” Good morning, darling,” I was met with Justin’s face as I opened the door. He was grinning at me, this couldn’t be good. I immediately shut the door against him but before it could close properly, he stopped it with his arm.
” What do you think you’re doing?” he said as he pushed the door open. ” That’s not the way to treat your husband, you know?” he smirked.
” Justin, I don’t want to argue with you today. Can you please just stop coming over?” I begged, placing my palms together. ” I’m not comfortable with your frequent visitations and it’s not just healthy showing up into the kid’s life all of a sudden,” I knew trying to reason with him was not going to work but still, there’s no harm trying.
” Don’t you think that they’ll be more upset to know that after their dad appeared to them, he suddenly stops coming. It’s more traumatic, what do you think they’ll think of me? They would conclude that I really abandoned them,” honestly, his explanation did make sense but I didn’t want my children to have someone as temporary as Justin in their lives. Now he shows up, doesn’t mean he won’t leave sooner or later. It’s just a matter of before he does what he did to me in the past; using me and discarding me.
” Justin, out of my house. Now!” I ordered.
” That’s no way to talk to a guest,” he said forcing himself in. Leaning towards me, our faces a few inches apart, ” You still look as good in pyjamas, it brings back memories of old times. Just that these aren’t as enticing as the ones you used to wear,” he let his breath caress my face. Why was he bringing up past memories? My face turned a bright red from embarrassment and I cursed my body underneath my breath, why did it have to act up now?
” It seems I’m not the only one thinking about the nights we spent together,” he licked his lips seductively, he must have noticed my flushed face.
” I don’t have time for your silly games, Justin. The kids are still asleep and I don’t want you bothering them,” I lied trying my best to look as serious as I could.
” That’s not a problem, I’ll wait for them to wake up. While I wait, we could spend some quality time together,” he proposed as he walked past me with his secretary following behind. Justin wasn’t the type to give up in the least way.
I followed them into the living room, as his eyes scanned for signs of his kids. Just when he was about to sit down.
” Mummy, who was at the door?” Aiden’s voice came from the dining room, my cover was blown.
” I thought you said they were asleep? But of course, it’s obvious that you don’t want me to meet them,” he said briefly as he headed straight for the dining room. I just remembered that James came visiting this morning and was in the dining room as well.
” Wait!! Don’t go there now?” I stopped him.
” Why not? You know, I’m not the boogie man. I don’t eat kids okay?” he said as he continued striding towards the dining. ” Amelia! Aiden! Daddy’s here and I brought gifts also,” his smile instantly turned into a grown as he spotted James with the kids.
” What do you think you’re doing here?” he confronted James.
” Justin, we can talk things out. I’ll explain,” the words just came out of my mouth. I didn’t even know why I felt guilty and had the responsibility to explain, it’s not like I did anything wrong. But even if I did, we had no relationship and hence, no reason to explain myself to him.
” Why do you need to explain yourself Isa?” James got up, looking at Justin eye to eye. ” What I’m doing here?” he scoffed. ” Isn’t it obvious that we’re having breakfast?”
” I thought it’s only girls that could be shameless at times but I was wrong. You clinging on to someone else’s wife, you really have no shame do you?”
” You want to talk about shameless? Fine, let’s do just that. After kicking your wife and kids away, you come back years later for them and expect them to accept you. Who’s the real shameless one here? I’m simply doing your job, the same job you refused to do,” James pushed his chest.
” Like I said earlier, I and my wife’s affairs are none of your business,”
” Daddy?!” Amelia called out in a shaky voice as tears were about to fall from her eyes. ” Did you really abandon us just like James said?” My heart broke as she began to cry, what pained me more was seeing Aiden cry, he had always been a strong kid but I guess, even tough people have their weaknesses. He was still a toddler after all.
” Amelia sweetie, whoever said that, huh?” I quickly went to her rescue.
” James!” she cried louder.
” That’s not true, your daddy loves you more than you know it. He loves you and your brother to the moon and back,” I caressed her cheeks.
” Really?” she sniffled.
” Would I ever lie to you?” she shook her head, as she started getting calm. ” Aiden…” I turned to look at Aiden.
” If he really loved us, how come he only shows up now?” Aiden distanced himself from me as he dashed out of the dining room and into his room, banging the door behind him.
” Aiden!!” I and Justin called out but he refused to answer any of us, how would he? He was heart broken and all because Justin and James refused to act mature.
Moving into the living room, we sat quietly. I had began to cry, I never wanted my children to be hurt by their past and the circumstances around their birth.
” I’m really sorry, Isabella. I shouldn’t have said all those things in front of the kids. It was wrong of me to talk about something you trusted me with in front of the twins,” James said, deeply apologetic.
” I’m sorry too, Isa. I shouldn’t have let my anger get the better of me, I’m truly sorry,” Justin was actually remorseful.
” You both should have realized it earlier on,” I was still very angry with the both of them. Standing up from my chair, I carried Amelia in my arms. ” Justin, come with me,”
” Alright,” he said in a low voice as he got up. I led him to the twins’ room, knocking on the door, I let I and Justin in.
” Honey,” I sat down on Aiden’s bed where he buried his face under a pillow and cried. ” I know you feel bad about this but I mean it when I said your dad loves you and never for once abandoned you,” he kept sniffling without replying.
” I’m sorry that I only showed up now, if I had known sooner, I would have come looking for you, your mom and your sister,” Justin comforted.
” Aiden, your dad didn’t show up because he never knew he had you. When I was pregnant for you and Amelia, I left and I didn’t tell your dad. That’s why he never came looking up until now,” I was forced to explain, my children came first before my secrets.
” He didn’t?” Aiden finally responded.
” He didn’t, honey. If he did, he would have come a long time ago to see you,” I smiled at him as he sat up. Placing my forehead on his, ” So don’t you ever think he abandoned you, okay?” I said giving him kisses before hugging him. I was glad he understood somewhat.
Amelia crawled to where Aiden was seated before hugging him and patting his head, ” Don’t cry big brother, daddy loves us both,” Amelia was such a sweet little girl and I admired the bond the twins had.
” I’m not crying,” Aiden pouted. He had come back to normal, not ever wanting to look weak.
” Why don’t I make it up to my babies today?” Justin rubbed his palms together as he smiled at them.
” I don’t want anything,” Aiden was still upset with Justin.
” How about I teach you how to ride a bicycle, it will be fun,” Justin tempted Aiden. He had always wanted to get on a bicycle of his own.
” Does that mean, I get a bicycle of my own too?” Aiden’s eyes lit up.
” Anything you want, buddy. Just name it, you’ve got it,” I was happy he was trying to mend things with the kids.
” How about me?” Amelia raised her hand as if to make it easier for him to spot her. ” Don’t I get something too?”
” Anything for you, my princess,” he assured, picking her up and kissing her to which she giggled and squealed in delight.
” You should join us mummy, it will be fun,” Amelia pulled my hands as if she already knew that I didn’t want to tag along.
” I will follow you three out, don’t worry,” I sighed. I was happy that the twins were alright now and I would do anything to see them smile, even if it meant I couldn’t fully remove Justin from their lives.