Chapt. 3

"Anna, don't get me running after you on heels. Get your pants on," Louisa pleaded from Anna's empty room after realizing the chubby lass must be downstairs eyes-glued to a kid's show. "Anna," she chanted while descending the stairs. 

Just as expected, the five-year-old's attention was entirely held hostage. Louisa called again finally gaining the little girl's attention and immediately, tears began to bubble at the back of her eyes. No matter how hard she fought to forget, something must keep her returning to square one; Even though she was grateful Gianna inherited a vast majority of her physique-- besides her nose, every psychological aspect was that of the man she regretted ever loving; she had a way of staring that made her almost want to go back on her six-year-old promise to herself and Marley.

Mason gave her yet another reason to never take men seriously.

"Come on, put on your pants baby else you'll be late for school." 

"Two more minutes, mum," she whined.

"No, no."

"Four more?" 

"Anna!"

"Ok, just six little more,"

Louisa picked up her phone, "I'm calling Dr. Gill."

Like a flash, Gianna leaped out of the sofa and began running up the stairs causing Louisa to chuckle. Dr. Gill's injections were at it again.

"Seat belt," Louisa ordered, peeking at her only source of happiness through the rearview mirror. "You're going to be with daddy Marley for the next week."

"Why? Where are you going?"

"Mommy has to be in Hawaii by tonight and will be there for six days," she rotated the gear then peeked at her photocopy who's gaze was glued to the windscreen. 

Louisa strived to be present for her daughter where necessary. She struggled to play both roles of a father and mother even though she knew deep down, there still was that fatherhood void. 

She as well had her brother to be indebted to, for taking part in activities that were strictly father-related like the doughnuts for daddy's day.

Gianna had grown up knowing Marley as her dad but in seldom occurrences had she questioned about her actual dad. In cases as such, Louisa was coward enough to flee from the question in one way or another.

"You don't seem happy," she remarked the unusual reaction.

"I am," her voice was barely a whisper, "I was just...wondering why we do not just live with daddy Marley as a family," her lips slanted and eyelids sagged. She was nervously fidgeting on her fingernails like her so-called father.

"Daddy Marley and I can't live together. You'll understand this when you get older, ok?" 

The little girl disappointedly nodded, crowning the rest of the journey silent.

"Ok big girl, here we are," Louisa dismounted her car to give her daughter not only a helping hand but also, a short-term farewell. 

"Mummy loves you, you know that right?" She quizzed after positioning herself to Gianna's height level.

The little girl who's smile didn't only give Louisa a sense of consensus, vigorously nodded. "I want you to take care of yourself like the big girl you are for your sake and mummy's sake too, ok?" 

Again, Gianna nodded. 

"Good girl," Louisa straightened an invisible crease from her daughter's cardigan then smoothened her sleek hair which led to a braided ponytail. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, mum."

Louisa's eyes almost teared up. That was why she didn't work out of town worst of all the continent. Staying away from her glint of hope and reason for life was unbearable even for a minute, talkless of days. 

"What do you want me to bring for you?"

The little girl contemplated for a while before uttering a verdict that burst Louisa's tear ducts, "just you."

"Don't cry," she added, wiping away her mother's tears. "I love you, mum," the words coincided with the school bell.

Louisa sniffed, rapidly but carefully dabbing her tears. "Come on, get to class."

When she made sure to see Gianna disappear in the school's embrace, she hopped into her car and drove to her brother's. As expected, he was home judging from his driver's presence-- Elijah.

Upon entry, she sighted her brother kneading his wife's feet. Her presence wasn't noticed until she saluted, "when next I'm pregnant you're doing this to my feet too."

Zaphrina, who was comfortably leaning on a single-seater reading a magazine, swirled her head towards her sister-in-law's direction with a dazzling beam.

"In your dreams, Lou." Marley spat.

"Ah! Welcome, Lulu. How are you doing today?"

"I'm ok, how're you too?" she planted a kiss on Zaphrina's cheeks before finding a seat.

"Urgh! Besides the backaches and swollen feet, I'm fine I gu— ouch, Babe!" She yelled at Marley who quickly shot an apology. "I spoke a little too fast. My little toe right there, babe, press it a little."

Marley wasted not a nanosecond to switch to it and Louisa suddenly felt envious, wishing she could someday find a good man like Zaphrina did. 

"So Lulu, what's— Jesus Christ of Naz, babe, you're breaking my bones!"

"Sorry," Marley eased his presses.

