1-Bundle of Joy

AVA

"Melissa! Melissa!!" I called the name of my two year old daughter as I frantically opened the doors of every room in the house.

I trotted down the stairs as fast as my legs would take me. I walked towards the kitchen to find a small human seated on the floor with her back to me.

"Lissa, you scared Mama" I tsked, approaching her.

She giggled, glancing at me before looking back at what she was doing. 

Her magical, dark blue eyes always remind me of Ryan's when I stared into them. Her black hair and pointed nose, however, were mine. She is a perfect combination of Ryan and I. 

I peeked over her tiny shoulders, "What are you doing?" 

"Dwaing. Mama see." Lissa told me, showing me a paper. The lines were out of place and the drawing was rough but I could still make out what she was trying to draw.

My dad had taught her to draw shapes and animals, including the first amateur painting of herself.

The paper she was showing me had three drawings on it. It was a drawing of two big people and one small one right between them.

"This you, this me, this Dada." She explained excitedly, pointing her tiny finger at her drawing. I nodded my head at her, showing that understood. 

"Mama?"

"Yes baby."

Her big eyes stared up at me, "Where's Dada?" She asked with a hint of sadness laced in her voice. 

Numerous thoughts ran through my mind, I had no idea how to answer that question.

How was I going to explain to a child of two years what divorce is? How do I explain that her dad won't be coming to see her... ever.

He doesn't even know she exists. 

I remember the number of times that I had called Ryan to tell him about Melissa, but never got the chance. Ryan always taunted me. He made the biggest effort to let me know how much he hates me and wants nothing to do with me.

I've promised myself that I was going to be the best mom, and the best dad to her.

God forgive me, but this is the only way she'd drop this topic.

"Your Dada is in heaven." I lied shamelessly to my daughter. 

"Heaven with gra-grandpa?" She asked, tilting her head to the side slightly. I nodded my head. 

Her small lips jutted out in a pout, "Mama, sowy don't cwy." Lissa said using her small palm to clean the tears on my face. 

I nodded my head once again, picking her up from the floor and carrying her towards her room. I needed to bath and dress her up before taking my bath. 

"Mama?" 

"Yes dear?"

"One day I'll go to heaven and meet Dada." She decided.

"Will you go with me? " She innocently asked me. Of course,I nodded my head

-

We were seated in the dining area, having warm breakfast. I took my time to feed her as well as eating my own, I have become very good at multitasking.

"Mama!" Lissa called. I faced her while waiting for her to speak. 

"Will you give me a new Dada?" She asked me.

I never expected this question from a two year old. I guess she must have seen the neighbours with their dad and it resulted in these painful questions.

I took my time to think about the best possible answer. Lissa stared longingly at me, waiting for an answer. I just didn't want to disappoint her.

"Yes Lissa, I'll get you a new Dada" I said to her. A huge smile broke out on my daughter's lips, showing her beautifully straight teeth. Her eyes sparkled... just like Ryans used to when he smiled. 

I felt guilty because I had just made her a promise that I have no intentions on keeping. I couldn't give her a new dad.

The memory of how I had met Ryan without knowing he's my husband to be came rushing in

FLASH BACK, SIX YEARS AGO

"Dad, I'm off to the grocery store!" I shouted at the top of my lungs so he could hear me.

The grocery store was not a stone throw from but it was a trek-able distance so, like always, I decided to go by foot. 

Upon reaching the store, I made a mental note of all the items I needed. I walked through the maze of aisles, collecting each item and checking it off my mental list.

I was done getting all I wanted and needed when I realised I haven't gotten sugar. With a frustrated groan I had walked to where it was arranged. Instead of the usual stake of sugar, I saw only one package.

I sped up as fast as I could so I could reach it before anyone else. I was stopped in my tracks when I ran into a huge wall of muscles.

Looking up to see who it was. Immediately I became hypnotized by dark ocean blue orbs, my eyes accidentally trailed to his lips. His lips were plump, pink and perfectly kissable. His hair looked like it needed some ruffling from me Which I personally wouldn't mind. I could imagine how smooth his hair would feel when passing between my small feminine fingers.

His dark eyebrows suddenly dipped, making me realize the awkward position we were in and how stupid I must have looked staring at him. 

"Sorry." I muttered, my cheeks growing red with embarrassment.

Turning to the sugar, I stretched my hand to collect it when I noticed another hand aiming for it. A frown overtook my face as I hurriedly collected it, smiling like I had just won a trophy. 

"Please, I really need the sugar. My wife to be, loves baking and I'd love to give that to her." The handsome stranger said.

His voice would have made my knees buckle and my stomach produce butterflies, I'd have also gladly given him the sugar... if he hadn't mentioned his stupid, stupid wife to be. 

Rolling my eyes I said, "Well Mr-my-wife-to-be, I love baking as well and I'm pretty sure I bake better than her. So, I'll be leaving here with the sugar because I do it better. And most importantly, I got it first." The man's eyes softened and his shoulder sagged.

I was about leaving when I found myself impulsively stretching my hand with the sugar in it towards him. 

He immediately collected it, showing off his perfect dentition, "Thank you so much."

I nodded my head and watched him leave. I pouted the entire walk home, disappointed that I wouldn't be baking this evening.

"Dad, I'm home" I shouted, opening the door and walking in. 

"Princess, you came right in time." My dad said, walking towards me with a grand smile. 

"I'd like you to meet Ryan," he said, pointing at the man sitting on the couch. 

When he lifted his head, I discovered he was the sugar stranger.

"You?" We both said in unison.

My dad stared at us confused, "You both know each other?" He asked, confusion evident in his voice. 

We sat on the couch and I told my dad about the incident at the grocery store I had gone to, making both him and Ryan laugh.