Chapter Future Preparations.
Leonica woke up first the next morning, feeling refreshed despite the small ache in her lower back. She rolled over to find Owen still fast asleep, snoring softly and she couldn't help but smile. He looked so peaceful and cute, she thought, wondering if she should find her phone and take a picture of his sleeping face.
However, after staring at him for a few more minutes, occasionally playing with the strands of his hair that had fallen out of place, she decided against the idea.
There was no need to take a picture of him when she had him to herself for the rest of her life.
Deciding to let him sleep in, she slowly and carefully slipped out of the bed and tiptoed her way to the bathroom, hoping not to wake him.
After taking a quick shower and throwing on one of his shirts that she dimmed befitting, she walked downstairs to the kitchen and prepared a cup of coffee for herself.
Patiently, she waited for her beverage to be ready, tapping her fingers against the kitchen island all the while humming the tune of her favorite song, 'The adults are talking by the strokes.'
It was still early In the morning, around 8:30am and so, when she heard a phone, her phone in particular ringing from somewhere in the leaving room, she was surprised.
Grabbing her coffee just as the machine finished preparing it, she made her way to the living room, searching for her phone.
It took a few seconds, but eventually, she found it, sitting on the coffee table and frowned upon seeing who was calling her. Candace Lane, Chief's Robert's partner?
Leonica's frown only deepened as she picked up the call.
"Hello," She said and the woman, on the other end of the line, greeted her.
"Ms. Romero, sorry for disturbing you this early in the morning."
"That's okay, what's the matter? Has something happened?"
"No, I apologize if this call made you think so."
Leonica sighed out in relief. "Then?"
"The station needs your statement. Would you be able to come down today?"
"Today?" She looked up at the clock and sighed. It was too early for this, especially when she was feeling so relaxed.
"Is it important?"
"Yes, if you want to be able to testify and see to it that Irene Rosewood's case is handled faster."
She sighed. "Right, I'll head over in a few hours."
"Good. I'll be expecting you then, Ms. Romero."
The call ended after that and as if he had been waiting for the perfect moment, Leonica felt Owen wrap his hand around her wait and place his head in the crock of her next. "Who was that?" He asked, the sound of his morning voice sending pleasant shivers down her spine.
"Candace Lane," She responded, closing her eyes and humming in delight when he pecked her neck. "She wants me to head over to the station and give my statement." Owen pulled away and turned her around in his arms. "Right now?"
She shook her head. "No, in a few hours."
"Alright." He nodded and pressed a kiss to her cheek before heading to the kitchen to fetch himself a mug of coffee. Leonica trailers behind him. "Want me to drive you?" He asked.
"You free today?" She answered his question with a question, leaning her elbow against the kitchen island as she watched him make his way around the kitchen, gathering the needful for his morning coffee as well as ingredients to prepare breakfast. "Yeah, I'm free. And if something always come up, you my boss, could order me to take the day off." He joked and she laughed.
"Well, if you insist, sure, I wouldn't mind the company."
Owen gave her a wide grin and nodded, pecking her forehead before turning back to the pan he had begun cooking some eggs on.
Leonica watched him, the corners of her lips curling upwards into a soft smile.
"Do you need any help?" She offered.
""Nope, I'm fine."
""You sure?"
"I'm positive, luce mia."
Leonica nodded her head and took a seat on one of the stools, silently watching him.
As she did so, she couldn't help but think that Owen would make a great husband...and father.
It was a sudden thought, one she had entertained but hadn't given much thought before, but it wasn't one she could brush off, not with the image of a toddler running around in her head, the kid having a mop of blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes as he played with Ashley. She cocked her head. "Mine?"
""Yes luce mia?"
"How many kids do you wanna have?"
He stopped what he was doing, his hands hovering over the pan.
"What?"
"I mean, like in the future, how many kids would you like to have?"
Owen turned around to look at her, an amused brow raised. "Why are you suddenly asking about our future children, Mrs. Lee?"
"I'm just curious, Mr. Lee. No harm in that." She shrugged.
Owen chuckled and turned back to the eggs he had been cooking.
"Well, I'm fine with however many kids you wanna have. But if we're talking about an ideal number, three sounds good. That way we wouldn't have to share our love equally, but would still have a large family."
"I like that number, but if I had to pick, I'd go for two. Ashley would have his hand full with three other siblings."
Smiling, Owen finished frying the eggs and placed them on the plates along with the toast he had prepared and some fruit.
"Let's start with two and see where that goes." He suggested, handing her a plate before walking over to the kitchen island and placing his down.
Leonica smiled.
She liked the sound of that.
