5

Emma Starr 

“Are you crazy?” 

My best friend, Morticia said over the phone. 

“You’re looking for adoptive parents for a child that has a father?” 

“I need someone that won’t make him miss me. His dad is far from that, following the fact that he’s been getting on my nerve ever since his return.” 

“Wish I could help, somehow...” she replied, as I took some cabbage putting it in the shopping cart. I went for the cheaper items because that was what I could afford. “Help raise him?” 

I bit my lower lips, desperately asking her. This wasn’t the first time I did. “That will be awesome.” 

“Hell no, I can’t even raise myself to talk less of a kid.” 

Morticia was a redhead. I met her in this neighborhood at a community party which we both volunteered helping services for. Since then, we became close and inseparable. 

“God. What do I do now?” 

I ran my hands through my hair, as I walked to a store to get foodstuff. 

“Didn’t you say his father showed up in town?” 

“He did, but he’s hurling money at us instead of taking his full roles! I don’t understand why I spread my legs for such a man in the first place...” 

I discreetly whispered to her this time. 

“Bestie, calm down. You shouldn’t do anything to stress yourself, so something doesn’t happen. How much is left to gather for the surgery?” 

“I only got a quarter of it. It’s all so confusing, I can’t help it.” Tears flickered in my eyes. “What will he do when I’m gone, huh? I might drop dead right now and he’s left with no one.” 

“I can try?” 

“That will be insensitive of me,” I said, knowing the situation with her. Morticia lived with her husband and they decided not to have kids due to bad parenthood inflicted on both of them. “Morticia, don’t worry, I will figure it out.” 

“Okay, don’t be hard on yourself though.” 

“Yeah sure.” 

I said, about hanging up, “One more thing.” 

She said, making me pause. “What?” 

“Jonathan’s father... you should try giving him a chance.” 

“I can’t have my son live in a house full of a myriad of women.” 

“How bad is he, on a scale of 1-10? Is he like still the same ass dude or my ex left me so I’m this way?” 

“Nicholas Russell has divorced five years ago,” I whispered. “Based on that, he’s my ex-left-me so I’m this way.” 

“Then he isn’t bad!” 

Some items fell from the other roll, making me widen my eyes. God. I thought it was empty. Had someone been listening to our conversations? 

“I’m so sorry!” 

A woman in a black coat said to somebody. 

“I will call you back, Morticia,” I said, hanging up the phone and trying to go after the woman but she ran as swiftly as possible. 

I couldn’t even see her face! 

My legs became wobbly making me squat with snapped fists that minute. “Miss, are you okay?” 

A community bystander passed by asking, “Yeah sure, I am.” 

I said, sitting on the floor and opening my bags instantly. 

It seemed like I was getting attention but I ignored it, bringing out my pills to take with water. 

Summoning a lot of strength, I tried standing up and luckily the drugs worked instantly. 

“That will be $50.” 

I brought out some money, handing it to the cashier who said, “Do have a lovely day, Miss Emma.” 

I smiled at her. “And you too, Mrs. Elton.” 

I opened the door and got out with the foodstuff in my hands, checking my time which read 1:40 pm. By 2 pm, Jonathan will finish his classes today. 

“Taxi!” 

“I’m already hired, sorry!” he apologized, zooming off like I didn’t even call him in the first place. 

“Really?” 

The street seemed empty of taxis except for private cars, which made me begin to walk only for a grey Rolls Royce to park by my side. I knitted my brows, looking to see Nicholas in a black shade and this blue check shirt that complimented his brown hair which was packed to the back in a little bun in a sleek gel. 

“Get in.” 

I sighed, motioning to walk away from him only for him to follow me in slow drives. “Would you stop?” 

“Not when the mother to my child is out in this chilly weather.” 

A gust of wind swooshed in making me speechless. Nicholas came down from his car, opened the front passenger’s door, and took the grocery bag from my hand. “Come on in.” 

He said those words, motioning that I entered. 

God. Why was he being kind and irresistible? 

“Fine.” 

I got in his car closing the door after me with him starting it, and zooming off instantly. “Where should I drive to?” 

“Sun Valley Elementary School.” 

“I’m not familiar with this town so you might as well describe.” 

“Oh, sure... turn at the first bend.” 

He did as I asked. “Here?” 

“Yes, to the right.” 

My eyes flickered to the way his fingers gripped the steering wheel with his veins highlighted as a determined expression contained his features. 

