When Wyoming’s eyes collided with the stranger’s familiar dark orbs, something clicked in her brain. She was reminded of a niggling dream where those same orbs figured incessantly, somehow knowing that the owners of those eyes had something to do with her forgotten past. Wyoming felt her body frozen. The ringing in her ears grew louder. Then her faint hoarse voice mixed with the loud sounds, creating a discordant note in her head. She did not know what happened next as she fell into oblivion, only resurfacing from a deep sleep a few hours later. She opened her eyes and cringed when she saw her surroundings, knowing instinctively where she was. She hated this place. For years, Collins prods her, cajoles her, and threatens her to meet her doctor’s appointment, but every time she does, an ache fills her knowing that another visit means another feeling of failure on her part. “Her blood tests and brain imaging report said she suffers from amnesia.” She heard someone speak
Because of her amnesia, the doctor advised the family not to overcrowd her, giving her enough room to breathe. They tentatively approached her one by one to introduce themselves. The first who embraced her was her father. He hugged her for a long time, only releasing her from time to time to look at her face as if convincing himself that she was real.The feeling was the same thing for her. She could not get enough of her dad. She missed him. But then, how can someone miss anyone they did not remember until now?Tears pooled in both their eyes while they looked at each other, trying to commit to memory the changes each other that time brought. Her father had aged a lot, but he was still one of the most attractive men she knew to date. She giggled at the thought.Her father, if he wanted to, could still snag himself a wife. “Are you dating anyone right now?” Her father sputtered at the question, tousling her short hair abashedly. “Come on, no one’s judging.” She teased some more
Wyoming continued to stare off at the door where Cayden and Collins both got out. She kept on thinking about how completely separate her and Cayden’s lives turned out over the years. As if that realization was not enough, it was compounded yet again by a knock on the door followed by a head poking in, calling all the attention of everyone inside the hospital suite. “You better tell me where the h*ll have you been or you are going to be thoroughly scolded, girl!” Kate snarled as she sashayed her way toward Wyoming’s bed.Kate looked at her friend wide-eyed, her eyes glued on her friend’s bulging stomach.“What?” Kate demanded when she stopped at the foot of Wyoming’s bed proudly showing off her as big as a watermelon belly. “Kate, she does not remember you. She has amnesia.” Alicia dropped her hands to cover the balls of Kate’s shoulders to whisper the reminder. It saved Wyoming from plucking an excuse out of thin air. It was half the truth, anyway. For years, she did not kno
“We are going ahead,” Collins told Wyoming while carrying in his arms a sleeping Connor.He leaned toward Wyoming so she could plant a quick kiss on her son’s forehead before he turned around to leave. “Wait!” Collins turned his head to look over his shoulders, meeting Wyoming’s worried gaze. “You are coming for me tomorrow?” She asked tentatively. Although she knew she had her family around her and Cayden and that her husband would most likely take care of her needs, she still waited for Collins' assurance. When he nodded, Wyoming sighed in relief and went to lie on the bed, ready to give the night a rest. Seeing that she was tired and ready for bed, Noah rounded everyone and told them to leave Wyoming in peace. One by one, Wyoming’s visitors left until all but remained were Kate and Cayden. “You can leave, too, Cayden. I’ll take charge tonight. You can come early tomorrow to process her discharge papers.” Kate told Cayden, who shook his head in response. “James would kill
The moment the door clicked shut, an awkward silence descended upon them. Wyoming fidgeted on the bed. Her eyes looked everywhere but at Cayden's. She knew even without looking in his direction his gaze was fixed on her. That knowledge sets her on edge, her body becoming rigid. She could feel the intensity of his gaze bore into her, creeping her out in discomfiture. It was like he wanted to bore a hole right through her face. She suffered his stare in silence. Refusing to submit to his silent command to meet his gaze. Oh, how her mouth itches to demand that he stop what he was doing. But by doing so would admit that his mere attention affects her.He should not affect her anymore. Whatever he does with his own self should not bother her. It had been years. Too many years have passed and the events culminating in their separation have put a strain on their relationship, causing a huge gap to come between them. It was like Mt. Everest separated them. The silence continued to
“Collins wanted to marry me. He also wanted to adopt Connor, make things legal since he was the only dad my son knows.” her brain becoming muddled at the possibility that his father would take her son away from her, Wyoming plucked out a reason in the air which only worsened her situation. She watched as a grim line appeared on Cayden’s lips and anybody who would look at him right that moment would find him menacing.Wyoming cringed inwardly. She squared her shoulders preparing to battle with him for her son’s custody. Cayden would be mad if he would think that she will allow that to happen. She was not crazy to let her son become second fiddle to his new wife and daughter. Her son deserves far better - a family of his own and acceptance. Wyoming does not think that integrating her son to his father’s new family would be beneficial for Connor. She doesn't want her son to feel insecure or to fight for his place in his father’s heart when he could have Collins. With Collins, Conno
