Moonlight Haven

"Baby Jon, take good care of your mommy," Theodore said hoarsely. "You're a four-year-old man now, so you have to be your mommy's protector."

Jonathan looked at Theodore with his golden eyes. He was holding a toy hammer, and after Theodore's words, he brandished it.

"I'll protect Mommy!" he said seriously. "Don't worry, Grandpa, Mommy will be fine with me."

It was amazing how, at just four years old, Jonathan was already speaking fluently without a lisp.

He was also forming sentences well, without any errors in meaning, and could pronounce them clearly.

Maria told Theodore that when she took Jonathan to school and sat him in the front seat of her biology class, Jonathan looked intent and serious, joining in, as if he understood.

Lisbeth was so convinced that Jonathan was a genius that she bought him an iPad for his fourth birthday and installed all the apps on it for math, engineering, art, and foreign languages, ignoring Noreen's nagging that Lisbeth was exploiting her son.

But, Theodore, Maria, Sandra and Jake--Lisbeth's parents--had the same opinion as her and Noreen could only surrender and silently felt happy for her lovely son.

Maria kissed Jonathan's plump, pink cheek. Her eyes were glassy and her chest felt tight. The scent of Jonathan's soap and baby powder would make her lonely after he and Noreen left.

"Don't forget to let us know when you get there," Theodore said, hugging Noreen tightly. "Take care of yourself and Jonathan, keep in touch with us, and don't hesitate to let us know if you need any help."

Noreen wiped her tear-stained cheeks and hugged Theodore, then turned to Maria, who was now crying too.

"I'll find some time off soon and come see you there," Maria said. She kissed Noreen's forehead. "Take care and take good care of my grandson."

While Theodore and Maria hugged and kissed Jonathan, Noreen and Lisbeth held each other tightly.

"I'll take care of my work here soon and then come to you," Lisbeth said. "Someone needs to take good care of you and my baby Jon."

Noreen laughed through her tears. She never expected the separation to be this hard, although it wouldn't be forever, and it wouldn't be as far as Africa.

When Noreen said she was moving to Ontario for her job, everyone had a different reaction.

Maria was shocked and worried, especially because of Noreen's plan to take Jonathan with her. She tried to negotiate with Noreen to leave Jonathan with her, and when that didn't work, she forbade Jonathan from sleeping in his own room or with Noreen and put him between herself and Theodore every night.

Theodore was silent. He was worried, but tried not to show it. But after that announcement, he always came home early from college to take Jonathan to the park and bought him toys and ice cream more often.

Lisbeth was different. She simply nodded, then called her father. "Dad, are there any open positions at our company in Canada? Give them to me. Noreen and Jonathan are moving there, and I can't leave them alone."

Noreen hugged Lisbeth again. "Don't take too long. I'll have a hard time dealing with Jonathan when he asks absurd questions I don't know the answers to."

Jonathan's face was already wet with kisses from his grandparents and Lisbeth when Noreen finally managed to remove him from Maria's arms. The boy remained calm and smiled faintly as usual.

"Mom, Dad, while I'm gone, don't make any more babies," Noreen said, before leaving. "Just adopt if you're lonely."

"You naughty child!" Maria said, pretending to hit Noreen. Tears welled up in her eyes again. "Take care of yourself, honey."

Noreen stared at the blue sky outside the plane window, thinking that now she and Jonathan were truly alone facing the world.

"Mommy," Jonathan called, touching Noreen's hand. "Don't worry."

Those simple words from a fourth-year-old touched Noreen. She reached out and hugged her son tightly.

"I'm not worried, my knight," Noreen said cheerfully. "I'm with you."

Jonathan smiled, revealing pearly white teeth and healthy pink gums.

The seven-hour-plus flight hadn't made Jonathan fuss at all. He ate and slept, watched cartoons, and chatted with Noreen.

The flight attendants and some of the passengers also spoke to Jonathan, complimenting his kind and polite manners, instantly falling in love with his smile and beautiful eyes.

