RENI’s POV
It’s been days since I arrived in California, but honestly, I’ve lost track of the time. The days blend together, and I don’t know if it's morning or evening. All I really know is the divide between light and dark, yet even the light feels heavy, almost suffocating, like night stretching endlessly. I’ve been wrestling with demons I swore I’d never entertain, but they’ve become my only company. The deeper I sank, the more it felt like I was surrendering. A chill crawled up my spine. “Isn’t this what insanity feels like?” I thought. Fear clawed at me, and I wasn’t afraid for Reni—I was terrified. I wanted her to be strong, to push past this, and to seek help. I wanted her bold enough to reach for God’s hands again. I wanted her to stand firm and tell these demons to leave. But she was fragile, cracked in places that might never heal, and I wasn’t sure if she had the strength to fight anymore.
The morning of whatever day this was, I stumbled into the bathroom for a warm shower. The woman staring back at me in the mirror was a ghost of who I was a few weeks back. Frail, thin, hollowed out. Bloodshot eyes, swollen from days of uncontrollable tears. It was hard to believe that reflection belonged to me. With the little strength I had left, I forced myself into the shower, letting the warm water run over my skin, trying to wash away the layers of numbness that had taken over. I made breakfast with the raw items I saw in the pantry, though I could hardly taste anything. But it felt like progress. I wandered the house aimlessly, and then, in an attempt to reconnect with anything that felt familiar, I curled up on the couch, the soft fabric offering a sense of comfort I hadn’t realized I needed, and watched Gilmore Girls, my go-to comfort show.
A few minutes later, exhaustion crept in, and before I knew it, sleep overtook me. When I woke up, the sun still shone in the sky. I wished I had slept longer, sinking deeper into that temporary escape from everything weighing on me. But surprisingly, I felt better—calmer, lighter even—and I couldn’t complain.
Still, an ache remained, one that no amount of sleep could soothe. I desperately needed to speak to Noah. I knew he’d be frantic, pacing, likely blaming himself for something he couldn’t have predicted. I felt a twinge of guilt as I remembered my phone was back in Miami, and the distance between us felt even more unbearable without that.
The idea of returning to Miami tugged at me, but I was stuck. Without my phone, I couldn’t buy a flight ticket, and the thought of navigating the airport felt too overwhelming. But the longer I stayed away, the higher the risk that someone—everyone—would figure out I was gone. I moved toward my bag, ready to go to the airport, when something caught my eye: a landline on the hallway table. For a moment, hope flickered. I could call Noah. I searched through my bag, pulling out the notepad and typing his number carefully, but my courage drained before I could press the buttons. I froze, my mind frantically coming up with excuses. What time is it in Italy? What if I wake him? The clock on the landline read 3:41 pm here.
I dropped the landline and decided to wait till I got back to Miami to call. As I bent down to grab my bag, I heard a noise outside the house, sending a shiver through me. My heart skipped, then pounded hard, thudding painfully against my ribs. Panic knew me well; it called me by name. I stood motionless, trying to steady my breathing, convincing myself it was nothing; no one else was there. But then came the knock. It was loud, insistent, each thud tearing through the fragile calm I’d managed to build. I froze, my mind pulling me back to a place I didn’t want to go—a memory, a nightmare I hadn’t fully escaped in almost two decades.
The knocks echoed the past, and I wasn’t here anymore. I was seven, hiding in the closet as the deranged woman banged on the door, her voice creeping through the cracks, scraping my nerves raw. “Ow baby, no one will hear you scream. No one loves you. It’s going to be me and you from now on.” My body shook violently. I was trapped again, my throat tightening as if the scream inside me refused to come out. I wept quietly, helpless, just like before.
“Reni!? Are you in here?” It was a familiar voice. “Reni, it’s Remi…” I knew it was him. I’ve heard it several times like this before.
“She’s going to take me—” I croaked, my voice barely a whisper, terror clawing at my insides.
His footsteps pounded the ground, rushing toward me. I sensed him before I saw him. 'Reni, it’s just me. No one else. You’re safe. Look at me.' His voice was calm and steady, grounding me, even as I trembled beneath his touch. But he wasn’t alone. A woman who seemed to be in her mid-40s stood behind him. I couldn’t tell if she was real or just a figment of my imagination.
“I am not lying… She was here. You know her, right? That lady—“ I tried to explain, but the words tumbled out between gasps and sobs. My body shook as I fought to convince him, to convince myself.
“Shhhhh, it’s okay. I believe you.” His voice was calm but firm. It had always been that way—calm and in control, just like when we were kids, and he’d talk in the third person to comfort me. “But she’s gone now. So, can Remi hug you?”
