Part Time Romance

Lucas nodded. " He was just protecting Mum and Jamal. Fiona knew about it as well," replied Lucas. Derrick was quietly drowning in his own thoughts, he had hated his friend all these years due to a misunderstanding.

Derrick regretted not digging deeper then. He had just blindly believed whatever he saw and heard. He never once thought that Matthew would never betray him. He has been wallowing in anger all these years for the wrong reasons. He was not even angry that his wife left him, but the fact that his own friend had betrayed him. He deserved being abandoned for the way he treated her. Now finding out that his friend was innocent was a blow to Derrick.

He stumbled back into the chair. He had held a grudge for 30 years, all for nothing. He went against the Manicks, fought them at every turn. For what? He felt like the past 30 years of his life was wasted on a futile effort. He wished he could turn back time. He wanted to apologise to his friend but it was pointless since he was dead. There was no chance for him to atone for his wrongful anger and betrayal.

He knew his friend supporting the affair was wrong but he never loved Maria and the fact that she found solace outside didn't bother him. It was the fact that it was allegedly Matthew who she was with was the problem. That's why he threatened her and she had run away. He was consoled in a way that Maria was happy with Jamal till the end of her life.

He then thought about Manick and Irene. " Do Manick and Irene know about this?" asked Derrick as he decided he needed to meet them, both the families were long due for a reconciliation. " I think Maya would have told them today as well," replied Lucas. He saw the array of emotions and the turmoil his father was in.

Derrick Damien was no common man, known as a genius of the tech world, he was one of the most intelligent minds in the world. Lucas inherited his skills from his father. Only after his father married his step mother was he unhappy and estranged from him.

Lucas looked up at his father and asked a question that had been plaguing his mind all these years, " Why did you remarry? Did you fall in love with your current wife? " " Love? No I have never fallen in love, not with your mother or your step mother. You must have inherited your ability to love from your mother. I married her because I thought she would be a suitable step mother for you. I thought you needed a mother in your life and she looked quite similar to your mother. Only much later was I aware that that was a mistake but I didn't want to divorce her. I felt guilty for never being there for your mother hence I sought absolution through her," answered Derrick as he regretted not being open with his son all these years, causing a strain on their relationship.

" I wish to visit Manick and Irene. Make sure you eat your breakfast before leaving Lukey," said Derrick as he stood up preparing to make amends for the past. Lucas was stunned when he heard his childhood nickname, he smiled and hugged his dad and cheekily said, " I am coming with you. I need to introduce your future daughter in law." Derrick smiled at his son. Maybe this was the Universe's way of fixing the past. He nodded and both father and son had a wonderful meal together after many years.

Derrick walked into the Manick household with Lucas by his side. The entire family were having fruits in the living area after lunch. Manick looked up at Derrick and smiled at his old friend. "Irene, your long lost brother is here," he teased and they were taken back 30 years.

Irene smiled as well and invited both Lucas and Derrick to sit and join them. Maya beamed at Lucas and moved to let him sit next to her. Ash frowned and moved towards the empty seat next to Maya. He hooked an arm over her shoulder and said, " This seat is taken bro." Maya rolled her eyes at her brother's childishness. As Lucas was about to sit on the other side of Maya, Ray jumped up and sat there, he then smirked at Lucas and said, " Owh, my back is hurting, can't sit down any longer."

Shane and Vince ignored their younger brothers while Aryan laughed at them. Irene shook her head in disapproval at the way her sons were treating their guest. Lucas just ignored them and sat at another chair opposite them. Manick and Derrick walked to the garden to apologize and hash out their past. They were too old to discuss it in front of their children.

Irene laughed at her sons and said, " I like the way you all are guarding your sister when that ship has sailed." Maya was the first to turn red and questioned her mother, " How do you know?" Irene lifted an eyebrow and looked at her daughter, " A mother always knows and plus who do you think changed your clothes when you fainted?" The brothers came to the realisation one by one. Even though their sister was an adult but they still treated her like a small child.

Shane was the first to stand up with unbridled anger, he looked at Lucas point blank and said, " We need to talk. Out now." Maya thought to herself, if looks could kill. Ray, Aryan, Ash and Vince followed suit. Maya looked to Lucas with a worried expression, he smiled at her and followed the rest out.

Maya then scooted to her mother and accused her, " It's all your fault. They are going to kill him." Irene only smiled and said, " If Lucas cant hold his own against your brothers then he doesnt deserve to date you." She patted her daughter's head and gave a bowl of freshly cut fruits. She only gave the seedless fleshy parts.

Maya smiled like a cheshire cat and happily ate without concern about her boyfriend. Derrick and Manick walked back with an arm over each other's shoulder. Manick frowned at the suddenly empty room and asked, " Where are the boys?" Irene laughed and said, " they have taken Lucas out for a talk." Manick worried for Lucas but Derrick beamed at Irene and said, " Not to worry, I have raised a genius. He will be able to get himself out of any situation."

Derrick then looked at Maya and saw how much she looked like her parents. He smiled at her and said, " Looks like my future daughter-in -law loves fruits. Should I get someone to bring fruits over everyday?" Maya nearly choked at the term daughter in law and she turned red immediately. Manick and Irene laughed at her.

The three elders were busy eating fruits and reminiscing about the past while the guys were still missing. Maya was worried about Lucas but she didn't dare go out. She knew her brothers would get angry if they saw her coming to Lucas' aid. She started panicking as the time went by.