Love At Last

Lily

The first thing I did was to carefully take my son out of this stranger’s hands.

He noticed the look of disapproval on my face and rolled his eyes.

I was shocked at his facials.

“It’s not like I’m kidnapping him or something,” he said with an attitude.

There was no way in hell that I was going to leave my son with a total stranger.

“Yeah. Right,” I replied, still cradling jacek in my arms.

Although Jacek was calm, I knew it was only a matter of time before his tantrums began.

“So. What do you say?” He asked.

” Feel free to come here whenever you please” I started, a smile escaping his lips.

” But I don’t want you taking my son out or any of those other things you mentioned previously. This is a place of business and I’d appreciate that” I finished.

I watched as his smile morphed into a deep frown.

” Typical” he muttered under his breath and walked away, the sound of the bell that hung above the door ringing as a sign that the door had been opened.

I released my breath, one that I didn’t even realize I was holding up until now.

“That guy – Jarod placed a hand on my shoulders for support like he usually did – is bad news, Lily. I don’t like him” Jarod said.

” Me too” as soon as I said that, Jacek began to cry. I was too worked up to try to even consider what exactly was making him shed crocodile tears, I didn’t even have to ask his hands kept on stretching towards the door.

***

“Mama! It’s today. It’s today! Isn’t it?” Jacek was currently in the bathtub, having his hair scrubbed thoroughly by me.

It’s been two days since that rude man walked through the doors of my shop and it has been peaceful since then.

“Yes, baby. You’re right! It’s today” my voice sharp with excitement.

Jacek giggled as I tickled him a bit.

Today, we were going to Disneyland and I have never seen a child be so happy about something like that.

” I wanna see Mickey mouse and the slides. The waterfalls, mama!” He shouted and splashed some water in the tub, splashing most on himself and sending some flying my way.

I laughed at his attempt to make water ripples ending with the ripples running for their lives.

He was such a cute child.

I dried him off from the tub and carried him, wrapped him in a towel the way he liked.

He had his clothes picked out since the day I told him that we would be going to Disneyland. I felt so proud of him for even being this way at such a young age. It gladdened my heart.

We finally hurried up, getting dressed and all.

“Is Jarod coming, mama?” He asked.

Did I mention, that his memory was fantastic?

“No candy, he’s not,” I said and made a face.

Jacek made an identical one and moved closer to me.

“Why, mama?” He asked, his tiny facial expressions almost making me laugh instead of feeling guilty.

“Because candy he had to work. Don’t you want cupcakes when you get back?” I asked him, deliberately using that as a cover because if I didn’t then Jarod had no choice but to come with us.

“Yes! Mama. I do” he said.

I smiled, loving that my truck had worked.

We drove to Disneyland and I could see the excitement in his eyes, it gave me joy that I had spent a good amount of money to give him this explicit amount of joy. I loved it.

“Mama! What’s that?” He suddenly asked, pointing to a kiosk that had way too many people.

I had him on my hip and pointed at the kiosk too.

“That’s cotton candy. Want some?” I asked him and he nodded his head, happiness overwhelming him.

I laughed a bit and moved towards the line, adjusting his weight on my body.

A lot of people suddenly rushed towards me, I attempted to wait till they passed but I needed to get to the end of the line.

As I tried to boycott the stream of people that had intercepted my path, I bumped into someone.

“Watch it!” He growled.

I turned to where the voice had come from and I couldn’t hide the shock that rippled through me in waves.

“Urgh. It’s you” his mouth formed more words. I was rooted in shock, the stream of people gone and only us standing, my path obvious and his, I didn’t care about.

“Mama. It’s the rude guy!” Jacek shouted.

Jesus!

The guy looked from me to Jacek, his face softening as though magic was been performed.

“Hi. Jacek. What did we say my name was?” He asked Jacek and made to touch his pinkie.

“Cayden!” Jacek shouted happily and then began to fumble on my hip, stretching his arms indicating he wanted to be carried by Cayden.

I didn’t know his name was Cayden or that my son would somehow develop a friendship with the one man I didn’t like.

“And you” he motioned to me.

The shock left my eyes immediately, he stretched his hands to want to carry Jacek from my arms.

I immediately turned away, rejecting him.

” You can see the boy wants my company right? You’re not blind” I scoffed at the audacity of this man.

“I’m his mother” I fired.

“I’m his friend” he returned.

I was trying so hard to be civil and not convince myself that I didn’t need to dump a whole tray of mud on that pristine head of his.

“What are you even doing here? You’re not a child are you?” My tongue sharp at the tip struck at him.

He looked at me, anger and irritation evident on his face

“No, I’m not but you still are” he fired back and I’ve never felt my cheeks grow hotter than a pan in an oven.