I shook my head no. I couldn’t trust my own mind, let alone anyone else. But then he squeezed my hand, holding on as if to remind me he was there. He started counting down from ten, something we used to do to calm me. “Big Renz, it’s me. Can Remi give you a hug?” This time, I nodded, tears still streaming down my face.
Soon, I felt his arms around me, and for the first time in days, I felt a bit more stable. My body was still trembling, but with each second in his embrace, I knew I was safe. Remi was here. I was going to be okay. I had to be. The last thing I wanted was to be strapped down and locked away in a hospital room again. We stayed like that for a while, his hand gently stroking my back, my head resting on his chest as the fear slowly drained away. The woman I thought I’d seen earlier was gone.
Eventually, he lifted me and carried me to the couch, covering me with a blanket. I could still feel the aftershocks of the panic attack, but the worst of the danger was fading."
After holding me for a while, he gently carried me to the couch and draped the blanket over me, my head still resting on his chest. 'You’ll never stop watching this show, will you?' he chuckled softly, glancing at the Gilmore Girls playing on the screen. His words were more for comfort than a real question."
Soon, my eyes grew heavy, and I shut them. “…You should get some rest,” Remi’s voice was low, almost a whisper. He was on the phone, speaking softly so as not to disturb me. But I wasn’t asleep—I was still too shaken for that. My body had calmed, my breathing steady, but my mind stayed alert, listening. Though my eyes were closed, I could catch fragments of his conversation. “…You’re what, like nine hours ahead?” his words floated in and out as my thoughts wandered.
I stared into the emptiness in front of me, my mind drifting somewhere between the past and the present until his voice gently pulled me back. 'Reni?'
I opened my eyes and met his gaze. A weak smile tugged at my lips, though faint, it was still a smile. 'You’re done. Who was that?' I asked, my voice barely louder than a whisper.
He hesitated as if carefully choosing his words. 'Noah,' he finally said, his tone soft and cautious, as though the name might wound me.
'How is he?' The question was hard to get out, each word feeling heavy, pushing against the lump in my throat.
'He told me to tell you he loves you,' Remi said, his eyes searching mine for a reaction. 'He wants you to talk to him. He’s been worried sick, Reni. Do you know how many times he’s called me today? I can’t tell him not to worry when you’re the one thing he thinks about.'
My chest tightened. The thought of Noah—what this must be doing to him—was unbearable. He didn’t deserve this, the endless waiting, the fear, the weight of my silence. My heart ached for him, for us, for the life we’d started to build before all of this happened. “He deserves so much better,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Better than a crazy girl who’s still stuck in the body of an eight-year-old, still reliving things that should’ve been left behind. Remi—“
“Reni, please,” He cut me off gently but firmly, his voice full of familiar warmth. “We’ve been down this road so many times, and I’ll never stop telling you this: you are not crazy. You’ve never been crazy. You’re brave. You went through things no one should ever experience, things no child should face. And you survived. You didn’t make this up. It’s real. And I know because I struggled too—struggled just watching you, wishing I could’ve done more. And I wasn’t even the one who lived it. You are not crazy, Reni.” He paused, his voice faltering for a minute, like he was pushing back his own emotion. “Sometimes, I look at you and am amazed at how far you’ve come. But I also worry. Not because I’m not proud of you—I am. I’m always proud of you. I tell everyone who’ll listen how incredible you are. But I worry because I wish you’d let yourself be vulnerable with me more often instead of just… powering through every single day. I wish you’d call or text me when you’re having a bad day. Even a bad minute. You don’t have to carry this alone, Reni. Can you at least trust me on that? Please? And as for Noah…” My brother’s voice softened even more, and his eyes met mine, pleading. “I think Noah feels the same way. He doesn’t sound like he wants you to be perfect. He probably wants you to be real, with all your hurt, messiness, and everything. You know better if he loves you, but I know he cares.”
“I trust you, Remi,” I whispered, but my voice broke as I continued. “But I can’t keep depending on you. I can’t keep bothering you with my problems like we’re still kids. It’s chaos in my head, Remi. Pure chaos, and not the kind that inspires art or makes anything beautiful. It’s the kind that destroys me...” My voice caught, tears rising and choking me. I looked into my brother’s eyes, forcing a small smile through the pain. “But you’re my brother, so I guess you don’t have a choice... You think I’m amazing because that’s what family does. They think the best of you. I just don’t know how it’ll be with Noah. You know I’ve never been lucky in that department.”
