Episode 16

...Renan…...

Renan: Oh, Gabriel, since when do you prefer Julia over me?

He shrugged.

Renan: Because until the day before yesterday, you didn't even like her very much.

Gabriel: I like Julia.

Renan: You do, huh?

Gabriel: I do, I just don't need to be saying it.

Renan: Woke up with a sharp tongue today, didn't you?

We arrived in the kitchen and he went to the table excitedly.

Gabriel: See how daddy does it?

I shook my head and sat down. I watched him eat, and he didn't even seem to remember what happened yesterday.

Renan: Son, are you alright?

Gabriel: I am, why?

Renan: Do you remember what happened last night?

Gabriel: You kissing the girl?

Renan: Not that part, Gabriel.

I felt embarrassed.

Gabriel: I don't remember anything.

I shook my head and he went back to eating. A few minutes later, Julia arrived with Bia.

Julia: We're back!

Renan: Wow, what a nice-smelling baby.

I got up to pick her up and, once again, was rejected.

Renan: I give up.

I sat back down and Julia sat with her on her lap. We had breakfast together, and after we finished, I called Julia to the office.

Renan: Son, stay put.

Gabriel: Okay.

He sat there watching and Julia carried Beatriz in the baby carrier.

Renan: Julia, first I want to apologize for sending that message late last night, I didn't imagine you would come back.

Julia: Mr. Renan, I'm here of my own free will, don't feel guilty.

Renan: I know it's because of Gabriel, and I appreciate your concern. He was happy to see you here. I told him you would only be here tonight or tomorrow morning.

Julia: And how is he?

Renan: I talked to him before you arrived in the kitchen, he said he doesn't remember what happened.

Julia: Do you think it's true or he doesn't want to talk about it?

Renan: That's what I thought, you could...

Julia: Try to talk to him? Of course I can, I'll wait until nap time.

Renan: Thank you, Julia. And please know that this workday will be paid, I'll give you an advance right now.

Julia: No, Mr. Renan, I don't accept.

I took my wallet.

Renan: Don't be silly, take it and buy yourself something.

Julia: No, please.

Renan: Come on, Julia, take the money.

Julia: Please excuse me, sir, but I won't accept! You're so good to me, you already had two reasons to fire me and yet I'm still here.

Renan: What reasons? I don't remember any.

Julia: What happened with Gabriel and...

Renan: That thing with Gabriel, I already said that you acted well, I wouldn't fire you... but what's the other one?

Julia: Oh, never mind.

She left the office completely red.

Renan: Julia!

She didn't come back and I put the money away.

Renan: Go figure that woman out.

My phone rang and I answered.

📱Emily: I thought you'd at least call to explain yourself, I don't know...

📱Renan: Emily, I just woke up and...

📱Emily: Am I bothering you?

📱Renan: No, you're not... I just wanted to say that I didn't call because I was having breakfast with my kids just now.

📱Emily: Oh, of course.

📱Renan: I'm sorry about yesterday, I know you must think I'm always finding a way to end our dates, but it's not true... I swear I don't know what happens, it's almost scary.

She laughed.

📱Emily: Maybe fate doesn't want us together.

📱Renan: And who cares about fate?

📱Emily: Today I'm home alone, the staff is off and Lua went to stay with her father... you could come have lunch here and bring the kids.

📱Renan: You're the one cooking lunch?

📱Emily: I haven't cooked in years, but I can try.

She laughed.

📱Renan: Okay, we'll be there.

📱Emily: Great, I'll wait for you here.

We said goodbye and she hung up the phone.

Renan: Julia.

I left the office looking for her.

Julia: Yes, Mr. Renan.

Renan: We're having lunch at Emily's today, you don't need to make lunch.

Julia: Alright, I'll get the kids ready.

Renan: You too.

Julia: Me, Mr. Renan?

Renan: Yes, Emily is very easygoing... Besides, if we need to talk in private, you can stay with them.

💭Julia: Talk in private…

Julia: Alright.

...Julia…...

