"What do you mean someone picked him up?"
Mikaella tensed up. Ms Naomi, Seth's teacher had briefly explained it to her that Seth was not in school. She had already made several calls to ask her colleagues if they happen to pick Seth up from school.
She paced around her heart pounding against her chest as if to warn her of something tragic happening to Seth. She drove all the way home in hope that Seth would be there.
But the chances were slim and she knew it.
********
"Calm down, Mick," Raquel patted Mick's shoulder. Mikaella was already at home clutching Seth's toy in her hand. She was relentlessly shaking, her eyes now swollen due to how much she had cried, she muttered a prayer for Seth's safety.
"Yeah, I'm sure he's fine,"Phil, another close friend, assured her. He also had a hard time believing that his God son was now lost somewhere, alone and vulnerable in the outside world. He always considered Mick and Seth his family. To say that he didn't love Mick was a lie, he adored her and loved her from the first time he laid eyes on her.
They had asked help from the police but they would only declare Seth as a missing person if he didn't show for the next 24 hrs. She silently sat on the couch, her eyes so puffy, her whole body weary but no that didn't matter to her.
Seth was all that mattered and for the rest of those God damn hours, she had sat there waiting for any news about Seth. He was probably scared and crying for her. She stood up getting her coat ready to look for her son.
"Mick you can't go it's already late," Phil stood in front of her blocking her way.
"Phil move! My son is out there, he needs me Phil! He needs me! Who knows some delinquent maybe hurting him right now. I need to look for my son. I need Seth,"
Immediately those words were out of her mouth, she tore up, she cried once more and Phil was quick to give her a shoulder to cry on.
Even as she buried her head on Phil's chest, the door suddenly opened. Seth came rushing in they all looked towards his direction. Mikaella pulled away from Phil's embrace, she smiled wiping off the tears and running to Seth.
"Seth! Seth!," She hugged him, assessing him for any scratches, any wounds or injuries and showering him with kisses.
"Mommy why are you crying?" He looked at his mum wiping off the tears on her cheeks.
Both Raquel and Phil looked at Seth but they were unaware of the man who stood near the door. The man who caused all this......
Phil looked at the man, his eyes fired with rage, he approached him his fists clenched ready to put the man in his place.
"Uncle Phil, don't hurt daddy!" That stopped Phil on his tracks, he stood there, confused Roman Cervantes and Mick?
Mick also turned and looked at Roman who to say the least didn't seem guilty of anything.
"Mommy don't cry?! Daddy and I got you this," Seth handed the cotton candy to her mom. His eyes gleamed with happiness as he stuffed a piece of cotton candy in Mikaella's mouth.
"Baby boy! You almost gave me a heart attack. Come, gimme some cotton candy too" Raquel took Seth to his room leaving Mikaella, Phil and Roman in the living room.
"Mick, lemme handle him," Phil whispered.
"No Phil. I'll take care of him. Go home you need some rest" Mikaella said looking dead straight into Roman's eyes.
Phil after bidding Mikaella goodbye and hugging her to show Roman he had no chance with her, left.
Immediately Phil left, Mikaella strode over to Roman giving him an ear piercing slap.
"How dare you kidnap my son!" Mikaella asked looking at the man who now rubbed his jaw smoothly.
"Kidnap? You really have the nerve to accuse me of kidnapping my own son?"
Mikaella was at first taken back by his sudden discovery but she manned up. She tried to keep the lie on.
"Don't you call him that! He is not your son, Mr Cervantes!"
"Give it up already! The blood that flows through his vein is mine so don't you damn lie to me woman," he snapped smashing the grey wall that stood beside him.
The commotion downstairs made Seth come down. He looked at his mom then his dad and asked," Mommy, are you fighting with daddy?"
"Mommy don't be mad at dad pleasee..."Seth pleaded now taking Roman's hand and pulling him towards Mick. He entwined Mick and Roman's hand unaware of the tension in the room.
"We'll be one big happy family," Seth exclaimed excitedly.
"Remember when I told you that your daddy was in heaven looking after you," Mikaella started. It was now or never, she needed to do this. The idea of having a dad made Seth happy that his eyes lit up every time he'd talk about him.Mikaella on the other hand hadn't seen this day coming. The day in which she would have to share Seth with someone else who never bothered to look for her. She remembered vividly how Roman declared her a slut! She knew that Roman wasn't going to be the best father figure to her son.Yet here was Seth longing for a father of his own. The thought of running away with Seth crossed her mind but how long was she gonna run? Tomorrow she would come to an agreement with Mr Cervantes about Seth, sharing custody was what she had in mind but would Mr Cervantes agree to it?"Yes mommy. Did he come back from heaven to take care of us?" He asked excitedly as Mikaella sluggishly put on a smile.