"Better," she huffed, "what's up Lulu?"

"Well, I'll be leaving for Honolulu in less than three hours to return in a week. Hope it's not a burden to leave Gianna in your care for that much of a time?"

"Louisa! Are you out of your mind?" Zaphrina almost leaped out of her seat inflicting an exasperated sigh from her spouse. "I'm so disappointed you're even asking us this, aren't you too, babe?"

Marley itched his temple with a nervous nod. He certainly didn't know where his wife was heading to and he knew best to not retort in the negative, no matter what.

"See? So don't you ever ask that again," Louisa stared at her in-law intently, still anticipating the conclusion which hadn't signs of emerging as Zaphrina leaned and gestured for her husband to carry on with his previous duty.

"Is that a...yes?" Louisa inquired earning a lip drop from Zaphrina.

They both had an affiliated understanding with each other but with the toll pregnancy had on her, she practically became indecipherable. For some reason, she pitied Marley and for another, she didn't.

"It's a yes, Lulu. You know we are a family; my home's yours, what's mine is yours, and vice-versa. Gianna is my daughter too and you know how delighted Eloïse will get to have a playmate at home. Look, I might be heavy but trust my heightened abilities to look after the kids," she shrugged, "I have not an ounce of trouble with that. Hold on though, I thought you don't work out of the country?" 

"Exactly, but I couldn't turn down this one in particular as it's pertained to mummy's client," a sad mask abruptly adorned her face.

"I see," Zaphrina reflected Louisa's profile.

"Who is it?"

"Mr. Rudolph," she still mumbled, doubtful it was going to be of any recognition to her brother.

"I'm sure she's extremely proud of you right now," Zaphrina smiled, "don't bother my dear, Gigi is in good hands. Go take a little bit of exterior air. Who knows, you might find Mr. Right there, on the shore, beneath a palm tree or something. Make sure to not keep a stern face; you scare the guys with that, Lou. Also, you might want to put on that bikini we purchased last week, oh my God," she squeaked, "what a perfect timing!"

"Zaphy."

"Know what?" She wiggled her right brow with a smoldering look, "I heard the guys there got tons of chocolate bars,"

Marley cleared his throat: his wife was overstepping the bounds.

"What?" She snarled, "It's not like I'm into guys with eight packs. I'm just hyping, ok. Don't give me that look and throat. You should know I love you despite the huge tummy you're beginning to develop," 

Louisa giggled as her brother left them with an eye twirl. If there was a couple she admired, it certainly was those two. However, boys' gossip isn't something she would love to do in her brother's presence. 

"Babe, where you off to?" She cried out at her husband's retreating figure, "my little toe still hurts, babe! Urgh! Your brother is a desirous freak with whom I am well pleased," she managed to settle her renounced leg on the carpet. "But I know just how and where to make things right."

Louisa grimaced. "You didn't have to say that out loud, you know."

"Anyways, Lulu, tell me, you know it's been long I saw you right?"

"It's been two days ago."

"Whatever, it feels like forever. Don't blame me, it gets all lonely with the kids at school and being stuck at home with this belly, besides, many things happen in two days, so tell me," she shifted on her seat, "any lurking gentleman? Oh, wait, did that young man call? What's that his name again? Tyler Pol...Tristan Pol...something Pol."

Louisa bit on her lower lip, "Terry," she corrected, "he called yesterday."

"Ha! I told you he'll have his ass running after you. What did you tell him? Are you guys going on a second date?"

"I don't think so."

"Why not?" Zaphrina's curiosity irked.

"Because I haven't been picking his calls?" 

"Why not?"

"He sucks down there."

Zaphrina palmed her widened mouth,  her expression being a cocktail of shock and humor. "Whatttt? Girl, you took the right decision. The man's not a man. This is why you should try a Hawaiian man. We've run short of good men in New York, baby girl."

Louisa went forward to tell her about Adrian whom by the mention of said name turned her expression sour.

"Avoid that jerk. He's not serious about you," But Louisa wasn't looking for serious. All she wanted was use and discard or better still leave them yearning for her.

"Do not show him your forehead while in Hawaii, you hear me?"

"Yes, mumilicious."

In came Marley in a three pieced tux struggling with his left hand cuff, "I'm heading to the office," he scurried to give his wife a quick kiss which ended up stopping midway as his nose crinkled.

"Gee! What is that smell?" Louisa hand-fanned her nose premises.

"I'm sorry," Zaphrina giggled. "You were about to do something, babe."

"On my return."