Chapter 3

Isabella's POV 

"Mom! Dad! We're home!" I yelled while entering through the door with a bag in my one hand. 

"Hey Sweetheart, how did grocery shopping go?" I heard my mom ask while walking to the door. 

"Can someone help me unload the groceries from the car, my arms and feet are killing me!" Cried Megan while entering the house with her arms filled with grocery bags. 

"Megan, Honey be careful. You'll hurt yourself carrying all those heavy bags." My mom reprimanded Megan while walking over to help her with the bags. 

2 hours later 

Taking a long shower after a long day of shopping is one of the best things ever. My muscles feel more relaxed, and I just feel relaxed in general. 

After my shower, I applied my favourite vanilla-scented lotion and deodorant then wore my comfy SpongeBob PJs. 

I walked to my vanity mirror, sat down on my chair, and ran an afro comb through my hair while it was still a bit easier to comb. 

My phone started ringing with Maroon 5's ‘Cold’ playing as my ringtone. That is one of my alltime favourite songs. I took my phone off my bed and checked the caller ID which had an unknown number. 

Despite     my     confusion,     I     answered     the     call,     "Hello."     I     greeted     cautiously. 

"Hi, how are you? It's me, Devon." Devon said from the other end. 

"I'm great, thank you. Umm, not that I'm trying to be rude, but is there something that you need?" I asked unsurely. 

"Sophie has been crying since she woke up and she won't calm down. Earlier on Sophie calmed down when you held her, I have a feeling that she is crying for you. I know it may sound silly that she would cry for a stranger, but I have a strong feeling that she wants you." Devon finished off in a quick and stern voice. 

"Okay, so what do you want me to do? how can I help you?" I asked genuinely concerned and wanting to help. 

"Could you please talk to her for a minute, just to calm her down?" He asked and you could hear the desperation and exhaustion in his voice. 

"Of course, anything to help." I replied softly with a small smile on my face. 

I could hear shuffling from the other side of the line then I heard one of the sweetest voices ever. 

"Hello." Sophie hiccupped. 

My heart might as well have shattered at that moment. 

"Hey, Sweetie." I replied in the gentlest voice I could master. 

"Mommy?" She stuttered quietly. 

I was shocked, but at the same time, I felt a fuzzy feeling in my chest that I could only describe as pure happiness. 

"Mommy, please come home?" She continued in between hiccups as she started crying. My voice only broke even further if that was possible at her broken tone, but at the same time, the term she used had my heart swelling with joy. However, I had to face the reality that I wasn't her mother and that felt like a bucket of ice-cold water was poured over my warm skin. 

"Honey, as much as I would like to come there, I can't. I'll come tomorrow if you behave, though." I gently cooed even though everything in my body was telling me to go...well everything except my brain which was the only logical thing left. 

"Promise?" She asked while hiccupping. 

"Promise. Can I speak to your Daddy?" I gently asked. 

"Daddy, she wants to talk to you." I heard over the phone. 

"I'm sorry, Isabella, I didn't know that she would react that way. I'm sure it might have caught you off guard." He immediately rushed out. 

"It's okay, you don't need to apologize. It might have left me a bit shocked, but otherwise, no harm done." I said with a little chuckle. 

"Okay, I'll send you the address in a couple of minutes and thanks for talking to her." I heard him say with genuine gratitude clear in his voice. 

"My pleasure, what time should I be there?” I asked. 

"12pm is fine. I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then?" He said in his muscular voice. 

"Yeah, until then." I said before hanging up. 

Less than two minutes later I received a text from Devon with his address. 

Looking at my phone I saw that the time was 20:04. 

"Wow, time surely ran fast." I mumbled. 

"Isa! Time for dinner!" I heard my mom yell from downstairs.