With the Wrong Man

Three.

The plane touched down in Carson, and my heart felt just a tad bit lighter somehow. The twins have slept almost the entire flight, so I didn’t have to answer any more questions, thankfully.

It wasn’t my moms responsibility to clean up my messes, and unfortunately, there was no simple fix, not for this. Whether I told Aden my secret or not, it was going to be painful for all of us involved.

I was in two minds about this, a part of me wishes I had just gotten it over with when I was pregnant and had told everyone the truth then and took the blows as they came, the other more cowardly part of me knows that had I been in that same situation again now, knowing all the things that I do, that I would probably still make all the same choices all over again. As I said, I was cowardly.

I woke my sleeping babies up as gently as I could so we could leave the plane.

“We’re here.” I cooed. They never really woke up well. They looked up at me with tired eyes and forced smiles.

“Come on, babies, let’s go see nanny. She will be so happy to see you” their smiles were genuine now. They loved their nanny so much, and she spoiled them endlessly.

Once the doors opened, I took their hands in mine, and I led them off the plane through the arrivals and down to baggage claim, where I knew my mother was waiting for me.

The moment she saw us through the crowd, she squatted down, arms open, ready to catch the twins who were already bounding towards her at full speed. I hope they don’t knock her over. She was only a small woman, after all.

“Nanny.” They shout in unison. They were always so in sync, and yet they couldn’t be more different from each other.

Not only did Alex look a lot like Aden, but he also reminded me of who he was as a person, loud, charming, a little too set in his way to acknowledge there might be another one, and he made you earn his affection.

Meredith was very much living in her own little world, my mom always says she Marches to the beat of her own drum, I always say she’s not just marching to the beat of her own drum, but she is dancing to a whole different band. She sees the world in her own way and is always so fiercely determined. Often I catch her in her own little world, completely oblivious to anything going on around her, and she was so brave.

I wish I were more like her sometimes, just happy being me, not caring about what the world thinks of me. I was very insecure sometimes, and that insecurity has led me down more than one path I wish I had never strayed.

“Hey, mom.” she pulled me into a hug and planted a kiss on my cheek.

My mum was your typical mum, about 5”6, thin mousy brown almost blonde hair with some grey starting to show at the very roots, and she has the round brown doe eyes that Meredith and I both have. Despite all her time in the sun and living her life in the warmer states, she had pretty pale skin. I guess that’s where I get it from.

My dad had a beautiful tanned olive complexion, oh how I had envied that skin as a teenage girl who got lost amongst the white sand at the beach. We didn’t get to go much as it was a bit of drive, but when we did, my friends used to joke that if it weren’t for my bikini that I would blend in so well, it would be impossible to see me.

Aden has quite tanned himself, a trait I’d hoped the twins would get. Meredith, like me, hadn’t been so lucky, the poor girl. Alex, on the other hand, truly was like his father in every way.

“How was your flight?” Reggie asked as he emerged through the crowd, our bags in his hands. Bless this man. He was always so very sweet.

Reggie wasn’t much taller than my mum, only about 5”8 or so. He was very handsome, almost like an older, more distinguished Robert Downey jr, if you will.

“It was brilliant, Reggie, thanks. The twins slept right through.” I beamed.

I loved these visits. They were the only time I really got to relax snd enjoy myself. I loved my life with the twins, but between being a single mom and a full-time career woman, things could be a lot to juggle sometimes, so the chance to get away was always a real treat for me.

“Oh, that is lovely dear, should we get this show on the road then, we can continue this little pow wow on the road home.” Making his way through the crowd, the rest of us just following behind him.

Almost as soon as we got in the car, both Alex and Meredith began interrogating my mom. I didn’t expect them to come to her like this. I was hoping to get a chance to talk to her before they did, but apparently, fate or whatever you want to call it wasn’t on my side today.

“Nanny, do you know who our daddy is?” I could almost hear Reggie’s train of thought all the way from the back seat, and I could tell he was debating whether he should jump from the car or not. Who could blame him? Hell, I debating whether or not I should too.

“Not now, Alex.” I was quick to shut him down.

“Do you?” Meredith. On the other hand, Cleary wasn’t ready to drop it just yet, either.

“We’ll talk about this later. I’m so sorry, mom. I should have given you some warning that this might happen.”

I knew she’d be uncomfortable lying to them. I really didn’t want her to have to, she was against lying in general, and she shouldn’t have to abandon her morals for me. I would talk to them later and then fill her in on what happens.

“Why mommy?” Alex glared at me.

“Why what, baby.”

“Why do you need to warn her?” damn his too smart for his own good sometimes, that boy.

“Alex, I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t want to talk about it right now, okay. I just want to enjoy our time here. Please just leave it alone for now.” I want to shut him down, but I can see him gearing up to argue a little more; apparently, mom could too.

“So are you ready for your birthday party tomorrow, babies?” my mom was good like that. I just hope the twins would take the bait. I mouth a wordless thank you to her, so the children don’t hear. She just smiles at me softly.

“Yes,” they both cheered.

Oh, thank goodness she was able to distract them after all. They were having a party back home too to celebrate with all their friends, but as this was their first birthday without my mom around, we decided to fly out and have a big party here in Carson as well. It gave the twins the perfect chance to see all their cousins again. We had all been very excited about this trip for weeks now.

“Good because I already have everything all set up and most of the family is back at the house already waiting for you” she could barely contain her excitement.

Mom had been responsible for almost every birthday party the twins ever had. It was her thing. I’m so glad that even with her so far away that we still found a way for her to be involved.