We walked into an open elevator at the end of the lobby and rode up to the first floor. The ride was silent, safe for Max subtly biting my earlobe and tickling my side. I stifled my giggle as I tried to nudge him off, but he caught my elbow, caressing it. When the elevator stopped and we stepped out into a huge, swanky kitchen, he wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing the back of my neck, while Samson watched us through his peripheral vision, smiling to himself.
In the kitchen, there was a tall, beautiful blonde girl donning a long chef cap, looming over the gas cooker. She turned when she heard the sound of our footsteps, and smiled broadly at Max. I took in her scary baby bump and faded looks, trying not to gag. I didn’t remember looking this hideous when I was pregnant with Finn.
She waddles towards us slowly, and Max pulled her in for a hug, careful not to press her stomach. “Hey, sweetheart. So nice to have you here.”
“Thanks, Jessy,” he released her and turned to me. “Elaine, I’d like you to meet Jessica, my adoring aunt, and partner-in-crime. Jessy, this is Elaine. The girl I’ve been telling you all about.”
She gasped as she hugged me. “You’re very much welcome, Elaine. I’ve heard so much about you, which is rare because Max has never gone on and on about a particular girl before.”
“Thank you,” I beamed politely. I loved the fact that she was naturally kind, even while pregnant. I could remember how irritated I always got over every little thing back when I was carrying Finn. I’d snap at my flat mates for no just cause, wake them all up at midnight to demand chow mien and other snacks we couldn’t get at that point in time, and basically make their life hell. Still, they didn’t stop loving me, and neither did they complain. They understood that pregnancy could be overwhelming and uncomfortable, which was only heightened by the fact that it was my first time.
Despite the wealth, I noticed that Jessica didn’t carry this air of superiority around her. She was wearing a worn-out black dress underneath her brown apron and no make-up at all. Her bob hair was hidden, thanks to her chef cap and she moved about the kitchen space like one who owned it. There were five large ovens and a stunning blue island bench that had seven stools around it. As I plopped down to sit with Maxwell and Max, while Samson scolded Jessica for not being cautious about her condition, a dark-haired man I instantly recognized entered. His eyes locked with mine as he tucked his phone back into his pocket and sat down.
“Elaine, right?” He extends a hand for me to take, and I shook it warmly. “I distinctly remember you from five years ago. Mrs. Sturm.”
I guffawed, nodding my head. “Feels so long ago. It’s nice to see you once again.”
“The pleasure is mine.” He reached out for my hand across the table and lifted it to his lips, kissing softly. I turned to glance at a hopelessly jealous Max.
“Back off from her, Ryan. Last warning,” he growled.
I burst out laughing, and Ryan raised his hands in surrender. “I swear I’m not having any funny ideas, Sturm.”
“You’d better not.”
“Jessy, focus here. I’m talking to you,” Samson said in annoyance. “You know how I feel about you working in the kitchen while pregnant. I’ve told you to rest, and let Cecilia handle it.”
Jessica rolled her eyes, then stood on tiptoe to peck his left cheek lightly. This made his neck heat up, but his brows were still furrowed slightly. God, he looked so much like Max when angry. “Relax, love. It’s nothing. I didn’t like the pasta and noodles she made me, so I had to send her off and prepare it myself. Rest assured; I’ve heard you. It won’t happen again.” She promised. I felt my insides melt. God, I wanted something beautiful just like this.
“Elaine?” I whipped my head up to Jessica again. “Would you like a drink? I’ve got Bitter Lemon.”
“That’ll be perfect,” I nodded, wringing my fingers nervously on the table. “I don’t want anything sugary.”
“Nonsense,” Max scoffed. “Jessy, serve us some wine. Which do you like, darling? Red or white?”
Ryan snapped his finger in delight. “How about champagne? This occasion calls for it, don’t you think so, Mrs. Sturm?”
I gulped, shrinking down in my seat. Fuck, this was getting tougher by the minute. It felt horrible, to lie to such good people. “Uh-huh. That’s… nice too.” I managed.
Suddenly an adorable little girl came running into the kitchen with a cute, brown chihuahua hot at her heels. She screamed in joy, her arms spread wide open as Samson scooped her up and twirled her in the air, the kitchen reverberating with the sound of their laughter. The dog ran straight to Maxwell, and my heart swelled when the little boy dropped to his knees to pat the dog’s back, giggling as the creature licked the side of his face stubbornly. Now that I remember, Finn always told me to get a dog for him each year on his birthday. I always turned him down because I couldn’t afford it, but perhaps, someday I could grant that request.
“You didn’t tell me you were back from answering the door, Daddy,” she pouted, pulling his ear. “Boo Boo and I were waiting for you and Max upstairs.”
Samson nuzzled her temples, causing her to squeal as she tried to push his face away. “I’m so sorry, baby girl. Your uncle Max came with a visitor.”
“Yes, sweetheart. Come meet our new friend, Effie.” Jessica prodded her. Samson set her down on her feet and she hopped over towards me.
“Hi,” she held out her hand shyly, her green-colored eyes bright and alive, just like her mother’s. She couldn’t be more than ten, nine max, and had grown so much hair that it flowed down the back of her knees. “Are you Uncle Max’s girlfriend?”
I almost choked on my spittle at her boldness, my cheeks turning warm. Jessica gasped and shouted.
“Effie! What sort of a question is that? I’m sorry, Elaine.”
“It’s fine, Jes,” I laughed nervously, turning to Effie once more. She stood with a hand on her hip, still awaiting my response despite her mother’s scolding. I fell harder in love with her determination. “Yes. Yes, I’m his… girlfriend.”
“Whoops!” she jumped, punching the air. “Finally! Uncle Max has a girlfriend. Uncle Max has a girlfriend.” She chanted, hopping about.
Max grinned proudly, sipping curtly from his glass, while I gulped down my wine at one go, needing the alcohol. Shit. Everything was escalating so fast that at this point, I was afraid that Max could propose tonight, and I’d have no choice but to say yes.
Fuck.
“You have such beautiful children, Jess,” I commended cautiously. “I could never handle one kid and you have two, with a third on the way! What a circus this house would be in the future.”
She laughed. “Trust me, the joy of being able to hold them every day outweighs the trouble they cause. Just last week, Maxwell broke the TV in their room, and Samson went nuts. He had no choice but to replace it,” she giggled, her face radiating with joy as she remembered the event in particular. “They make every day of my life worth looking forward to.”
I nodded, biting my bottom lip. That was so damn relatable. Finn was the only bright sunshine in my life. And now, Max. I wondered if, in the future, we could get to live as one big family. The three of us. With a relationship as sweet as Effie and Samson’s between Finn and Max.
I wanted that so much.
“Thinking about our own future babies, Cherry?” Max said, placing his arms around my neck. “I want a cute little boy, just like Maxwell first. Then twin adorable girls like Effie. Think you can handle it?”
I swallowed hard, forcing a laugh. “Of course. We could work that out.”
“Yippee!”
I wanted to tell him that he already had a boy, even more, cuter than Maxwell. All that was left was the twin girls.
As I watched him go back to his seat, I rested my forehead against the table and let the tears roll down my cheeks onto my lap.