Burning Passion

CHAPTER 167: THEIR SECRET HAVEN 

"But it excites her to imagine being a mother of beautiful angels."

* * *

Almost a week with Theo having a vacation on Hiryuu Island, Nikki finally sees her mother. She hugged her, and they both cried at the same time. Later, Lucy both hugged Nikki and Theo. It made her so happy that they were safe from the incident when Hale abducted her daughter.

At last, Nikki and Theo will be at peace from now on. Until now, it amazed her that Theo is the man Hale almost killed. And after ten years, Nikki and Theo reunited.

Nothing can make it happier for a mother to see her daughter that was happy and in love. Her prayers have finally heard that Nikki found a great man, loving and good for her daughter. 

Life is mysterious, in which their world is small. The man Seth dreamed for their daughter is now their son-in-law for real.

"I'm so happy you are here now, Nikki."

"I am too, mama. I'm so glad you are fine."

Nikki noticed that something has improved in her mother's health. She was more lively. Her mother even helped Maria make their lunch, which she reminded her not to overdo moving around.

While waiting for lunch, Theo and Nikki took a rest in her bedroom. And because her bed is only for a single person, Theo and Nikki don't fit in. Theo was too tall, but Nikki got a better idea.

Theo, lying down in the bed, while Nikki laid on top of him. He holds her tight not to fall, and Nikki hooks her arms around Theo's shoulders.

They haven't had a proper rest these passing days as they explore the island as much as they could while on that vacation. Nikki knew that Theo has important work to take care of, but he makes her a priority. 

She wished to come back on the island one day.

"Finally, I have a six-footer real teddy bear to hug who also hugged me back." 

Theo laughs loudly, which echoed not only inside Nikki's bedroom but also heard outside. 

Theo remembers that he and Nikki weren't alone anymore, and her mother was just in the kitchen. He and Nikki minimized their voices every time they giggled.

"What could I say? Ah! Finally, my barbie doll is real. I can dress her up all I want." Theo returned.

"Huh? Wait! That's right! So you are the one designing those clothes?" she asked Theo.

"Yup. I love to recall my dreams if I was on break, or I just wanted to be lost at the moment to think about you. I want to remember your dresses in which you are so beautiful wearing them. Now that you are real, I can talk to Anna to make them." 

"Hmm... I am so blessed with my husband."

"So am I... You are the one who encourages me to breathe, Nik." 

Nikki could sense a deeper meaning in Theo's words. Losing his memories is like lost in the dark woods. There was no direction pointing where he should head. And his small light is her. 

Theo means it. He wishes that the girl in his dream was real, and one day, he will meet her. 

Theo and Nikki kissed longingly when a knock on the door. It was her mother. They giggled, and grateful they locked the door. Nikki knew her mother respects their privacy. And her mother knew it would delight her to hear that Jasmine and Donny are now back.

Donny and Jasmine went out to buy fruits that Nikki wished to eat. She also craves the pineapple now aside from the mango. It was Theo who was supposed to go. But Nikki wants to cuddle him, to breathe his scent. So here he is. She kept him inside her bedroom.

"Okay, Ma! Thank you!" Nikki said after her mother notified them. 

Not long after, they come out of the bedroom and head to the kitchen for Theo to make Nikki a mango flavor smoothie. It amused him to look at Nikki, who is like a child, waiting excitedly for her favorite foodstuff at the moment. Her eyes gleam watching the fruit swirling around the blender machine as she cannot wait to sip them.

She won't tire of having smoothies out of mango every single day. And after she always has the pineapples during their vacation, she craves for it now. She loves having it with salt.

After lunch, Theo told Nikki that maybe they should spend the night in the penthouse for her to have a comfortable rest when they cannot fit in the bed. 

Nikki suddenly feels the excitement to hear the idea. To be honest, she misses the place and wants to have a glimpse of it again. Somehow, it becomes an important memory for her...

That place is where she and Theo start a new journey that changes their lives.

Theo is right. That place is their Secret Haven. 

"Mama?" She knocked on the door before she entered the bedroom and sat on the bed.

Lucy is taking a rest, watching her favorite drama show in the afternoon. 

"What is it, Nikki?" 

"Mama... Theo and I thought, maybe we better stay in the penthouse at night. Is that okay?" 

"Theo is your husband. It was just right to be with him." 

"Thank you, Ma. I'm just worried about you. So if anything, we are just in the neighborhood." 

Lucy laughs. She extends her arms and holds Nikki by the face. "I am fine. Also, Jasmine and Maria are here with me. Oh, Donny is the next door. If anything happens, we can call him over for help."

"Okay, ma." Somehow, she felt relieved to think Donny worked for Theo.

When Donny first moved into this apartment, she suspected him whether he was a decent man. Though he seems polite when they cross in the lounge or the parking lot; but since his BOSS sent her a creepy text, she was like demented, suspecting everyone that new in her eyes. Now she found out who that offender was. It happens, he is now her husband. 

Theo already says sorry for that accident, which left big humor between them. Every time she recalled the text, it made her laugh, and Theo frowned, feeling embarrassed, and he was too cute, the reason she would love to bring it up. She could not help to kiss him after she would taunt him.

Lucy noticed the smile Nikki plays on her lips. Her daughter is too in love. Lucy put her arms around her daughter and said, "You, child. You don't have to worry about me a lot. You now have your own family. It is normal for you and Theo to create memories together." 

"And you are part of those memories, Ma."

"I would love to see my dozen grandchildren."

Nikki giggled as she can't imagine giving birth to a dozen children. But it excites her to imagine being a mother of beautiful angels.

~~~~~

After Nikki and Lucy had a warm talk, Nikki packed a few things to bring in the penthouse. Since Theo already bought her many dresses, she doesn't need her walking clothes.

Earlier, Roland drove Theo's black sports car and left in the parking area down below that apartment building. Now it stands out, in which everyone cannot help but turn their head and gape at it. 

Nikki takes a deep breath. Although she took the elevator with Theo this time, she cannot help not feel nervous as she recalls all those memories. Waves of excitement filled her chest after Theo whispered in her ear. 

"I have another confession to you, Nik. It was a surprise, I need to put a blindfold in your eyes before I showed you that room."

She anticipates whether what surprised her is, at the same time, a confession from Theo about something.

Theo unlocks the door; he extends his hand. Nikki took it and let Theo bring her inside. Tears are forming in her eyes.

How many times did she write a plot inside her head?

She keeps making stories for her to tell their child how she met her or his father. Now, she is not alone writing the story. But she and Theo will fill every page with their adventures the book to pass down to their children, grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren to pass down to their children.

"You were thinking something at the moment…"

Theo asked Nikki when she remained silent. They were now at the entrance. Theo helps her take off her slipper and replace it with house slippers.

This guy made her fall in love over and over again.

"Nik, please wait a minute here. I have to check something if everything is in place."

She creased her forehead, but she nodded. Theo went inside the house. She waited for him like five minutes before Theo came back. She gasped to recognize the soft fabric in his hand.

"It will not take so long, Nik…"

She nodded at Theo, she then closed her eyes.

Nikki felt the soft fabric hugging her eyes after Theo carefully fastened it at the back of her head. Theo kissed her lips, and she sensed a fire lit from that kiss.

It seems Theo also felt that burning feeling inside them. All the memories they have in this penthouse were like a movie playing inside their heads.

"I love you, Nikki Lindsey." 

"I love you, too, Theo Shang."

Theo picked her up and whispered.. "Let's go."