Wyoming came through the next morning, surprised to find Alicia and Kate inside her room. Looking a bit disoriented, she immediately got out of bed and almost ripped her IV drip.“Careful.” Alicia quickly reminded her. Her mother left her crocheting and ran towards her bed to assist her. She let her mom fuss over her while she tried to roam her eyes around the room, looking disappointed. “You slept the night like a log,” Kate told her.Her friend’s watchful eyes sparked with a teasing glint, noticing the way her eyes surveyed the room as if she was looking for something or someone. “Everybody has gone home except us. We volunteered to watch you tonight. Water?” At Kate’s invitation, Wyoming nodded, suddenly feeling thirsty. Within seconds, an open water bottle came into her view. She took it gratefully like it were a lifeline and tipped her hand back to drink. “Drink,” Alicia ordered. She took a huge gulp of water and let the cool liquid glide down her dry mouth and throa
“I am fine, mom.” Wyoming insisted and rolled her eyes for the second time during that phone call. Her mother has been deluging her with phone calls these days and it has become quite annoying. “Will call you back, mom. I have to fetch Connor from the kindergarten. The school notified me they will be released early today.” Wyoming paused, listening to what her mom said on the other line before responding to cut the overseas call. “Yes, mom, of course. Will call you some other time, bye.” She expelled air after she hung up. “Your mom’s pretty difficult today,” Collins commented after she dropped her phone. Wyoming did not like how it sounded coming off from him. He did not even know her. The only interaction they had was when she was at the hospital back in New York and there has been nothing significant about their conversations, mostly getting to know each other, etc. In an offhand manner, she shrugged her shoulders to make light of it. Her mom, she knew, could be a bit
Cayden backed off, afraid to anger Wyoming in her delicate condition. After Wyoming climbed into the car, Alicia turned around to talk to him. “It’s best if we take her, Cayden.” He nodded. He did not want to argue with the elders or raise Wyoming’s hackles in her sensitive condition. He was right, it seemed, when Alicia added, “Her hormones are acting up making her blood boil every time she sees you. If she’s indeed pregnant I am sure the baby would take after you.” Alicia teased leaving him in a daze. “Mom!” Wyoming called out from inside the van, prompting Alicia to bestow an apologetic smile his way before closing the car door behind her. “Pregnant.” He murmured to himself while he tried to wrap his mind around the possibility. It wouldn’t be impossible since he and Wyoming spend most of their night doing the deed. Cayden watched in a daze as the van moved forward before blending into the morning traffic. It was a long time before he decided to get back to the house a
Wyoming woke up feeling at ease. She had no idea what woke him up, it was just that her nose had become sensitive. She smelled something that she found not to her liking. She sniffed the air, her nostrils scrunched up in distaste. “What is that awful smell?” She asked hoarsely, opening one eye to check if there was something wrong with their room only to see a semi-undress Cayden hovering above her. His hair dripped wet from the shower. She smiled warmly at him. In a daze, she propped herself on the bed, her hands stretching out to put them around Cayden’s neck. With eyes sparkling in delight at her warm reception, Cayden leaned forward to peck her lips. She meets his downward motion with an upward motion, sniffing at the same time. That was when her nostrils started to twitch scrunching up in distaste for she smelled something not suitable to her taste. “You smell disgusting!” She cried, covering her mouth with her palm to avoid smelling that awful smell. However, the stench s
Giggling sounds and laughter filled Wyoming’s ears. Surrounded by her family, her heart felt full. She blushed when she remembered Cayden and her were supposedly hiding from their families. Now, looking back toward the living room, she saw everyone looking at them, smiles wreathing their faces.Overwhelmed with shyness, she buried her face in Cayden’s chest, as if he could hide what they were doing previously from their onlookers. Cayden threw his head back at her natural display of shyness. His laughter started as a low rumble in the pit of his stomach crossing his lungs and finally coming out of his mouth. The sight of him looking so carefree and happy caught her in a daze, affecting her in ways she did not understand but could only feel.“Mommy! Daddy!” Connor’s shout distracted her from her intent perusal of Cayden’s face. She turned her head to the direction of the sound and saw Connor running toward them, his little feet creating a soft thud as his shoe collided with th
