*Andrea*
Sun rays beamed into the room through the window. I had that window locked, and I squinted my eyes, ‘so, who opened it?’
My eyes were yet to adjust to the light flooding the room. I laid my back on the wooden frame, one hand rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
Everything was the same, but a feeling I couldn’t put my hand on settled in the pit of my stomach.
What happened yesterday? I tried to recall if anything went amiss.
Just then, my nose tinged, and I yawned lazily.
I turned my head, and my eyes fell on a man who was fast asleep close to me.
I almost leapt out of bed; I was about to shout when I recognized him.
Alejandro?
What was he doing here? And on my bed? I furrowed my gaze. Oh no…
I raised the duvet and quickly checked myself to see if he had touched me. But he hasn’t; I was fully clothed.
How did he get on my bed? I wanted to hit him or do anything just to wake him, but I couldn’t bring myself to.
Instead, I found myself scouting closer to him; his eyes were closed.
I had dreamed of this moment for as long as I remember, moments when he would be on my bed. Moments where I’ll wake up to see him.
My hands reached for his face immediately; I traced his neatly structured features.
I started with his perfectly arched brows and then his nose. When my eyes fell on his lips, I craved it. I wanted to have a taste of it.
I wanted to have it on mine.
My finger rested on his lips, and I bit my bottom lips.
What was the harm of stealing a kiss? After all, he was lying here asleep.
I moved closer to his lips, and just as I was about to meet his lips with mine, his eyes suddenly flung open, and I stiffened.
I knew this was a wrong idea.
“What are you…” I placed my hands on his lips, stopping. When I raised my head, I heard something. It was distant at first, but it became clearer with every second.
“Austin is coming,” I said
“You need to hide,” I jumped off the bed.
“Why should I hide? This should be…” I raised a brow at him, and he shut his mouth immediately.
I wasn’t going to be his mistress, never.
And I didn’t want Austin to think of me that way. He would not see me in bed with his father because soon, he would know that Alejandro is his father and Alejandro is married. What would he think of me then?
I would not be able to live if my son lost all respect for me.
Alejandro was about to stand but I stopped him, taking the duvet.
The doorknob was held at that moment. It slightly went down…
I threw the duvet over Alejandro at that moment.
Just then, the door opened.
“Momma,”
“Austin,” I said with a wide smile.
I walked to meet him. Austin was smart; if he came any closer, he would know.
I held him and hugged him, then turned so he had his back facing the bed. My chest rose and fell.
“Will you be going to work today?” He asked.
“Of course,” I said.
“But last Saturday, you promised to spend the day with me,” he grumbled. I remembered promising.
“That’s true.” I held him close and placed a kiss on his cheeks
“What if we spend the day together tomorrow?” His face fell, or should I call Dave and ask him if I can leave early?
The Iron Lady would be furious. She was already angry at the fact that I had left early yesterday. Though she didn’t say so, I knew.
“I’ll take you wherever you want to go tomorrow,” I said, and he nodded. “That’s my boy. The best son in the entire world.” I said and kissed his cheek again.
He smiled, “We’ll go wherever you want to go tomorrow,” “Fine, we have a date then,” I nodded.
“Go into your room. Momma would quickly freshen up and come down.” I said.
As I closed the door after him, I rested my back on it and placed one hand on my chest.
Alejandro removed the duvet from him, “did you have to hide me?” He asked.
“Of course. What would he have thought if he had met you here,” I inhaled sharply, steading my beating heart.
“Why are you even here? You should have left; how did you end up in my bed?” I asked as I walked towards the bed.
“Well, I think you should answer that question. Why am I here? Don’t you remember?” I raised a brow.
“Remember what?” He looked at me for a while. I remember inviting him to my room and having him sit on the couch.
I remember us talking about my drawings, but that was it. My memory ended there.
I do not remember anything more.
“Well, that’s not even the problem. The problem right now is that you have to leave this house quietly; Alison or Austin can’t find out you slept here.” I said, dragging the duvet from him and placing his shoes in front of him.
He wore his shoe, and together, we stepped out. I walked in front; I had to make sure the coast was clear and that there was no one in the sitting room before he passed.
“I gestured for him to come, and he did. Alison wasn’t in the kitchen. She must be in her room.
I walked to the door, Alejandro following closely. I could tell he saw no reason for this, but I don’t care what he thinks at this point. I just want to do what is right.
“Why are you sneaking out? Aren’t you staying for breakfast?” Alison’s voice stopped me on my track.
I turned, a smile quickly spreading across my face, “Alison, you are here,”
“What? You wanted to sneak him out?” She asked.
“No, why should I?” I passed one hand through my hair. Alejandro sighed.
