Chapter 2 - Reunion

RUBY

"Here is the last order. This one for... Betty Hunter." I said as I placed the cake that I just finished decorating on the counter. It was a mid-size cake in broken white and simple decoration.

"Wow. Well done, Ruby. This is so beautiful." Judy, the woman standing at the counter, replied. She was the one assigned to deal with customer and their order.

"Simple is always the best." I winked before glancing at the clock on the wall. "Oh, it's already eleven. I have to go." I made a quick turn back to the kitchen while untying my apron.

"Is it fried rice today?"

I could merely hear Judy's voice because the thin wall had separated us already. "Yes. And an omelet. He loves omelets." I couldn't help a smile from tugging on my lips saying that. Talking about him always warmed my heart.

"It must be delicious. I could smell it." Rita chimed in from the kitchen, making me shift my body toward her. She was working on a batch of cookies, placing them one by one to bake them later. Meanwhile, another female just took a cake out of the oven for the ready-cake stock at the counter.

Yes. It is a bakery, and I'm working here. And it happens that I own it, too.

"I'm sorry, but I only cooked for Austin and me. If you said earlier, I would have made more." I said apologetically.

"Don't mind her. She's just kidding." Myrna joined in with a scolding tone. She is the oldest among us and sometimes acts like a big sister. "We can make our own lunch."

"Yeah. I'm just kidding. Go now. Don't make him wait." Rita chuckled, hushing me away with her hand.

I followed her words, giggling while shaking my head. I actually knew Rita didn't mean it. But I often found myself feeling guilty for not thinking about them. Perhaps it was because I'm the owner and consider many things, including my staff's happiness. I wanted to make this place as comfortable as possible for them.

"I'll buy you something on the way back here instead," I promised after securing the bag on my shoulder. A lunchbox was in hand. I was ready to leave.

"No, Ruby. We're okay. Just enjoy your lunch with the super little man. Tell him that Aunt Rita misses him."

Super Little Man is Austin's nickname since he loves Superman.

"I will." I was still chuckling. "I'll go now."

"Safe drive," Rita said for the last time, to which I responded by waving my hand as I walked out of the kitchen. I intended to say goodbye to Judy too, but she was occupied with our customers. So I just passed by and went straight to the main door.

--

For whom, wondering who Austin is, he is my toddler. He was turning four this year and in his active stage. Austin loves running and exploring a lot of things. He probably caused his teachers to get tired of following him all day.

Yes. It was the teachers, not me, watching him. As much as I wanted to be by his side all the time and watch him grow, I couldn't. I had to work to provide the best life for him.

Yes. I was a single fighter.

Therefore, I looked for the best daycare center in the city and left him in the morning until around three. But I always come for lunch so we will have meals together.

"Austin is in his class." Nancy, one of the teachers, told me the moment she saw me. All the teachers knew why I was here at lunchtime, so they would point me directly to my son.

"Thank you." I gave her a smile before heading to the class, as she mentioned. This building had many rooms, and the class Austin occupied was two rooms ahead with a view of the yard. But I didn't see my son outside, so he must be working with Lego.

Besides running, he loves building something with them.

"Mommy." The call was like an automatic whenever I appeared in the doorway. Then, he would run to me as if waiting for my presence.

I flashed a broad smile, welcoming my only son, and gave him a hug once he was within reach. "Are you missing Mommy so much?" I asked, chuckling when I felt his tiny hands hug my neck tightly.

He nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. I miss you so much, Mommy." And his words made my heart torn between happiness and sadness. It was warm to know he loved me but sad because I made him feel that. He should have gotten my full attention.

"Really?"

And the nod kept coming, and I couldn't help but laugh at it. I couldn't mellow, or Austin would be affected by me.

He was pretty sensitive at spotting people's emotions, moreover, me. He once comforted me by hugging me and saying he would be by my side when I felt everything was too much to handle.

"Mommy also misses you so much, baby." Then I kissed his head before pulling away to look at him closely. His blue eyes were the first I saw as they beamed in excitement. "Are you playing Lego with your friends?" I asked, my gaze going everywhere to check on him. It's mother's nature. We will check our child, though we know they are in safe hands.

Austin shook their head, which made my eyes return to his. "I got a new book, Mommy. Look. It's Superman. Uncle Kevin wants to read it together, but I want to do that with Mommy. Let's go, Mommy."

Well, I thought I knew where the excitement came from. Turned out it was about Superman.

"Okay. Okay." I rose up when he grabbed my hand and urged me to grant his request. I forgot to mention that reading is also his favorite. "But we must return the book to the teacher because it's a school's property. Okay?" I had to make it clear before leaving this place. It wasn't his book, so he should return it.

But he shook his head, and I almost scolded him when he said, "It's mine. Uncle Kevin said this book is mine."

My brows furrowed, not because of the answer but because he kept mentioning Uncle Kevin. As far as I knew, Kevin was not on the list of teachers here.

Or was he a new teacher?

"Uncle Wyatt also said my friends got theirs, so I wanted this to be mine." He added that only made my forehead crease more.

Uncle Kevin?

Uncle Wyatt?

If Austin merely told one name at a time... There are people with the same name, right?

However, two at the same time, and I was familiar with both of them... It couldn't be a coincidence. Only Kevin and Wyatt, I knew, could connect with each other.

Before I questioned more, I heard a voice I hadn't heard for a long time.

"Ruby."

And the familiar blue eyes met me right away.

It was him.