Mommy!
1361 Words
Four years later…
Julian's pov
I stretched my arms after pulling out all night the book cover’s illustration. My neck was aching and so was my waist.
“Being an illustrator is not easy.”
The door opened and Tris stepped inside.
“Mommy!” His soft tone mumbled.
He rushed over to me and I lifted him onto my lap.
“Yes, baby?”
His head rested on my chest.
“Noah ate my favorite cookie!”
He complained.
Since I call my brother by his name, Tris learned the same and Noah preferred it that way.
“Really?” My brows furrowed.
“Scold him, please.”
His teary eyes looked into mine.
“Okay, let's go!” My fingers brushed through his tears rolling down his cheeks.
I gently put Tris down on the floor and his eyes perked up as if his mom was some superhero for him. Holding hands, we stepped into the living area, where Noah was enjoying his snacks on the couch.
“NOAH REINHART”
“Geez!” He got startled and the chips jumped out of the packet he had in his hands.
“Did you eat Tris’ favorite cookie?” My serious tone questioned him whereas Tris put his hands on either side of his waist and glared at Noah.
He got up from the couch and glared back at Tris with the same intensity.
“You little rat!”
“I thought we were close!”
“Seriously?” My brows twitched.
“Buy him a new pack by evening!”
My lips commanded.
“The big one.” Tris added.
“Whoa! He's such a scheming child!”
Noah murmured.
Mom and Dad stepped out of their bedroom with all the noise in the morning.
“What's going on?” She asked.
“Gram!” Tris ran over to Mom.
“Noah ate my favorite cookie!” He complained about it again.
Dad lifted him in his arms and kissed his cheek whereas Mom rubbed his back. Tris was the light of our house and everyone's favorite, especially Noah's.
“Buy him a cookie pack in the evening.” Mom commanded the same.
Noah sighed.
“The big one.” Tris said the same.
“This scheming rat!” Noah walked over to him and started tickling Tris. His cute laugh echoed through the room.
Four years ago my pregnancy news shocked my family. Dad was disappointed and so was Mom and Noah.
I had to drop out of school and Dad arranged homeschooling. Not only that, but all my friends cut ties with me.
Daniel Reinhart, my father, didn't talk to me for months!
And my mother?
She became way too overprotective, not even allowing me to step foot outside of the house. Noah was angry, too, but he never said anything and supported me from day one. He was the one who convinced my parents, and gradually, things became better.
Luckily, Tris resembled my appearance!
Brown hair and brown eyes.
After Tris’ birth…everything was only good and the pain disappeared. He changed my life for the better and my family was back to normal.
My interest was always in art, and after giving birth to Tris and completing my graduation from an art college, I became an illustrator in a small company named Art & Beyond.
We get orders from authors to design their book covers.
It's been four years and I am no longer the old naive Julian. Pregnancy changed every aspect of my life.
“Honey”
“Have you found a tenant?”
Mom asked Dad.
After Tris' birth, Dad bought a big house, and we had been looking for a new tenant for quite some time now. The old tenant was a young girl who moved to London last month.
“About that…” Noah interrupted.
“I have found a tenant for you guys.”
He announced.
“Really?” Mom widened her eyes.
“The new tenant will be here in a few days, so you should clean and arrange the upstairs.” He muttered with a smile.
“That's wonderful news!” Dad was pleased, too.
Noah had become a famous professional basketball player. Every girl went crazy for him but he was the same playboy, changing his girlfriend every damn week.
“I am going to take a shower.” Having said that, my feet went back to my room.
After a hot shower…
*Cell phone ringing
I grabbed my phone from bed and Ethan’s number flashed on the screen.
“Hello?” My soft tone answered.
“Hey! Uhm…I don't think I will be able to make it tonight, so sorry.” His sweet tone apologized.
“Because of work?” My lips inquired.
“Uh…yes!”
“Don't worry about it.”
“Thank you, Joly!” He ended the call.
I have been avoiding men all my life, but three weeks ago, one of my good colleagues from Art & Beyond forced me to go on a blind date with her close acquaintance.
Ethan Scott.
I wasn't interested…at all.
The blind date was okay and Ethan turned out to be a gentleman. He was also funny, cracking jokes throughout our first awkward dinner.
We became good friends and started meeting each other more often. We were supposed to go out for dinner tonight but he had to stay in the office for work.
Well, life is busy for an office worker!
***
In the evening…
I went to the nearest store for ice cream and on my way back…my eyes noticed Ethan talking to someone on the phone outside the store.
My feet were about to approach him, yet stopped the most my name came out of his mouth.
“Julian is a pain in the a*s!”
“She's beautiful but a mom.”
“I don't wanna be some kid’s dad.”
“I have been acting nice to her out of pity, but this is getting bothersome.” His fingers rubbed his forehead in stress.
“She wouldn't even let me touch her!”
“I really wanna get laid.” He smiled at the sky and turned around only to see me standing behind him.
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped!
He cut the call and gulped.
“J-Julian!”
A smile glinted on my lips, and his eyes narrowed with confusion. Lines appeared on his forehead, and he twitched his brows.
“What made you think I would choose a ba*atrd like you to be my Tris’ dad?”
“You're not worth it.”
My fingers swiftly tucked my loose strands behind my ear.
“Did I ever tell you?”
“What?” He asked.
“You were never my type.”
He clenched either of his fists in rage.
“Julian! You're going ahead of…”
My feet walked out of his sight and he started cussing me openly. His male ego was shattered, after all.
Upon coming to a distance from the store, tears rolled down my eyes.
I was hurt!
“Don't let things get to you, Joly!” My lips murmured alone.
“You're stronger than this!” Self-talk had always comforted my soul. It was a way to remind me how brave I am.
My lips put on a smile and my feet headed back home in silence. Tris might get worried if he notices my tears.
Upon stepping into the living room…
“Mommy! You're back!” Tris hugged me with his small arms.
“Here's your ice cream.” I passed the chocolate cone to him.
Mom descended the stairs and slowly walked over to me and Tris. She was cleaning upstairs.
“Is everything ready?” I asked.
“The Tenant called Noah and said he is coming tomorrow.” She replied.
My lips smiled.
“Isn't that great? He's Noah's best friend, and you used to be close to him. Do you still remember Kyren Maddox?”
The smile disappeared from my lips.
It was the first time in four years his name reached my ears.
- Writer
