68
“Really?” Mr Gordon asks the obvious question. “You like it that much?!” he chuckles, while gently patting his back.
“Very much. And I love you.” Archie mumbled into his chest.
Melanie coughs behind them which attracts their attention to her. Archie let go of his father and walk up to Melanie in other to embrace her.
Melanie raised her index finger in the air, stopping the boy from coming closer. “Hmm, hmm!” she backed away, shaking her head at him. “Not yet, save the hug for later.” she smiles and winks at Alfred to continue with the surprise.
“Oh,” Mr Gordon beams out a charming smile. “The surprise didn’t end here. We have something else to show you,” he says, bringing out a neatly folded handkerchief from his pant pocket.
Archie laughs shortly. “No, you guys don’t know, but I’m capable of any surprise.” he cackles and watches his father pass the handkerchief to Melanie.
“I’m serious. There’s no need for a blindfold I can handle any sort of surprise,” he utters proudly with his chest puffing out from the shirt.
Mr Gordon stares at Melanie and she shrugs. “Are you saying you will calmly view the sight without making a scene?” they both ask in unison.
Archie moves his gaze from Melanie to his father. “More than sure. I’m certain.” he smiles, staring back at his power bike. He wouldn’t stand a chance to see his bike vanish from his sight, he keep on checking it out every second.
Melanie motioned for Mr Gordon to lead the way. She is getting tired from the stress and wouldn’t want to let anything delay her from getting her beauty sleep.
Mr Gordon nods his head in affirming. He stands straight and then starts to move forward towards the front door. Melanie unwinds her body before gesturing for Archie to move behind his father, with a charming smile plaster on her face.
“Is the second gift inside? Why are we going in?” Archie asks the moment they step inside the living room.
Mr Gordon smiles. “Yes. Besides, you need to relax and linger for the gift.” he looks back at Archie who’s staring blankly at him.
“I understand.” he nods his head slowly. He hitches his nape and lowers his gaze. “At least can you give me a hint about the gift?” he grins weirdly.
“No!” Melanie chipped in from the back. “A gift is meant to be present, not to tell.” she grabs his shoulders and starts pushing him up the stairs.
Archie whines for her to let go of him, and Melanie pays deaf to hear him which makes him give up on struggling to break free.
Getting to the door to Archie’s room, Melanie stops and wraps her palms around his face. “This is a surprise and I want you to keep your eyes shut,” she instructs, Archie nods his head nervously he couldn’t wait to attain his gift.
“I hope it’s something special.” Archie chuckles as he couldn’t comprehend how special the gift is, that they have to blindfold him. They are family, a family shouldn’t make a present this hard to guess.
“Don’t hope, I know you will love it.” Mr Gordon expounds and twists the doorknob to the room beside his bedroom.
Archie’s ears stand alert as the door creeps open. They walk inside a room like an artist’s workshop. Mr Gordon steps aside for Melanie to pull Archie inside.
Melanie gaze around to make sure everything is in place. She clears her throat as she exchanges a look with Mr Gordon.
“This gift will bring out the best in you. It will give you hope and inspiration for your chosen career.” Mr Gordon winks at Melanie to free his gaze.
Melanie release her palms from his face, letting him stare at the workroom in awe.
“I hope you will pursue your dream and become a great person with your gift. I wish you would what makes you happy and forget about family traits.” Mr Gordon smiles, and the look on his son’s face makes his inner mind find peace.
“This can’t be true!” Archie gasps in shock. He wipes his teary eyes as he keeps staring doubtfully at the workroom.
“You can’t possibly do this for me, I mean, you want me to grow up and go into business and stuff. Now, you’re encouraging my ability, my creativity, my passion- what gives me solace. How true is that?” Archie wails happily as he stares at the professional pencils box on the table.
Mr Gordon chuckles loudly, he understands where Archie is coming from and how he has never paid attention to him, or the like of him.
“I never want you to involve yourself in the family business. I have always wanted you to do what makes you happy. I know how much you love to draw and the like of attention you put to it, so I never bother you about it. I sacrificed my passion so that I could keep my family business going. I have always wanted to go into music, I love music and it’s only music that makes me happy. I use music to distress and also get wasted while operating the piano.” He wipes his tears as he remembers those good times when he always operates the piano in secret.
Archie stares at his father’s face with a pitiful look that later gets replaced with a sorry look.
Mr Gordon chuckles. “I’m not telling you this so you could pity me. I’m telling you this because you are my only son and I have always wanted the best for you. I chose what I know my father would have wanted for me if he was alive, but I want you to do what you love to do while I’m still alive. Whatever decision you make in your career, I will always support you and advise you if need be.” he expounds.
Archie blinks nervously. He couldn’t believe his father could ever be this cool to him. “Dad, can you stop being good to me? It would make me want to believe that’s who you are. I don’t want to believe things that aren’t true.” Archie cries as tears stream down his cheeks like rainfall.
“I have always been a jerk to you, but if you could give me a chance I would love to do all the things I have always wanted to do for you.” he smiles and welcomes his son in his arms. Archie didn’t say anything, he just stay in his father’s chest and pour his hot liquor on his shirt.
“Thank you very much, dad! I will return the favour and be a good son to you.” he sniffs back his tears.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
“How do you feel about your workroom?” Mr Gordon asks, he feels his son moves in his chest.
“You should forget about my workroom and get mom to bed. She seems tired from the stress and she needs a good buffer to rest her head on.” Archie says back to his father, he slides from the hug and moves his gaze to Melanie who is nodding her head in sleep.
“Guess we will be going first.” Mr Gordon smiles and then walks up to Melanie. He sweeps her off the floor and rests her head on his chest.
“I hope to get more portraits from you in the future.” he winks at Archie before walking out of the workroom with Melanie in his arms.