While my husband took a shower I quickly looked for a place I could put Blue. The floor won, not risking him rolling off the chair at night. I took the cushions and made a boundary for him. I dared take the throw blanket on the bed and folded it before laying it on the floor. If Hendrix decided to crucify me for going into his closet then I would face his wrath head on. I looked through the shelves until I saw the spare blankets. I took one, rushing back before he came out of the bathroom. I wrapped my baby with the blanket before lowering him to the makeshift bed. I could not take my eyes off him, scared something would happen. My shoes were kicked off and I sat on the chair right in front of Blue. I folded my legs up on the chair and lay my head on my knees, staring at him sleep. He looked so small as if to be swallowed by the blanket. Was it normal for one year olds to be that tiny? He was barely putting any weight on, as light as a feather. I chewed on my bottom lip. If I gave
I did not dare leave that bathroom. I wrapped my son in a gown and settled in a corner, him patched to my chest. In my head I kept playing the scene of me nudging Hendrix and grabbing Blue. The guilt did not lower and it felt as if I would die from it. It did not allow me an ounce of sleep. The sun rose and the smell told me Blue needed a change. I pushed up, my body aching as if I was run through by a truck. I filled the tub with water then attempted to undress Blue on the closed toilet seat. It was then I realized I had nothing with me. It was then I realized I had no diapers, I had no clothes for my child or any of his toiletries. Everything had been left back at home. The realization left me drained. What was I going to do? I did not have a single penny on me and even if I did, how would I buy the things I needed? I pushed up, hands on my waist, staring down at Blue in defeat. No one said motherhood would be so hard. Storm’s words echoed in my head but I pushed them awa
I could not help the soft laugh that escaped. Sprawled on the floor, having gone through all the paper bags. Once again I was in tears, shaking hand over my mouth. Hendrix bought different brands and different sizes of diapers because he was not sure which was suitable. A large pile of clothes and baby products sat next to me. He even bought different kinds of formulas and a machine to which I unboxed and pulled out the manual to weep even more. It was a baby formula making machine. Warmth spread in my chest, not sure how I could thank him. Knowing my baby was hungry, I did not waste anymore time. I plugged the machine to an outlet and read through the instructions. I got water and put in the said scoops then stood back and watched the baby bottle fill slowly. When I was sure everything was going as it should, I took my baby to the bathroom and gave him a proper bath. I oiled his skin, brushed his soft hair and got him warmly dressed. For once we had toys. I scattered them on the fl
Hendrix did not come back that night and the next. At that point I was dizzy and weak. Walking out of the room would soon become a need. I kept telling myself ‘one more day’, as if that would make them forget I was harbouring a whole baby in their home.On the fourth day a knock came from the door.“Can we clean the room ma’am?”I reluctantly unlocked the door and walked to sit on the couch with Blue. I watched them change the sheets and blankets, took out the trash and the laundry. The floors were scrubbed clean, no part of the room except the couch I sat on was left uncleaned.Just as they were gathering their equipment I stood and walked closer.“Can you com
It was exactly four pm when a knock came at the door. I was used to this by then, even dared to look forward to what I was getting. Things were not as bad, something was bound to give. I perched Blue on the bed and rushed to the door, cracking it slightly open before I peaked my head out, getting some relief when I saw that it was two members of the staff. I opened the door ajar, taking note they were not carrying anything. “Good afternoon Ma’am, the master has invited you to dinner tonight at seven pm, at the dining room.” The lady finished with a slight bow. “We will come to escort you.” The other lady added before also bowing and like that they turned and made their way back. I closed the door in a state of shock. Well, I knew the day would come. I was just not prepared for it. I had three hours to make an escape plan. Why did they invite me? Could it just be them extending an olive branch?Maybe this was good. They were my family now, I had to make nice. But I was not that n
When the chair to my right was pulled I nearly fainted. My body was having multiple chemical reactions all at once, making my palms sweaty. “Thank you, Brenda.” And I watched as my husband slipped into the chair next to mine, his thick thighs covered by navy blue suit pants, seeing the flap of his matching jacket which he soon pulled off, draping it at the back of his seat with such grace. “Wife,” My hand froze behind Blue’s back, hoping Hendrix hadn’t seen it. Words were beyond my capabilities for that night, not able to offer a greeting back. His voice was firm and washed over me like a blanket. “Mother, Sir, Henry. My apologies for being late.” I felt safe, I felt as if I had been handed Captain America’s shield. I finally had the courage to push my head up, thankfully because my neck had been killing me. A cologne hit my nostrils. It made sense coming from him. Somehow I had got it from the source but it smelt better from the owner. Slowly, I shifted my gaze past my husban
