Chapter 4: The Memory

Present Day

Joanna Jones' POV

I jerked away from the table as that horrible experience. I did not know that I was sleeping until I saw Emily that was shaking her head at me.

"Joanna, we need to work. Do not doze off in the middle of the day," she said as I was yawning. I cannot help it if my cat was restless since it was afternoon. It was a good time to take a nap.

"Sorry, I think I was too tired from last night," I said as I was rubbing my eyes with my hands. Emily was shaking her head before I was smiling at her.

"Where's Jonathan?"

"He's out there to look after the kids. It's time for their nap," Emily said before I was stretching from the chair. Tonight was the day for me to meet my cousin after 5 years of my exile. I think Wyatt was waiting for Catherine to pop his children at any given moment now.

"Can you fold this and put it in the right place?" Emily asked me as she was giving me a basket of laundry. I nodded as I was pulling the towels that have been cleaned and pressed. All I have to do was fold it and store it for the next use.

I was looking at the kids that were playing with Jonathan. They like him as he was a natural father. I cannot be envied when all I did was a selfish thing for myself.

Until 5 years ago, for the first time I did for someone else and I have been exiled.

I was folding the towels until it was time for the kids to nap. I was looking at their peaceful faces before Jonathan was coming inside the room.

"I think I might be ready to have children of my own," he said as he was pulling a water bottle from the fridge and drank it until it was empty in seconds. I smiled as Emily was rolling her eyes at Jonathan.

"Beware, Jonathan's descendant will reign terror in your heart," Emily chided as she was making horns with her fingers. I laughed before Jonathan scowled at us.

"Oh come on, Jon. Don't be such a sour puss. It was not a good look on you," Emily said as we were going through our routine at the daycare. I have to thank Catherine for this opportunity as I replaced her when she married Wyatt and he asked her to stop working since he has all the resources.

Not that I don't respect her decision but I think I'd go crazy if I don't do anything at home. I might kill my husband for forbidding me to work.

"So, are you going to visit Catherine later?" Emily asked me as I was snapped back to reality.

"Huh? Yeah, I will stop by for the family dinner. Her parents will come from the States for this moment," I said as I was smiling before I was cleaning up some of the utensils that we used for the children to eat their lunch.

I was happy to know that Wyatt's in-laws will be in town but I did not expect that evening will be much more dreadful than I thought it would.

After my shift, I went back to my shabby apartment. I have rented a one-bedroom apartment that I had Wyatt to thank for. He paid it for the first month that I lived there to get on my feet. The rent in Nicosia was pretty reasonable since it was the capital but I cannot be dependent on my cousin forever.

Then, I landed the daycare job with a good recommendation from Catherine to convince the headmistress to allow me to replace her. The headmistress agreed and I met Emily with Jonathan there as well.

I could say that my exile has been treating me well and I think I have broadened my view on life even more.

I was smiling before I was looking at my face as I got ready for my family dinner. I need to go early as Catherine can barely walk around the apartment with that bulge on her stomach. Wyatt would go nuts if he knows that she been doing hard stuff again.

I arrived on time as I was hugging Catherine before I was helping her out in the kitchen. Then my niece, Charlotte, was making a mess that got Catherine all riled up.

"Charlotte Wyatt Jones! What did I tell you about making a mess in the kitchen? Clean it up this instant!" She shouted before I laughed.

"She reminds me of Wyatt a lot when he was Char's age," I said as I was kneading the dough for biscuits. I was smiling as I looked at the lively house. Catherine was rubbing her temples before she took a seat.

"Where's Wyatt anyway?" I asked as Catherine has been eyeing the dough right now. I heard that pregnant women loved to eat random stuff.

"He went to pick up my family at the airport. You know how it is," Catherine said before she was rubbing her swollen belly. It was bigger than the first pregnancy.

"I think I might take a nap," she said as I was nodding at her. Then the front door opened.

"Uncle Ben!" I heard Charlotte said as I stiffened. It was the same name as that stranger who I kissed before I ran away. I don't wait for him to say anything as I was too embarrassed to know that he might reject me.

"Hey there, Charlotte!" His voice was the same. Confirmed, he is the Ben that I kissed 5 years ago. I turned to look as Ben was looking at me. I can see that he was not surprised to see me here. He went to kiss his sister as he was still looking at me.

"Hey sis," he said as Catherine was greeting him. Ben smiled before he was regarding me.

"Miss Jones,"

"Mr. Smith," I said as I was making an excuse for me to get to the kitchen. I need to get away from him as quickly as possible. I don't think the tension would be this intense. I heard Charlotte was calling for him as I was kneading the dough again. There were more voices in the house before Catherine's dad was commenting on the cookie dough.

"Sounds delish,"

"Well, take as long as you need. We will be here all weekend," he said. Damn it! Then I will have to be in Ben's company for the whole weekend. I sighed.

After the cookies were finished, we took our seat at the table and I was seated, unfortunately, in front of Ben tonight. He was staring at me as he was commenting on how he was handling their family business before Wyatt told them that I will be joining his company as well. I smiled before Ben was staring at me.

I tried to avoid his gaze before we were continuing the affair to the entertainment room. I was sharing their travel stories and how the customs were strict here. I smiled before Catherine and Wyatt bid us good night. I was sipping on brandy before Mr. And Mrs. Smith were retiring as well. They might be tired from travel.

Charlotte has asked her uncle Ben to put her to sleep and read her a bedtime story. I was in front of the fire as I heard the fire crackled before Catherine was shouting and Wyatt was a mess. Catherine's water broke and that night, we have a new addition to the family, Adele and Will.

Twins.

I smiled before I saw Ben was locking his eyes with me the entire time we were in the hospital that night. After Catherine and Wyatt will be spending their night at the hospital, I volunteered to bring their family back to the house. Ben was cradling Charlotte in his arms as I was driving. Silence all the way but it was not that awkward but I know it will be later.