by S. G. Sonysa
“I still have time to steal a quick kiss,” he said and captured my lips with his own.
After six years of being married to this man, I still felt my knees weaken every time he kissed me. His kisses always sparked an exhilarating sensation of desire in my body.
Our lips were moving in sync reminding me of all the happy moments of my life with him.
My hands were resting on his chest just above his beating heart, pulling him closer while his hand was in my hair and the other one was around my waist providing me support. We were so lost kissing that we didn’t hear anyone entering the kitchen.
“Daddy, why are you biting Mommy’s lips?” Brandon asked.
Chase's lips froze on mine, and his eyes popped open, gazing into mine in horror. I pulled away breathing hard and rested my head on Chase’s shoulder to ease my breathing and recover from the mind-numbing kiss. The way Brandon was staring at us, I felt like we’re caught stealing red-handed by the police.
We never kissed so passionately in front of our kids. It was our mutual decision that it was not appropriate to burden them with this much information yet. They would know everything eventually, but right now their little curious minds could lead them anywhere.
If it were Noah who caught us, explaining to him would be easier than Brandon. I was running my mind on how to explain to a five-year-old kid that what we were doing was called a kiss.
“Uh… Brandon, come to Daddy,” Chase said, and Brandon came running.
Chase picked him up in his arms and asked, “Are you excited for school?”
“Yes. I am excited.” He eagerly nodded his head up and down.
“Good. Then let’s have breakfast,” Chase said, setting him on the chair.
I sighed, thinking that Chase had distracted him, which was almost impossible in any other situation because he had this annoying habit of asking questions nonstop until he got the answer.
I took a seat and started serving Chase and Brandon their breakfast.
Then Brandon stared at me with a scrutinizing gaze and asked, “Mommy your lips look red. Daddy, why did you bite Mommy?”
Oh shit, oh shit. Apparently, Chase’s plan of distracting him was doomed.
“Argh! Why did he have to notice everything?” I thought.
“Uh, Brandon I was kissing your mother,” Chase said, and I glared at him.
Like really? That was your way of handling this situation.
“Kissing? Daddy, we kiss softly. You were biting her, hurting Mommy,” Brandon said with a scowl.
After hearing him, I wanted to hit my head on the wall.
“Uhm… Brandon, I wasn’t hurting your mommy. This kiss only happens between Mommy and Daddy,” Chase said, looking pretty distressed himself because of having to explain.
My glare intensified tenfold because unknowingly he just raised another question in Brandon’s mind.
“Why does it only happen between Mommy and Daddy?” he asked, looking confused and then curious.
I was ready to interfere and shut them both up by saying eat with their mouths closed when Chase replied, “It happens between Mommy and Daddy because it’s a way to show love. And I love your mommy.”
“Oh,” Brandon said with a huge grin on his face.
Finally, they shut up and quietly ate their breakfast.
Noah came and hurriedly ate the sandwiches. I stuffed their lunch boxes in their bags.
First, we dropped Noah at his school and then Brandon because his classes started a little late.
We bid Brandon goodbye, and he went into his class with the teacher. I was happy that we didn’t need to force him to go inside the class like other parents were doing to their kids while they were crying and clutching their parent’s leg.
When I was buckled inside the car, Chase asked, “Ready to go to the hospital?”
I swallowed and said, “I don’t know.”
He didn’t answer because he knew what I was feeling at that moment. I was utterly confused yet happy. For few weeks I had been feeling nauseous and lightheaded, so I took two pregnancy tests. One came positive, and the other came negative, confusing the hell out of me. So I repeated the tests with two different kits, and again the same thing happened, making me beyond furious.
Chase suggested that I should confirm it by taking a proper medical test so here we were going to see a doctor and to receive the report of the test I took yesterday.
We both went into the doctor’s room.
“Hello. Please take a seat,” the lady doctor said.
“Hi. I’m Hailey Edwards, and this is my husband. Do you have my reports?” I asked her while she was reading something, probably my report.
“Yes and it seems congratulations is in order. You are expecting.” She had a big smile on her face.
I smiled, and Chase squeezed my hand.
“Is there anything to worry about? I mean her reports are fine right?” Chase asked the doctor.
“Yes, sir. There’s nothing to worry about. She is perfectly fine. Well, your wife’s history shows that she gets a severe case of nausea during every pregnancy, so I’m prescribing some medicines. I suggest using the herbal tea during the early weeks.” The doctor gave us the prescription.
We thanked the doctor and went out. When we reached the parking lot, Chase suddenly hugged me, and I saw his eyes glazed with tears.
“What’s the matter, Chase?” I asked him, cupping his face.
“Nothing, I’m just happy that I lived that day or I would have definitely missed this beautiful life with you and my sons, and now with my daughter.” His voice was thick due to emotions.
“Uh-huh. You look for sure that it’s a girl this time,” I said, and a smile appeared on his face.
“Yes. I’m sure.”
I rolled my eyes at his confidence.
“I hope so. Because I’m seriously sick playing football with you guys. I think I’m turning into a man,” I said pouting.
