Mickey“Your son said my daughter was bossy,” I said, crossing my arms and glaring at Derrick. Somehow, our children met and are beginning to know each other. I could not stop my daughter, Kayden, from interacting with Tom, whom she recently met. They are both children and might one day meet themselves in the future when they are grown. Derrick just chuckled at my words, seriously unbothered by what I just said. “Only because she told him how to climb the monkey bars properly. I believe her exact words were, you are doing it all wrong, Tom.’”I tried not to smile, but the corners of my lips betrayed me. My lips had long pulled out a smile. “She really cares about the safety of someone as little as she is. I don’t see the problem in that.”“Oh, there is no problem,” Derrick said, leaning casually against the school fence as we watched the kids on the playground. “It’s just that Tom is not used to being bossed around. Usually, he is the one giving instructions. And now that it's c
Mickey “Who is that, mum?” Kayden asked, peeking out from behind my legs as the doorbell rang loudly, waking her up from sleep. “It's Uncle Teddy, sweetheart. He's here to see us,” I said, brushing my hands on my jeans and heading to open the door.When I pulled it open, there he was. Teddy. He looked just the same with that familiar warm smile that he always gives us. Teddy looked so tired and exhausted and I could not help but wonder where he was coming from that he decided to stop by my house. “Finally, Mickey!” he said, stepping forward and wrapping me in a big hug. “Do you know how hard it has been to get a proper meal without you?”I laughed. I had not expected it. I know I make good meals but Teddy was just trying to pull my legs. “I’m sure you managed just fine. I was not expecting you. ”As I stepped back, his eyes shifted downward and it landed on Kayden. His smile widened even more and he picked her up from the floor. “And who is this beautiful young lady?”“Hi, Uncl
Mickey“You are sure this is okay?” I asked, gripping Kayden’s hand as we stood at Derrick’s front door.Somehow, I made my way to Derrick's house with my daughter beside me. “Mama, you have asked me three times already,” Kayden said, rolling her eyes dramatically. “We came here to have dinner, didn't we?”I exhaled a shaky breath. She was right. It was just dinner. But the intestines in my stomach were getting tied up in knots. I didn't want to have anything to do with this guy standing in front of his door and accepting all his invites. Isn't this pathetic, Mickey? And doesn't this make me look cheap?Before I could rethink my decision, the door opened, and there he was, standing in a crisp white shirt and dark jeans.“You made it. I'm so grateful. please come into my humble abode,” he said, stepping aside to let us in.The scent of something delicious filled the air, and I caught sight of a beautifully set dining table. “Mickey,” he said softly, his eyes meeting mine, “I’m real
Mickey“Mickey,” Kendrick said, standing at my doorstep like a ghost from the past.The sight of him left me frozen. I had not seen him in person since that disastrous business event months ago, and yet here he was, looking more worn out and more desperate than I remembered.“What the hell are you doing at my house, Mr? You think you can just come in here as you please?” I asked, feeling disgusted and annoyed.“I need to talk to you. That's why I'm here,” he said and his eyes blinked continuously as if he had stolen something.“I don’t think we have anything to talk about. This attitude is so uncalled for. I can't remember wanting anything from you,” I replied sharply, running my eyes through him.I felt like strangling him and if I could, I would. I hated him to the guts and I needed to let him know that he made a mistake coming here.“Please, Mickey.” He pleaded and his voice softened like he was almost pleading. “Just give me a few minutes of your time and hear me out. ”I didn’t w
Mickey “You have been working so hard, Mickey. You deserve a break.”These words echoed in my mind after Teddy said them to me and I promised him that I was going to get a treat for myself. I had turned into a serious workaholic and Teddy was scared to death that I might break down any moment. I drove down the bustling city with my hand resting firmly on the wheels of my car.The tyres sliced through the road and as I drove down, I kept breathing heavily. How was Teddy able to convince me to take out some time for myself? It was surprising because I fought hard not to leave work even for a second. And now, I could feel the knots in my neck loosening. I feel lighter and somehow I wished he had come with me. But he had other engagements and promised to be with me next time if he was free.And for my daughter? I had left her with Teddy since I trusted him completely and I knew that my daughter would be in safe hands. I can swear that this was the first time in a long time that I w
MickeyMeeting Eleanor at the sea side only sent some signals to my brain. How was she able to dish so much advice for me?And trust me, I gave her my call line before I left. Inside of me, I felt a little guilty because come on, girl. You still have Derrick who you are dying for. “Why don't you just tell him what you want?” a voice in my head asked and I just shook it off. As I got out, the air hitting me was colder than I expected. It was sharp enough to get at my skin despite the wool coat I had draped around my shoulders. Somehow I found myself in a totally different area. The town square was quiet and it made me glance back countless times to check if anyone was trailing me. I hugged myself tighter and my shoes crunched against the ground as I made my way down the narrow street.I was not sure why I had wandered this far. My business, Valor Fashion Home, was running fine without me for the first time in years, and I had promised myself I would use these few days to relax. Y
