MAISIEPanic surged through me.I rushed to the entrance of the living room, moving quickly to block his way."When I put up with you, it’s because I don’t want to lose you. The day you should worry is the day I stop putting up with you."Jason stepped forward, intending to walk past me. I moved again, shifting my foot to block the doorway.His eyes darkened with frustration, but I didn’t care."You treat my feelings like they’re nothing," I accused. "Like I’m just being ridiculous. But I meant every word."Jason didn’t respond.Didn’t argue.Didn’t push me aside.He just stood there, silent, unreadable.And that silence only made my heart ache more.Did he not believe me?Did he not want to believe me?Or was he simply too afraid to?But I wasn’t going to back down.Not now.Not when I had so much left to prove.His sudden movement made me flinch."Why are you so stubborn?" His voice was sharp, filled with frustration.I swallowed hard. My tongue darted over my lower lip in hesitatio
MAISIENearly an hour passed. The room was quiet, interrupted only by the gentle hum of the videos playing. Clip after clip, memory after memory. And then, the last one—Don at five months old.The video lasted only twenty seconds, but it felt weightier than the rest. I watched as his tiny fingers reached for the camera, his toothless grin filling the screen. A single moment was frozen in time.I turned to Jason, feeling the weight of unspoken words between us. He met my gaze, his expression unreadable.“After the first lie, every truth becomes questionable. Be honest with me, and you’ll never find me cruel... no matter how much your honesty might hurt me.”The words settled deep in me, heavier than they should have been.I reached for his hand and rested my palm against his.His warmth seeped into my skin, grounding me.“I promise,” I whispered, “I will always be honest with you.”His fingers curled around mine, his grip firm yet comforting.There are some people who bring light into
MAISIEA sly smile tugged at the corner of Jason’s lips."What do you mean?" I asked. “I, that’s…” I fumbled for words, unable to explain myself properly.The way he looked at me made it impossible to think straight. "Just… cook. Weren’t you the one complaining about me being hungry? The food’s going to take forever, you pervert," I muttered, looking away to avoid his gaze.Jason’s chuckle was soft but amused, and I could feel his eyes lingering on me.Dinner passed quietly after that, with only the sound of utensils scraping against plates filling the room.When we were done, Jason excused himself to the bathroom, leaving me alone. I stepped out on the back doorstep and lit a cigarette as I stared out into the patio.The rain hadn’t stopped, though it had eased into a light drizzle. The air smelled fresh, earthy, and alive. I exhaled a plume of smoke, watching it dissipate in the damp air.My bare feet were already soaked from stepping on the wet grass, but I didn’t mind.I dropped t
MAISIEI hugged Jason’s arm tightly, a wave of happiness washing over me. I couldn’t describe how much it meant to finally have him back. There might be others who look like him, but I know I’d never find a heart like his. Jason wasn’t just one in a million, he was one of a kind. Our history was marked by pain and betrayal, yet I forgave him long ago, particularly after understanding the reasons behind his actions.Sometimes you just have to let go. Surrender to the moment and let life pass by as though it doesn’t belong to you.That’s exactly what I was doing now. I wasn’t thinking about the past or worrying about the future. I was simply enjoying his closeness, grateful for this fleeting moment of peace.~Hours later~Miriam called to reassure me that Don was home safe. His vacation was over tomorrow, and he’d be heading back to his studies.My thoughts lingered on him for a moment, picturing his cheerful face as he prepared for another term.A knock on the door interrupted my thoug
MAISIEJared’s tone dripped with malice. “He needs to learn that he’s not the only one who can take from others. If he’s going to steal from me, I’ll take everything from him!”“You’re insane!” I snapped, disgusted by his venomous words. “It’s not Jason’s fault that your father was unfair to you. Why are you so filled with hate?”Jared leaned back, laughing. “You don’t get to judge me. You’re no saint yourself. You lied to him—kept his son from him for years. That’s worse than anything I’ve done.”His words cut deeper than I wanted to admit.He raised an eyebrow and his tone turned mocking. “You didn’t even tell him when you saw them together. That’s cruel, don’t you think?”I swallowed hard. My fingers trembled slightly as I rubbed them together. He knew too much. How much more did he know?“What would you have done in my place?” I asked quietly.Jared’s eyes gleamed with cold amusement. “Exactly what you did,” he said icily.I greeted my teeth, hating every second of this conversati
MAISIEI crossed the street, my heart racing as I approached Jason’s car.He was leaning back in the driver’s seat, wearing a tight black shirt that hugged his toned figure.His blue jeans completed the effortlessly attractive look, and I couldn’t help but smile.My cheeks were warm as I turned to face him after sliding into the passenger seat. “Hey.”“Hey,” he replied warmly.I threw my coat in the back seat and buckled my seatbelt.“How was your day, my butterfly?” His voice was soft and it made me smile warmly. But my smile faltered the second I noticed the bandage wrapped around his right hand.“Jason…” I began with worry.He caught my gaze and shook his head lightly as if to reassure me. “A guest came to visit me today,” he said casually, resting his injured hand on the steering wheel. “I was just saying hello to him. You don’t have to worry.”Guest? My stomach twisted. Did he mean his brother?“Jason,” I said hesitantly, my fingers fidgeting in my lap. “I want to tell you someth