Chase laughed loudly throwing his head back and said, “You’re pretty funny, Hailey. I can assure you that you are a perfect, beautiful woman inside and out. And no one knows that better than me.”
“You’re always thinking about one thing. Stop being a pervert.” I pushed his shoulder and got inside the car.
“You know pushing me away is your first sign of mood swing,” he said, buckling himself in the driving seat.
“Whatever.” I stared out the window.
When we arrived at the house, Chase lazily lay down on the couch and snatched my hand making me sit on his lap.
“Chase, are you not getting late for office?” I asked him confused.
“No. I’m taking a day off today. We’re going to celebrate the good news.” He kissed me on my forehead.
His sweet nothings literally increased my love for him. He enjoyed spending time with our kids and me. He never looked bored with us, and he forced us to celebrate small things.
He even celebrated the day Noah got an A+ in his drawing class and when Brandon first started walking. Chase was just a very lovely husband and a friendly father.
He was playing with a strand of my hair, and I was just staring at him.
“What are you thinking, Hailey?” he asked me.
“Nothing.”
He rolled his eyes at my silly answer.
“So we have like two hours before we need to pick Brandon. What do you want to do?” he asked me.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged.
“Uh-huh. I know. We can do something that includes us lying in our bedroom naked between the sheets,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
I glared at him and said, “Chase, you’re such a man.”
“No one knows that better than you.”
I groaned.
“Now don’t groan like that because you know it turns me on then I will become a beast,” he said with his teasing smile.
“Shut up.” I punched him in the arm.
Then I leaned towards his lips to kiss him when th
e cell phone started ringing loudly, ruining the mood.
He picked it up and talked for three minutes then ended the call.
“What?” I asked him looking at his worried face.
“It was Brandon’s teacher. She asked us to come and pick him.” He picked up his car keys.
We locked the house and ran towards the car. After fifteen minutes of driving, we reached Brandon’s school.
We walked into the school and went straight to Brandon’s class where her teacher took us in a different room.
“What’s the matter? Is Brandon alright?” I asked her, concerned.
“Brandon is alright. He just did something that created a riot in the class.” She looked disturbed.
At her words, my heart dropped. “What?”
“He kissed a girl,” she said, making me frown.
“He did what?” I couldn’t believe it.
“He kissed a girl on the lips. A girl named Laura was sitting beside him, and he kissed her. She started crying, and we had to call her parents to calm her down,” the teacher said, looking flustered herself.
I felt dizzy after hearing her and held Chase’s hand.
“Take him home. Explain to him politely that what he did was wrong,” the teacher said, dismissing us.
“Chase, I am so angry at you right now. You know how fast he learns things and copies them.” I scolded Chase.
“Hailey, it’s pretty funny,” he said, smiling at me, and I gave him a death glare in return.
The smile disappeared from his face in a flash.
Brandon came to us carrying his bag.
“Daddy, why are they sending me back?” he asked us, innocently.
“Um… because you’re too intelligent and they want you to go home to enjoy the rest of the day,” Chase replied coolly, picking him in his arms.
I felt an extreme urge to throttle Chase with his stupid explanation.
We went back to the car and settled in our seats.
Chase asked, “Son, how was your class today?”
“I made some friends and played the piano,” he answered very efficiently, hiding the kiss part.
“And?” Chase glanced back from the side mirror of the car.
“Daddy! Laura is my new friend. She is shoo pretty. I loved her and kissed her like you did to Mommy,” he said excitedly like we were going to appreciate him.
My face exploded with a blush at his innocent words. He had no idea what he did today, and now he was telling us proudly.
“Brandon, what did Daddy tell you in the morning? That kiss only happens between Mommy and Daddy? You are not allowed to do that with anyone. Do you understand me, Brandon?” I said sternly, making him sad.
The smile vanished from his face, and he curled his lips inside stopping himself from crying.
To change the sad mood in the car, Chase asked, “Who wants ice cream?”
But Brandon didn’t reply, making me worry. Ice cream was his favorite. He would never let go of the chance of having ice cream. Now he was refusing it.
Chase stopped outside Brandon’s favorite ice cream parlor and got out from the car. He pulled him out from his car seat. Brandon hugged Chase, and when I came to him, he hid his face in Chase’s neck.
I felt a pang of hurt in my chest.
Chase saw my gloomy face, and said, “Brandon, baby. Look at your mommy.”
“No, she hurt me,” he replied, snuggling his face more.
“No, baby. She was just telling you not to do that again.”
“Okay, I will not do that again, but I’m not talking to mommy,” he said, picking his face from Chase's shoulder and glancing at me.
“Well, that’s bad because your mommy has a surprise for you.” Chase whistled. Brandon jumped from his arms and came running to me.
“Mommy! Where’s the surprise?” he said, jumping up and down curiously.
I pretended to think, then said, “First, you need to promise me you will not do that again.”
“I will not do that again. I promise,” Brandon said.
“Let’s eat ice cream then I will give you your surprise.”