Derrick“Get in the car!” I found myself ordering my son after I could no longer bear what I was feeling inside of me.I could not count the number of times that I had called Mickey and she told me that she was out of town. Out of town? Babe. I have missed you for days. I am dying to see your face. I am..I paused. I didn't tell her this and I struggled to keep it to myself. The number of times that I had called to check up on her was enough to tell her that I was not doing great without her by my side. Was I over thinking things? Or was I doing too much by seeing her as my future wife when she didn't look like she had feelings for me? It was crazy but I didn't mind. Good things take time. ***The drive to the seaside town was longer than I anticipated, but Tom was a good distraction.He kept up a steady stream of conversation, talking about everything from his latest gaming obsession to his classmates who he played with in school. All children's talk. I barely had anything to c
Mickey“Is he the one?” Eleanor's question rang in my ears and I was shocked. First, I didn't expect us to be getting close. Second, she followed me back to the city. “I don't know what you mean by that, Eleanor. Did I tell you that I have found the one?” I asked her and she hit me playfully. “I'm sorry. It's just that the way you look at him makes me think that way. I thought you might have taken my advice and found a guy to go fuck the hell out of you,” she blurted out and I almost shut her mouth with my hands.“Shhhh! We are in public, Eleanor. Stop talking that way,” I said, taking a quick look at my surroundings to confirm if anyone heard me. Thankfully, everyone in here was going around and minding their own business. “What are you ashamed of? People have sex everyday,” she protested and I walked briskly away from her while she kept pleading with me to wait for her. I adjusted the scarf around my neck and glanced at Derrick, who was now walking beside meAlongside Eleanor,
Kendrick“You can do a fucking DNA all you want, Kendrick. I don't care and I don't give a damn!” “Oh, you are pushing me to the wall, Kiara? Aren't you?” “Of course, I am. You don't trust me. You just come up and decide to have a DNA test? Didn't you fuck me? Didn't you get me pregnant? Why are all of these changing? Why do you now doubt that I'm the mother of your child?” she questioned and that was the last conversation we had before I found myself in the hospital. ***I hated the smell of hospitals but Kiara pushed me this far. The sterile scent of the doctor’s office clung to the air and it was heavy and suffocating. I sat rigidly in the chair with my hands gripping the armrests so tightly that my knuckles were beginning to turn white. Across from me, the doctor adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kendrick, but the test results are conclusive. Cassie is not biologically your daughter.”I shot out of my chair, letting out a low growl at first. “You
MickeyThe day went by quickly and it truly felt like a calm after a heavy storm. For the first time in years, I could breathe freely, unburdened by anything going on around me. The authorities had moved swiftly after receiving our evidence, and the Kendrick’s were finally being held accountable for the death of my parents. This was not enough revenge for me but it was a start. Let them have a taste of their own medicine. Today was about moving forward, about honoring my parents in the way they deserved. Because as it seems, they were finally getting the justice that they deserved. I stood in front of my new boutique with the sign above the door. "The Darwins." I traced the carved letters with my eyes and my chest tightened with a mix of pride and bittersweet joy. Their names. Those were my parents’ names.“You are going to cry, aren’t you?” Derrick teased from behind me. His warm voice came in, making my heart sink. I turned to look at him, blinking rapidly to keep the tears
MickeyI heard some slow, hesitant knocks on my door that made me get up and leave what I was doing. The knock on my door was almost timid, like the person on the other side was not sure they should be there.I took a while before opening the door for the supposed visitor and I took a quick glance at the clock on the wall. It was late. I mean, it was too late for casual visitors to come to visit me. When I opened the door, I was greeted by a face I had not seen for a long time. Kiara. “What the hell are you doing at my house?” I yelled as bad memories began to flood into my mind again. She was the last person I wanted to see at this time. Kiara, the lady who stole Kendrick away from me and opened her legs for him so that he could put a baby inside. “I know that you don't expect me to be here…but..”“But, what? Listen, I think you missed your way,” I said almost shutting the door against her but she held the door firmly, stopping me from shutting it. For a second, my eyes just r
