4

Chapter 4

Sabrina’s POV

Five years.

My plans had always been to reduce Eli’s age by two years whenever my past eventually caught up with us. But I was only able to reduce it by one, and that’s due to a whole lot of circumstances.

The moment I stepped into the school’s reception, I let go of the breath I was holding.

“Hello Sabrina, it’s good to see you,” Claire, the schools secretary greeted me with a bright smile on her face, before her forehead creased slightly. “Is everything okay with Eli? Did you get a call from the school’s nurse?”

“No I didn’t. I just couldn’t focus on work knowing Eli wasn’t in the best of health,” I lied, which wasn’t technically one, just a white lie. “Getting him checked by a pediatrician is the only way to keep my mind at ease.”

“Kids. I understand,” Claire said with a knowing smile. She had two kids of her own, and understood perfectly what I was talking about.

After the usual formalities–Signing Eli out from school, Claire spoke into the intercom, requesting he came to the reception.

About seven minutes later, Eli showed up with one of his class teacher’s, Miss. Beth.

“Mom!” Eli called out to me gingerly, and ran over.

Just laying eyes on him made me forget all of my worries.

“Hey sweetpea,” I hugged him, ruffling his hair gently. “Mommy’s here to take you to the doctor.”

Eli nodded in understanding.

We bid Claire and Miss Beth goodbye, and headed out.

“Is everything okay, mommy?” Eli asked the moment we were out of earshot. “You look sad?”

I paused, and crouched in front of him, trying my best not to break down. How do I explain to a six year old that our lives were going to change, and I had no idea in what direction. If only being sad was all I had to worry about.

“Miss?” my thoughts were suddenly interrupted.

“Hello sir,” I heard Eli say, looking behind me.

I turned around to see Zenith’s driver.

“I need a minute alone with my son,” I said quietly.

He nodded once, and stepped away.

I looked over at Eli, and with the brightest smile I could muster, I lied.

“Eli, you and mommy would be traveling…sort of a vacation.”

“What about school?” he asked. Eli has always loved school, so I wasn’t surprised that was the first question he was asking me.

“Don’t worry about school for now baby,” I said, running out of lies to tell him. “Just know that as long as I’m with you, I won’t let anyone harm you.”

Eli nodded in understanding, his eyes trusting my every word.

I pointed over to Zenith’s car that was parked up ahead. “A friend of mine is in there, and I want you to be on your best behaviour.”

“I’m always on my best behaviour,” he cut in in a single breath.

“Eli.” I called out in a tone that told him I was being serious.

His face fell, and he nodded.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, feeling terrible for lashing out at him. This wasn’t his fault, none of this had absolutely anything to do with him.

I pulled him into a hug, as I was seconds away from a tear sliding down my cheeks.

Eli hugged me back, and after a few seconds I broke the hug, stood to my feet, held his hand, and we both made our way to the car with Eli humming a happy tune, and even jumping along the way.

Kids. It's so beautiful how their mind works–one minute they’re sad, and in the next they’re as happy as a pig in a mud.

I couldn’t help the smile that graced my lips at seeing Eli so carefree. Kids are truly a blessing, and their happiness truly contagious.

Arriving at the car, I realized the back seat was completely empty, Zenith had moved to the front.

Great. God knows I wouldn’t be able to stand the tension of him being in such close proximity with Eli. Being in the same car was close, but definitely not as close as sitting side by side each other.

I helped Eli into the car, and what happened in the next seconds sent my heart beating in a frenzy.

“Hello, I’m Eli,” Elis was on his feet, one of his hands at the back of Zenith’s seat, and the other stretched out to Zenith in a handshake.

The temperature in the car dropped by several degrees, or maybe it was just my fears overriding my sense of reasoning.

“Eli, sit down,” I instructed, trying my best to hide the panic in my voice, as I pulled him to sit down.

“I was just saying hello,” he pouted, looking confused. “Did I do something wrong?”

“N–”

“No.” Zenith’s voice cut in, and my heart literally leaped out of my chest, as I watched Zenith slowly turn to look at Eli. “hello Eli, I’m Zenith,” Zenith said in the most casual tone I’d heard him in since we crossed paths. And I don't know if that terrified me, or if it should be comforting.

Eli took his hand with a bright smile on his face, and God knows I died and resurrected a thousand times over.

Zenith looked at me briefly before turning his attention back to Eli. “I’m an old friend of your mother’s.”

Eli nodded, and turned to me. “Mommy, is this the old friend from your dreams?”