Leonica's testimony went smoothly,
with only a
Lew hiccups, ie, when she
refused to testify that she had been
the one who shot one of her
attackers in the foot. Self defense, she told the female detective who at some point, had gotten tired of questioning her.
But even then, they were able to get the whole thing over and done with before noon, which was a relief.
As Leonica stepped out of the questioning room, she nearly ran into Chief Robert who had just finished interrogating one his recent suspect.
"Ms. Romero," He greeted. "Here for your statement, I presume?"
She nodded. "Yes, I got called in this morning." When he nodded, she asked. "How are things with Irene? Has she said anything more?"
"That, I can not tell you, police confidentiality. But what I can let you know is that she's currently being transported to hospital for a mental evaluation." ""Why's that?"
"She showed mental imbalance during one of her interrogation session, we think she might have developed schizophrenia from a rather young age." Leonica frowned, but still found a way to chuckle. "Irene isn't suffering from schizophrenia. I'm telling you, that girl is sick." "That's for the hospital to decide, Ms. Romero."
She scoffed. "Well, good luck trying to fix that nutcase." She said, waving a hand over her shoulder and walking away.
The chief couldn't help but chuckle at her behavior.
She had a point, though. The girl was a nutcase, the things she said and did during her interrogation sessions pointed all to that. Shaking his head, Chief Robert made his way back to his office.
It was going to be a long day.
By the time Leonica who had decided to visit her mother at home, arrived at her family house, it was already well past lunch.
"Mom!" She called out and a few seconds later, she saw her mom making her way downstairs, a few of their maids by her side, along with sturdy men dressed in black. Father isn't lacking on the security, she thought, wondering if at some point, she should take her father's advice and place a few guys at her side.
You never know how dangerous things could get again.
"Leonica," Cassandra cooed, a wide
grin on her face as she pulled her daughter into a hug. "Welcome home, darling." She turned her gaze to Owen who was standing beside Leonica, offering a hug which he gladly accepted. "How have you been, Owen?"
"I've been good, Mrs. Romero. Thank you for asking."
"Oh please, don't be so formal. Call me mother we'd soon be a family anyways." She said and motioned, for them to follow her towards the living room. "Come on, I'm sure you must be tired, I'll ask Viviana to bring us some tea."
"Tea would be nice." Leonica agreed.
They took a seat on the couches, and not a few seconds later, Viviana and one of the maids came in with a tray of tea and sandwiches.
"Thanks," Leonica said, taking a sip of her tea.
"So," Cassandra glanced between her daughter and fiancé. "Now that everything finally settled down, when do you guys plan to start making wedding preparations?"
Owen glanced at Leonica. "Well, we haven't really gotten that far yet, but I was thinking, maybe sometime in the next few weeks we can start making preparations and reservations."
Cassandra hummed, a pleased smile on her face. "Well, whatever works for you guys. Just remember, the sooner you start preparing, the better."
Owen nodded. "We'll keep that in mind."
Their chat lasted for longer than Leonica anticipated. Towards the end of their visit, Owen got a call from Alistair, saying that he was needed back at the company to correct a scene that they saw error in. "You should go." Leonica said when she saw how hesitant he was looking.
"But-"
"Listen to her, Owen." Cassandra sided her daughter, understanding why Owen was so worried, just like Benjamin. "I'll see to it that she gets home safe."
Hearing Cassandra's words made him less hesitant. "I'm sorry, luce mia, I'll make it up to you."
"Mhm, it's alright." She said and smiled as he pecked her lips, before heading towards the car.
"He's a lovely spouse." Cassandra said with her eyes still trained on the man's figure.
"Yeah, he is."
Leonica agreed as they returned inside. After a few more hours of chatting and once again tasting home made food, Leonica was ready to leave.
"I'll call a driver for you," Cassandra said as she beckoned Viviana over, passing across the information. "I have to keep my promise."
"Sure thing." Leonica agreed and a while later, Viviana returned to inform them that the driver was ready.
"I'll see you soon, mom." She pulled the older woman into a hug, and then, after a few more parting words, she headed outside, finding the driver waiting by the car she was meant to be sent home in.
He held the door open for her, bowing as she entered and muttered the word 'thank you.'
As the car began moving, she received a text message from Owen.
[Call if immediately if you need anything.]
She grinned from ear to ear as she types his reply, unbeknownst of the eyes that watched her from the rearview mirror.
Robert was in his office, sorting through some files when Candace suddenly barged in.
He groaned, hating the fact that his focus had suddenly been shattered. "Knock, Candace, I've said this-"
The rest of his words were caught in his throat when he saw the panicked look on her face.
"What happened?"
"It's Irene Rosewood. The hospital just called to alert us that she escaped during one of her examination!"