7.

Seven.

S.E.V.E.N.

A week.

It's been a week. 7 days. 168 hours. 10080 minutes and 604800 seconds since I am at peace. My haven.

No Norma.

No Katherine Kepner.

No Bartholomew Kepner.

No Emmeline Carter.

But Marvin Carter did invade my haven with James Carter. The old man used to visit us when Cherish was young, but most of the time, he was with Cherish. In our affine relationship, we had almost no interaction. Our relationship was hardly breathing. But when he disclosed to me that he was the one who hired bodyguards last year for me, I was shocked.

Marvin Carter accepted that he knew his Emma doesn't like me because James was talking about giving our marriage a chance. I am in the top position of her bad book. James has been the mama's boy since day one, but I ruined that. She even tried to burn the photo that James has in his office.

James did tell me about how he wanted to change when he saw me and Cherish. But I don't think his efforts were genuine back then. I don't feel his efforts. But now, I see, I feel and even I am absorbing his efforts.

Dean Harrington was here with James one day to meet the other three young Carter, but Dean was out of control. Just like Jamie, he can't share his Dad.

Even though James claimed that Dean is not his biological son, but I can see, Dean is his son. They don't need genetics to prove their love. And, the next step, James took was a DNA test. He proved that Dean is not his son. But what is the use of this drama when he can't give that place to his other sons?

I sighed with the realisation of possibilities… The known possibility that my sons will never get their father and unknown possibility that what if James stays with us. The news of James and Dr Harrington was circulating last night. Even today, James has tried to call me thrice. I don't understand, why now?

“This is it?” George wiped his hands while looking around.

I nodded and grabbed the basket of lunch and extra food before leaving.

As I walked out of MY house that I finished decorating last night, my feet became heavy. This is the first time I am leaving the house, locking it for a few hours. All this time, it was Norma who was here taking care of the house as well as Jamie, but today, no one is here. But I know, it's for a few hours. Everything will be fine. Because I have David and Susan next door.

Yes, David and Susan are back with their baby girl, Jupiter, without Norma. David is disappointed by his mother. The house cost them a fortune, but Susan's sister is in a real estate and her father gifted his daughter a wedding gift as he was paralysed when she got married. They denied it, but the father called it his right as Father.

Fathers are weird sometimes. Susan's father is so different from my Father.

“I can keep Zippy with us.” David offered settling Jace.

“No, he is my protector.” Annie protested.

David couldn't help but laugh. Annie has everyone under her control. Everyone likes her, She likes everyone except two humans. And, now, I am developing one thing that I learned from George… Observe.

George observed Norma's odd behaviour, but I wasted 16 years to notice it. So, now, I am practising it and one thing I noticed about my young daughter is that she doesn't like James And Theo. She doesn't hate James. James is her father, and she knows it, but she mostly glares at me like asking him where were you all this time?

“Then take care of her for me.” David patted the little head of happy Zippy.

Once the kids were settled, and we left to meet Cherish. George asked too many questions about the school of Jace and Annie.

Jace was mostly quiet, but Annie was active. Her response to Jamie was routine. My toddler knows how to irritate his sister. He even held Zippy and didn't allow Annie to touch him. Zippy simply put his head on the lap of Jamie and waged his tail when Annie called Zippy. But Jamie was persisted that he is his dog.

“They manage to keep you busy.” George laughed.

“You have no idea.” I smiled. “Without Jace, it's impossible.” I looked at my baby, who is solving his sibling's issue. He will be the responsible one. I know. I can see it.

“I know…” George was optimistic.

“When will be the last paper?” George asked Cherish, who was busy serving, wiping Jamie's pouty mouth.

“It's not even started yet.” Cherish was busy with her siblings.

The carter kids were playing with Zippy when George poked my shoulder and pointed it at far. His fingers are tough. It hurts.

“Did you hire a bodyguard?” He asked, looking at far.

“I offered before Mrs Carter took Jamie, but the cost was too much, and I didn't have money.” I shrugged off.

“But you have now. I mean, it was all over the news… Your Marriage certificate is leaked. And it says the marriage is already 16 years old.” George explained, still looking at far. His distraction bothered me. And, then I noticed bodyguards… Covering us from far. There were a few cameras, trying to click our moment, while the bodyguard was doing a good job preventing them.

“They are from Rogers Security Firm.” I noticed Thomas. He passed me a smile before resuming his work. He dragged one of the reporters away.

Nodding, George looked at the kids. “James brought my law firm.” He said.

“What?” I exclaimed. The nerve of that man. That man is interfering in my life… The life of my family. “What down he wants? Every night, he comes to meet the kids, but Jamie still calls him stranger.” I could feel smug on my face. “Annie glares at him but Jace….” With a lung full of air, “Jace has already accepted him as his father.” I acknowledged the truth.

“I hate what he did to you… To us. I dreamt of being your wingman… Your bridesmaids.” He laughed.

“Those are for girls.” I joined him.

"We labelled everything feminine and manly. So, we stop doing it. Then, works will be done by humans. A nurse can be a man if we change our perspective. It's not always ladies. We, man, can be caring as well.” He said with such an ease that for a moment, I was guilty of what I am doing to James.

No doubt, James wants to interact with Cherish, Annie and Jamie, but I am letting kids assume whatever they want. What he did to me is not right. But he loves his daughter, Cherish with his heart. He is dying to talk to Annie. He wants to hold Jamie to sleep. Even though he hates Zippy, he is ready to be his friend. He was reading how to train your dog book that night. He stays until midnight. Even, he arrives to say bye to the kids and only Jace replies to to to him with a hug.

“Should I give a chance to James?” I asked George.

“Depends on you and if you ask my opinion, then I have a trust issue with him. He threw me out of his office building, assuming me, to be your lover.” He was dramatic now. “I am sure Cherish wants to be home after this year, Twins are going to school and, soon, Jamie will be at school. Then your business. I am not staying, you need a man. But you do need a hand. The only person who will be invested in kids will be him. Despite my trust issue, I have no doubt him being a good father. He has proven it.” A pause. “Take your time… Because if he is involved in children's lives, then he will be in your life too.”

George didn't say much after that, and the bodyguards wiped out the media around. We did lunch and we called pizza for bodyguards. It feels weird that we are eating, and they are staring at us.

Kids were drowsy as we dropped Cherish at her school. George was right, she is eager to finish this year so that she could get back home, to us, to her siblings. While driving back home, I managed to bring The flower gerbera daisy that symbolizes purity, innocence, and beauty for my kids.

It was midnight when I saw Susan and David on the balcony. They didn't notice me as went inside, but David did turn to see the bodyguard at my gate. I know there is another bodyguard at the gate leading to the forest behind. Even David knows this.

Taking a cup of coffee, I decided to talk to my bodyguard.

I knocked on the windshield.

"Yes... Mrs Carter." The bodyguard was wide awake and accepted the cup, I offered.

"Welcome back." I smiled.

He smiled and nodded.

"What about my kids? Does they have their bodyguard?" I asked watching around.

"Yes... We try to be invisible. Kids are usually scared of us." He laughed.

"Thank you."

"It's my job, Mrs Carter. Mr Carter is paying us."

"How much James Carter pays your company?"

"It's Marvin Carter... He hired us before. James Carter was signing the cheque." Passing me the empty cup, the bodyguard walked me to the door.

Does it mean Marvin knew the danger, Emmeline Carter is?

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