The tears started falling again, but this time, they felt like the leftovers of all the tears I hadn’t cried. I was tired. My eyes were so swollen and sore that I barely noticed the warm, silent streams running down my face.
His gaze softened, his voice firm and reassuring as he said, “You’ve never been a bother to me, Reni. Not to me, not to anyone who matters. And anyone who thinks that can go straight to hell with that thought.” His words made me laugh a little through the tears, the way only Remi could. “You’re my sister, yes, but you’re also my only sister and my best friend. Well, at least you were until you ditched me for your other two musketeers. But listen, Moreni… Any man would be incredibly blessed to have you in his life. Look at Dad and me—we love it when you call us every first of the month shouting, ‘It’s boys' day! Happy new month to my favorite boooyzz!’” His voice went high-pitched as he mimicked me, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“You light up our days, Reni. All of us. Including Noah. I’m sure you left some of your ‘Reni Lights’ with him, too. I haven’t met the guy, but he sounds like he’s been completely hypnotized by those lights.”
Remi’s laugh was contagious, the same one that lifted me out of the darkest corners when I was sixteen. For a moment, it felt like everything would be okay, like I could actually believe his words. But today, even though my brother would never lie to me, believing in his optimism was harder than usual. I rolled my eyes and shifted in my seat, too tired to fight with him about how wrong I felt inside. So, I took the chance to change the subject. “How did you even know I was here?” I asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from the storm inside me.
“Noah called me. The house manager—did you see her? She spotted the car and called him to make sure he knew about it,” My brother explained, his gaze drifting around the vacation house. “By the way, what family is he from again?”
I knew where this was going, and he made it even better by asking the question in the most Nigerian way possible. I stifled a smile but failed miserably. “Alcott,” I replied.
He stopped in his tracks, looking at me like I had just dropped the most unexpected bomb. “What do you mean, Alcott? The same Alcott?”
I blinked, confused by the intensity of his reaction. “I guess... what’s up with the Alcott family?” I asked, starting to feel the life in the room returning, but not because of the house—because of Remi’s energy.
He shot me a look like I was out of touch with reality. “What do you mean ‘what’s up’? They’re one of the top families in a billion-dollar industry! Miss ‘I work in investment banking,’ you should know this!” He waved his hands dramatically like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I raised an eyebrow, half-serious, half-amused. “I don’t think it’s that Alcott family... or maybe they’re distant relatives? Who knows,” I shrugged, trying to act casual, but his disbelief was too entertaining.
He leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk. “You didn’t think it was strange that he’s this rich at 29?” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows as if we were in on some kind of scandal.
I laughed, rolling my eyes. “He’s a neurosurgeon, Remi. It’s not like he’s scraping by. Plus, I think his grandfather gave them to him. If I hadn’t been with this man for months, I’d probably believe you. Especially after he gave me keys to vacation homes here and in Vermont—but he’s Noah. So, no, it can’t be the same Alcott family you’re talking about. We walk the streets together and eat Chipotle takeout like regular people. There’s nothing ‘billion-dollar’ fancy about my Noah.”
Remi’s jaw dropped. “Wait, wait—there’s a Vermont house, too? And you have the keys? And this grandfather isn’t the Giovanni Lorenzo Alcott?”
I blinked, caught off guard by my own words. “I guess... wait, what?” I mumbled as if this was the first time I was truly processing the magnitude of Noah’s life. Did I really know him as well as I thought? “Isn’t Dad and Uncle’s law firm the one representing Alcott Legal?”
“Yes! And you still don’t think your Noah is related to them? Are you serious about not being aware of this? Uncle Niyi must know the grandkids. Do you want me to call him?” He looked at me again, a mix of disbelief and concern.
“Please don’t call any one of them. I’m sure it’s a different Alcott. Remember all the stories Uncle had about the kids and grandkids? He’d have my head if it’s the same family, plus do I look like someone who could attract any of those spoiled Alcott kids?” I rolled my eyes, reaching for the cup of water he had left on the coffee table.
He burst out laughing. “Sure, sure. A billionaire’s spoiled son? Classic romance.” He winked at me, his playful banter doing exactly what it was meant to—pulling me out of the rabbit hole of overthinking. “Next thing I know, you’ll be featured in Forbes alongside him.”
I laughed and shook my head, but my thoughts were still spinning. “Come back to reality.”
“Oh, I’ll drop it for now,” Remi said with a smirk, waving it off. “Anyway, I’m ordering us some takeout. I brought your meds, so eat and take them. I’ll be staying here tonight, and first thing tomorrow morning, I’m driving you to Dad and Mum’s place. No arguments.”
