Chapter 4

I scrunch my nose when I feel someone pinch it. I opened my eyes and blinked away the sleep.

"Good morning, Mommy." Mara greeted me with her bright smile. I pulled her to me and wrapped the blanket around her. She giggled trying to get out. I let her go and sat on the bed. She sat in my lap. I kissed her head.

"Good morning, princess. Did you sleep well?"

"Good, Mommy." My stomach grumbled and she poked my stomach with her little finger. "Mommy is hungry. I'm hungry too."

"Okay sweetheart, why don't you wait for Mommy to get ready? We'll go and have breakfast, okay?" She nodded.

"Can I play a game on your phone?" I raised my eyebrows, she's giving me her puppy eyes.

"How about you select what to wear?" I suggested. She nodded excitedly and jumped off the bed. She opened the closet and started looking through my clothes. I chuckled, shaking my head and went into the bathroom.

When I came out I saw blue jeans paired with a red top laid on the bed. Mara sat next to them wearing a red frock. I'm so proud of her. She can get ready by herself. She's growing up so fast.

"Do you like it, Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetheart. Very much." Her face glowed happily. I kissed her forehead. I wore my clothes. I brushed her hair, I let it loose. It reaches her shoulder. I put on the hairband to stop the hair from falling on her face.

"Come in." I said when I heard the knock on my door thinking it was Elena.

"Hi! Good morning!" Julia greeted as she came in.

"Good morning." We greeted each other.

"Breakfast is ready. Are you guys coming down?" I nodded, giving her a smile. She sat on the edge of the bed. She looked at Mara. "She's such an adorable child."

"She's my happy bubble." I told her and kissed Mara's cheek.

"Mara sweetie, why don't you go down for breakfast? I've something to talk, with your mother." Mara looked at me and I nodded hesitantly. She kissed my cheek before going out of the room. "Is everything okay?"

"What do you mean?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"You didn't come to eat dinner last night, I came to check on you. You're crying in your sleep." She looked concerned. "You can tell me anything you know. I'm your friend."

"It's nothing. I'll be fine." I don't know what more to say. How will she react when Mara's father is her husband?

"Okay. Talk to me when you're ready, I'll wait." She placed her hand on my shoulder giving me reassurance. I nodded, giving her a small smile. "Let's go eat breakfast, before they finish everything. I've a surprise for you."

"What surprise?" She stood up, pulling me with her. She literally dragged me down stairs. What's this surprise?

"Julia, you disappeared saying you've a surprise. What is it?" I heard a familiar voice. I heard it long back but I still recognised it. She gasped when I came into her view.

"Maria?" She threw herself at me. I wrap my hands around her. My eyes moistened.

"Kathie? Are you trying to kill me?" I joked. She released me from her right grip.

"Sorry, I just missed you." She wiped her tears.

"I missed you too." It's been so long I've met Julia and Kathie. We used to be so close in middle school. The last day of middle school is the last time I've seen them. We used to message each other but those got reduced with time.

"Group hug!" Julia squealed and pulled us into a hug. I giggled.

I heard someone clear their throat and we pulled away. I saw a tall man with good looks. Kathie happily goes to him. He wrapped his hand around her.

"Maria, he's Jason, my husband. And baby she's my friend Maria." She introduced. He looks familiar. Have I seen him before?

"Nice to meet you." He extended his hand and I took it.

"Nice to meet you too." Where have I seen him? Julia nudged me from the side.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I nodded but still thinking about where I've seen Kathie's husband.

Holy shit! He's Oliver's friend. I've talked to him a few times over the phone.

I froze dead in my tracks. There's a possibility that Oliver might be here. Why didn't I realize that before?

"Come, I'm hungry." Julia pulled me into the dining area. There's a man already sitting at the dining table. Is it Oliver?

Please let's not be him.

Please not be him.

He turned around slowly. Is it him or the time moving slowly? He smiled brightly looking at us and I sighed in relief. He and Oliver are of the same height. But he looked a little short when he stood up.

Julia introduced him as Raymond's friend, Robert. They were colleagues back when he worked in Florida. Mara is nowhere in sight. Before I asked where she's, I heard her laugh from the kitchen. I turned around and saw her coming from the kitchen holding someone's hand. They stopped walking and I frowned. Mara looked up confused. I followed his hand and I let out a low gasp when I saw his face.

His deep blue eyes staring at me. They're pulling me deep into them. I averted my gaze away from him before I lost myself.

"Mommy!" Mara squealed and ran towards me. She hugged my legs. "Mommy, come meet my new friend. His name is Oliver."

I looked back at him and his mouth slightly opened as his eyes shifted from mine to Mara and then again mine.

"Raymond, I told you not to go into the kitchen."