Mr Williams was the first to push his chair back and stand up. The room was left in deadly silence with my heart so loud I was afraid they would all hear it drum wildly. I was scared that somehow I was glued to the chair, a chill running through my body and leaving me cold. It took minutes to process the words and from there my mind was thrown into a whirlwind. Around me, I could barely register the chairs being pushed back, and the people in the room standing up to leave. What I had been waiting for since the beginning of the dinner suddenly seemed unreachable. There was no way my legs could carry me. I did not know what to do? I was defeated, my brain running to different directions and hitting a wall. I could barely register the hand on my shoulder, just staring ahead, trying to find a way out. If I ran away, how far could I go? Where would I go? With a child, it would leave me homeless in the streets. “Daphne, assist my wife to my room.” I heard the words and they just rang in
I drifted into consciousness, every part of my body aching. My eyes were swollen and burning. Rubbing them only made it worse. My head was pounding, a groan escaping my lips as I pushed up from the awkward position I was in. ‘What happened?’ I pressed my hand to the side of my head as if that would make it hurt less. I turned, the room so dark. I pushed forward to turn on the side lamp. I was still in my clothes, I must have passed out. Then it hit and I turned so fast my waist nearly snapped into half. Wild eyes scanned the bed. My heart stopped and I swear I died for a second as my eyes lay on bed. Blue had fallen over from the position I had sat him in. He lay on his stomach. I jumped and picked him up only to gasp, his body burning hot. He was as light as a paper and as I turned him, I found his face red, eyes closed, a trail of tears left on his cheeks. “Blue?” I placed my hand on his chest and shook, getting no response. No. No. No. He was too light, his head rolling bac
Four bedrooms, two and a half baths with a large kitchen, a living room, a dining room and a laundry room. There was no denying it at this point. Hendrix bought this house. I did not even know how to react, just struck and not sure how or when I would recover. The house was furnished, but with just the basics, no deco. It was gorgeous though.I could not stop myself from seeing the potential after decoration. The rooms were spacious and charming with iron bed frames and white sheets. I was in awe, as if they bought everything from antique stores. I found myself absorbed in the tour, even pulling from Hendrix, running my hand through everything. The house was cleaned, no single spec of dust, not that I was checking. Everything was warm and cozy. I tried to listen as they told us the history of the house but found myself spacing out in awe. “Ma’am, is it okay if I hold onto Blue while we walk around?” The younger woman suddenly asked, shocking me out of my daze. I stopped, lookin
Hendrix pulled up into something called a drive thru thirty minutes later. I could not help push up to stare as he put an order in. It was a few minutes to one and the hunger had begun clawing its way up. My nerves had my hands shaking and I pretended to be checking on Blue as a way to make myself busy. Blue was deep asleep, that still did not keep me from running my knuckle down his cheek. `We drove around the establishment, my interest peaked as I analysed everything. Hendrix paid then moved to the next window where they handed him a large paper bag. He turned and handed it to me. I quickly pushed forward to take it, sitting back down and placing it on the mat to turn again, taking another paper bag which was quickly getting wet. I set it down, the car moving again. I turned, looking around to see that we were leaving. “Please pass me the bottle of water,” Hendrix said, having me open the paper bags until I saw the bottles of water, giving him one then taking out the others and st
By the time I stepped out of the bathroom, fully dressed in the luxurious suit shorts and a sleek top with sandals he had bought me, Hendrix sat on the bed, Blue in his arms, having pulled on a hat on him. He was whispering something to Blue and Blue had a firm grip on his ear which should have been painful with those sharp razor nails. Blue lulled his head back which had Hendrix quickly push up while moving his hand to ensure that Blue did not break his neck. He groaned after because Blue had latched on his ear again with more force than before. I had never seen Blue that active. A part of me wanted to rush in and rescue Hendrix but found myself glued. What I did not expect next was a chuckle from Hendrix. He was not angry. He did not forcefully pull Blue’s hand away. He leaned in closer while Blue pulled. I was in shock, they must have given Blue something, this was my first time seeing him in such a manner. “Okay, I apologize,” Hendrix said, chuckling again as he carefully put
