Aiden felt his heart swell in happiness at her words.
"Silly child. If not you, who shall I spoil?" he asked as he patted her head.
"I will see what shall I pack. Don't look at my face, it's ugly," she said as she started running as she hid her face with her palms.
"Slow down! Careful!" he yelled from behind.
But Eleanor missed Aiden crying in his bed. These days, he continuously doubted himself as a father. Now, Eleanor's words gave him a booster. He will take better care of her from now on.
He went to the kitchen and saw Jenna was cleaning up everything. He told her about Eleanor's plans. So, he asked her to prepare something palatable to eat. He went to Eric and asked him to prepare a few warm sweaters, coats, scarves, and other things for her to keep warm.
Aiden returned to his room, he took out his old telephone handbook went through Boris's old man number, and called him. When the old man Boris saw it's Aiden he was surprised. They never talked a single word after what his stupid son did to his daughter. He was further surprised when Aiden asked for Mason Boris. When Mason took the phone, Aiden ate his brain about his responsibility towards Eleanor and his grandchild.
Aiden didn't stop there, he called Griffin and asked her phone number too. And then from her, he took Oliver's number. He then ate Oliver's brain for quite a while asking him to take care of Eleanor and his grandchild. He also didn't leave Nathaira, he asked her to take care of Eleanor and his grandchild.
Also, he called Valene he ate his brain for some time about he should be responsible towards Eleanor during the absence of Martin and how he should take care of his daughter and his grandchild. He even called Tiffany through Myna and asked her to take care of his daughter and his grandchild.
When he was done nagging everyone, its already midnight. He felt bored, he called Griffin and boasted how he was going to become a grandfather, while he wasn't. Then he called Mason not caring about the time and boasted that he was becoming a grandfather.
He again called Adam Boris, without caring the time, and warned him that his son should take care of his daughter and his grandchild. He also boasted that he was going to become a grandfather while he couldn't despite having four children.
After he hung up, he doesn't know what to do. He went to pace back from here and there in the hall. He was getting restless about her departing. He was still worried that she wouldn't be taken care of well. He shall ask her permission and follow her. That way he could take care of her well. But she asked him for some alone time.
Aiden felt she might lack things. He needs a female who could know what a female needs. Aria would be the right person. He should put the awkwardness and other things aside for the sake of his daughter. But he forgot the presence of Jenna in the house.
His hands trembled as he held the phone. He took a deep breath and dailed her number.
"Hello," he said.
"Hello," he heard Aria's sleepy voice.
"Aria," he called out.
"Aiden," she responded. She sat up straight when she heard his voice.
"I need help," he said.
"Ask," she responded. Her chest filled with warmth. This was the first time, she was seen taking the lead to talk to her.
"You know… my daughter is pregnant. She is going on a trip till the new year with her friends and Valene. What shall she do and how shall she should take care of herself?" he asked.
"Oh… that's…. First thing, she should be happy. She should avoid fish, papaya. Also…" Aria went on with the list of do's and dont's. Aiden took down his notepad and noted down everything she said. By the time they were done talking it was already 2. A. M.
"Thank you for your guidance. We shall meet for dinner tomorrow," he said with a smile.
The years of the gap they have between them were gone just like that in these two hours.
"Surely, you owe me a meal for ruining my beauty sleep," she said with a smile.
"Ok. By the way, are you going to give a send-off to the kids?" he asked rubbing salt on her wound.
"You know what, Aiden. That brat! He didn't even tell me, that he was going on a trip. Until you told me, I didn't know about it." she said through her gritted teeth.
"Maybe, he was afraid that you would pile things in his luggage," he said.
"Yeah… that reminds me. We should buy some things for them as they were leaving in the afternoon," she asked.
"We shall. But you know, I am clueless. I asked my butler to buy some warm clothes for Eleanor in the early morning. I wonder if he can do a good job or not," he said with a sigh.
"Don't worry! I will help you! I will also select a few anti-radiation clothes for Eleanor that way the baby in her stomach wouldn't expose to the radiation," Aria said.
"Oh! That kind of clothes is there too. It's a good thing that I called you," he said in a relieved tone.
"You know it, right. I am an encyclopedia. I have all kinds of information." she said as she boasted herself.
He laughed out loud at her words. "You haven't changed," he said still laughing.
"Remember, you boasted like this back then, when you ….." he said memory from their college time.
Then they both talked about their olden days and laughed at their foolish actions. The time passed by without their noticing.
"Oh my, it's 4 a.m. You should get some sleep. We shall meet at 9. a.m and then do shopping for two hours," he said.
"What!? Two hours!? No way!? It isn't enough. It takes at least four hours. We shall go to the shopping mall at 7. a.m. I will ask the branch near us to open it for us," she said.
"Aria! You still haven't changed your ways," he said as he almost yelled.
"Oh… my. Good night. I am so sleepy," she said as she hung the call without waiting for his reply. Aria hung the call because she knew he would convince her somehow not to shop for a long time.. She would rather sacrifice her beauty sleep than cut her shopping time.