"Are you still in Copenhagen?"

In response, he only gave me a grunted nod.

"What are you still doing there for the past three months?"

He shrugged insignificantly while revealing the reason for his extended stay, "I was planning to leave for South Aisa from here, but then I have to come back for Kai's birthday. So, I stayed here a little longer after coming back from the Faroe Islands."

"I thought you found there's traditional cuisine exceptional, and that's holding you back."

I seriously thought of this possibility because nothing can stop him in a single place if the food is not good. When Jackson began his venture into the world, he not only found his love for traveling but also discovered the curiosity of tasting and eating delicious foods. Since then he fell into the category of a whole-hearted foodie but he doesn't like to eat much, just a suitable amount, keeping his diet and health in check, but that little should be nothing less in taste. For this, he long ago changed the chefs of here, in the mansion, to his liking.

"Partially this reason too."

In response, I nodded my head a little with a smile. Remembering why I video called him, I looked dubiously at his unkempt self through the screed of the iPad. His over-grown beard and the hoddie he was wearing, giving the casual and crude look. I hesitantly started my request, "It's still around a week or two till Kai's birthday. Can I trouble you with something?"

After a pause, he narrowed his eyes and almost snapped, "What?"

Ignoring his stern look, I continued, "Can you leave tomorrow, and go to Namibia's sanctuary? They are having some matters with locals regarding water. I would have gone there myself, but I have a meeting tomorrow."

Tomorrow I have an important meeting of the project we are preparing for a long time and if the project is finalized, I also have to arrange a meeting with the board of directors including Kai's birthday coming in less than two weeks, I don't think I would have enough time to make it there and stay too.

When this happens, I sometimes feel that I'm not capable to carry the responsibility I have taken for the organization, because various times when some legal matter happens, because of the company, I couldn't make it there on time. The head office of the organization is in Gaborone (Botswana) and I even could hardly make it there somewhat because of the distance, although, I regularly check the overall reports. The simplest reason for making head office so far was; Botswana has the best support for wildlife animals and the government tries to fully support our deed. And instead of my own comfort, I preferred the resources for the organization.

Where some countries give their full support, there are some who refuse to let the third party interfere in their matters. No matter what, I can't win against people like such and many cases have been stuck in the ways, resulting in many wild animals lost their chance of a good life. Only if I could have time, I would surely fight to all my potential. Therefore, once Kai will be able enough, I will spend the rest of my life fully working for the organization. Till then I have to rely on what time I have and strengthen my heart & mind with thoughts like; at least I'm helping some if not all.

As Jackson's usually traveling, from time to time when I couldn't go myself to any wildlife sanctuary of the organization to look over the matter myself, I request Jackson. If the matter wasn't necessary, I wouldn't have called Jackson for help. Berriz's head of Namibia's sanctuary, from the past few weeks he has connected head office twelve times, explaining again and again that locals are creating problems regarding some minor things but mainly regarding the water passageways, that's resulting in a shortage of water for animals. I have even sent someone from head office but nothing changed. It's good if Jackson will go there and satisfy locals, listening to what they want, he'll surely know how to fulfill it or deal with them in case of some fatuous request.

"You just want to tire me to the maximum when I come back, don't you!"

I'm guilty about this too, he has to travel a lot and also do the work despite the jet lag. But as he will be using a private jet I hope so he will be fine.

"Although Berriz and the man that was sent, said they can handle it, like always. But I have been hearing this for the past three weeks, yet things are still the same."

"Do I have to stay there too?"

"Probably, a couple of days till the matter resolves." Including the days of rest, his trip would probably elongate to more than a week, therefore, it's better to leave as soon as possible.

At my words, he only grumbled a single word out, "Brat."

It was his way of saying yes, so I only gave him a smile in return. After giving him further more details, he dejectedly sighed and changed the topic, claiming to not giving me a chance to further increase the days of stay.

"How's Elijah?"

I halted before saying, "Some things are going on his side, I'm sure he'll handle them."

On the one hand, where things could be considered going pretty smoothly for me, I hope Elijah's doing fine too. Although, after so much effort I have ordered him to squeeze out some time and have lunch with me tomorrow. I know he'll talk to me about nothing regarding what's going on his side. For the past few weeks, Elijah's going through some problems, which I wouldn't have known if not for his phone that was constantly off and I had to call his assistant. There's hardly anything that bothers Elijah, and rarely I have seen him conflicted, but I know he's troubled by this. I want to be there for him, but that man never allows anyone to share his burden, it's like he has made himself of steel.

Jackson didn't ask further, but with a nod, said his affirming words. "He's a strong man, he sure will handle."

