Apologies accepted
Chapter 100 Apologies accepted
ANTHONY’S HOME, LOS ANGELES.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
“Wow!” Maureen exclaimed at the sight of Anthony’s house. It’s no surprise that he appears lonely. She feels it’s absurd for a single person to live alone in such massive space.
Darby nodded alongside her mother, her father is no doubt doing very well for himself. “We should hurry. It’s bad enough that we arrived late.”
“Blame Maureen for using up our time.” Emma chuckled.
She flipped her hair in response. “I never can tell who I will be meeting here. I want to be prepared just in case.”
“It a close knitted family gathering, aunt.” Isabella chipped in her eyes laughing.
As they got to the door Anthony had his arms wide open to welcome them, Sinclair ran towards him not minding that his legs are just healing from the shock of the accident. He lifted the little one up. “I almost thought you wouldn’t make it. Everyone is here.” He said.
They all turned to look at Maureen, she made them forty minutes late to the event. “What? No one should look at me. It’s okay to be fashionably late.” Maureen bluffed.
Anthony laughed. “You look breathtaking by the way, Maureen.” He complimented but his eyes was on Emma. “You look amazing too.” He mused.
Darby grinned mischievously. “Happy birthday, daddy. Wishing you many more of it to come. Where do I drop the gifts?”
“The party venue is at the back. Let’s go. I was just too anxious and needed to welcome you all myself. Come with me.” He said.
They followed diligently behind him. Loud gasp escaped their lips at the massiveness of the backyard. It’s almost a mini vacation spot with the large swimming pool and well tended flowers. There was a long table that the guest are expected to sit.
Darby’s heart skipped a beat when she noticed Leo coming towards them, looking breathtaking in the half buttoned shirt he had tucked into the well tailored pant. His abs peeked out and it made her flushed. With the white sneaker he paired with it and his hair combed sideways like bad boys love too made her want to fangirl him. But self-control was something that took Darby years to learn, she won’t lose herself so easily even though she wants to hold onto him in a corner and kiss the hell out of those plump lips of his.
She snapped out of her thoughts hurriedly wondering if it’s her time of the month that made her so edgy. She almost didn’t hear when her father ushered them to their seat. Sinclair had run up to his father who had him lifted off the ground in no time. Leo’s parents were around and sister, aside them it was just Leo’s friend, Aaron, whom Darby has never really spoken to except that she knew him back in high school. The other guests were other members of Anthony’s family that Darby isn’t very familiar with yet. After exchanging pleasantries they all settled down.
Anthony was over the moon at the sight of the people who hold a spot in his heart gather around on his behalf. Standing up he cleared his throat. They all stayed quiet to listen to him. Sinclair was the only one who seemed busy with using his cutleries to fight.
“I’m most delighted to see you all here, today. I can’t remember the last time people gathered because of me. It has become so alien that I feel unsure if I am actually a good host.” They laughed at his joke. “Thank you all for showing up. And I want to thank my daughter that I am only meeting after twenty-four years, which was all as a result of fate but we are grateful the universe brought us back. I want to thank you, Darby for giving me a space in your life. It means so much to me. And to the woman who has had my heart on lockdown, Emma…” He called out to her, reaching for her hand and he kissed it. Anthony gulped at her beautiful shy smile, “I know you hate having any attention directed at you but it has been joyful getting to reunite with you. We did embark on getting to know each other, but the past two weeks we have gotten closer and become more vulnerable. I hope we get to share better moments together. I really adore you. Thank you for birthing such amazing daughter who in turn gave me a handsome and brilliant grandson. Cheers to you, Sinclair.”
“Cheers grandpa!” Sinclair bellowed causing all of them to laugh loudly.
“I did tell you he is amazing.” He chuckled proudly. “All in all thank you all for coming. And enjoy yourself for as long as you want, everything here is at your disposal. There would be just one highlight this evening, I hope it blows your mind in a good way. Do enjoy.” Anthony returned to his seat.
They all clapped happily when he sat down. Darby didn’t realize Leo and Sinclair had left the table until she looked towards where they had been sitting. Looking around, she blinked rapidly when the bright lights went off all of a sudden. A minute later she felt a soft hand on her exposed thigh. It was Sinclair with a red rose in hand.
“Awww, my baby. Is this for me?” She cooed, kissing his forehead.