MAISIEDon was at the counter, focused on chopping green onions. Cooking wasn’t a task I assigned to him, he just enjoyed it. It was how he passed the time. Like father like son.My mind drifted back to my conversation with Jason in the car earlier. I hadn’t said a word. In a way, he was right… Don would uncover the truth sooner or later, whether we told him or not. Some things were simply inevitable.“Have you been with Miriam then your babysitter all day?” I asked, slipping into one of the chairs at the kitchen island.“Almost,” he replied, not looking up from his work. “Mr. Harding invited me to have lunch at his place.”I studied him, wondering what he really thought of Jason. Don was never one to judge people on the surface, but he was careful. Very careful about who he let in.“How do you find Jason?” I asked, treading carefully. “I mean… I think he’s a good person. What about you?”He paused for a moment as if weighing his words, then resumed chopping. “I appreciate that he tak
MAISIEI crossed the street. The cool night air brushed against my skin as I approached Jason’s house. Just as I raised my hand to knock, the door swung open.I froze with my fingers still suspended in the air.Jason grabbed me by the wrist before I could respond, pulled me inside, and swiftly shut the door behind us.My back pressed against the wood as he held me there, his grip firm yet familiar.My breath hitched. Not in fear, but in surprise.It took only seconds for the confusion to fade, replaced by something warmer. Nostalgia. Yearning.We had only been apart for a few hours, yet it had felt like an eternity.“You were waiting for me?” I asked barely above a whisper.His answer was a small nod, enough to make me smile. I loved his honesty, especially when it came to moments like this.I had come with a hundred things I wanted to talk about, thoughts that had been racing through my mind all evening. But now, standing here with him so close, every single one of them faded away.I
MAISIEI froze, then rushed closer to her. "Lily, what did you say? Say it again!"She placed her tiny palm on my cheek."Amma!"It wasn't perfect, but it was close enough. After months of trying, she'd finally said something resembling "Mama."Joy exploded through me like fireworks. I started bouncing up and down, unable to contain my excitement."She said it! She said 'Mama'! Did you hear that? She called me 'Mama'!" I shouted, throwing my arms wide and then forming a big heart shape with them for Lily.Suddenly, I realized I hadn't captured this momentous occasion. "Wait, I need my camera! This is important!"I started frantically searching through my bag. "Don't say anything else until Mama comes back with the camera, okay?" I called over my shoulder as I dug through my belongings.I've always been one to wear my emotions openly, especially happiness. After everything I'd been through in my life, I'd promised myself I would never downplay joy when it came my way. I would celebrate
MAISIEI was making my way back from checking on Don and his friends who were busy taking photos and being typical teenagers when Lily suddenly began squirming in my arms, making urgent sounds and pointing.Don had asked us to keep his relationship with Jason private at school. As far as his classmates knew, Jason was just his stepfather, the school principal who had married his mom.I understood his need for privacy; teenage social dynamics were complicated enough without adding that layer.Lily's movements became more insistent, drawing my attention back to her. She was staring fixedly at something, her little body practically vibrating with excitement.Following her gaze, I realized we were standing near the elephant enclosure. A massive African elephant was resting in the shade of a large tree, separated from us by sturdy metal bars and a deep moat.I moved closer to the viewing area, and Lily immediately grabbed onto the bars, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the enormous
MAISIEI turned back to face her, noting the familiar look of contempt that always appeared whenever Karina's name came up.Miriam had disliked her from the start, but her hatred had intensified after I'd explained the full story of how Karina had conspired with Jason's brother Jared, how she'd betrayed years of friendship with Jason just to trap him in a relationship."What's she done now?" I asked, not entirely sure I wanted to know.My feelings toward Karina were complicated. For a long time, I'd seen her as nothing but a manipulative obstacle standing between Jason and me. Then, during our final confrontation, I'd glimpsed something else—a young woman crushed under the weight of family expectations and desperate choices.However, that brief moment of sympathy had evaporated when Jason finally told me everything. The extent of her deception, the calculated way she'd worked with Jared to keep Jason tied to her... I'd never wished anyone ill except for Jared, but Karina had earned a