I wanted to protest, but Remi was already on his phone, treating my opinion as an afterthought. I sighed, a small smile creeping onto my face as I watched him head into the kitchen. His stubbornness in looking after me was something I could never fully express gratitude for, even though I often pushed back against it. He had a way of breaking through my defenses when I least expected it, making me feel seen and loved when all I wanted was to disappear.
As Remi busied himself, my thoughts drifted back to Noah. How had I glossed over all of this for so long? In my mind, he was just Noah—the man who brought me home-cooked meals on busy Tuesday afternoons, who took me to ice cream shops just because I was craving sweets, who taught in the youth church every Sunday. He was simply Noah. It was hard to believe he belonged to the same Alcott family, but my brother's words glared at me now. Was there a part of Noah’s life that I had completely missed? Or maybe, as Remi suggested, I had been too wrapped up in my own bubble to see it clearly.
Noah never really talked about his family; he liked to say, “Everyone is fine, and that’s all that matters.” But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how little I had questioned that statement. Had I been in denial? Or simply content with the version of Noah I knew?
It’s been a week since I came back to Miami after spending three intense weeks in California. Those weeks felt like a blur of emotions, healing, and reflection. When I arrived at my parents’ home, they threw themselves into taking care of me, nursing me back to life with all the love, patience, and tenderness they had. They knew exactly how to comfort me in ways only they could, and little by little, I started to feel like myself again. I was glad I spent that week with them. I missed home—the warmth of my parents, the comfort of being in a place where I didn’t have to be anyone but their daughter.
When I got home in Miami, Angie was there, waiting for me with open arms and bags of treats. She greeted me with that bright, familiar smile that felt like home, immediately filling the room with warmth. It’s funny — I’ve seen so much of her this past week that I’m sure I could dream of her face if I closed my eyes right now. She’s been hovering, always checking on me, making sure I’m okay, like a guardian angel who won’t let me out of her sight. Angie made me promise never to disappear like that again, and as much as I hate making promises I’m not sure I can keep, deep down, I hope I never have to leave like that either. There’s something about being surrounded by people who love you that makes you realize how fragile and precious home truly is.
My first conversation with Noah after everything was…awkward, to say the least. It felt like he was standing on pins and needles the entire time, carefully picking and choosing each word as if afraid he’d say the wrong thing. I could tell he still didn’t know what really happened, and somehow, he thought it had something to do with our last conversation. The weight of that misunderstanding hung heavy between us, making every word feel stilted. His voice sounded tired and a little strained, as if life had been wearing him down, yet still, he left room for a smile just for me. The call didn’t last more than 10 minutes — too much tension, too much unsaid. But he’s consistently checked in with me every day since then for exactly 10 minutes. Each conversation has gotten easier, a little warmer, as we slowly find our way back to something that feels familiar.
Even though I’m not ready to jump back into work yet, I’ve been keeping myself busy with the random social events happening around Miami — most of which Noah sends my way. He’s been adding them to my calendar, gently persuading me to get out and about. Every now and then, I’ll get a message from him, nudging me toward an event: 'Reni, you should go to this one. Please,' he had pleaded this morning. And that broke my heart. We’re back to 'Reni' again, first-name basis, as if the intimacy we once shared has been reset. A few conversations ago, I had called him 'babe,' but he didn’t reciprocate — he just kept calling me Reni. The distance between us felt tangible, like a wall neither of us knew how to tear down.
He hasn’t mentioned the three weeks I was gone. Not once has he brought up my disappearing act. Even when I struggled to explain myself during that first awkward call, he cut me off with a soft, 'It’s okay, Reni, you don’t need to explain yourself to me. Did you eat?' His consideration left me both relieved and heartbroken.
On the one hand, I appreciated him not pushing me to open up before I was ready. On the other hand, it hurt to hear him change the topic so easily as if my absence didn’t warrant a conversation. It’s like we’re tiptoeing around a landmine, neither of us wanting to set it off, but also not sure how to move forward without addressing it.
The doorbell rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was almost five in the evening, and for a moment, I silently wished it was Noah standing on the other side. I’ve been wishing more often these days, missing him in ways I can’t even put into words. The coldness in his voice during our brief calls has been humbling. I miss the way we used to be.
I’ve been taking my antidepressants regularly, but each time I pop a pill, there’s this unsettling feeling like I’m becoming dependent on them. My doctor increased my dosage, and now I worry if I’ll ever be free of them. I felt that weight as I made my way to the door, hoping for Noah but knowing it wasn’t him. When I opened it, of course, it was Angie.
