Chapter 4 Baron Returns

Liz grumbled and turned on her mobile data as she left the study and made her way to her bedroom, thinking, "I should text max."

There were other messages from friends and groups, but she focused more on one from Aarush.

"I'm really sleepy right now, goodnight my love."

"See you later, baby. I love you; get some rest. God bless."

Liz then texted Max about the 900 dollars she had received from Douglas after responding to Aarush and putting her head on the pillow.

"Douglas handed me 900 dollars for school, Dad, but I have no idea how you are doing or where you are at the moment." Liz informed Max via a WhatsApp message and copied the same message to his Facebook account before waiting, but it was obvious that Max hadn't used either platform since September. Many texts were still to be read.

Liz knelt down by her bed and prayed to God for good luck and the safe return of Max before climbing into bed to fall asleep.

The next morning, which was January 16th, at around seven in the morning, Baron arrived at the Max home. To get to the house early, he had traveled all night by bus hoping to make a return journey to his school that same day in the night.

All attempts by the school to contact Max were fruitless as he was nowhere to be found. All the phone numbers he had given to the school were switched off and no response came from his mail.

Max had not paid Baron's tuition for the upcoming terms and the school could not keep Baron any longer without a deposit so they sent him home with a bus ticket knowing very well that Max would refund them if he came back.

Baron made his way to the home gate, shivering from the morning cold, and with a very worn-out face. The gateman immediately opened for Baron when he saw he spotted him knocking.

The gateman (Tito), spoke in a soft tone, "Baron, hurry up, get in, boy."

"Thanks Uncle, good morning, it's so chilly this morning."

"Hurry to the front door, You are already sick." Tito told Baron as he pulled Baron's bags from the outside of the gate and rushed them to the front door of the house.

Tito pulled out his phone and called Liz, she answered after a short while and he told her about Baron.

"Baron is here, hurry to open for him. He is so cold."

Tito hastily hung up the phone so as not to catch Angie's attention.

Liz hurried to the restroom, splashed some water on her face, and hastily rinsed her lips and went to the front door, unbolted it, and opened it for Baron.

"Uncle, Good morning." She greeted Tito but he was brief as he feared Angie to spot him so early with the kids

"Good morning dear, both of you get in, we shall talk when it's warmer."

Tito then requested Liz to prepare Baron some tea as the boy was shivering.

Tito went back to his room and Liz bolted the front door, welcomed Baron back home and quickly made him some tea. Both knew Angie very well so they made their way to Liz's bedroom, sat down to have the tea and some snacks.

Both dozed off afterwards and woke up in the afternoon.

When they woke up, they both refreshed and went to the kitchen to make some lunch as no maid was present in the house.

The kids passed through the living room and that's where they found Angie relaxing on the couch, having some snacks that obviously had been made by Douglas.

Baron knew Douglas but had never really had a conversation with him.

"You've returned?" Angie inquired as though she was unaware that Baron was present in the house.

Angie had heard the two kids converse in the morning but ignored them because Douglas was next to her.

Baron was perplexed because Angie usually behaved responsibly, sternly, lovingly, and firmly when Max was around. Instead, she greeted them in a laid-back attitude and had completely lost interest in the children.

She was now acting casually and caring nothing about the kids at all since Max left in September 2019.

Liz, who was standing next to Baron, was unable to convince Baron that things had changed.

In order to avoid Angie's rebuke, Baron answered her question.

"Yes mother, good afternoon. I feared coming to your door so early."

When Angie questioned him about why he had returned, Baron went on to say that he had been ordered home due to tuition, Max's phone numbers were all disconnected, and his mail was not responding.

"Ok. Let's hope Max returns on time." Angie then continued to watch her tv show in silence. Baron was really perplexed because he had anticipated her to pick up cash right away and send him back to school.

He had completed junior high school and would attend the same institution for senior high school.

At this point, Liam was enrolled in a prominent boarding junior high school and was taking his prep courses.

Liz found out about this after Tito told her about it because he was worried that Angie was purposefully ignoring her and Baron.

"How is Liam already at school?" Baron questioned in anger After Liz informed him about the events that had been taking place in the home and how Liam was the preferred child,

"I don't know, but Douglas is now in charge of everything in the house. Yesterday, he just gave me 900 dollars for school. In all honesty, I have no idea how I will survive."

Liz sat on her bed contemplating her options when the two siblings realized Angie would not be covering Baron's tuition.

Their mother and Aunt Susan come to Baron's mind and he advised Liz to reach out to them for assistance, but Kisti, their mother, was perpetually in debt, and Liz was confident she wouldn't provide.

"Perhaps Aunt Susan, but I doubt she can be of any assistance." Liz told Baron but he insisted she call her and let her know what was happening.

Baron took Liz's other phone and called Kisti and Saed to inform them of what was happening at home.

With the exception of Angie, Suzan, Kisti's second sister, did not get along well with the rest of the family. She and her spouse shared a residence in the city but were not equally wealthy. Max would occasionally support them from time to time.

Both kids were aware of their parents' financial difficulties and didn't want to be a burden, but they had no other option.

Liz grabbed up her phone and sent Suzan a WhatsApp message explaining that they were having trouble paying their tuition and that Angie was quiet on the whole matter.