I approached the pool, quickly seeing Kenelm sitting on the float and enjoying the water. I gave him swimming lessons when I was at Goderich so I wasn't too worried about him drowning.
"Esther Joan, is it really you? Last time we met, I didn't recognize you, I'm really sorry."
Rory Franh, smiling, approached me and talked enthusiastically. Behind him Dominic was sitting looking at the sea, his face as calm as if we hadn't had any arguments before. Seeing that he wasn't paying attention to me, I ignored him too and talked to Rory Frank.
But less than a few minutes later, a hand was wrapped around my waist, slightly pulling my body closer to him.
"Rory Frank, it looks like it's time for dinner." Dominic said.
Rory Frank has been Dominic's best friend for many years, how could he not notice the unhappy expression on Dominic's cold face.
"Oh right. You two and Kenelm will change and go to the restaurant, I'll ask the waiter to prepare." He smiled and left.
When it's just Dominic and I, I don't hesitate to shove his hand off my waist and lead Kenelm back to his room. Dominic stood there for a moment, then followed closely behind us.
"Are you and Dominic mad at each other?" Kenelm asked me in a whisper.
"Children should not interfere in adult affairs." I remind the boy.
"You've changed." Kenelm sighed. "In the past, you didn't change your emotions so often. But lately you've been very strange."
I frowned slightly and didn't reply. Even a three-year-old like Kenelm noticed that my recent feelings were different. I feel like I talk more, sometimes I get angry and frustrated, sometimes I feel happy, but then I'm afraid other people will notice it, so I quickly hide it. For the past four years, I don't know how I'm going to live, if I'm really happy and okay, because most of the time I've been dumbfounded and lost in thoughts.
"Mom, I wish Dominic Arnold was my father. That way you wouldn't be embarrassed because I don't have a father."
While I was changing Kenelm's clothes, he said something like that. Contrary to his immature face, Kenelm's thoughts were much more mature. Even if I want to deny it, I can't deny that he really resembles Dominic Arnold, from appearance to personality.
"Kenelm, I think I need to tell you the truth."
...
Dinner at a fancy restaurant on Rory Frank's yacht. Most people were seated in the lobby of the restaurant, but Dominic had reserved a private table on the mezzanine floor for us. It is the most beautiful location in this restaurant, both can see people from above, and can see the dreamy and fanciful night sea view.
Everything would be perfect without Vivian's presence.
"Oh, you two are here. Sit down and have dinner with us."
Vivian laughed heartily and pointed to the two empty chairs. It's on the opposite side of where Dominic and Vivian are sitting. Vivian's openness and confidence makes it easy for people to misunderstand her as Dominic's woman, and Kenelm and I are just invited guests. For some reason, in my heart, I felt extremely uncomfortable with this.
"Sorry, Esther. I didn't plan to sit here, but my leg still hurts after the treatment, and this chair has a close back so..." Vivian looked at me with apologetic eyes.
"It's okay, take it easy." I replied grudgingly.
Dominic remained silent, his gaze far away at the ocean.
The dishes are gradually brought up, all fresh seafood, tuna, salmon to king crab and tiger shrimp, all of which are top-notch dishes prepared by top chefs. Its taste is sure to be enjoyed once and will never be forgotten. Kenelm gobbled up delicious food, watching him gluttony made my mood less uncomfortable.
"Kenelm must be eating top-class seafood for the first time, right? I know many fine restaurants that specialize in such dishes. After this outing, I and Dominic will take you there. We used to go to those restaurants before." Vivian peeled a shrimp and dropped it into Kenelm's bowl and said.
My gaze involuntarily glanced at Dominic for a few seconds. Four years apart, I doubted when he said he and Vivian had never been in love, was it true? Vivian then, knowingly or unknowingly, referred to their four-year period without my presence. And all of those stories are about joy, Dominic's pampering for Vivian or the favoritism she receives.
My hand trembled for a moment and the fork in my hand fell to the ground, with a shrill clink that stopped Vivian's sweet voice.
"Oh, did you drop your fork? Let me call the waiter for you."
Vivian waved her hand to ask the waiter to exchange another fork for me when Dominic reached out for his fork and placed it in front of me. He hasn't eaten yet, so this fork has not been used.
"No need to get a new one. Use mine."
