The next day came.
"Um, Stefan, I think that should be enough."
Wirata protested softly when she saw the shopping trolley filled up and this was the third one!
Ben and James were pus.h.i.+ng one each and this one was Stefan taking care of. Ben and James looked at each other but they kept their mouths shut, enjoying to watch the boss shopping crazily once in his lifetime! Now they knew Stefan Mackenzie could be a shopaholic!
"We haven"t bought the toys yet, need to buy some more for Summer, too. All the b.a.l.l.s are wrecked. He needs some new ones, also some more kongs as well. "
The man was a fair father, thinking of all his kids equally!
Stefan just came to understand why women like shopping and lots of them were addicted to it. Now he thought it was not bad after all since Wirata had written down the long list for him. So it was easy and entertaining to chase the items around the big shopping mall. He had never done anything like this before in his entire life but from now on he would not mind to do it for his loved ones.
They went to the children"s toy department and picked everything for babies, for both a boy and a girl according to the list. Now there was no s.p.a.ce for anything else to squeeze in the trolley.
"I think we should pay. We are going to see my mother. She and Uncle John will go to the restaurant soon."
Wirata looked at the time and reminded him.
"But we have a few things to buy yet according to the list. Can we go to meet them at the restaurant instead of the house? I want to introduce my parents to your mother."
Stefan turned to consult. This early morning, James and Ben hurriedly went down to the VIP floor and switch on the power to work again. Stefan still had no opportunity to meet his parents yet. Sam and Sophia also remained quiet.
"We will have to do it next time. About your parents seeing my parents. I think we should ask them first and arrange it properly. But for now, we will go to see mine at their home. Let"s go and pay. I feel a bit tired now."
Wirata said and make a tired face. Because the man was so enjoying sweeping things in the shopping cart. Therefore, she had to pretend to look tired. She knew it would work because he cared so much for her and the baby.
Stefan pulled her to his embrace and kissed her cheek.
"Sorry, I forgot. You must be really tired of walking for three hours like this."
Stefan said with an anxious tone. Ben and James sighed with relief. Because if he still did not stop, they would have to need another trolley for sure.
Looking at the time, it was two o"clock in the afternoon already. The time pa.s.sed incredibly fast.
"You can take Miss Wirata to the car if you want, boss. We will take care of the check-out."
James offered generously.
"It"s okay. Will you be alright, Wine? I want to do everything myself. It"s my baby."
Stefan said, wrapped his one hand around her waist. The other hand was pus.h.i.+ng the shopping cart with overloaded items.
"Yes, sure, since I could last three hours already, another few minutes won"t kill me."
She responded in a teasing tone making Stefan smiled and the bodyguards, too.
"I love it when my wifey is tough and patient like this."
He said with a big admiration smile on his face.
When finished shopping, James and Ben helped the boss put everything in the back of the car. Luckily, they came with the big van today as Ben saw the long list before they came out.
They had noticed that the boss eagerly to do everything by himself. The baby had shown its power over his daddy even before coming out. G.o.d blessed him!
They arrived at John and Wilaiwan"s house at three o"clock in the afternoon. It was almost time for both of them to leave for the restaurant.
The reason for having to come to see them at the house instead of at the restaurant was because Wirata did not want to talk about personal matters there.
Wilaiwan stood on the porch in front of the house when she saw Stefan"s car drove in. The bodyguard rushed down to open the door for the boss. She saw Stefan waiting for Wirata to step out of the car. Then he watched her with his eyes fulled of love and care.
She saw the face of her beloved daughter with a light smile. They looked at each other and smiled. He bent down to kiss his forehead.
Wilaiwan lit up a smile with relief and a warm feeling inside to see that the young couple was happy and got along very well. They came up to the porch.
"Hi, mom. I miss you."
Wirata went to hug and kiss her mother.
"Miss you too, sweetheart."
She replied and turned to Stefan.
"h.e.l.lo. How are you?" She asked and smiled warmly.
Stefan smiled back and bow his head slightly to greet her but Wilaiwan opened her arms to welcome him to get a hug from her. He then stepped in to hug the gentlelady.
"I am okay at the moment. But I had the morning sickness first thing when I got up."
He answered and made two women smiled, looking at him with fond feelings.
Wilaiwan laughing softly. She felt pity for the father-to-be as his baby seemed to require a lot of his attention. She talked to Wirata on the phone before. Her daughter told her everything about Stefan"s symptoms. Wilaiwan hoped for him that it would get better soon.
