Chapter Three - Visitor

Letisha Hearst - Carter

“So you got a new television huh?” I happily stated while staring at that huge appliance in the center of Jade’s living room.

She called me out first thing in the morning and asked us to have breakfast at her house, so I obliged.

“I did! I am excited because finally, I am going to watch all of his work full-time!” Jade happily exclaimed, which forced me to shake my head.

“And who is this actor you are talking about huh?” I raised my eyebrows before wiping my son’s milky lips. He likes Jade’s warm-made honey milk.

“Just wait, we will see him later at night!” She clapped her hands happily, so I let her be happy in her world before eating my breakfast.

“I need to go to work later, you can manage here with him, right?” I politely asked, which made her nod.

“Of course, I am in charge of this bundle of joy,” Jade sniggered before tickling my son, who giggled loudly.

“Oh, by the way, I heard from your son that…Jeffrey is trying to win your heart,” Jade reminded me of the horror I needed to face later on.

“Yes, don’t remind me, I need to talk to that crazy man, I rejected him many times already,” I massaged my temples.

“Well who could blame the gentleman, you don’t wear your ring,” Jade wiggled her eyebrows and there she goes again, teasing me.

“Stop, you know that it has been a while since I wore it,” I told her, making her nod before sighing deeply.

“You know that ring could solve your problems about your suitors, especially at work,” She told me.

I can’t. The ring was handcrafted by my husband, it was aired on television after our wedding day.

All of the people know what it looks like. I wouldn’t risk my identity to anyone else or I’ll be doomed.

“Earth to Zoey? Are you getting to work or what?” Jade raised her tone enough to pull me back from reality.

Right. Zoey Williams is my fake name here, I almost forgot about it. “I will, thank you so much again for this,” 

“Oh come on, you don’t have to mention it all the time, I will always be here for you two,” She winked before giving me a flying kiss.

I bet when she finally becomes a mother, she will be outstanding. I wish the heavens would grant her and her husband's wishes.

“Goodbye, Tain, Mommy will see you later, okay?” I kissed my son’s forehead and he nodded. I am glad because he understood that I had to leave him for us to have something to eat and pay for our bills.

“Okay, Mommy, take care,” He muttered before waving me goodbye. I waved my hands back and threaded my sling bag lightly on my right shoulder before leaving her house.

The moment my heels touched the grass and pebble stone grounds, I caught a glimpse of the man I needed to talk to before heading to work.

I slowly paced forward. I didn’t have to call him because he already saw me and approached me before pinching his nose.

“Ah, you are really a sight to see, Ms. Zoey Williams,” He greeted me, which forced me to roll my eyes before crossing my arms against my chest.

“Mr. Jeffrey Anderson, I am disappointed in you,” I told him, making his eyes widen in disbelief as if he was surprised.

“If you truly respect me, you wouldn’t tell my son such words that you know won’t happen,” I added.

Jeffrey was taken aback as if he understood why I was acting this way towards him, “But you must give me a chance, you need support for your child and I am willing to take good care of you two,”

I shook my head, “I appreciate the offer but I told you countless times that I am not into that or you either, plus, you should know that I am married still, not divorced,” 

Shakingly, my hands fished out my wedding ring in the pocket of my bag. I am too embarrassed to tell Jade that I always bring it with me.

Jeffrey looked surprised. I immediately hid the ring before he could recognize what it was before composing myself.

“Now that you know, stop telling my child false statements, especially the ones that would only happen in your dreams,” I left after saying those words.

I sighed deeply and took a bus to go to my work which is near the central municipality of this province. I work as a cashier at this small convenience store.

My manager is the only man who isn’t interested in me around this province because he has a love interest he’d like to pursue, which is why I am also comfortable working there.

I entered the store with a smile plastered on my lips, “Good morning, Mr. Logan!” I happily greeted.

“Ah, my favorite cashier, it took you a while to get here, did your boy keep you away?” He politely asked while doing some inventory.

“No, but some delusional man did,” I sighed deeply before proceeding to my locker, “He just doesn’t stop,” 

“Andersons, they are known to be quite persuasive,” He chuckled at his statement. I only rolled my eyes while wearing my apron.

“Desperate you mean, I just don’t get why he keeps pursuing me, he is young, there are plenty of women who might be just interested in him,” I claimed.

“He is not young, you two are only a year apart from your ages,” He told me while I paced towards the cashier.

“He is still young and I am older,” I pouted before tying my hair, “I hope he leaves us alone for now,” 

“I highly doubt that,” He chuckled until the wind chimes rang, “Good day!” We both greeted our first customer.

It was a hooded man who stopped by the cashier first, shifting his head toward me before he went to the stalls.

Shaking my head, I decided to check if we have enough coins just in case the customer would pay in bills.

