Blessing in Disguise

Chapter 12: Pivotal Choices

By the time they reached the hotel, the sun had already set, and the children were in their half-asleep, groggy state. Seher, however, didn't immediately put them to bed. Instead, she wanted to ensure they had dinner, cleaned up, and were ready for a good night's sleep. She woke them up playfully with tickles and a promise of a game of hide and seek. Once the children were fully awake and happy, she proceeded to heat up the leftovers that Mabel had kindly packed for them in the suite's microwave. She also warmed some milk for the children and added a pinch of turmeric to it, pouring it into a mug and a bottle for Liam and Meher.

Daniel emerged from his room, looking refreshed, and turned to Seher with a puzzled expression. He asked, "Seher, why are the kids drinking yellow milk? Is it spoiled, or did you add something to it?" Seher smiled and explained, "Yes, I've been adding a pinch of turmeric to their milk for the past few days because these little devils really don't like the taste of plain milk. Those flavored powders in the market aren't very healthy, you know. So I've been using something from my own childhood." She smiled, reminiscing, and continued, "Turmeric in warm milk before bed is an excellent way to ensure a peaceful night's sleep."

Daniel nodded and said, "That's a great idea. So how close are these two to bedtime tonight?" Seher laughed lightly and replied, "They've had dinner and now they're having their milk. I'll let them play for a few more minutes, then I'll wash their faces, hands, and feet, change them, and try to put them to bed. After such an exciting day, I want them to have a good night's sleep."

Daniel asked, "What can I help with?" Seher reassured him, "No, please relax. There's no need for your help. This is our usual routine, and we've got it covered. If I need your assistance, I'll let you know. I promise." Daniel agreed, saying, "If you insist, I'll relax."

In that moment, Daniel couldn't help but notice how Seher had shared a small detail about her childhood during their conversation. He realized there was so much he could learn about her and her life if he delved deeper into those stories. But at the present moment, his primary focus was on finding a way to ask Seher out on a date. Exploring each other's lives and pasts could come later, he thought. Right now, he was determined to secure a date with this beautiful and exotic Indian nanny.

An hour later, the two toddlers were tucked into their beds, peacefully sleeping off the tiredness and excitement of the day, while the adults sat down to enjoy a hearty dinner, courtesy of the delightful dishes on their plates. Seher couldn't help but let out a moan of appreciation, saying, "Oh my God, this is the second time I'm having this food, and I can't believe how good James is. It's so delicious. I wonder why he didn't pursue a career in the culinary world. He would have excelled," she mused.

Daniel couldn't help but be caught up in the moan she had let out, and he took a deep breath to calm himself, determined not to let his mind wander into imaginative territory. Once he felt more composed after thinking of mundane thoughts, he turned to Seher and said, "I know, you're right. It's a true gift. James has always enjoyed experimenting with ingredients, exploring different cultures, and their cuisines. He's passionate about it." Seher was intrigued and asked, "That's amazing. But why didn't he choose a culinary career if he's this talented and passionate?" Daniel explained, "He's always been practical about money. His priority was to secure a comfortable life for himself and his family, and once he had that, he planned to explore his culinary passions. I'm sure he'd excel in the culinary world."

Seher understood the reasoning behind James's choices. However, she was curious and asked, "When you say family, you mean Mabel, right? I don't think they have children; otherwise, we would have met them, right?" Daniel smiled and shared more about James's past, "Well, my friend, as kind and calm as he is now, he was quite a rowdy rebel as a teenager. He even mentioned being part of a local motorcycle club in their hometown. Unfortunately, he had a motorcycle accident when he was 19, which left him unable to have biological children. That's why they don't have kids yet. They plan to adopt."