When he finally got off the plane, Jonathan's small backpack had grown heavier from the various snacks he'd received from them.

Noreen had been given clear instructions on what to do upon arriving in Ontario, so she didn't hesitate, immediately catching a taxi from the airport to the apartment the company had provided for her and Jonathan.

Noreen got out of the taxi and stared at the Moonlight Haven apartment complex in awe. Jonathan held her hand tightly.

"Mommy, it's beautiful," Jonathan said, pointing to the building in front of him.

"Hmm, yes, this is part of The Golden Moonlight real estate, so it must be beautiful," Noreen said. "We'll be staying here for a year. Are you happy?"

"Uhm," Jonathan said, nodding.

Noreen smiled and led him into the lobby. Even the interior of the lobby was beautiful and elegant. He approached the reception desk.

"Good afternoon, sir," Nooren greeted. "I'm Noreen Winchester, and I was told that-"

"Ah, Ms. Winchester," greeted a middle-aged man. "I am waiting for you. I was told you'd be arriving today. I'm Larry Kellan, the apartment manager. Let me show you to your unit."

Larry was a friendly and talkative man. He explained a few things about Noreen's unit as he walked up to the eighth floor.

"This is it," said Larry Kellan, opening unit 804. "There are only four units on every floor from the eighth through twelfth floors. The rooms are big and spacious, even this handsome little gentleman can run around freely inside."

Gently, Larry patted Jonathan's head and helped Noreen load her suitcase. "Please look around, Ms. Winchester. I'm sure you and your handsome little gentleman will feel right at home."

"My name is Jonathan, sir," Jonathan said politely.

"Oh, what a lovely name," Larry said. "And are you going to school soon? How old are you?"

"He just turned four, Mr. Kellan," Noreen replied. "I wish there was a school nearby for him."

"Just call me Larry," Larry said. "You don't have to worry, Ms. Winchester. This apartment complex has all the amenities. There's a playground, a kindergarten, and a daycare center. A supermarket, a department store, beauty salon, sauna and spa, a 24-hour emergency clinic with doctors on duty, a pharmacy, a veterinary clinic and pet shop, even a public library, and several cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. They're all on the first floor of this apartment complex."

Noreen was amazed by Larry's explanation. "How many buildings are there in this apartment complex?"

"Three," Larry replied. "Each has fifteen floors. They all have the same amenities, the same design, and the same rental or selling price. The only difference is the color. Building one is predominantly dark blue, building two is tourmaline green, and this building, the third, is predominantly off-white."

"What a unique concept," Noreen murmured.

"Those colors represent the designer's, Mr. Thiery Bradley's, favorite colors. This is his first apartment project in London, and all the units were sold out within two weeks of opening," Larry said.

"Ah," Noreen said. "I see. When was this apartment built? The building looks brand new."

"Almost three years ago, not long after Mr. Thiery returned from his business trip," Larry replied. "Ah, I'm talking too much. You must be tired after the flight, and I'm just talking nonstop."

"It's okay," Wilona said with a smile. "I'm glad you explained so much, so I didn't have to bother asking. By the way, just call me Noreen."

"Well, Noreen, please take a break. You can call me anytime if you need any help," Larry said. "It's so nice to have you and Jonathan here."

After Larry goes, Noreen stood in the middle of the spacious apartment, feeling relieved. She would have been grateful for a regular two-bedroom apartment, but this was a suite level for her, spacious and fully furnished in an elegant, modern minimalist style.

"Mommy, can I choose a room?" asked Jonathan, who had just emerged from the room next to the balcony.

"Of course, my sunshine," Noreen said, approaching her son. "Which room do you want? We have three here."

"There," Jonathan said, pointing to the room on the right. "There's a painting of a large, silver-furred wolf there. I really like it."

"Oh, doesn't that scare you?" Noreen asked.

"No. The wolf has the same color eyes as me, so I'm not afraid," Jonathan replied. "You'll like it, too."

Noreen was stunned. Her heart was suddenly beating very fast.