MAISIE"It's okay, sweet girl," I murmured, holding Lily close as our car pulled away from the driveway.Her eyes were still watery, her little chest occasionally hitching with the aftermath of tears. She'd been crying for Don, who had left earlier with Chen and their friend to meet us at the zoo.Don had snuck out while Lily was distracted with her toys, but she'd noticed his absence almost immediately. It was almost comical how both her father and brother would try to slip away unnoticed, terrified of upsetting a twenty-month-old."Come on, Lily," I said brightly, trying to distract her. "Say 'Mama'!"I'd been trying to coax her first words for weeks now. However, she seemed determined to take her time.The pediatrician assured us it was normal. Some children were simply more observant before they started speaking still I couldn't help feeling a little anxious.Lily ignored my prompting, becoming fascinated with the buttons on my jacket instead. She leaned forward, her chubby finger
MAISIEThe next morning, I emerged from a quick shower and headed to the dressing room to get ready for the day.I'd passed by Lily's room earlier and found both her and Jason still asleep, though she had somehow migrated onto his chest, her favorite sleeping position since she was born.Whenever she was with one of us while sleeping, she'd inevitably crawl up and settle herself on our chest, her ear pressed against our heartbeat.I pulled on ripped jeans, a white tank top, and a soft gray blazer, then headed back to the nursery, eager to tell Jason about his unprecedented night of sleep.When I reached Lily's room, the bed was empty. I found them on the other side of the room, where Jason was sitting on the floor with Lily in his lap, carefully putting tiny shoes on her feet.She looked adorable in a white sundress, her hair tamed into two small pigtails.I was about to speak when Don appeared behind me with Lily's sippy cup of milk in his hand."Time for breakfast, everyone," he ann
MAISIE~A couple of years later~I gave birth to the most beautiful little girl in the world two years after our wedding. We named her Lily, after Jason's mother. Sometimes I call her Lil when she's being especially cute, which is pretty much all the time.It was actually my suggestion to name her after his mother. I knew it would make Jason happy, and it truly did. The way his eyes lit up when I proposed it—that moment alone was worth it.Now she's one year and eight months old, toddling around our home with a determination that makes us all smile.Lily has filled our lives—mine, Jason's, and Don's—with a kind of joy I never knew existed. Her little voice, still forming words but full of expression, makes the whole house feel alive. She's become the unexpected glue that has truly brought our family together.Don had accepted my relationship with his father, but in those early days after the wedding, he still spent most of his time with his best friend.He was trying to adjust to this
MAISIEThe moment we appeared, the guests rose to their feet, turning to watch our approach.I saw familiar faces on both sides of the aisle—colleagues from work, parents from Don's school.Miriam stood in the front row, her pregnancy now visible beneath her flowing dress, tears already streaming down her face as she clutched Nathan's hand.But my eyes were drawn inexorably to Jason, waiting for me beneath the arch.The look on his face as he watched me approach… wonder, joy, love so intense it was almost painful to witness made everything else fade away.In that moment, it was just the two of us, connected by an invisible thread that had been drawing us together since our first meeting.Don and I moved slowly down the aisle, each step bringing me closer to my future. The weight of my son's arm beneath my hand was both grounding and symbolic. He wasn't just giving me away; he was walking with me into our new life.When we reached the front, the officiant smiled warmly at us. "Who give
MAISIEThe moment I stepped on the back porch, the world seemed to pause. Across the lawn where rows of white chairs arranged in a semicircle. Wildflowers in shades of blue, purple, and white lined the aisle—the same flowers that grew naturally along the stream at the property's edge, now woven into garlands that transformed our backyard into an enchanted garden.Jason squeezed my hand once before releasing it. Then he moved ahead to take his place at the simple arch we'd constructed from twisted branches and adorned with more wildflowers and fairy lights that would twinkle as evening approached.His best man, Klay, stood beside him, while Felix and the rest of Jason’s friends lingered a few feet away. Dressed in sleek black silk suits, they exuded an air of refined elegance, each one strikingly handsome in their own way.I took a deep breath, steadying myself in the quiet moment before everything would begin.The subtle scent of my bouquet—wildflowers mixed with sprigs of lavender—he
MAISIEWe lay tangled together afterward.Jason’s weight was a welcome pressure on top of me and his heartbeat was strong against my chest, gradually slowing to match my own.My ring caught the candlelight and sent prisms dancing across his sweat-dampened skin like tiny rainbows that seemed a fitting metaphor for the joy that filled me.Eventually, Jason shifted to the side and gathered me on him so that my head rested on his chest with his arm a protective band around my waist.Outside, the night had deepened, but inside our sanctuary, time seemed suspended in amber like the honey that still faintly flavored our kisses."When did you plan all this?" I asked, tracing idle patterns through the light dusting of hair on his chest.His fingers combed through my hair, gentle and soothing, occasionally working through tangles with careful attention. "I bought the ring before our trip to Greendale," he admitted, the rumble of his voice vibrating against my ear.I nodded.Tears slipped from t