Ella’s POV
“Mummy!” Nathan pulled me gently by the cloth and called, trying to get my attention.
I dropped the egg I was whisking and focused on him, plastering a smile on my face for his benefit so he wouldn’t know how tormented his mother was.
“Hey, sweetie.” I said to him.
He frowned and I wondered what the problem was for a moment before I remembered that they had told me not to treat them like babies again. I had responded to him in a way that I used to when they were still two and the boys no longer liked it. They would always insist that they were growing up and no longer the babies they used to be.
I knew they made a good argument but it wasn’t easy for me to adapt to. No matter how grown they were, they were still going to be my babies.
I glanced at Nathan’s face and realized the frown was still there. It wasn’t showing of disappearing anytime soon so I quickly corrected myself.
“Is there a problem, Nathan?” I asked.
He beamed, looking pacified and I almost laughed. If he already expected me to talk to him as an adult at the age of six, I wondered how he would behave when they grow older than this. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t interested in what they would be like that time. I was curious and eager to know everything about my boys though I knew I was going to miss their childlike innocence and exuberance when they grow up.
A scowl morphed his features again. “Are you listening, mum?”
Honestly, I wasn’t listening. I was busy wondering what my angels would be like when they grow up but I didn’t dare tell him that. He was going to be mad at me if I did. I didn’t want to lie either as he would notice. Nothing went past those boys. Not that I wasn’t proud of their intelligence and observational skills. They were sons of their parents, after all.
“Um, maybe you should repeat what you said.” I urged him.
He rolled his eyes at me in an exasperating manner that I found funny and would have laughed at if not for the seriousness of the matter. “I knew you weren’t listening, mum.”
“I was…” I stopped at the look in his eyes and chuckled. “Please go on.”
I was about to say that I was listening but got distracted until he gave me that cold look. I hid my chuckle to myself. I should have known that wouldn’t fly either.
“Mum, there is something I want to ask from you.” He began.
“Okay.” I nodded, looking at the egg. I checked the rice I had on fire and wondered if I could start frying the eggs now.
He swallowed as if he didn’t know where to begin. I paused and stared at him. It was never like him to have difficulties starting his words. That made me more curious on what he wanted to say.
“Nathan? Go on.” I urged him.
The earlier he said what was on his mind, the faster I could get him out of the kitchen and continue cooking. I wasn’t a fan of cooking where the boys were around.
Werewolves didn’t sustain injuries or have scars on their bodies but that didn’t mean I was ready to be careless around them. Where my boys were, one could never afford to be too careful.
He was about to eventually say it when his brothers walked into the kitchen. I rolled my eyes and groaned under my breath. Things just got harder than they were meant to be. It wasn’t going to be easy chasing the three boys out of the kitchen.
I almost swooned in relief when Kevin walked in after them. Thank goodness. I had someone to drive them away on my behalf.
“You are here.” Nick said, glancing at Nathan. “Neo and I had been wondering where you were.”
“When did you leave? I thought we were all about to play together.” Neo asked.
“I’m here. I have something to ask mummy. Aren’t you also curious?” Nathan replied.
“About what?” Nick and Neo asked at the same time.
I sensed trouble and I didn’t think this was going to be a mere mother-son conversation. My gut told me it was going to be an interrogation and I wasn’t about to shun the inevitable.
I smiled at the boys and glanced at their father. “Why don’t you all go ahead to have fun with daddy so I can get dinner ready on time?”
Kevin sensed that I wanted to chase the boys away and smiled at them. “Who wants to have fun with daddy?” He turned to me. “I came to check up on dinner but since I can see that it’s not ready yet, I can go get myself busy with the boys.”
I nodded at his unnecessary lengthy explanation. He didn’t have to do that. All he had to do was to get the boys out of my sight.
The boys didn’t reply him and he turned to them again. “Is no one interested in having fun with daddy? No one?”
“You should go.” I added, deciding to help Kevin out. Well, more like help myself out. “Aren’t you boys hungry? You should leave with daddy so I can get done here on time. I’m sure uncle Liam is ready to play with you.”
“It’s more like we are hungry for information.” Nathan said.
I sighed. This wasn’t going to be easy. I wondered where he had learned that cliche from. My boys were definitely smarter than I keep giving them credit for. As a mother, I was proud of them. As a person who needed her time at the moment, I wasn’t feeling too proud but eager to chase them off.
I nodded, surrendering to the realization that they weren’t going to leave until they gotten what they needed.
I sighed. “What do you want to ask?” I finally asked, looking at Nathan. Let’s get this over with.
“Is the reason we are here connected to Melody?” He asked, looking into my eyes without flinching.
I went still and looked at Kevin. He shrugged as he looked at me. Traitor. I rolled my eyes at him. He wasn’t going to say anything since the boys came to me. I sighed as I knew I couldn’t get any help from him and turned back to the boys.
“Why do you think so?” I asked.
I knew it sounded like I was stalling but I was curious. I wanted to know what gave it off and what we had done that made them suspect.
Nathan wasn’t the one who replied but Nick. “We know how much you love your privacy except when you are treating someone. You aren’t a social person and neither is Melody or her mother sick but you’ve been at their place more than we’ve seen you at anyone’s house.”
Nathan looked at Nick and smiled as if he was surprised that his brother was able to read his mind and was impressed at the fact.
Nick caught him staring and shook his head. “What?” He asked, staring with a grin. “You are not the only one who noticed that our parents are acting weird and got curious. We just decided not to ask.”
“But it seems we are asking now.” Neo shrugged. He turned to me. “What is it going to be, mum?”
“The truth or you are still going to avoid this?” Nick prodded.
I could sense that the rice was done and turned the cooker off. This wasn’t going to be an easy and short conversation.