FORBIDDEN AFFECTIONS: ADDICTED TO MY STEPMOM

“You’re working way too hard. How about you give yourself a break and get some rest first?”

I turned around and saw Ryan standing at the entrance door of my flower shop. I smiled and replied, “You know I can’t. Besides, there are lots of orders today. It would be a waste of today’s sales if I don’t move and make the most out of it today.”

Ryan smiled and sat in his favorite spot near the counter. “Where’s Amy?”

“She was sleeping soundly when I left her. I left her with Gio, her new best friend,” I replied as I started to arrange the 20th set of flower bouquets on the table.

“He doesn’t have classes today?” Ryan asked further. He rose up to his seat and almost grabbed the basket of flowers I just picked up – an action he had been doing for the past few months whenever he visited my shop.

I quickly retracted the basket from him. “You don’t need to, I can handle this.” I positioned the basket on a separate table nearby. “And, uh, yes. He has planned to play basketball the entire day actually. Jonah suggested that Gio better accompany Amy instead. You know, he’s been too obsessed with basketball and all that lately. Anything that turns to an obsession is unhealthy.”

I also finally finished the 20th bouquet that I had been arranging since earlier. Unfortunately, as I was doing so, I was suddenly stung by one of the rose thorns I had trimmed earlier to place in the flower arrangement.

Ryan moved quickly and looked at my pricked finger. “Does it hurt? Wait right here, let me get the first aid kit in a second.”

I nodded and then watched as Ryan made his way to the back of the flower shop where my mini office was located. He has memorized my office so well that he already knows where things are. When he returned, Ryan took my wounded finger and immediately began treating it with the first aid supplies. “I told you I’ll help you.”

“I’m fine,” I insisted to him.

I heard him sigh before looking at me with a serious look.

During the times I was pregnant and I needed a companion for doctor appointments, Ryan was there. He also visited me all the time to the point that I think I saw him almost every day of the week. He has also always brought me fresh fruits and vitamin supplements. At first, I based it on the fact that I was pregnant and assumed that he was just suffering from a broken or lonely heart from his divorce.

However, right after I gave birth, Ryan admitted to me that he liked me and my assumptions of him were wrong.

He said he was ready to take care of me and my daughter. But to this day, I still haven’t given him an answer. Ever since that incident regarding hearts and affections, I decided not to be in a relationship or fall in love again.

To tell the truth, I had already become numb. Or at the very least, that was how I felt and wanted to be.

Ryan had an innocent and pure intention toward me. I could feel his sincerity through his efforts and I also knew he wasn’t lying when he said he wanted to take care of me and my one-year-old daughter Amy. But then again, I wasn’t entirely ready for things like this and I don’t think I would be ready for it any time soon.

Thus, I was the first to break eye contact between Ryan and I. “Aren’t you needed in the office?” I reminded Ryan of his work and schedule as I made sure of the distance between us.

He was staring at me intently and had his mouth open as if he were ready to say something. But he let out a sigh and nodded. “Hmm, you’re right. I have to go now or I’ll be late,” he said, smiling as he straightened his posture.

I thanked him for his help on my finger and watched as he walked away.

He was about to head out when he stopped for a moment and turned around to face me once more, “Marianne…”

“Hmm?” I asked, looking in Ryan’s direction.

Something told me I should brace myself the moment I heard Ryan’s voice and tone of speaking. His face was very serious as he looked at me. And I again proved that I wasn’t mistaken with my gut instincts as I slowly, clearly, and loudly heard Ryan’s next words that shook my supposedly peaceful life again.

“Jack is back in the country, aren’t you going to see him?”

For the first time in the past year, and seemingly after being asleep for a very long time, I heard the loud beating of my heart. Excitement, fear, sadness, joy, apprehension – all of these emotions poured into my system all at once and made my entire being a full jumbled mess.

Emotions that I, hopelessly, only feel for Jack.

I didn’t answer and only turned my back as Ryan left. As far as Ryan knows, Jack and I had a misunderstanding when he left and went to New Zealand. Ryan thought maybe I was disappointed because he had a sudden baby without any plans ahead, making his parents disappointed by his irresponsible behavior. What he didn’t know was that there was more to that reason than he believed. There was more than that particular incident that transpired among us, especially between Jack and me.

After gathering my thoughts following the disclosures of that afternoon, I headed in the direction of my next delivery. Even though I have a delivery boy, there are still instances when I personally bring the flowers that were purchased by customers who lived within a certain kilometer radius and were easily accessible to me. I had been doing this voluntarily since I have a car anyway and I wanted to stroll around the city and the nearby villages whenever I wanted to get away from the thoughts that were bothering me.

A few moments later, I arrived at a residence that was simple but nevertheless stunning. It looked like there was a celebration going on right now because there were so many ornaments and decorations hanging just outside, and it was truly remarkable to see, even for those like myself who were just passing by. In addition to that, there were quite a few vehicles that had been parked.

I was met by a maid who appeared at the door. “Please come in, Ms. Would you like to have some juice while I call the organizer?”

I smiled and nodded, “Thank you but I’m good. I just came to deliver those flowers.”

“But it might take a while before the organizer comes to check the flowers, Ms. The owners of this house are also too busy at the moment. Please, have a seat first,” the maid politely suggested as she offered a seat in the living area. She then excused herself as she left me alone, telling me she would return in a few minutes.

Left alone, I looked around the house and couldn’t help but comment on its architecture and design.

The simplicity of this house’s design was actually pretty and brilliantly made. It only has a single floor but its interior was anything but congested or suffocating. Rather, it felt spacious, calming, and pleasing to the eyes. There was also a touch of nature that extremely suited my taste. Indoor plants of different kinds surrounded the vicinity along with marbled and tiled floors that looked new and clean. There wasn’t a spot where a shade of white and gray couldn’t be found but it blended well with the number of plants that served as refreshing colors in the almost colorless abode.

I couldn’t help but get to my feet in order to have a better view of the design and construction of this property. I was walking close to the front door and inspecting the artworks that were hung on the wall when all of a sudden, another maid walked by while pushing a baby stroller.

I smiled and asked, “Your baby?”

“Ah, no, Ms. This baby is the child of the house owners. He’s from abroad so he’s not used to the air here,” the maid replied with a forced smile.

I took a closer look at the baby and noticed a few rashes visible on his skin. As the maid just mentioned, he indeed might have a problem with the air in this country. Worried, I suggested, “I know a pediatrician near this place. You might want to bring him to that place.”

“Thank you for your suggestion, Ms. I will inform my bosses about it right away.”

I smiled as I looked at the innocent baby. “This baby is so cute. Is he pure blood or maybe mixed?”

“According to what I’ve been told, he is of pure blood and was born here; but, taking care of him is just too difficult. I guess he’s having a hard time adapting to the country’s air. It wakes him up and prevents him from falling back to sleep all through the night, which causes me to lose sleep and gives me these eyebags, ha ha ha,” the maid said with an expression that was a combination of crying and laughing forcibly.

Just by listening to her chuckle, I could already feel the misery that she was in. I smiled slightly and remarked, “Hmm… Surely he’s adjusting to the new surroundings… What country did you all come from again? Is it Canada?” I inquired, making a mental note to bring it up in conversation with the physician I was familiar with later on.

“No, Ms., it’s New Zealand. My Master and Madam came from New Zealand.”

The smile disappeared from my face. My breathing stopped and couldn’t help but back away from the stroller and froze slightly. I looked around and before I could ask again, I heard a voice that I thought I would never hear again.

“Auntie? Auntie Marianne, could it really be you?”