God, I hope I didn’t make a mistake. Jonathan was his son. What was wrong with this? 

“And... we are here,” I said, a few minutes later taking a hold of my grocery bag and opening the car. 

“Thanks,” 

“You’re welcome,” he replied, sweeping a glance over me with his eyes. “By any chance is this Jonathan’s school?” 

“Mommy! Mommy!” 

I looked back only to see my son running towards me with his school bag. He hugged me tightly while I asked him, “How was school today?” 

“I did great in my PEs. The teacher was impressed.” 

“I can say you took that from your dad.” Nicholas came down from his car, saying. “He was also great at sports and once won a national medal.” 

“Really?” 

My son let out why I gave Nicholas a what-are-you-doing glance. “Yep.” 

“Do you by any chance know daddy? Mommy says he will be back one day but I have not seen him to date.” 

“Jonathan, that’s enough for now. Thanks for the ride, Nick.” 

I pulled my son's hands motioning to go. 

“Hold on!” 

He obstructed my movement making me look into his eyes, only to see beaming white lights. My heart thudded immediately looking back only to see a swarm of paparazzi rushing towards us. 

“Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Nicholas, over here.” 

“Get in the car now, Emma.” He said, carrying Jonathan in his arms and commencing to make his way to the driver’s seat. “Is it true you’re the father to this child?” 

The door was already surrounded, thus, hindering a quicker leave in that area. “The Miss over there... is she the mother to your son?” 

“We got this news from a reliable town source and will like you to shed more light on it!” 

Opening the backseat door, he tucked Jonathan with me who I hugged immediately panicking so much. 

“Emma is my bride-to-be. We plan on getting married and prefer you don’t meddle with our personal lives.” 

I stared astonishingly at him, through the glass. It was tinted from the outside so he didn’t see me. What was he doing? 

“But we just need a little info. Won’t you tell your fans more about yourself?” 

I recognized one of the paparazzi team. I have seen her somewhere before. Where? That hair... Yes! She was the one in the grocery shop today. God, this was all my fault. 

I shouldn’t have made a call so private and so public. 

She was one of the community people and my neighbor’s daughter who aspired to be a newscaster. She leaked the news! 

I pressed the car window a little low saying, 

“Everyone, listen! I have something important to say to you all!” I exclaimed making them all rush toward me. 

“What do you have to say, Miss Emma?!” 

“Did you get engaged this year? Care to tell us the exact time? We are happy for you but can you shed more light on it?” 

I was immediately caught on guard, with no words to say. 

“Mommy, why are they flashing those bright lights on us?” 

My son asked, making me cover his eyes. 

“Don’t worry son, it will soon go away,” I said. 

The diversion was able to make Nicholas make his way to the driver’s seat. He entered, turned on his Rolls Royce, and sped off away from them. 

“I’m sorry!” I let out, waving a bye to them feeling entirely awkward before turning to face him. 

“Who were those people, mommy?” My son asked me and replied, “They were reporters, baby. They look for news on famous people and incidents.” 

He wriggled his brows, “Did any incident happen?” 

“No, son... no.” 

I said, holding him closely. When we reached a favorable distance, Nick parked the car. 

“We need to talk,” he said. 

Even though these scenes never seemed to end well, I voiced out my words. 

“I-“ we said in unison. 

“I mean,” 

“You go first,” we repeated together. 

“Go first, Emma.” 

My son was already beginning to doze off, on my legs making me clear my voice in preparation. 

“Why did you tell them I was your bride-to-be?” I questioned, leaning into him. “Are you crazy? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” 

“I don’t think you have any idea of how the community will react knowing I didn’t engage you, despite you having a baby for me,” he said. 

“How will they react?” 

“Stop coming to Country Club in a protest, maybe, and painting me as the bad guy who uses women. Shit.” 

“What is it?” 

“We didn’t lose them completely,” he said, staring at the rear-view mirror. I wriggled my brows at the black bus at our back, saying, 

“Are those who I think they are?!” 

“Yes,” he replied only for me to look back to see black cars behind us following as he drove. “Are we fucked?” 

How was this even possible? Goodness… this was fucked up. 

“Highly 'cause it seems like someone gave this info to the wrong kind of paparazzi. These kinds are highly persistent. They will take a plane down here, lodge in town, and won’t give up until they find useful info or scandal.”