The huge metallic gates automatically opened revealing a grand mansion. The oppressive gloom that had weighed her heart down suddenly lifted and dissipated.Roman ushered her into the sprawling vicinity with its lush well-tended lawn. Clusters of bushes dotted the compound, while beyond the house was a stone perimeter wall with a blaze of climbers in red, purple and cream.When she got to the front door, she could hardly believe her eyes. Roman reached for the front door opening the door revealing a spacious hallway that led to a large living room lavishly furnished with unique furniture. The floor length brown curtains were drawn as the sun's rays lit up the whole house.She tried to contain her excitement but she continued to look about with fascinated eyes. A middle aged woman introduced herself as Marga, and showed her around while Roman left.Marga showed her the rooms specifically Roman's room
That night she turned in his bed. She tossed, writhed and cried like a woman in labor. She was inconsolable. Her anguished cry burned deep in her heart and in the pit of her stomach like an inferno in the depths of the earth.She slightly turned at the monster sleeping beside her. The monster who had forcefully kissed and touched her inappropriately. Seven years ago this is what she desperately wanted, marriage! Now she felt filthy, she still felt his fingers trailing inside her skirt, she still had his musky scent on her despite the amount of soap she had brushed her skin with.His sleepy face made his complexion somehow angelic but Mikaella knew better. She had already figured out everything that ran through his filthy mind. He was doing all this to her for revenge, for keeping away his son away from him. She recalled the way he demanded his 'manly needs'.How he cupped her mouth with his hand. At first she didn't unde
Two weeks gone and she felt better. These two weeks came with progress to her, although she couldn't quite pin it how he he'd managed to let her go back to work so easily after blaming her of intentionally becoming malnourished to seek attention.An ounce of guilt perhaps, she reasoned.Raquel's questions were enough to make her head pop. She knew how yarpy Raquel was. It reminded her of how at one time her best friend was head over heels in love with a local bartender and every night she would haunt her with old hippie folk music."Are you sure he's not just acting? The guy is hot Mick but not dumb enough to not note that you are one fine hot specimen""He's not acting and second of all gross to the last statement. The guy is practically a freaking villain in every woman's dream""Well sister, at least you're set for life. Life is good, hot hubby cute son ooh and money the one thing that people lack"
She felt sick to her stomach. Not to the cuisine oh no no no, but to the hand that entwined with hers on the dinner table. She even felt his gaze when he accidentally-though to her it wasn't- touched her thigh."A coronel back in the old days when we used to eat war for breakfast""Grandpa, are you still a cononel?" Seth asked while seated on his grandfather's lap.They all gave a hearty laughter to Seth's attempt on saying 'coronel'. Mick felt bad for her baby being laughed at. When she consented to meeting his parents she didn't think that there would be so much pretend kissing and touching, acting like some lovey duvey couple they weren't.She remembered how Roman came up with a perfect story of how they met and fell in love at a masquerade party. He didn't leave out also how they made love at the same masquerade party they met at. This seemingly made his parents happy especially Debra Cervantes w
Roman CervantesHe was gonna kill him. Kill him for sure! Kev did this, he drugged her!"No... no. Don't look at me like that. Last time...last time you did that we ended up making a baby"He caught her hands in mid air before her fingers trailed on his face again. Carrying her to their room was quite tiresome. Marga had already tucked Seth in bed, now back to his drunk wife who couldn't keep her hands to herself."Mr Cervantes, are you scared of your own wife?" She once more played with his hair as he removed the heels from her feet laying her on the bed.He sighed and covered her, "Sleep"Was all he got to say before he shut the lights including the little light that flickered on the night stand."On one condition. You sleep next to me...I'm scared of the dark"He grinned and slowly joined her in bed. Turning his face to the other side he looked at his phone's screen. Messages from Debra Cervantes on whether M
Why was she standing at the door goofily waiting for him to arrive? Why was her heart leaping with joy rather than feel mad about him disclosing her location to her parents?Truth is, she was glad. She really missed her mom, Gus and her dad who promised to live in LA for the moment to make up for lost time. She took a peak through the window to see his car pulling up slowly in the driveway. Her heart skipped, clueless and not knowing how and what to say. She ran stupidly to the kitchen pretending to chop down some veggies.His voice boomed the house as he called Marga to take his briefcase to the study room. She on the other hand fixed her hair even smelled it to make sure she'd used the correct shampoo. Hardly had he taken a step into the living room than she came in. She had mastered all the words to say... Roman we have never seen eye to eye since our marriage but today I want to thank you for bringing my family to me. Thank you for helping them find m
Don't look! Don't look again Mick! But she ended up looking once more while Roman chuckled at her nervousness."Um...dinner...go to make" her words came out wrong so being the woman she is, she scrammed out of the room so fast.Minutes later, she stayed in the kitchen with Marga sending glances at her."I saw it! Why did I look? Did he want me to look at it?""Ma'am, is everything okay?" Marga asked noticing that Mick was talking to herself as she chopped the carrots."No I mean yes. Yes, yes I'm fine" she lied."Marga I'll help her out, you can take some rest" his voice came from behind.He opened the fridge taking out the other ingredients for the meal. She pretended to be so engrossed in the carrots but it was hard to. He already got rid of his suit and was now wearing casual clothes, a grey full neck sweater and blue faded jeans. His hands came from behind covering hers and grabbing hold of the knife.