She’s been stopping by more frequently these days, almost like clockwork. This time, she came with cupcakes and pastries from her shop, her smile beaming as if she had just won the lottery.
"Hey, my baby girl!" Her voice was bright and high-pitched, bursting with energy. "I brought you some sweet treats!"
"Angieeee," I groaned with a small laugh. "I haven’t even finished the ones you brought yesterday. If Noah were here, he’d be worried about my sugar levels by now."
She waved me off with her usual flair. "Girl, there’s no such thing as too many pastries. Besides, they’re better when they’re fresh!" She moved effortlessly through my kitchen, setting the tray of pastries on the counter and pulling out some paper plates. Her presence always felt like sunshine, even when my mind was clouded.
"So, how’s it going?" she asked casually, her eyes flicking up at me as she made a plate. "You’ve been going out every other day. Resumed work yet?" Her tone was curious, but part of me felt like I was being gently prodded for answers.
"Not yet," I sighed. "I’ve been attending the events Noah keeps adding to my calendar. He said I should keep myself busy while I figure out when I want to go back to work."
Angie raised an eyebrow, intrigued, as I continued. "He’s also been sending me these fiction comedy books with notes like, ‘I don’t know, they said this is a good one. Want to find out?’ The first one was awful, honestly. But when he sent the next one, his note said, ‘I did a more thorough search this time. They said this is the one.’ And he was right — it’s a great book. I’m hooked."
She smiled warmly. “Oh, God bless him. So, how are the events? Are you enjoying them?”
Her questions felt innocent, but the way she leaned in made me feel like I was in therapy. Angie was just trying to keep the conversation going, but I wasn’t in the mood for it to feel so…pointed. I shrugged, trying to keep it light. “They’re fine, I guess. It’s nice to get out of the house, even if I’m not really feeling up to most of it.” I paused, then added with a small smile, “I also didn’t realize I was quite so well-known in the finance world here in Miami. A lot of people recognized me and seemed surprised to see me at these events. I mean, I never had time for them when I was working, so that’s fair.”
Angie’s eyebrows lifted, and her mouth curved into a smile as I continued, my voice gaining a bit more excitement. “Best part? I’ve got two major events coming up, and I’m actually a guest speaker for both! I met the hosts, left a good impression, and they insisted I speak at their upcoming events. It’s wild, Angie. I’ve almost accidentally started a career in public speaking while on a break from investment banking.” I smiled at her, feeling a glimmer of pride that had been buried under my stress.
She grinned back at me, her voice full of warmth. “I’m so proud of you! I’m sure it made Noah really happy, too.”
I watched her move to the couch, making herself comfortable and nodded. “Yeah, he’s happy as heck! And that makes me happy, seeing him like that again. I wanted to ask when he was coming back, but I didn’t want to seem too clingy. It’s been over a week since he said he’d finish his medical job in Italy, but he still hasn’t mentioned anything about coming home. He did mention his dad needed his help with something, but nothing else.”
My voice faltered as I sank down beside her, the weight of my worries pressing in. “He’s been holding back a lot, Angie. I’m worried.”
Angie’s arm slipped around my shoulders, and I rested my head against her. She gently patted my cheek. Her soft touch was reassuring. “It’s okay,” she whispered, her voice steady. “It’s probably just the distance making things feel off. That happens, but it’s temporary. He’ll come around. I think you should ask him when he’s coming back. Clingy? Nonsense! There’s no such thing when it comes to feelings and emotions. You two are in a relationship. Are you guys still surviving on his daily 10-minute check-ins?” She pulled me away from her shoulder, ensuring I was looking at her.
I chuckled at her dramatic flair. “Kinda. It’s better than nothing. But Angie, he calls me ‘Reni’ now. It feels weird. Maybe that’s why he’s still in Italy—because he’s not ready to face me. What if he’s planning to break up with me? I’m so stressed out thinking about everything.”
“There you go, overthinking everything again,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s just giving you space, letting you come back to him on your terms. If you feel like he’s going too slow, show him how to keep up! Call him before he calls you, and stay on the phone longer than 10 minutes. He’s a sweet kid. He can’t hurt a fly.” Angie’s grip tightened a little as she smiled, her eyes gleaming with that mischievous twinkle.
“You know this because…?” I teased, leaning into the moment.
“I was his nanny when they lived in Massachusetts.” She dropped the bombshell like she had just told me the weather forecast.
I blinked. “You were what?” My voice was incredulous, like she had spoken a completely different language.