A smile formed on my lips, "Sure he will."

After a pause of silence, I tried to casually suggest, "Jackson, why don't you stay a little longer this time?"

"Some wise-human has said right, 'You realize someone's importance when they leave.'" He quoted smugly and then proceeded, with a hint of a smile on his face, "I can see that from past years you are going through this phase."

"Don't flatter yourself, remember what I said, my words which you used as an excuse, 'I don't need you."

Giving me a stinky gaze, he sourly remarked, "You're still the unruly, obstinate girl, not know how to even talk to your elders."

Rolling my eyes, I leaned against the headboard of the bed to get comfortable, and asked, "Will you stay If I say I need you, elder-man?"

His face turned a little placid, "At least give it a thought, seeing how much effort you put in your begging."

"I think I might have to leave for a week or two next month or so. I'm planning to do some investments and visit Germany and possibly I have to go look over our projects in Italy, as well as go to the organization's head office in Gaborone. You know, I can't leave Kai alone."

"Why don't you take him with you like always?"

"He's in high school now, this is his time to stable his life and make more friends. I have decided to no longer disrupt his life."

As if deducting something from my words, Jackson paused and after a thoughtful silence, he inquired, "So, he still isn't inviting anyone to the birthday?"

When Jackson said those words, I couldn't help the little worry reflecting from my words, "I don't think so. And you know I don't like to force him to do things but in past five years not once he brought any friend of his home."

"Just push him a little."

"You think so?"

"My nephew is turning extreme anti-social under your care. If he was with me, he would have been cool-"

"Grumpy man?"

"Cool anti-social."

I gave a light laugh at him trying to be funny with the ever-so-serious face of Jackson. After a pause, reluctantly responded, "I'll talk to him."

"Any more complaining or unwanted requests? Because I have had enough talking to you."

Instead of minding his words, I too agreed, "Yeah, me too."

His smug face turned a little sour at my words, and muttered, "Unruly brat."

Before he could say anything else, I ended our call with the last words, "Bye, happy jet lags old man!"

Placing the Ipad on the side table, I slipped a little further into the quilt to get further comfortable on the bed to sleep. A relied sigh escaped my lips at the thought of Jackson not persistently standing against my requests, well, he rarely does. Although he appears to be grouchy, whenever I ask him to help me handle some things, he has never denied it. It doesn't matter if he stays away from us, he will be always there whenever we need him.

Kai's eagerly waiting for Jackson to return, he'll happy to know that Jackson will stay a little longer this time.

As the thought of his birthday entered my mind, the realization that I will once again visit the cemetery along with him also hit me. The only thing he asks as his birthday present, although this year I tried to change it.

From his room's decor to his choices, Kai's passion for cars isn't hidden, he didn't forget to remind me on every chance he got that how sad he was because he didn't get to see the year's most anticipated car that Elijah drove in the race about two months ago.

So, a week ago I offered to buy it for him as his officially turning fourteen-birthday gift, it had been quite a time since the launch and according to the reports they only have three cars in possession of Salvadge's while the rest of them has been sold off. Before it gets too late to buy it, I decided to ask Kai. I know he can't drive but even after five to ten years, that car will still be in vogue. I always ask Kai before I buy something for him, this way I feel assured.

I could see the utter excitement & gleam in his eyes at my offer, and when I finally thought he would break his consistent-unyielding wish of past years, soon -after giving it a thought- all of the rush dimmed in his eyes, and he -oh so wistfully- declined it. At first, he shamelessly asked for two wishes on his birthday but I clearly gave him my words, to chose one of either. As usual, and expected from his stubborn nature he even refused the car. I tried to make him realize that he would never get a chance like this to which he said to me -or more like to himself, to console his heart- that he will one day buy a lot of cars when he'll big enough to earn money through his effort.

From his ninth birthday, it became his routine to visit his parents in the cemetery, and each year he would put forward this request in front of me in place of any birthday gift. I would gladly accompany him, he never asked again why I don't step inside the gates, he takes my flowers and after paying respect to his parents, he visits my mother's grave in my place, offers my flowers and when he comes back, narrates everything in detail. One time I -finally, out of curiosity- asked him, why does he -assert on to- make me go with him every year when I don't even go inside with him. To which his answer causes giddy feeling inside me to this day, he told me that he has said a lot of things about me to his mother and he wants me to meet her, and he believes one day I will go along with him to see both of our mothers.

One thing I'm grateful for, above all things, is this trust of Kai.

A soft smile appeared on my lips at my last thought with it, I pulled the quilt all over me and went to sleep.