CHAPTER 6: SECRET BABY

A cool wind suggested the arrival of fall. Autumn had begun to creep over, promising to transform the landscape into the backdrop that Rachel so loved.

Before Rachel finished hanging up her coat in her office cabin, pouring a cup of over-brewed coffee and settling in her chair, her secretary, Oliver, presented a pile of letters and files on her desk for review.

Forbidden memories rippled through her then coalesced, locking themselves away in the back of her mind, making it difficult for her to focus on her office work.

When Rachel has started feeling, looking and living her best life, such a horrific peep from the past happened to rattle her present perfect world out of nowhere.

However, seemingly more often than not, these dreaded reunions happened when they were least expected — and least prepared.

For four years, she had buried her feelings for Leo, yet the release valve had been opened and she was unable to shut it off.

She was intrigued to see him again. He didn’t look any different, just a little more suave because he wears suits now !?

As the office hours were drawing to a close, the telephone rang and interrupted her train of thought. She noticed the time and started packing for home. She had always put her family first, something she finally learned to do after she got pregnant.

Rachel had been through hell and back, overcoming hurdles including multitasking between jobs and studies. Left as a single mother, and having to learn how to fight back in a sexist workplace environment, she had come a long way.

Despite all, she managed to rise above to become a managing partner at the powerful Bradford company. Badass alert

?

Rachel took a train home and spent that time reading in and answering emails.

She finally reached the daycare, only to be greeted by Evelyn who opened the door with her usual beaming smile.

"How was your day, Rachel ? You look bone tired today" Evelyn observed, sensing the young mother’s fatigue radiating off her in waves.

"Everything was fine, Evelyn,” Rachel smiled at the kind old soul. “Just had a stressful bid. We have been neck deep in proposals all month and now it is finally over," she sighed in relief.  

"Good to know ! Today is Friday night with a much awaited weekend ahead. So you can have your Me-Time, Mommy," Evelyn said in a baby voice, making Rachel laugh.

"Tell me that joke again, no ? The one where this mom got some Me-Time !" Rachel said with a wink as Alex came running towards her with all his strength and threw himself in her arms, clinging to her neck like a precious necklace.

  

"Mommy !" Alex exclaimed.

"The silver lining to being a stressed-out working mom is that your child is at least there to brighten your day after a stressful job," Rachel said as she lifted Alex up in her arms to hug and kiss, while walking out of the daycare with his mini bag.

"Aside from the occasional temper tantrum, you can count on him to make you smile with a cute quirk. But let me be honest he's at his best behavior when his mommy is around. True momma boy, I tell you !" Evelyn replied as she waved Alex and Rachel goodbye.

"Got a Mama’s boy ? Don’t let anyone tell you it’s a bad thing, Alex," Rachel fondly said, cuddling her little prince in her arms while he giggled and played with her hair, recounting his day’s activities and leaving out the naughty bits.

"So where do you want to go out tomorrow ? Mommy will take you," Rachel asked as she snuggled her little bunny close to her and pampered him with kisses.  

"I don’t like this place, that place, or any other place. I only like being with you, Mommy !" Alex replied, now entwining himself a little more tightly around Rachel to drive home his point.

Rachel always tried to spend as much uninterrupted time as she could with Alex in the morning because she never got enough evening time during the weekdays.

Her “morning routine” actually started the night before. She prepared her work outfit the night before- down to her undies, jewelry, “commuter shoes” and heels packed in a bag, and packed her work bags (laptop, phone, badge, dry snacks), so that after waking up early in the morning, she could work out.

She usually sipped a cup of coffee while preparing breakfast, packed lunch for both of them, and then folded the laundry which she washed a night before, after Alex had slept.

Once Alex woke up, she spent the hour and a half-ish only playing with him, feeding him and getting him ready for daycare and also getting herself ready for office, before she dropped Alex off at daycare and boarded a train to her office.  

And it always worked out well, but there wasn't a day that went by that she didn’t wish she could teleport home after work for bedtime.

After dinner, she picked up and cleaned the dishes while Alex watched cartoons.

And then they started their bedtime routine ! Baths and jammies, followed by brushing teeth and then bedtime stories after tucking in the naughty prince, Rachel finally called it a night.

Weekends were also packed full of family time waking up to the sound of her son, Alex saying ‘Mama, mama !’

For Rachel, it was the best sound ever !

Owing to her meticulous planning at home, Rachel could channelize all her energies into her work in the office in a more efficient way.

Today in the midst of her mental turmoil, coming face to face with her past, she kept her poise and laid the dinner table with nutritious sumptuous supper.

"Put your toys away now. It's dinner time, cutie pie !" Rachel called Alex for dinner who came running towards her and then hugged her legs.

“Mommy ! I am here, I am here !!”

“Ok, baby” Rachel laughed as she lifted him in her arms. "Are you ready to sit in your high chair, Your Highness ?" she asked while smothering the giggling prince with kisses.

"Yes, Mommy ! I am ready for my dinner date with you," he chuckled while Rachel could sense the influence of cartoons on him.

This little naughty bug. Sigh !

Alex ate his rainbow-coloured, healthy meal full of fresh flavors of fruits and veggies, thoughtfully prepared by Rachel with a sea of love that guaranteed to please even a fussy eater like him.

Both of them feasted on their respective delicious meals as he shared his daycare stories with his mommy.

When they were done with dinner, Rachel plucked Alex from the high chair, cleared the table and cleaned the dishes.

Then she rocked him in her arms and hummed a lullaby as she noticed a stark resemblance of Alex with his dad. Same amber eyes, ash brown curly hair, similar food tastes and mannerisms, the list went on and on.

He was mini Leo, in short.

The calming song helped lull Alex into deep sleep who kept trying to look at Rachel from time to time.

But she made sure not to make eye contact with him, specially when he was on the verge of falling asleep. Otherwise, he would sense her excitement and abort the mission.

Once, the tired ball of energy fell asleep, she tucked her little cub gently into bed and made sure he was warm and comfortable by covering him with soft fur blankets.

“Good Night, baby boy. Mommy loves you,” she kissed his forehead and tip-toed out of the room.

With an appealingly piquant, zesty lemon tea in one hand and a mobile in another, Rachel moved into the study to send some important office emails when her cell phone suddenly rang.

“Hello ? Rachel ! It’s me.”