house myself. I found the key inside of the box from the attic.

The next day

Noah's P.O.V.

I took a friend's motorbike. I didn't want anyone to track my movements via car GPS or cell phone. It is absurd, I know. But I kinda had a feeling that nobody should know.

When I reached the house, my heart beats became faster. I felt like this house was waiting for me. It was calling out for me. It was my home.

I had a foggy memory of a kind, pleasant lady used to leave a key under the rose plant. I saw that plant, it was dried. I lifted it and tried to feel for anything underneath. When I pulled out a flat metal piece, I was shocked. It really was a key.

I matched it with the key that I had brought with me. It did match. I opened the door, all of the furniture was there. But there some nails in the walls which suggested that there used to be photo frames on those nail because of the more cleaner square patches of the wall color underneath. I started getting more and more flashes of my childhood. I started to feel little bit dizzy. I explored all of the rooms. The bedrooms upstairs. One was painted pink, had a little princess styled bed inside. I saw the pictures, one of them was taken here. It was Alice's bedroom. I went up inside the another one. It had some old bitten superhero miniatures. I remembered that they were mine. No doubt it was my room. I remembered the lady again. She was sitting on my bed while I had put my head in her lap. I felt tears dropping out of my eyes. I could feel that the face was familiar, but I couldn't understand whose. It was still a blur.

I then found another bedroom, it was familiar too. In other room, I saw stairs that were going down. I went inside that room. There was a box with some paperwork and pictures. I took them out and read. It was a divorce paper.

'He was married before?' But then, it actually made sense because of the flashes of memories that I was getting. This woman wasn't my mom, or was she? I was so confused because I hadn't felt such an emotional connection with my mom that I had felt with just a memory of this woman. I saw more inside, saw the pictures.

When I saw a picture that was inside, I felt like I was literally falling off the cliff. Everything around me went blurry and I fell unconscious.

"Get up, come on."

I saw someone trying to wake up. I tried to lift my hand to wipe my face. But I couldn't. I realized that I was in handcuffs. The guy who was trying to wake me up was a cop.

"Officer, why have you handcuffed me?"

"You dare break into this house and ask me why?"

"I didn't break in. I had a key."

"How the hell did you get the key? This house has been closed for almost two decades."

"Check my ID, this is my former residence when I was a kid. You can verify the owner in the records. It's under my dad's name. Tobias Perkins."

"You're Rachel's kid?" He said after he saw my ID.

I remembered the picture. It was Rachel, the same Rachel that I met in Tula, Russia. In the picture, she was holding two new-born babies in her hands. Me and Alice.