She didn’t miss a beat. “His mom was in England, raising his youngest brother, and Noah and his other brother were in MA with their dad. One day, his dad came to Miami on a business trip and stopped by my shop for breakfast. First, it was once, then every single day until he left. We talked, and he told me about his kids back home and how they were with the security team and house staff but basically alone. I expressed concern, and he jokingly said, ‘You should be their nanny.’ And just like that, I felt God telling me to go. So, I closed my shop, wrote to Will—he was still in the army back then—and moved to Dover, MA, to help raise those two amazing boys.”
I sat back, floored. “Wait…” I squinted at her, realization dawning. “That’s why you kept insisting I meet Noah, right? You sly matchmaker. This was all part of your grand scheme, wasn’t it?”
Angie shrugged with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Well, I may have had a little plan for the work, but it was all him. He came to Miami to visit me for a week, and he loved it here. He returned a few more times, and one night while staying over at my place, he saw you. You had just moved in.”
I blinked in shock. “Wait… you told me you had your son over that night. You never said it was Noah!”
“Girl, he’s like a son to me,” she laughed, not at all phased by my bewilderment. “Anyway, after that, Noah moved to Miami. He got the hospital offer not long after. I’m telling you this, so you believe what I said earlier—he’s a sweet kid. I know because I watched him grow up.” She smiled at me, her eyes soft.
“Dangggg! I can’t believe you just dropped this on me out of nowhere! And neither of you thought to mention this?” I pouted, but the story warmed my heart in ways I hadn’t expected. It felt like a puzzle piece had fallen into place. Knowing Noah had a good childhood, especially with Angie by his side, made me happy. I couldn’t help but think how lucky he was—especially compared to my own experience, where my nanny changed my life forever.
Angie grinned. “Well, you and I never really had a reason to talk about that part of my life before now.”
She reached for my phone in my hand, and before I could say anything, she unlocked it with my face and dialed Noah’s number. I watched her in disbelief. “I’m leaving,” she said, handing the phone back to me. “You two should talk. I just gave you the perfect conversation starter! God bless both of you.”
I was about to protest when I heard Noah’s voice on the phone. “Hey.” His deep, sleepy voice sent a familiar shiver down my spine. It always did that to me. Even half-asleep, his voice was music to my ears. Angie, with a mischievous grin, whispered, “Love you!” and kissed my forehead before quietly slipping out the door.
“Hi... were you asleep?” I asked, feeling a little awkward, like a teenager talking to her crush for the first time. My voice came out softer than I intended, and I could feel my heart racing.
“Err... I was, but I’m awake now. Are you okay?” he groaned, his voice low and husky. I could hear the rustle of movement—he was probably shifting, rolling over to get more comfortable.
“I’m okay. Are you? I didn’t mean to wake you up,” I replied, the guilt creeping into my voice. I felt like I was taking a leap with no safety net, just to bumble through a conversation. Was this really the right time to have this chat? What was Angie even thinking?
“Oh, it’s fine. I was home all day, so I’m well-rested. Are you sure you’re okay?” he pressed, concern lacing his tone.
“Uh-huh... want to see my face?” I joked, trying to lighten the mood, but a flutter of anxiety still lingered in my chest.
“Sure. Let me call you on FaceTime,” he said. Before I could even react, I heard the faint click of the call ending, and then his name flashed on my screen again, almost instantaneously. My heart raced. We hadn’t done a video call since before my trip to California, and I was suddenly acutely aware of how I looked. I was a mess—a chaotic mix of messy goddess braids and beige loungewear, with a hint of the day’s makeup still lingering under my eyes. Could I at least apply some lip gloss?
I dashed to the bathroom, fumbling with the drawer to find my favorite gloss. I swiped it on, trying to pull my hair into some semblance of order. By the time I was done, he had already called twice more.
Taking a deep breath, I dialed him back. When his face appeared on the screen, I felt a rush of warmth wash over me.
“I thought you changed your mind about the video call?” He teased, my eyes brightening at the sight of him. His sleepy eyes were the first thing I noticed, still slightly drowsy, and the way a smile spread across his face made my heart flutter. It lifted his features, making him look even more handsome. His dark amber eyes, sparkling like pure honey, were my greatest weakness.
He was lying on his side, comfortably tucked into his black duvet, a cozy contrast to the chaos of my own space. “I like the shiny lips,” he said, smirking knowingly. Of course, he understood why I hadn’t picked up before.
“I’m glad you do,” I flirted back, feeling a spark of confidence.
