After she said those words, she remembered Clifford"s invitation to bring Clark along in their trip next week."Should I bring him? Or not? Ugh! I should not even consider that suggestion." But then another thought sink in. "...but if I"ll bring Clark along, I have reasons to avoid that brute in our separate personal time and it"s one way of regaining the lost times we have when I was busy." Ingrid was in a dilemma.
Lance stood up the moment he saw the Howards.
"Ingrid, it"s been a while. Hope you"ll not avoid me in the future..." Lance smiled faintly.
"Ah yes, it"s been a while. Sorry, but I"ve been busy lately since I have some business trip next week.."
"Business trip? Where?"
"I don"t know yet..." she shrugged.
"Mommy, you"re going somewhere? You"ll leave me alone? Please bring me along, mommy, please?" Clark interrupted.
Ingrid was stunned and could not speak. "Goodness! Gracious!" her heart beat erratically and she slightly could not breathe.
"Ingrid? You"ll go abroad and leave my grandson in the hands of a stranger? It"s not good idea, dear... ever since you were born, if both of us would go abroad for business appearances, neither I nor your mom left you in the care of a nanny when you were younger. We always brought you along with us because we don"t want to leave you on your own." her father gave her a warning.
Ingrid just bowed her head and bit her lower lip.
"Mommy, don"t be sad, I promise that I"ll behave. I won"t create any ruckus there, I promise." The child raised his hands to swear.
"Ingrid?" her father wants to get her attention.
"I-I –"
"Dear, please consider what I said..." John firmly said. She nodded in response.
"Yes, dad!" she replied.
It is almost time for their departure. Ingrid holds her tears knowing that it will take time to see them again. Her father then diverted his attention to his grandson.
"Boy, take good care of yourself and your mom okay? I"ll be back on your birthday, that"s a promise. Call me anytime, all right?" he kissed the child on the cheek and ruffled his hair.
"Honey, I will really miss you and Clark..." her mother is teary eyed. "Clark, please send me your pictures, okay?"
"Yes grandma... I will miss you both..." and the boy started to cry.
"Ooohhhh..."
Lance goes to Ingrid and spoke.
"Ingrid, please consider my offer, too. I will not stop courting you even if I am away, that"s a promise." his showed full determination.
Ingrid did not hear the rest of his avowal because of the final boarding announcement; instead she just stared at him.
"This is the final boarding call for pa.s.sengers of Vierra International Airlines booked on flight 420C to Vierra City. Please proceed to gate 1 immediately. The final checks are being completed and the captain will order for the doors of the aircraft to close in approximately fifteen minutes. I repeat...."
"Down you go, Clark." he took him from her father then Ingrid cradled her son and kissed both of her parents and bid farewell. "...have a nice trip dad, mom... call me if you reach home, a"right?" the two kissed her back and also Clark.
"Goodbye, Lance."
"This is not a goodbye. We"ll see each other again." He then turned his back and a.s.sisted the couple like a real son.
Both her son and Ingrid were misty eyed looking at them. They also waited till the airplane to take off before they leave and her son kept on waving at the plane thinking that his grandparents would see him.
"Mommy, I wanna board in a plane with you.."
...
Liane and Ingrid agreed to meet for their weekly bonding, she brought Clark along.
"Sis, is it wise to bring Clark along on the business trip?" Ingrid is still hesitant to follow his advice. Since this will be the first time that she will be abroad since Clark was born. Liane did not respond but she just gazed at her.