MickeyThe audacity that some men had needed to be studied as a full course in school. Kendrick was one of those men that needed to be studied. Seeing him again some days back, only made my heart ache. I was beginning to heal and forget everything about him until what happened, happened and he was in front of me. How pathetic. “But what if Kendrick still loved me? What if he was serious about still being in love with me? What if he just wanted me to forgive him and he had truly repented?” The questions went through my mind like a running chaos and I had no other option but to shut it out. I am done with Kendrick. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” Derrick asked and I was pulled out from my thoughts. “oh, yes. I'm sorry. I was just thinking. Let's continue,” I said and Derrick stared at me as if I had gone insane.The files sat on the table between us, it was a damning pile of aged documents, faded photographs, and scrawled letters that felt scary. My hands trembled as I flipped throu
KendrickNews reached me that Mickey was getting her hands stained with dirty secrets. I never expected her to be this relentless. Mickey was supposed to be like her father. She was smart, yes, but cautious.She was a woman content to stay within the safe confines of her boutique and was too wary of danger to poke at things better left buried.But here she was, tearing through shadows. I had spent years carefully hiding that secret from her. Right from when she was still my wife, till now that we are divorced. Yes. My parents were the ones responsible for the death of her parents and I still had the guts to put a baby in her and shatter her heart into pieces. I was still nursing my wounds from when she rejected me and lied about me to her daughter and now, this? I didn't care this time. I had to see her unannounced. I was in front of her boutique and I watched her from the window of my car as she stood outside her boutique, talking animatedly with a man that I had no idea who he w
MickeyThe wave of unrest I had felt in the last couple of days was enough to make me go nuts. Right now, I was in a quiet cafe where you can't dare to talk loudly. If you do, the eyes of everyone would be on you.I stirred at my tea absentmindedly and my mind wandered to different places as I waited for him to arrive. My hands were clammy despite the cool breeze coming in through the open window.Across from me, Derrick sat with his arms crossed and with him, I felt different. I don't know if he knew how I felt about him but most times, I wish he would never leave my sight even for a second. And trust me, he was doing just that without me mentioning it to him. Derrick had not left my side since I told him about the note.He was not saying much, but his watchful eyes scanned every corner of the room, as if expecting danger to leap out of the shadows.“He will come,” Derrick assured me, breaking the silence. “I know,” I murmured.But did I really know? The truth was, I didn’t know
Mickey“An envelope? I was not expecting anything from anyone,” I thought within me as my eyes rested on the envelope laying in front of me. The envelope was plain and completely out of place on the counter at my boutique. It had no return address, just my name scribbled in an unfamiliar handwriting that felt both unfamiliar and vaguely familiar at the same time.I took a deep breath as my fingers hovered over the envelope. I didn't know what to do and something about it felt off. “What am I going to do with you now? Fling you into the thrash?” I asked no one in particular as curiosity began to rise inside of me. I wanted to know what was in it and why it was here in the first place. Sliding my nail under the seal or the envelope, I opened it carefully. Inside the envelope were black and white photographs. They were so old and faded at the edges. My heart skipped as I recognized the faces in the photographs.There were that of my parents and they had a large smile on their fac
Mickey“Is he the one?” Eleanor's question rang in my ears and I was shocked. First, I didn't expect us to be getting close. Second, she followed me back to the city. “I don't know what you mean by that, Eleanor. Did I tell you that I have found the one?” I asked her and she hit me playfully. “I'm sorry. It's just that the way you look at him makes me think that way. I thought you might have taken my advice and found a guy to go fuck the hell out of you,” she blurted out and I almost shut her mouth with my hands.“Shhhh! We are in public, Eleanor. Stop talking that way,” I said, taking a quick look at my surroundings to confirm if anyone heard me. Thankfully, everyone in here was going around and minding their own business. “What are you ashamed of? People have sex everyday,” she protested and I walked briskly away from her while she kept pleading with me to wait for her. I adjusted the scarf around my neck and glanced at Derrick, who was now walking beside meAlongside Eleanor,
Derrick“Get in the car!” I found myself ordering my son after I could no longer bear what I was feeling inside of me.I could not count the number of times that I had called Mickey and she told me that she was out of town. Out of town? Babe. I have missed you for days. I am dying to see your face. I am..I paused. I didn't tell her this and I struggled to keep it to myself. The number of times that I had called to check up on her was enough to tell her that I was not doing great without her by my side. Was I over thinking things? Or was I doing too much by seeing her as my future wife when she didn't look like she had feelings for me? It was crazy but I didn't mind. Good things take time. ***The drive to the seaside town was longer than I anticipated, but Tom was a good distraction.He kept up a steady stream of conversation, talking about everything from his latest gaming obsession to his classmates who he played with in school. All children's talk. I barely had anything to c