The man was done picking his snack when he handed it over to me. I smiled and scanned it before telling him its price, “Only a dollar and fifty cents sir,”

He silently took something from his pockets and gave it to me, our hands touched. I almost gasped because he was too cold.

I didn’t say anything because that would offend him in many ways more than one, “Here’s your change,” I told him before placing it on the cold elevated desk between us.

“Zoey is your name?” He asked. I couldn’t see him properly but I could tell that he was looking at my tag.

“Y-Yes I am,” I told him while biting my lower lip. I immediately packed his item before handing it to him, “I hope we see you again,” 

“You will see me often here from now on,” After he said those words, he left, leaving me breathless.

There is something about that man that made my heart go racing as if some lousy omen is about to greet me.

“Are you alright, Zoe?” Mr. Logan asked, forcing me to nod before giving him a reassuring smile.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” I went back to arranging my space while waiting for the next customer to come.

Hours passed by and my shift ended. I bid my manager goodbye and went straight home with a snack in my bag.

“Tain will surely love this,” I beamed while calling a tricycle to take me straight home. After I paid my fee, I went straight to Jade’s house.

I knocked on the door before opening it, “Zoe! You are just in time! His episode is about to start!” Jade ran towards me to drag me into the living room.

“Mommy!” Tain ran towards me to kiss me on my cheeks, “Welcome home, Mommy! Let's have dinner!”

“We will later, were you a good boy?” I asked while hugging him, “Yes Mommy! I read books!” He answered proudly.

“Wow, you were such a good boy! Mommy has a reward for you later,” I broke my hug to him before looking at her, “So who is this man you wanted me to see on this screen?”

“Oh and here, I brought you a snack as well,” I gave her some bread with chocolate on the inside, making her smile.

“You shouldn’t have, but thank you, and look! It’s airing!” She exclaimed while clapping her hands.

I looked at the screen and my jaw dropped after seeing him there, “S-Sebastian…” I muttered before cupping my mouth.

His hair grew long and he…changed a lot, “You know him?! Well, you were a city girl, I shouldn’t be surprised!” Jade exclaimed.

I only gave her a smile before sighing deeply, my eyes remained on the screen while holding my son.

This must be his new project. He seems to be doing well without me, I don’t know why I am not surprised but it hurts.

“Mommy? Are you alright?” Tain worriedly asked while tugging my clothes, which made me flinch before nodding.

“O-Of course I am sweetheart, l-let’s go back to our home, okay?” I suggested, which made him nod before holding my hand.

“Jade, we will take our leave and have dinner at home,” I breathed, trying to keep my eyes off the screen.

I can’t look at him or stare at his picture for years. This has been surprising for me because it almost drained my energy.

“What? But the show just started,” She pouted, which forced me to bite my lower lip. I am more than surprised that she doesn’t even recognize me as the wife of her favorite actor.

“Well, Tain is telling me that he is starving, we will watch tomorrow early,” I told her, which made her nod.

“I see, alright, but it is such a shame for this man, I heard his wife is missing, she ran away and wasn't found until today,” She claimed and that made me nervous.

“I-I feel sorry for him, but now we have to go,” I told her before leaving with my son, gripping his hands tightly.

“Mommy? Are you sure you are alright?” He worriedly asked. I gave him a reassuring smile before nodding.

“I am sweetheart, it’s because you are here with me,” I told him, making him chuckle before smiling.

Both of us arrived home safely. I prepared a small dinner and happily shared them.

“You are smiling Mommy, I am glad,” Edward Tain bit his lower lip. His slightly flushed cheeks got to me, “You look like you have seen a ghost a while ago,”

I truly admire my son for being capable of such sentences, he also grows too fast and even though I should be worried, I am not. “I am alright, sweetheart, Mommy is just tired from work,”

“Then does that mean you need a big hug from me?” He tilted his head, making me chuckle before nodding.

“Yes, I am badly in need of your hug!” I giggled before snuggling on his neck, which made him laugh.

“Okay, I will massage your head later on too, Mommy, will you allow me?” He asked politely, making me nod.

“Of course, mommy will be most grateful for having a sweet son like you to do those things for me,” I kissed his cheeks, “How about we go out to the park tomorrow? You can fly a kite there,”

He gasped in excitement, “Really Mommy? Yay! I dreamed of flying a kite yesterday! I bet it will be fun!”

“Then we will go tomorrow, but before that, we need to study first, okay?” I beamed, which made him nod.

“Oh let’s learn something about double digit multiply Mommy, okay?” He asked as if he was looking forward to it.

He is really a bright child, sometimes he demands me to teach him stuff he wants to learn. I am proud of him.

A loud noise was to be heard on our front door. I squinted my eyes before looking at the time, it was already late.

“Jade? Is that you? Did we forget anything?” I raised my tone before opening the door wide. My eyes widened after realizing who that person was.

To be continued…