but only for a while, just because you are insisting, Mr. Anderson,” replied Sofia.
“Thanks for your consideration,” replied Mr. Anderson with a faint smile.
Mr. Anderson then went inside, and Sofia followed. Just like any gentleman, he opened the door for Sofia to walk in.
“Thank you, Mr. Anderson.”
“My pleasure, Ms. Martinez.”
As they walked into the living room, they saw Anthony and Leslie jumping on the sofas.
“My babies please get off the sofas. Don’t jump; you may end up hurting yourself,” Sofia said with great concern.
“Sofia. You. Are. Staying. We. Are. So. Happy,” the kids said in intervals, and they jumped on the sofas. The kids loved Sofia as much as she loved them.
Sofia smiled, and Mr. Anderson stopped the kids from jumping. He first went to Anthony, held him with his hands, and told him to get on the floor.
“But Dad—”
“Please, my child.”
“Ah, okay!”
Anthony came off the sofa, though he didn’t want to.
“Leslie?”
“Dad! But this is fun. Why don’t you also join us?” replied Leslie. She didn’t want to stop, and she kept jumping.
“Please, Leslie, Aren’t your papa’s best daughter?” interrupted Sofia.
“If Sofi says so …” Leslie hopped off the sofa.
Mr. Anderson smiled and kissed his daughter.
“Children are the best creation of God,” said Sofia.
Anthony, who said, “Dad, what do we do now?” Interrupted the conversation.
“Go to your room and see your new toys. Go check them out and bring them here.”
Both of their faces showed a rush of excitement.
“Yay! Thanks, Dad!” Anthony made a run to his room.
Leslie followed her brother to the bedroom.
The kids soon went out of sight. Mr. Anderson offered Sofia to sit. He said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask you to sit. Please sit.”
“Sure.” Sofia sat on the sofa.
“Would you like some juice?” asked Mr. Anderson.
“Yes, please.”
Mr. Anderson dialed the extension for the kitchen and asked them to bring fresh juice.
The maid came in with a pitcher of fresh orange juice and two glasses. Mr. Anderson poured juice for both of them.
They both had a good time. They laughed and shared stories. Sofia told him about her time with Leslie and Anthony and how the kids tried to make her stay just another hour.
Mr. Anderson listened to everything that she said with great intrigue. He shared stories of his secretary and his associates at his law firm. He also told Sofia about his struggles of putting the kids to bed when she is not around.
They both laughed at how Leslie and Anthony tried to avoid eating vegetables and how much they enjoyed jumping on the sofas.
“I must confess, it had been a long time that I haven’t chortled like this. All thanks to you, lady. I feel so alive; this conversation made me realize the difference between living and existing.” Mr. Anderson felt happy; his face brightened.
The kids were not coming back. They liked the new toys so much that they played with the toys rather than joining their Dad and Sofia in the living room.
“It is important for everyone to take some time out for themselves. Maybe two hours only can help you enjoy life because a joyful heart makes a face cheerful, but a sad heart produces a broken spirit. Laughter is the best medicine; even I laughed whole-heartedly today. I too had a good time with you. Thank you, Mr. Anderson!”
“Thank you for spending time with us, Sofia. Since the death of my wife, I have never sat downed and spend quality time with a beautiful lady,” said Mr. Anderson. His wife had passed away from cancer three years ago, and the grief had been in his heart ever since.
Sofia had shared much of her responsibilities of looking after his kids, but at the end, he had to play a big role, since Sofia could not be around now and then, even though she tried her best to be.
Oliver Anderson was forty-five years old, but his loneliness made him look older. He couldn’t let go of his wife’s memory of taking her last breaths in his arms. He felt afraid to start over.
Since Mrs. Anderson departed from this world, he became wary of spending more and more time with his loved ones. Since the death of his beloved wife, he knew it’s just in a flash of a second that the heart stops beating.
“Wow! Are you serious?” said Sofia.
“Mm-hmm!” Mr. Anderson replied.
“Excuse my boldness, Mr. Anderson, but can I ask you a personal question?”
“Go ahead.”
“In the environment that you are developing, you must have met that someone special who has caught your attention. I mean, you must have met amazing women as a lawyer, as an entrepreneur, and even in your social circle. Why haven’t you considered starting a new relationship?”
Mr. Anderson was silent at first.
“You may not answer this if you don’t want to. That’s fine!”
Sofia thought she had crossed the line, but then Mr. Anderson replied, “No, I shall answer it. I considered starting a new relationship, but I like to keep my professional life separate from my personal life. In a competitive environment, and since I am a lawyer, I have to be wary of the woman I choose since I would never know her true intentions and what she has in her heart.”
Mr. Anderson continued, “People can misinterpret it as an opportunity for a promotion. I think it will be inappropriate if you run a law firm. Also, this is my preference. I don’t want to come home to a wife with the same profession or a profession that stops her from prioritizing her family first.”
“You’ve put much thought into this!”
“Yes, I have. I also don’t want my wife to work for someone else when I can provide my family with the necessities of life. You know, among all, what I fear the most?”
“Oh, what?” Sofia had been carried away with whatever Mr. Anderson poured on this sensitive topic.
“I fear not finding a woman who would love my children as my wife did. I think this is my biggest fear. Among everything else, this is the biggest reason I have not considered bringing that someone special in my life and my kids’ lives.”
“I