Sinclair nodded in response handing it to her. “Mommy, please forgive my daddy.” He said, moving to the side.
The lights came on again and there was a bed of roses flowers on a staged podium with the word “Forgive me.” Darby’s shock mounted when she saw Leo walking towards her with a placard in hand with forgive me written boldly on it. Sinclair also had one with his exact same words in front of his chest. “Mommy please forgive my daddy.” Losing her breath, Darby used her hand to blow air to get stuffed face. Leo knelt in front of her and she almost stayed frozen.
“Darby.” Leo called out in the most appealing voice Darby had ever heard. “I know you probably don’t like the attention drawn to you at the moment. Anthony said you took after the shy part of your mom. I couldn’t agree more. I realized I never said this to you before. I am sorry for what happened between us, Darby. I need you to forgive me from the depth of your heart. I know it won’t be easy but I plan to make it up to you for the rest of my life. Five years ago, I was naive, an adventurous teenager guarded by my hormones and I didn’t know what I was doing. I should have asked questions, I should have dug deeper but I didn’t do any of that which makes it so shameful. And it cost us five years apart and misunderstanding. I am no longer the Leo of that time, Darby. The Leo you know now is ready to own up to all of his mistakes and start afresh. I never should have doubted you. Despite knowing how much you felt for me that should have been enough to prove your innocence.”
Darby exhaled slowly, “Leo…”
“Please, Darby, hear me out.” He pleaded still on one knee. “I’m sorry I made you feel like a rebound after Chloe. Or that I made you feel like you came to ruin a good thing. I promise it was all unnecessary from the very beginning. I never should have consented to it. I have learnt my lesson the hard way and I am pleading with you to give me a chance to make it up to you, Darby. Let’s start afresh, baby. Please. I want to ask you something that I should have years back. Darby, will you be my girlfriend?” Leo asked swallowing hard.
Darby’s hands shook hard as she looked around her, most people didn’t have as much eagerness as Sinclair had on his face. It made her wonder how he got to know so much about the adult business. She returned her gaze to Leo. She had hoped for a day like this five years ago and when she saw Leo again after so long rather than hate, she yearned for reconciliation. But it didn’t come and she tried hard to forget about it. After so long, her lifetime dream was finally coming true.
She didn’t need to doubt how she was feeling any longer it’s clear now that the only one who holds dear to her heart is Leo. She had wondered what would become of her if they never got together and the thought of it made her cringe badly. Her eyes met with Leo’s again and it made Darby’s heart flutter.
She sniffed. “Well does that mean you will take me out on movie and ice cream dates?” She asked innocently.
Leo chuckled making his handsome face brighten up. “We would do everything that we missed as teenagers baby. We would pretend that we don’t have a four year old bubbly kid and let him enjoy life with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and godparents while we enjoy ourselves.”
Tears rolled down Darby’s face uncontrollably. “Does this mean you love me, Leo?”
“With all of my heart baby. I love you so much I don’t think I will ever be able to survive without you in my life.” He confessed.
Leaning towards him, Darby kissed him passionately forgetting there is a child near them. She has always wanted to do that with Leo publicly for ages. “I would love to be your girlfriend, Leo.” She replied.
Handing her the flower in his hand, Leo lifted her off the chair twirling her around and resounding claps urged them on. Sinclair screamed in excitement as he got lifted off the ground by a delighted Scarlett who feels so proud that her plan worked out perfectly. Just like she had thought, it’s going to be another mind-blowing romance. Everyone took turns to congratulate the couple.
Darby was over the moon and Anthony felt like the happiest person on earth seeing his daughter’s longtime wish come alive. Wrapping her arms around Leo’s neck, Darby let out a soft sigh. “Am I dreaming?”
Leo smiled brightly kissing her lips. “No, baby. This isn’t a dream. We are here now.”
“Thank you, Leo. I love you.”
“I love you too, Darby.” He replied feeling a tug at his trouser. Staring down at the intruder he grinned bending down to lift his son up. “Hey, champ.”
“Daddy.” Sinclair blurted kissing his father.
“We love you, champ.” His father said placing a kiss on his and Darby’s forehead.
“I love you too daddy and mommy!” The little one screamed causing all of them to burst into a fit if laughter. The night will surely be remembered for a long time.