“But I thought…”
“His car is parked outside, so it’s obvious he didn’t leave last night.” She turned to Alejandro. “Do you want to stay for breakfast?” She asked.
She was warming up to him. I liked that.
“No, he is in a haste. He has a meeting to attend, right Alejandro?”
“Hmm, yes… but, I think I can stay for breakfast,” he said.
I didn’t say anything anymore.
I just walked back to my room while he took a seat in the sitting room, chatting with Alison.
I took a quick shower and dressed up for the day. I walked to the dining table, which had various foods arranged on it.
“There’s so much here; what’s the occasion, Alison?”
“Nothing, I just felt like having a change for today.” She said.
I took a seat. Austin was already seated.
He was surprised to see Alejandro, “did you come for me?” He asked.
“Yes, how did you know?” Alejandro asked.
“But you are still wearing the same clothes from yesterday.” Austin noticed. I almost burst out laughing. I’ve always made sure to remind him that Austin is smart.
“Well, I…” Alejandro struggled for the right words to say.
“Austin, have some eggs. You shouldn’t question your elders when they eat,” Alison said, placing scrambled eggs on his plate in front of him.
We chatted as we ate. Alison and Alejandro got along well.
After breakfast, I was about to leave for work when I got a call.
Why was she calling me?” Iron Lady rarely calls anyone. “You don’t have to worry about coming to work today. Take the day off,” she said before I could say anything.
Without waiting for me to speak or acknowledge her statement, she hung up.
I stared at my phone. Was that a prank? Maybe she was asked to see which employers would be more faithful because I can’t imagine her calling me just for that.
“I guess you won’t be going to work today, Andrea,” Alejandro said behind me. “We can take Austin out together.”
At that moment, I realized that the man in front of me must have pulled some strings behind the scenes.
I should be angry and tell him to mind his business; I should tell him not to be nosy and stick to his son, but I couldn’t.
He has the best intentions at heart. “Then you should freshen up,” I said.
He nodded, “I’ll be back in an hour,”
“Momma, are you going out with me?” Austin asked, and when I nodded, he held my hand and jumped around.
True to his word, Alejandro was back the next hour.
Austin wanted to go around the city first, so we did as he requested.
“Why isn’t Aunt Alison here with us?”
“She has something she wants to take care of.”
We later took Austin to the park.
That was around noon. Austin played around, trying one game or the other. When he found a girl that was the same age as him, he went around with her, giving Alejandro and me time to chat.
“Thank you, Andrea,” he said.
I raised a brow, not sure what I had done.
“For what?” “For allowing me to come here. For allowing me to be part of his life.”
“You are his father; you have the right,” as long as he doesn’t try to take Austin away from me, he has the right to be in his life.
I said, and he nodded. “But allow me to be a little greedy. The past few days have been hard for me. I can’t lie to you; I had been tortured. Pure torture,” I turned to meet his gaze.
“I want you too. I want to be part of your life, too. I want you back, Andrea. I want us back.” He held my hand.
I looked away from him, my eyes searching for Austin. I found him playing with the little girl a few distance away.
I look back at Alejandro, “I can’t be your mistress.” As much as I want him to, I have to be logical.
“I am not asking you to.”
“Then what are you asking?” I removed my hand from his. “You are married. You have your own life now. You have a wife and a son. Austin would always remain your son, but I…”
I paused and looked away, my eyes brimming with tears. How can you want something in front of you but then you can’t have it, “but I can’t be in your life the way you want .”
“If this is about Nora and Lucas, you don’t have to worry. Lucas is grown up and mature. He understands things better now. As for Nora, I will divorce her. I don’t love her. Staying with her these past few years was hard. I’ve wanted to remove her from my life from the moment we got married.”
“I want you, Andrea, and I can do whatever it takes to have you. Even if it means burning the entire world.”
I was about to respond when Austin came running back. Something had pricked his hand.
We took him to the closest hospital. It was something small, but I didn’t want to take any chances with my son.
That was how our conversation came to an end.
All through the ride back home, Alejandro stole glances at me.
Austin was asleep when we got home. Alejandro took him to his room and left.
Alison was seated in the sitting room. She asked after Austin, and I told her not to worry.
“How are you? You’ve been moody since you arrived,” she noticed. I inhale a scent of breath.
“Wait, I’ll get you water,” she said and placed her phone beside me.
Her phone beeped immediately after she left. I know I shouldn’t have opened it, but when I saw the screen shine and the message, I opened it.
‘When should we meet? I’ve been in LA for some time. Is it because of Andrea?’
Another message came in: ‘When will you tell her about us?’
I squinted my eyes. My eyes caught the name of the sender as the phone beeped again.
“Lucas?”