Moments That Change Lives

“I… I quit my job and I spent almost all of my savings on the plane tickets and…” She muttered but he at once interfered.

“You’re staying at my house. Is that okay with you?”

“Don’t even think about it. I think you met me enough to know that I could never accept that. I only wanted to ask you to take me to a cheaper hotel. I can take care of myself. I always have.” She slightly increased her voice.

“I didn’t mean to insult you or anything, Mira. And yes. I know you that much, but I don’t think you can stay at a cheap hotel. Not with all the drunks and thieves roaming around those hotels. Plus I won’t let my child sleep in some ruins. We’re doing all of this for it. Please. If not for you, do this for the baby…” He threw a pleading look at her. “I have all the space in the world. The house is empty. Only the maid and the guard live with me. Please, Mira.” He pushed on drowning every attempt of hers to object. The thought that he was probably right couldn’t leave her mind, but damn her if she admitted that.

“I dunno. I’ll think about it,” she spoke at last, stubbornly turning her head to the window on her side. The fast-changing scenery made her dizzy.

“Where? It’s nearly night! Where will you think? Don’t be so stubborn, you’re making me nuts. Just…” He reached for her hand but she retrieved it. “Look… We… We are friends, right? Think of all this as an offer from a friend. And that same friend invites you to a dinner so you can think at his place. Is it okay now?”

Ugh. Why was he so hard to reject? Mira was quiet until they entered the city but as soon as she saw the busy streets and the massive buildings a pang of fear to spend the night outside nested in her. Everything looked so alien, distant and scary. She knew no one, had no one else except Henry in that city. Masses of people flocked the sidewalks and the stores all around without caring for anything and anyone. How could she live through the night there? What if something happened to her miracle baby? Her pride was not worth as much as to risk that.

“Okay. I’ll come. But only for dinner, you hear me? Then I’ll think what to do,” she finally said looking at him.

“Great! We’ll be there in a couple of minutes.” Henry smiled pushing the gas pedal even more.

If someone told Mira that she would live to see houses as the ones she amazingly stared at right now, she would never believe them. Mansions lined up, one next to the other were shimmering in the night, their vast yards bathing in the moonlight and the peace which was cloaking the whole court of the rich. There was not a trace of the hectic surroundings of the city, the fearful crowds and tall buildings. This was like a place from a far far away land. Like it was closed in an invisible box and people lived there separated from all the troubles and dangers of the outside world.

Henry hit the brakes and his black jeep pulled up before the most beautiful mansion of them all. A cream three-story palace with a huge garden in the front and… And so many tall trees that reminded her of her rainforest. Of her home.

“We’re here.” Henry left the car and helped her get out of it, too. He waved to a man standing before the door that Mira guessed was the guard of the house before leading her on the small ground path toward the entrance door.

“It’s wonderful, Henry. I… It’s so different than the houses in the rainforest.” She smiled without taking her eyes off of the mansion’s gleaming windows.

“It was my father’s. He left it to me after he passed away. The rest you already know,” Henry said holding the door open for her to pass through.

Mira threw him a compassionate look and entered in the hall. Could it get any better? The inside was even grander and more beautiful than the outside with tall walls, lights everywhere and doors and doors probably leading to who-knew-how-many huge rooms. It was truly breathtaking and Mira began feeling glad that she accepted the dinner. What would she do alone and hungry outside with a baby in her stomach?

“It happened a long time ago and I got used to living like this. You know, sometimes I feel so alone in this place and other days it makes me so happy.” He continued his speech, walking next to her.

“I guess all homes are like that. We sometimes don’t like them but miss them when they’re gone.” She sighed following Henry into the dining room. He held a chair for her to sit on and then occupied the place at the head of the longest table she had ever seen.

“Alicia? Are you there?” He shouted for his maid and the woman, who Mira guessed was in her fifties appeared from the kitchen. Her apron was stained and her forehead sweaty.

“Yes, sir. I’ll serve the meals now,” she said and left at Henry’s nod. After a few moments she returned with her hands full of plates with colorful food and delicious smells spreading from them.

“It’s okay. I’ll bring the drinks. You can leave now, Alicia.” Henry rose from the table while the maid obeyed getting lost somewhere down the hall. He went to the wooden cabinet in the corner fetching a bottle and taking it back to her. In silence, he poured the red liquid from it into the two glasses and then sat back.

“Wine?” Mira asked.

“Why don’t you try yourself and tell me,” he replied and took a big sip of the drink.

“What a player you are,” she told him bringing the glass to her lips. It smelled of berries. She drank from it draining almost half. “Seriously? You seriously gave me a blueberry juice?” She chuckled wiping her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Pregnant women aren’t allowed to drink alcohol.” He smiled back raising his glass in a toast. “For our friendship!”

“For us!” The glasses clinked.Mira lowered the glass on the table. “It is truly wonderful, Henry. Even better than alcohol. Who knew that such a playboy billionaire like yourself could be so caring?” She devilishly grinned making Henry choke on his drink.

“Is that so? A playboy billionaire, you say? Shame on you! I sacrifice myself by drinking this juice and you attack me.” He joked too, reaching for the counter behind him and bringing some muffins to the table. He filled their now empty plates with the small delicious chocolate wonders. Chocolate. Finally something to make her relax after one of the hardest days in her life.