Nine

During the ride back home, all Nate could talk about was the strange man, “He looks so handsome like me. It will be cool if my father looks that handsome.”

Jimmy frowned. He had no idea who the guy was, but he didn’t like him. He looked like someone who would try to seal attention from everyone in the room. He was glad he had come to pick Nate instead of Nita. Although, Nita was still in love with her ex, Jimmy doubted anyone could resist glancing at such a man twice. 

He turned back to the boy, one hand on the steering, “What do you think about me, Nate?”

Confused, the boy blinked at him, “what about you, Uncle Jimmy?”

He smiled at him, “Do you think I am handsome?”

Nate grinned back, “Of course, you are handsome, Uncle Jimmy.”

Jimmy smile got wider. If he needed to win Nita’s heart, the easiest way was through his son. He continued their conversation, “Do you think I am more handsome than that man?”

Nate looked through the car side mirror as if he could see the man once more. He really wish they meet again once, so they could be friends, but even as little as he was, he knew the world contain too many people. It wouldn’t be easy meeting someone again by chance.

He sighed, “Uncle Jimmy, you’re very handsome. But that man is more handsome.”

Jimmy’s smile flattered, before he cursed within. What had he expected from a little boy? He was competing with a stranger he never knew. 

“Uncle Jimmy, do you think my dad will be that handsome?” Nate asked again. 

Any topic regarding that bastard always annoyed Jimmy to no fault, but he couldn’t let Nate thinks he hate his birth father, not after he had promised to help him look for his father. 

Jimmy shrugged, “I know you’re handsome.”

Nate beamed at the compliment. The little guy loved it when he was praised, but soon he remembered his plan. “Have you found out anything about my father?”

Jimmy shook his head, “I’m sorry, Nate.” His voice sounded sad, and Nate believed he was sad for him, “But, it’s so difficult to find out about your father. We don’t even know his name.”

The boy slum on his seat sadly. Any topic regarding his father was forbidden at home. Even though, he had asked his mother countless times, she had refused to tell him the smallest information like his name. The only thing he knows was that he lives in the state, and it was all thanks to his godmother, Aunt Mia. 

Jimmy hid the smile that threatened to occupy his face, “Don’t worry, Champ. I’ll always be beside you and your mummy.”

Nate nodded, absently, “But you can never be my daddy.”

That hurt him like he was been pierced with thousands of needles, but he shrugged it off. “I can be your daddy if you want me to.”

Nate head turned sharply towards him, and he stared at Jimmy for a long time. He loved Uncle Jimmy, just like he loved Aunty Mia and Aunty Flora, but he never thought of Uncle Jimmy been his daddy. 

Was that even possible?

He didn’t want to think of it too much, so he just shrugs, “But you can never be my real daddy.”

Just then, Jimmy stopped the car in front of the hotel. There was no point confusing the little boy. He just needed to win his heart in different ways. After he realized they can never find his daddy, he was going to give up, and he can then fill his father’s position and Nita’s husband position. 

He came out of the car to open his door, just when Nita also parked her car. The duo waited on Nita. 

“Welcome, mummy.”

Nita eyes darted to the little boy running towards her. “Welcome, mummy. Hope my good luck charm worked.”

She nodded at him before lifting him off the ground, and placing kisses on his face. One of the reason she hated on-site work was because of her son. She missed him whenever he wasn’t close to her. 

“Stop it, mummy. I’m not a baby anymore.” He wriggled in her hand until she dropped him on the ground. She patted his head, “But you will always remain mummy’s baby.”

Nate smiled, until Jimmy interrupted them. “Don’t I deserve some smooching kisses too? I mean, I took care of this big boy all day long.”

Nita rolled her eyes, “Thank you, Jimmy. You’re the only reason I feel at ease leaving him there.”

He nodded, “So, how’s your first on-site job?”

She hummed, “Don’t remind me, Jim. It was just as horrible as I thought.”

Jimmy laughed, “I know you meant the people and not the work.”

She didn’t speak on that again. She brought out a box of chocolate she had bought for Nate on her way back from work. Whenever she remembered Mr. Moore and his advances, she felt nothing than to puke. He had the courage to try to leer a woman after back biting her; such a cowardly man. 

“Thank you, mummy.” Nate accepted the chocolate. As they got to inside their room, with Jimmy trailing behind them, inside of going to the next room, which was his, Nate spoke again, “This chocolate remind me of the chocolate man.”

Nita shrug off her coat on the chair, “Chocolate man?”

He nodded, “I met this handsome man at the front of my school.”

Her eyes moved to Jimmy who only shrugged.

But Nate wasn’t done. “His chocolate fell off while he was going to pick his child…” he paused to think, “…I wonder who is child is. He must be handsome like his daddy.”

Nita stared at him in amazement. She had never seen her son been fascinated by anyone. 

“Anyway, he wanted to give me the chocolate but I refuse. But we promise to be friends if we meet again.”

Nita smiled. 

It seemed her son had a good day, especially with the chocolate man.

“Don’t worry, mummy. I promise to introduce him to you if we meet again.” he sighed, sadly, “But I don’t think we will meet again.”

Nita smiled. She really wanted to meet the ‘chocolate man’ who made her son this excited