I looked up at Dominic and saw him opening a bottle of champagne and enjoying himself, completely oblivious to food or table chatter. He was sulking at me because of our earlier argument in the room and the fact that I kept ignoring him. But in the end, he still cared about me more than anyone else.
The fact that Dominic handed me his fork sent Vivian into a state of indescribable embarrassment. Her face stiffened, her smile fading. How could she not understand the implication that Dominic reminded her of. She understands that very well. She kept bragging about how much he pampered her, but the only one who got him wasn't her. Dominic can give Vivian everything she wants, house, car, money... but it doesn't include himself.
"Maybe I shouldn't be sitting here." Vivian laughed to herself, disappointment evident on her face. She understood that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get Dominic's absolute attention. She is forever just the benefactor who saved Dominic from taking a bullet, not the one he loves.
"You should have realized that sooner." Kenelm wiped his mouth with a towel and casually said a word.
I turned to look at him in surprise, not expecting him to say such a sarcastic sentence. Even Dominic, who was sipping his wine silently, had to grin and look at Kenelm with amused eyes.
Vivian is really embarrassed, no one welcomes her here, not even a three-year-old boy openly hates her. Unable to pretend anymore, she stood up and hurriedly left. At this point, Dominic waved to the waiter to bring a new fork and leisurely ate his meal.
"Dad, I want to eat black tiger shrimp."
Dominic was stunned when he heard Kenelm call him father.
His first reaction was to turn to look at me.
"I swear to god, I never told him this." Dominic explained.
"I know that." I nodded slightly and looked at him calmly.
This seemed to shock him even more. He dropped the fork in his hand onto the table, let out a sigh, and leaned back in his chair. Then Dominic burst out laughing.
"Kenelm, call 'dad' again."
Dominic's face was filled with ecstasy and contentment, the first time I've seen him smile so freely and with all his might. He reached out to Kenelm and picked him up, letting it sit on his lap and peeled the shrimp for it.
Not only is Dominic happy, so is Kenelm. At first, I thought that when I told the truth, Kenelm would be mad at me. Because up until now, Kenelm and I rarely got along, I was always impatient with Kenelm and easily became angry with him. Kenelm also often gets angry and refuses to talk to me.
Unexpectedly, Kenelm was very calm when I revealed that Dominic was his father.
"Dad, I want soup."
"Dad, I want to go swimming tomorrow morning."
"Father, when can we go out again? Just the three of us."
Kenelm kept talking to Dominic, whatever he asked, Dominic agreed without hesitation.
"You shouldn't pamper him too much. He'll be spoiled." I said sternly, but my eyes couldn't hide the tenderness when I saw Kenelm and Dominic getting along.
"Mom is always difficult." Kenelm pouted at me. "But mom, can I sleep with dad tonight?"
He spoke in a sincere voice, which I couldn't refuse.
So, after dinner, my whole family went to bed together. Dominic has a lot of things he wants to do for Kenelm, like changing Kenelm's pajamas or brushing his teeth with him. Since they are both boys, many things between them are very similar and harmonious. I feel that my decision is very correct, although it took me a long time to convince myself.
After 9 p.m., Kenelm was fast asleep, while I was still reading the magazines on the table. Maybe he played a lot today, so he was tired and fell asleep.
"You don't want to sleep yet?" Dominic spoke to me in a whisper, deliberately lowering his voice so as not to wake Kenelm.
"If you're sleepy then go to sleep. I'll go to the bedroom next door."
"Esther, we're a family now. How will you explain to him when Kenelm wakes up tomorrow morning and can't see you?" Dominic spoke very logically, and that convinced me.
Kenelm is in the middle and the two of us are on either side. Dominic put his arm around Kenelm and touched my face.
"I can't believe this is true. You really came back to me and brought me such a wonderful gift."
"That doesn't mean I've forgiven you completely." I said in a joking tone. "Every time you offer a three-month deal, you succeed. No wonder you can get so rich from negotiating deals."
"If I'm rich, I can take care of you and the kids."
Our conversation lasted until early morning. No more quarrels, we gradually understood each other, the problems in my heart also gradually dissipated.
After all, Kenelm needs Dominic, he needs a loving father and accompanies him as he grows up. Dominic and I made an appointment after returning from this cruise, we would go back to visit my mother's grave. There are many things in the past that make me reminisce and regret, so I would love to go back to that city with Dominic.