The hours passed and soon it was time to get the kids ready to go to Virginia's boss's house for lunch. I got them ready, took a shower, and put on a simple outfit.

Renan: You look beautiful, shall we go?

Julia: I'm just going to get the dessert I made.

Renan: Please, I won't have it any other way.

Mr. Renan held Bia and I left with Gabriel right behind. Soon we were in front of the house and he rang the doorbell.

Emily: Hello! Come in, make yourselves at home!

Renan: Excuse us.

Mr. Renan entered first with Beatriz, then Gabriel, and I could see her smile fade when she saw me right behind.

Julia: Good afternoon.

Emily: Ah, Julia… come in, come in… I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming.

Gabriel: Julia?

Gabriel called me from inside and she made room for me to enter.

Julia: Excuse me…

Emily: You're welcome.

I entered still holding the dessert and they were all already on the sofa.

Julia: Where can I put this dessert?

Emily: Give it to me, let me put it there for you… it wasn't necessary, but thank you… sit down.

She took it from my hand and as soon as I sat down, Bia, who was on the rug, came crawling up to me on the sofa. I held her between my legs while Gabriel played with her.

Renan: Is everything okay?

He asked me.

Julia: Yes, it is.

Emily: I'm back! Guys, I believe you must be hungry and the table is ready, I just added some finishing touches.

Renan: It smells great.

Gabriel: I can't smell it…

Julia: Gabriel…

I whispered to him and he shut up.

Emily: Let's go, kids?

She came up to me and tried to pick up Beatriz.

Emily: Come to Auntie Emily.

Beatriz: No!

Julia: I'm sorry, she's got this thing about saying no to everything now.

Emily: Kids, I understand.

Renan: This girl is something else, Emily, she only wants to stay with Julia now.

Emily: No problem, Auntie understands.

We followed her to the dining table and when I saw it, I immediately remembered Marcos who used to always order in at a restaurant.

Emily: Do you like it? I prepared everything with a lot of love.

Gabriel: I like it.

Renan: Me too, in fact, it's been a while since I last had this.

I looked at it and honestly didn't feel like eating it, even so, I tried to pretend.

Renan: And you, Julia?

They looked at me.

Julia: I've never had it, but I think I'll like it…

We sat down and served ourselves. During lunch, she had to show me how to eat with those sticks and Mr. Renan said I could eat with a fork if I wanted, I felt more comfortable and even though I was holding back from spitting it all out, I managed to eat.

Renan: Emily, this is one of the best I've ever had in my entire life.

Gabriel: I liked it too.

Emily: Ah, I'm so glad you liked it… and you, Julia?

Julia: Of course, you're a very good cook.

I hadn't even gotten halfway through.

Emily: Thank you.

Renan: Emily, can we let Julia and the kids finish lunch while we wait in the living room? I need to talk to you.

Emily: Sure, let's go.

Renan: Call me if you need anything, Julia.

Julia: Don't worry, Mr. Renan.

They left and Gabriel looked at me.

Gabriel: You didn't like it, did you? No problem, Julia, not everyone likes it.

He said laughing and took my plate.

Julia: What are you going to do?

Gabriel: Eat it?

Julia: You don't have to, I can handle it.

Gabriel: You can't handle it, let me eat it.

He ate it with such pleasure that it even scared me. As soon as Gabriel finished, I cleared everything off the table and washed it.

Gabriel: Julia, the dessert is melting.

Julia: You're right, would it be a problem if I put it in the fridge?

Gabriel: No, put it in before it melts.

I took the dish and went to the fridge, opened the door, and when I went to put the dessert inside, I saw some boxes from a Japanese restaurant.

Gabriel: What's wrong, Julia?

He looked inside the fridge and I put the dish in at once.

Julia: It's nothing, let's go clean that mouth, shall we?

I went with him and Bia to the living room and there was no one there, I had to find the bathroom on my own and after cleaning the kids, we stayed on the sofa for a few minutes waiting.

Renan: We're back.

Beatriz: Daddy!

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