“Cayden, where are you?” Cayden met the question in stoic silence. If it weren’t for its continuous ringing, disturbing him from his sleep, he would not have answered the d*mn call. Impatience crossed his unkempt features, but he did not utter a word, remaining silent on his end of the line. Even if he wanted to answer, he couldn’t because his mouth felt like cotton. He rubbed a finger to his bloodshot eyes and sighed. He looked around his room - the bedroom he shared with Wyoming and saw beer cans scattered all over the floor. He rose from the floor. In his drunkenness, he was not able to transfer to the bed before sleep claimed him. He tripped on an empty bottle of Whisky and it rolled off the floor. Cayden stumbled but quickly pressed his palms on the wall for support, groaning in pain. He kicked the other cans that littered the path to the bathroom and swore under his breath. If Wyoming could have seen this mess, he bet he would get a thorough scolding. But she could not see
Wyoming felt her pulse quicken as beads of sweat dotted her forehead. With eyes closed, she shook her head, as if the action could help her block out the danger coming her way. Then she stirred. Something jolted her to consciousness and realized she was having a nightmare. Panting, she desperately bent her head, her hands gently caressing her slightly bulged tummy, and gasped in a sigh as relief gushed over her. A sob escaped her lips when she realized her baby was safe.She thought she had lost her. Wyoming whimpered, blocking out that irascible thought from her mind. She does not want to think about that possibility. Her hand searched the bed for her pillow. When she found it, she clutched it protectively to her front like a shield while in her mind's eye, a blurred image played in recollection of her dreams. She shuddered as fear gripped her body. She dreamt her baby had been taken away from her. A shadow glazed her dull eyes. She thought it was real. It felt too real. She
“We are here, Mr. Ellish.” Cayden’s driver told him after the car ground to a halt. Cayden opened his eyes and lifted his head from slumping on the backrest. Straightening his body to an upright position, Cayden turned his head to look out the tinted side window to check his surroundings. He noticed that his driver stopped the car outside the hospital’s main entrance. He got out of the car and walked sluggishly to the main lobby to find his parents waiting for him. He faltered in his steps. Surprise registered on his face at the sight of his parents. Though at the back of his mind, seeing them there shouldn’t have come as a surprise to him. Knowing Alicia, whatever conflicts they may have in the family, he knew she would insist on coming here. She would be there to support him. He looked away, suddenly feeling guilty, but before he turned his head around to pretend he did not see him, he saw Alicia’s eyes light up in recognition. It was Alicia who first saw him. She
“Cayden, they are bringing Tori to her suite.”Cayden stirred from his nap after Alicia nudged him on the shoulder. He opened his eyes and gazed at his stepmother.He nodded and rose to his feet, following Alicia and Marcus walking ahead of him.Their company reached the floor of Tori’s bedroom.“The patient is still asleep from sedation, but you can stay in her room. Would you like to come in?” The nurse asked when they stopped in front of Tori’s room.Alicia nodded, preceding the nurse who opened the door for them.Inside, Cayden looked around. He could see that Alicia placed Tori in one of the exclusive rooms. It has all the amenities of a VIP room with a television, a WIFI connection, and a couch. It also has a small kitchen in the corner with a mini-refrigerator.Cayden went to it and helped himself to a bottle of water. He sudde
Five years later. “Five minutes,” Wyoming grumbled groggily when someone nudged her shoulders, trying desperately to rouse her from sleep. She turned to the side to avoid being distracted from the precious shut-eye. The hands seemed persistent. They did not budge and instead tried to disturb another part of her body to elicit some response from her.It chose the back of her ears, targeting her ticklish point. Wyoming twitched, involuntary laughter coming out of her mouth, pulling away from those determined fingers as they searched the most sensitive part of her body. At the same time, she felt little lips kissing her exposed cheek. The lips felt soft and wet with saliva. “Ew!”Wyoming groaned, wiping her wet cheek with the back of her hand. “Connor, stop it. Mommy’s awake.” She held the little hands between hers and sat up in bed groggily, her eyes fixed on the little man scowling before her. “I had been trying to wake you up since breakfast, but you refuse to open your
“You’re spacing out,” Collins commented when he noticed her staring into space. A frown creased the smooth skin of her forehead. Wyoming stirred as if coming out of a deep slumber. She turned her head to face Collins, a question mark forming on her expression. When she saw the way he looked at her, she collected herself appearing nonchalant, and continued busying herself with her food. “It’s nothing.” She said and fixed her gaze on her plate. Collins studied her profile. Wyoming felt self-conscious. She knew Collins did not take his eyes off her, watching her like a hawk while she fiddled with her cutlery. It was disconcerting, having someone watch you unabashedly. Before, she did not mind Collins’ undivided attention. As a doctor, he used to observe her littlest movement, studying her responses and checking her overall condition. Lately, she felt differently. The way he looked at her affected her more than she wanted to admit. “Come on mom, eat up so we can leave the hou
“I can’t believe it! This feels all surreal.” Wyoming whispered to herself when she, Collins, and Connor stepped foot at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Her eyes raked in her surroundings, drinking in the sight of the busy airport as people bustled about coming out of terminal 4. “This feels like a dream.” She commented yet again when they went to the carousel to claim their luggage. Collins glanced at her amused, while she watched the carousel for their travel bags.She spotted her medium-sized pink luggage at the same time Collins did and he pulled it out for her. He also pulled out Connor’s Spiderman rolling suitcase and lastly, his own travel bag.She felt a tug on her hand and looked down to see Connor looking up at her expectantly. “Mom, don't forget we are going to visit the Ellish Films studios.” her son reminded her. Wyoming nodded, pitching Connor on the nose. He looked quite adorable looking like an adult in his sneakers, white shirt, and small backpack.
The morning passed by quickly. Cayden focused on familiarizing himself with the operations of Ellish Films these past years. Though the concept for the expansion had been his brainchild, the implementor was his father, Marcus with the help of his best friend and the company’s COO James. He studied the company’s annual financial report, seeing that there had been a tremendous leap from when he abandoned the helm of its management.The intercom buzzed. He picked it up and listened as Thea spoke on the other end. “Sir, your grandfather is here.” After giving orders to Thea to let his grandfather in, he gathered the documents atop his table and placed them in the corner. “Daddy!” The little girl about five years old, holding his grandfather’s hand, pulled her hand away to run up to him when she saw him waiting with his arm wide open. Cayden picked up the child. “Ugh!” He grunted when he caught the child, holding her close to his face so he could inhale her sweet baby scent. “Who a