Having pointed out a few more things and shared a few insider’s tricks with Lorelai, Anastasia didn’t even notice that an hour had passed until she checked the time and saw that it was already 5.30 pm. She thereafter rose to have the kitchen prepare dinner, but just as she was about to invite Lorelai to stay, the girl shook her head and said she had to leave.
“Thank you for the invitation, Anastasia, but I have something planned for tonight and I should go,’ Lorelai explained, gathering her things as she got off the couch
“But it’s already so late, and Elliot will be home soon. Come on, stay for dinner,” Anastasia insisted..
“It’s really so nice of you to offer, but I couldn’t impose, not tonight at least. Dinner’s on me next time, okay?” Lorelai said, politely but firmly turning Anastasia down.
“In that case, I’ll see you some other day.” Anastasia walked with her out the door and to the car.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, Lorelai gave her a small wave and said, “Thanks for today. I’ll see you around!”
“Drive safe.” Returning the wave,
Anastasia watched as the car pulled out of
the porch and out the front gates.
Presently, the vibrant sunset glow was cast over the garden, coating it in a warm golden hue.
There were thoughts behind Anastasia’s clear, bright eyes as she stood outside. She did not go back into the living room. Instead, she glanced at the watch on her wrist. Jared should be home by now.
As expected, the fleet of cars escorting the little boy pulled up outside the house but
did not drive in. Jared leaped out of one of the cars and dashed through the gates. He ran up to Anastasia when he saw her and asked happily, ‘Mommy, were you waiting for me?”
“Yes, I was,” she answered with an affectionate smile.
He beamed and held her hand while. exclaiming, “I love you so much.. Mommy!”
‘I love you, too.” She reached out to ruffle
his hair, then led him into the house.
When Jared got into the living room and saw the kitten darting back and forth on the couch, he quickly set his bag aside and began to play with the feline. The little furball had only grown cuter since they first got it.
A little later into the evening, a black Bugatti sports car drove and parked on the car porch. The soft purr of the car engine indicated that Elliot had returned.
Anastasia was reading on the grassy lawn right outside the living room while Jared was playing with the cat. When she saw Elliot walking up to her with his silhouette outlined by the twilight glow, she set her book down and ran to meet
him in the middle.
She had missed him dearly after not seeing him for the whole day.
Upon seeing her running his way, Elliot opened his arms and caught her just as she threw herself into his embrace like a child. He lifted her up by the waist and twirled her once, then set her back down. “Missed me?” he asked teasingly. There was a warm and gentle gleam in his eyes as he kissed her forehead indulgently.
She nodded, smiling as she said, “I did.”
“Daddy, I want a kiss too,” Jared demanded as he approached the loving couple with the kitten in his arms.
Elliot let go of Anastasia and bent to pick up the little guy, then kissed him on the cheek lovingly. “Did you have fun at school today, Jared?”
“You bet!” Jared replied with a firm nod.
The kitten looked decidedly unhappy when it saw that everyone else had received Elliot’s affection. “Meow!”