The End
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Prologue
Two light grocery bags in hand, she followed her dad to the bright, white family car that caused them many troubles as they struggled to find it in the middle of snow. The girl opened the front seat door and slipped inside the car, completely oblivious to the look her father was giving her.
He sighed. “Lena?” The girl froze because he never called her by her actual name, unless he was serious about something. He always called her Rosie. “We talked about this. On the way here, you’d sit in front. On the way back, you’ll sit behind me.”
“Daaad! Please?” Lena pouted and widened her eyes a little. He shook his head and pointed to the back seat. He refused to give in to her, not again. Lena groaned and held out a hand to her dad. He took it and supported her waist as she moved to the backseat. She huffed and put on her seat belt.
“Happy?” she asked.
He gave her a smile. “That’s my girl.”
The car ride was silent, until her dad put a CD in and played it. Lena grinned and sat up immediately. At the first notes of the song, she made jazz hands. Her ponytail swung as she swayed in her seat to the music.
“Love, love me do. You know, I love you. I’ll always be true,” they both sang loudly. The Beatles had always been their favorite band, even though Lena’s mom didn’t like them much.
“I love you, Dad!” cried out the girl, her chestnut-colored eyes shining in exhilaration and excitement.
Her father laughed. “You know I love you too, Rosie.”
The next seconds were a blur. Between the music, their singing and the momentary happiness, there was a truck that had passed the red light and was heading towards them. Time froze—this was the moment that would turn the girl’s life upside down.
Lena turned just in time to see the truck inches away from colliding with the car. Her dad noticed as well, and his eyes widened. She screamed. The car lurched and Lena was thrown forward violently, the seatbelt biting into her stomach and knocking the wind out of her. The sound of her dad calling out her name was the last thing she heard before the world faded away from her.
“Rosie!”
I could hear a vague sound in the background.
I felt myself crying. For a long moment my upper eyelid seemed glued to the lower one, because I couldn’t open my eyes. When I finally could, they hurt from my tears.
My gaze settled on Mom’s terrified expression, and I watched as her face slowly softened with relief. She wiped the tears on my cheeks, although that didn’t stop them from falling again.
She patted my hand. “Was it a bad dream, honey?” she asked. I took deep breaths to steady myself. I nodded.
“I wish I turned earlier, so I could—I don’t know,” I whispered, watching as the invisible switch clicked in my mom’s mind.
“I wish he was here,” she said.
Me too, Mom, I thought. I miss him too. How often had I wished that he was still alive, and that I was the one who had died?
I closed my eyes again and felt myself drift away into another dream.
Chapter One
Wonder and Anxiety
“The best is yet to be.”
~Robert Browning~
Lena Rose Winter
Sighing, I laid my head down on the unshaven grass. I smiled. Stars glimmered and gleamed at me, assisting the moon’s job to light up the sky at night. It seemed to me that there was a snowfall sparkling in outer space and I felt privileged to witness it. With soft, soothing music blasting in my ears, I felt better than I had in a long time. Comfort was som
ething I cherished more than anything. I could feel a slight breeze blow on my neck; it cooled the few beads of sweat that had formed earlier that night.
Mom and I had decided to do a Welcome to the New Home barbecue. We’d eaten until our stomachs were begging for a break. It was always a moment that embellished my relationship with her. She went to sleep about an hour ago, the wine easing the process. So I’d been lying here for what, an hour or two? In those moments, I witnessed the sun disappearing and permitting the moon to rise in the sky; it was a never ending cycle.
Except, of course, for people who lived in the North Pole.
I had come close enough once, though. A few years ago, when I was twelve, Mom’s company gave her a post somewhere in Alberta, Canada. We lived there only for about two months, but my, oh my, we had gone there in the middle of January. I still recall fearing that my toes were going to fall off because I couldn’t feel them.
Thank God that this time, we moved into a place that wasn’t too horribly cold, hopefully. Albany, NY seemed like a pretty cool place so far. I took a walk around yesterday and there was a gigantic park, Ridgefield, where I was sure to spend more time throughout the year. Myrtle Avenue was a considerably calm street and I was content about the small house we rented for the year. Since it was senior year, Mom promised that we could stay here long enough so I could finish my year and do all of the senior celebrations.
I was never one to fear new beginnings, considering this was the seventh home I lived in. In the span of four years, I had gone to seven different schools, met different kinds of people, and lived in unique types of houses. I was aware of what was waiting for me tomorrow.
Pressure.
Questions would be asked and answers would have to be given. I’d have to walk away from the spotlight and fade away from the minds of students who loved the “new girl.” I would go back into the turtle shell I built myself.
A particular star in the sky winked at me and it got me thinking about Dad.
I often wondered why life could be so fair, yet cruel. Growing up without a father for the past seven years was hard. I saw my mother cry on his birthdays and, of course, I also carried around the memory of my fellow 4th grade ‘friends’ practically engraving the idea that I murdered my dad in my mind. Mom often said that I wasn’t to blame, that it was his fate to die. Still, it wasn’t something anyone can just forget.