“Oooo yes! Andddd She’s back, ladies and gentlemen of the jury!” he exclaimed in the most dramatic way possible, causing laughter to bubble up from my chest. As he sat up in bed, revealing his shirtless body, I couldn't help but take a moment to appreciate the view. His fair skin, toned physique, and freshly cut hair were breathtaking. It was my first time seeing him without a shirt, and I cursed the distance between us.
“And when will you be back?” I asked. I wanted to know when he would return to Miami and, more importantly, when he would come back to being Reni’s Noah. I hesitated, unwilling to voice that last thought.
He rubbed his hands over his forehead, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “To be honest? Maybe in a week or two. Depending on how fast my family gets on my nerves these coming weeks.” The way he said it hinted that there was more beneath the surface, something he wasn’t quite ready to share.
“So, I should pray they get on your nerves?” I joked, trying to lighten the mood. It was a playful way to show that I cared, even while hiding my own worries.
“Exactly! Maybe that’ll speed things up,” he replied with a chuckle, but I could still see a flicker of something serious in his eyes. “Well, except that I miss you too, baby. I’ll be back before you know it.” Only God and I, if He’s been listening to my prayers for the last couple of days, know how much I’ve longed to hear him call me something other than Reni. I had even told God that even “Moreni” would do. I couldn’t hide my excitement, even though I tried. The words caught in my throat, and I was left momentarily speechless.
“Now, what’s got you smiling like that?” he asked, noticing my embarrassing grin. I felt my cheeks heat up, the blush creeping across my face like a warm tide.
“Definitely not the fact that you can’t give me an actual date yet,” I rolled my eyes, trying to mask the teenage girl excitement fluttering in my belly.
“I took you on dates. Babe, what?” He teased, sitting back against his pillows, a playful grin spreading across his face. It was moments like this that made me wish we were together, sharing the same space instead of screens.
“You know what I mean.” I shot him an obvious fake smile, trying to play it cool.
“Fine. I’ll come over, okay? Tutto ciò che la mia principessa vuole, la mia principessa ottiene.” He said in his most exaggerated Italian accent, making me giggle uncontrollably.
“I know I heard ‘princess.’ What does the rest mean?” The butterflies in my stomach began to go wild again. Hearing him speak in other languages, especially Italian, thrilled me.
“There’s only one way to find out.” He winked, a playful glint in his eye, and then suddenly shifted the conversation. “Did you eat?”
“Your NANNY just dropped off some freshly baked pastries for me,” I said, finally figuring out a way to let him know I knew about his relationship with Angie.
“There’s no way she told you that! Oh my goodness, Angie!” He laughed in disbelief. “I hope she didn’t give you any photos of me.”
“She has pictures?! Ouuu, it’s about to get even more exciting. I’m sure baby Noah was a cutie,” I teased, leaning into the banter.
“I have Remi’s number. No threats. Just a little reminder,” he joked, but I could hear the genuine undertone in his voice.
“Oh my God. Please, no. I won’t ask Angie,” I pleaded, suddenly anxious. The thought of seeing baby pictures made my heart race, not from excitement but from the memories of my own childhood. I couldn’t even remember what my baby pictures looked like. I had never opened the photo album since the incident, and every picture after that, too. It was only recently that I started keeping my pictures again.
“I was joking. I promise. Babe, you okay?” He caught me off guard with that question as if he could read my mind.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I laughed it off, trying not to worry him. But just as I was about to find an excuse to change the subject, someone knocked on his door, shifting his attention from me.
“Non entrare,” he responded to the knock, his tone firm yet playful. I made a mental note to open the Google Translate app the next time we spoke. It sounded like the person got in despite his warning, as Noah let out a deep sigh.
“What part of don’t come in did you miss?” he said, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.
“The part where you said you didn’t want to see me?” A male voice responded teasingly. The familiarity in the tone told me it was likely his brother.
“Will you leave if I say it now?” Noah stressed.
“Non. I’m bored. Can I sleep here tonight?” the voice asked. It had an Italian lilt to it, definitely sounding like his younger brother.
“Nathan, Lord have mercy. What do you want? It’s midnight,” Noah grumbled, clearly not in the mood for any of his brother's shenanigans. The edge in his voice was enough to make me smile. It was the first time I had ever seen him genuinely frustrated by a younger person. Noah was usually patient and calm with kids, but Nathan seemed to be testing his limits tonight.
“Just ignore me. I’m not here. I’ll be as quiet as possible,” Nathan's voice replied, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the cheekiness.