Wyoming got out of the bathroom, a large towel draped around her body, and another one wrapped like a turban around her head. She was about to pull the towel from her head to rub her hair with it when she stopped suddenly. She debated within herself whether to go back to the bathroom and wait for him to leave the room or feign nonchalance.Choosing the latter, she walked inside the room she shares with Connor and stopped a few paces before Cayden.Then she remembered if he was here. “Who is taking care of Connor?” The idea that Connor is playing by himself somewhere inside the house or maybe outside on the beach had her hurrying. She moved about the room, opening a closet to get a change of clothes. In her haste, the towel knot loosened, threatening to fall off her body. She clutched the front with her hand while her other hand held her change of clothes.The towel on her head fell off. Cayden saved it. He held the towel and gently pulled it off her head. “Thank you.” She mu
“Argh!” Wyoming’s fingers clenched, her teeth gritting in frustration while Connor and Cayden, the duo from h*ll did another trick that left her breathless, her body humming in unreleased tension. “Mommy, put some sunblock on my back and daddy’s,” Connor demanded, handing her a bottle of sunblock lotion and turning around, so his back was facing her.She opened the cap, applied some to her palms, and lathered her son’s small back with the lotion.“There, all done. You can now go swim in the water with your dad.” She told him while she placed the bottle of sunblock aside, careful that her eyes led her astray. She had been trying so hard to ignore the rippling muscles on Cayden’s exposed back which he also displayed alongside her son’s. Cayden previously followed Connor’s lead and presented her back to her as well. She smoothed sunblock on Connor but not on Cayden. However, her eyes betrayed her every time. She could not help but look at Cayden’s back, filled with ridges and cur
Contrary to what she initially thought, Cayden did not bring them back to New York, back to their old house surrounded by their family. When their plane landed and she got out, she was surprised to find out they were nowhere near JFK International Airport. In truth, she missed her father and would have wanted to bond with her mother. She braved the longing to be with her parents to protect herself and her son from Cayden. She had mistakenly thought that putting distance between them was enough for her and her son to get away from Cayden’s peripheral. Only to be corrected when he came barging in on her despite the distance. “Where is this place?” She asked, looking at the expanse of trees and dirt around them, totally opposite of the City that never sleeps. She was still miffed with him for trying to blackmail her into submission, but she could not totally ignore him. The man is huge and his presence was not one to be ignored. All through their flight, she was fully aware of t
Chest heaving from anger at the audacity of this man to lie to her through his teeth, Wyoming all but cried, “Liar!” The bitterness of five years ago came to her in full force, flaming the rage inside her. Gaining her memory has intensified the pain like it just happened a while back. She clenched her fist, struggling from her confinement. It was futile, though. With Cayden’s buffed body, he had her trapped very neatly. She did not know how he was able to become this muscled man and still evoke the same feelings from her. His body and her body might change. He became bigger and muscular, and she became softer and fuller due to childbirth, but when their skin connected, it was as if fire sizzled between them.Wyoming could feel the hardness of the wall digging into her back, yet she did not even flinch. The anger gnawing inside her was more powerful than the physical pain. “You can not win me over with all your lies. My son belongs to me. He is mine and you can not take h
“Where are we going, Collins?” “It’s a secret.” Wyoming fidgeted in her seat but did not press Collins for more information. She was surprised when he asked her tonight. They do not usually go out because their finances are tight. And the few times they did, it was always with Connor. “Relax. We’re not going far,” he told her, seeing her getting all worked up. “I’m just not used to leaving Connor at night with a sitter. You know how he wanted me to lull him to sleep. I’m worried that he’ll raise h*ll when we don’t come back at his bedtime hour. “Don’t worry about Connor. He knows Lizzie and he won’t make a fuss.” He assured her. Lizzie lives next door - a single mother of a four-year-old daughter, Samantha. “To ease your mind, why don’t you call them?” Collins suggested.Thinking it was a great idea, she took her phone from her purse and called Lizzie. “Wyoming? Did you forget something?” Lizzie’s soft voice permeated her ears causing her to feel a little self-con
“I am fine, mom.” Wyoming insisted and rolled her eyes for the second time during that phone call. Her mother has been deluging her with phone calls these days and it has become quite annoying. “Will call you back, mom. I have to fetch Connor from the kindergarten. The school notified me they will be released early today.” Wyoming paused, listening to what her mom said on the other line before responding to cut the overseas call. “Yes, mom, of course. Will call you some other time, bye.” She expelled air after she hung up. “Your mom’s pretty difficult today,” Collins commented after she dropped her phone. Wyoming did not like how it sounded coming off from him. He did not even know her. The only interaction they had was when she was at the hospital back in New York and there has been nothing significant about their conversations, mostly getting to know each other, etc. In an offhand manner, she shrugged her shoulders to make light of it. Her mom, she knew, could be a bit