Wilaiwan walked them into the house and shouted to John who was preparing tea, coffee and fruit juice in the kitchen to be served.
Ben and James were at the front of the house, waiting as usual.
They sat on the sofa. John walked in with a tray in his hands.
"h.e.l.lo, Stefan. How are you?"
John greeted. The man"s face looked happier and more relaxed than ever. Stefan nodded and they shook hands.
"I"m fine. You?"
"I am well. Thank you very much for everything."
John said. He knew how much Stefan had to put in to help. John believed Stefan loved Wirata very much to be willing to help out like this. Stefan kept his words by zeroing his debt. And now John had not heard from Bernardo. The last time Stefan said he would take care of it. John trusted the power of this young man that he probably had talked to Bernardo already. That"s why John still had a roof over his head right now.
"I"m glad you are fine."
Stefan said. He felt so good within his heart to see the old man who once looked so suffered and full of distress as if he was ready to commit suicide at any time. But now he had turned a new leaf. He looked happy and content with an ap.r.o.n hung on his neck because of Stefan"s very small help. Stefan could not believe that the small action he had not seen it important before could matter to someone"s life like this.
And all of this, it was because of one woman. The woman who was sitting next to him. It was unbelievable how she could change a stubborn man who was full of pride and egos like him in a span of a few months like this.
She made him be able to see clearly that one person"s changes could lead to continuous changes to other people and other things. If he had not changed a bit and was the original Stefan. If he was not willing to compromise with John"s case. Right now, he might have joined his funeral instead of seeing him with a happy face like this.
Stefan now understood the saying... "Pick a flower on Earth and you move the farthest star."
It meant our actions even only small as a touch to flower, could create consequences and affect those around us. Lives and nature were circuited together closer than we thought. Although the connected lines could not be seen or tangible. But they linked by invisible enormous energy and that was called the power of the universe.
Therefore, never think that little things would not matter. All actions should be considered well before launching. Because you would get the payback in everything you did. And it was called Karma.
Stefan felt the heart swelled in his chest with his overwhelming feelings. He felt as if he had just walked out of a dark cave and saw the beauty of the whole world as he had never seen before.
Stefan turned to look at the woman beside him. The big hand reached to grab her hand and lifted it to his lips. He kissed gently.
She looked up at him with a surprise. She saw his handsome face lighted up, his eyes were s.h.i.+ning with joy and appreciation. She smiled sweetly because of knowing him well and she was able to read through his mind.
She knew that he had come to realize something very important to make himself understand how he could change some people"s lives. Now he had discovered and understood something within himself and by himself. She squeezed his big hand gently to let him know that she got him and he squeezed hers back.
"Coffee or tea, Stefan? But for Wiata, you will have some juice."
John said and then pour some orange juice into a gla.s.s for Wirata. Stefan was having a coffee. Then he started to bring them to the most important issue he wanted to discuss.
"As you know that I love Wirata very much and I want to marry her as soon as possible. I and Wine, we have talked about it and now I would like to ask for your permission. Can I marry your daughter, please?"
He said to Wilaiwan politely. And she nodded with a happy smile on her face.
"Of course. You can."
Her mother said right away making Stefan and Wirata smiled gladly.
"We are very happy for you both. You can plan your lives together as we will only be happy with whatever you plan to do. Just let us know that date and time. Everything is up to you and Wine completely."
Wilaiwan simply said her thoughts. She had already talked with Wirata. The daughter did not want a big wedding ceremony. Just a nice simple one, only the family and acquaintances should be enough.
"I will arrange for my parents to see you two. Then we will have a party for the families at the hotel. After that, it will be our wedding."
Stefan turned to Wirata, she smiled and nodded. They had already discussed and Wirata insisted that she did not want to hold a large event, only wanted a small one.
The lady said that she would like to donate the money to a charity instead. This one-night wasting feast cost could save hundreds of people in need. Stefan, therefore, left it to her in the end.
They told her mother and John about the rough plan. They were holding hands all the time during talking. Making Wilaiwan so happy to see her daughter had found a man who she loved and he loved her back. And he would cherish her and appreciate her as she was worthy and deserved it.
The two agreed to go on a honeymoon in Thailand after the wedding. Wirata had not been to Thailand for a very long time. She had a dream of lying down in a comfy hammock under the coconut trees on the beach somewhere in p.h.u.ket!