I woke up with a start, wide eyes staring ahead only to collide with nearly silver orbs. My breath froze along with my heart while my mind tried to process what was happening. Hendrix froze too before he moved again. Something was being tucked around me and my body was quivering. It was after a few seconds that I realized I was cold, my teeth chattering. A thicker blanket was draped over me which Hendrix also tucked around my body. I couldn’t stop my wild eyes, my teeth soon chattering. Fuck, it was cold and I could hear the patter of rain outside. In the next second I swear I died as Hendrix got on the bed with me. I felt as if my head would explode. He pulled me to him, seeing nothing but a white shirt covering a wide and beastly chest. I did not even have time to panic as he brought me to his chest. My face was pressed against him, arms bent on my side, forced to grip his sides. God, what was happening? Then I took a deep breath and lost my mind. His cologne attacked my nostr
My head was throbbing after hours of lectures and lessons. To say the pediatrician was livid was an understatement. The tongue lashing I received was well deserved. My child was malnutritioned, and unvaccinated. She even asked if I hit him, if I ever abused my son. I shivered even recalling the question. “If it were up to me, I would be calling social child services.” She had spat out before leaving after packing her gear away. She had thrown me one last dirty look, pushing her large glasses up her nose then marched out. The nurse in the room had just been as stiff as I was. I did not deserve to cry over it and make myself a victim. Every word spat was correct. I was grateful for the lessons the doctor gave me and the products she recommended. I had everything written down and prayed I would not forget the paper with all the information. The room was dark, it was probably late at night. Blue had woken up and after a long check up, had fallen back to sleep. The doctor had warned me
Ruth’s P.O.V.I slipped into consciousness to be met with silence and emptiness. I knew I was heavy on painkillers but could still feel the echo of pain. I blinked the fatigue away, staring up at the white ceiling with memories flooding into my head. My heart tightened with each memory strike. The beeping had me turn my head to the heart machine, watching my heart pump. I was tired, feeling heavy, and cloudy. My head finally turned to the bed next to mine, more like a cot. The baby heart monitor showed that Blue was alive, his heartbeat steady. I shifted, and swung my legs off the bed to the cold floor. I gripped my heart monitor and wheeled it as I walked around my bed to my baby. The room was small but clean and neat. I would never know how to thank Hendrix. He saved us. I swallowed, not wanting to go back to the night. I reached the cot and peered in. Blue had a heart monitor connected along with a drip which had a solution dripping into his system. His chest pushed up and down,
HENDRIX’S P.O.V. ‘The first son can’t have tainted goods so I am left drawing the short end of the stick.’ I could not shake that thought away days after being forced into this situation. It left a bad taste in my mouth. How easy it was for the responsibility to be thrown at me after her parents stated that she had a child. Their exact words were ‘She is ruined, she is tainted, and has carried another man’s child’. How could a man utter such words about his daughter? I turned, not that I was any better. The groan nearly escaped as I forced my eyes to stay closed, trying with everything in me to at least get two hours of sleep. If I wasn’t thinking about one of the very worst days of my life, ‘my wedding’, then my thoughts ran back to how baby Blue was barely responsive. The scene would haunt me for months. The way his body was so hot as if he would erupt. Holding them in my arms, both of them seeming to be at death’s gate, would haunt me.I shook my head once again, internally groa
I drifted into consciousness, every part of my body aching. My eyes were swollen and burning. Rubbing them only made it worse. My head was pounding, a groan escaping my lips as I pushed up from the awkward position I was in. ‘What happened?’ I pressed my hand to the side of my head as if that would make it hurt less. I turned, the room so dark. I pushed forward to turn on the side lamp. I was still in my clothes, I must have passed out. Then it hit and I turned so fast my waist nearly snapped into half. Wild eyes scanned the bed. My heart stopped and I swear I died for a second as my eyes lay on bed. Blue had fallen over from the position I had sat him in. He lay on his stomach. I jumped and picked him up only to gasp, his body burning hot. He was as light as a paper and as I turned him, I found his face red, eyes closed, a trail of tears left on his cheeks. “Blue?” I placed my hand on his chest and shook, getting no response. No. No. No. He was too light, his head rolling bac
Mr Williams was the first to push his chair back and stand up. The room was left in deadly silence with my heart so loud I was afraid they would all hear it drum wildly. I was scared that somehow I was glued to the chair, a chill running through my body and leaving me cold. It took minutes to process the words and from there my mind was thrown into a whirlwind. Around me, I could barely register the chairs being pushed back, and the people in the room standing up to leave. What I had been waiting for since the beginning of the dinner suddenly seemed unreachable. There was no way my legs could carry me. I did not know what to do? I was defeated, my brain running to different directions and hitting a wall. I could barely register the hand on my shoulder, just staring ahead, trying to find a way out. If I ran away, how far could I go? Where would I go? With a child, it would leave me homeless in the streets. “Daphne, assist my wife to my room.” I heard the words and they just rang in