“Sure,” Noah scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief before shifting his focus back to me. “Did you already pray that they get on my nerves?” he teased, his tone lightening as he tried to shake off the annoyance.
“My God works in miraculous ways,” I said with a grin, playing along with the joke. Then I added quickly, “And let him sleep in your room. Is that Nathan?”
“Is that Reni? Can I say hi?” Nathan’s voice piped up again, louder this time, clearly excited at the mention of my name.
Noah sighed, clearly resigned to the fact that his brother wasn’t going to leave anytime soon. “Good luck getting him to stop talking,” he said, handing over the phone to Nathan. “I’m going to get dressed,” he added as he disappeared out of view for a moment.
“Hi, Reni! I’m Nathan!” he said with a full grin, and his enthusiasm was palpable even through the screen. He was definitely the opposite of Noah—where Noah was calm and composed, Nathan was lively and extroverted, a ball of energy that couldn’t be contained.
“Hi, Nathan,” I replied, smiling at his eagerness. It was easy to tell that Nathan was the Alcott family's extroverted one, the type who thrived on social interaction and, from the looks of it, had no intention of being ‘quiet.’
“So... how’s it going with my brother? He talks about you all the time, you know,” Nathan said, clearly not one to hold back. There was no subtlety in him, but that was part of his charm.
“Oh really?” I said, raising an eyebrow, playing along with the banter. “What does he say?”
“Oh, lots of things,” Nathan replied with a smirk, clearly enjoying having some kind of inside scoop. “Mostly about how much he misses you and how boring it is without you around.”
“Well, I’m glad to know I’m missed,” I said, laughing softly.
Nathan leaned closer to the screen, whispering as if telling me a secret, “You’ve got him wrapped around your finger, you know.”
I couldn’t help but blush at his words, even though I tried to brush them off. “I think he’d disagree with you on that one.”
“Nah, trust me. I’ve known him my whole life. You’ve definitely got the upper hand,” Nathan teased, his grin widening.
Just then, Noah reappeared, now fully dressed, and snatched the phone back from Nathan. “Alright, that’s enough out of you. Go get dressed,” he said, rolling his eyes at his brother’s antics.
“Nice talking to you, Reni!” Nathan shouted as he was shooed away, leaving me laughing at the playful sibling rivalry.
“Sorry about that,” Noah said, his voice returning to its usual calm tone. “He’s always been a handful.”
“It’s okay. I kind of like him,” I said, still smiling.
“Yeah, well, don’t let him hear that, or he’ll never leave us alone,” Noah replied with a smirk, still standing. “Now, what were we talking about?”
“You were about to tell me where you are going to looking this fine?” I asked, noticing his outfit. The black slim-fitted polo shirt accentuated his build perfectly, and now that he was standing in the light, I could see him clearly. He was, without a doubt, the finest light-skinned man I knew. The low fade haircut, the sharp jawline—it was unfair how gorgeous he looked.
“Easy, tiger. I’m saving myself till marriage as Jesus instructed,” he teased with a grin, his playful charm making my heart skip a beat.
“Oh, you’re going to have to tell me where you’re going this time,” I pressed, determined not to let him distract me. “It’s midnight, didn’t you say?”
“Ugh! I wish that worked,” he laughed, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. “Anyhoo, I’m taking Nathan out somewhere since he’s bored. He’s been driving me crazy, so I figured a midnight adventure might do the trick,” he explained, smiling at the thought of his younger brother.
He flipped the camera around and stood in front of the mirror, giving me a full view of his outfit. The black tailored pants, the neatly tucked polo—it was almost too much to handle. He looked so fine I nearly blurted out that he should keep me on the call during his entire outing, just so I could admire him, but I bit my tongue. We’d already been talking for nearly two hours.
“You clean up nicely, Mr. Alcott,” I flirted, giving him a playful look. “Have fun.”
Noah smiled, a look that was both warm and genuine. “I will, wifey. Ci vediamo presto, baby,” he said with a wink before hanging up.
I didn’t even get the chance to ask him what he meant by that—ci vediamo presto. My heart was still racing from the playful banter as I set my phone down, a giddy warmth spreading through me. He had a way of making me feel so special, and it was hard to believe how much happiness he brought into my life.
Still smiling, I made myself a small plate of salad, the energy of our conversation lingering in the air. For the first time in three weeks, I reached for my Bible. It felt right—something about our conversation, about him, made me feel ready to reconnect.
😂😂😂. The kind of feeling that makes one open their bibles 🤗😂. I'm so happy for Reni 🤗. Meanwhile I wish we could get a peep into Reni's back ground.
Thank you so much.