She did not know how the children were doing at home, and if Jacqueline had given them a hard time.
“We’ll leave tonight,” Shane answered as he sipped his coffee.
“That’s good,” Natalie said eagerly. “We would arrive tomorrow morning.”
“Wait for me in the hotel afterwards,” Shane instructed as he set his cup down on the table. “I want to go over to the diamond mine for an inspection.”
Natalie stretched lazily. “It’ll be boring for me to be alone here. Lina wanted to check out the jewelry exhibition, and Joyce wanted to go shopping for souvenirs for our colleagues. They would be too busy to keep me company. Why don’t I come along with you? I’ve never seen a diamond mine before.”
“It’s to be awfully boring.” Shane gazed at her uncertainly.
Natalie smiled. “It wouldn’t be boring if I was with you.”
Shane cheered up a great deal from her words. “Let’s go then,” he said.
“Let’s go!” Natalie jumped up and held his arm. Together, they departed the hotel.
The diamond mine stood on a hill which was close to a range of volcanoes. Very little vegetation was hardly enough to survive on its jagged surface. Natalie thought it looked very desolate indeed. That impression was somewhat subdued by the rows and rows of tents which housed bustling laborers who hoisted strange looking machinery as they went about their work.
“Are those detection equipments?” Natalie pointed toward the laborers.
“No,” answered Shane with a slight shake of his head.
“What are those for, then?”
“They are searching for spots that are relatively soft. Once they’ve marked them out, the excavation can begin,” Shane explained patiently.
“I see.” Natalie nodded.
“There is another quarry up ahead. Let’s have a closer look.” Shane tugged on Natalie’s arm.
After a closer inspection, Natalie still could not tell the difference between that and a regular mine. Her interest soon turned into boredom.
The really exciting thing was the diamonds within the mountain. The operation was only at the stage of removing the rocks. It would be a long process before the diamonds were unearthed.
Shane was right. It was awfully boring.
“That’s my tent,” Shane indicated with a finger. “Why don’t you wait for me in there? I must discuss the excavation plan with the workers.”
Natalie nodded eagerly as she was not keen on standing around out in the open.
It was another two hours before he had resolved everything he needed to.
The couple then returned to the hotel to check out and made their way to the airport to catch their flight.
They touched down in J City the following day at six in the morning.
Connor and Sharon were still asleep. Natalie did not want to disturb them, so after peeping in on them, she closed the door quietly and left.
Shane made his way to the study while Natalie went into their bedroom for a nap.
It was half-past eight when she was awoken by the alarm.
After cleaning herself up, Natalie made her way downstairs where the children were having their breakfast. They couldn’t believe their eyes, so they merely stared at her in wonder. It was only when Natalie called out to them that they ran toward their mother joyfully.
“Mommy, you’re back!” they squealed as they grabbed a thigh of hers each.
Natalie beamed and caressed the children’s heads. “Yes, I am. How have you been when I was gone? Have you been good?”
“Yes, we have.” The twins nodded in unison.
“Mommy, is Daddy home too?” Connor asked.
“Yes, he’s back too.” Natalie replied.
Sharon’s grin grew larger. “That’s great! Everybody is home.”
Natalie touched the tip of Sharon’s nose playfully. With a child in each hand, she led them out to the dining room.
As they were walking, Connor spoke up with a serious look on his face. “Mommy, when you were gone, Ms. Graham came by to look for us.”
Natalie’s smile faltered at the news. “What did she want? Did she do anything to you?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
As predicted, Jacqueline had her own agenda to carry out in Natalie’s and Shane’s absence.
“No, she didn’t. She just asked us a few questions.” Connor shook his head.
Natalie stopped in her tracks. Kneeling down to meet the children at eye level, she asked, “What did she ask you?”
