Chapter thirteen

 If only wishes were roses then perhaps my mom’s would have come to reality but the opposite happens on the next day. After the heart to heart conversation with my dear mother, I slept next to her in her bedroom and the following morning while I was sound asleep she’d already woken up and prepared breakfast before she left for work that morning.

I opened my eyes to find the bed empty but I wasn’t surprised or worried because I was quite aware of my mom’s work schedule so I quickly freshened up after I left her room to mine and got dressed before coming down for a heart warming breakfast. It is still wonder to me eating what my mom prepared with her own two hands, I never knew she was a good cook all these while.

As I was busy having my delightful breakfast Andre knocks on the door but I was too intent with my meal I had to ask him in by yelling “ Come in the door is open!”.

He opened the door and proceeded in. “ Babe, where are you?”

“ I'm in here, in the kitchen!” 

He followed my voice and came into the kitchen and met me munching on freshly baked muffins, some cream cheese frosting and freshly squeezed orange juice. 

“ Hey babe. Oh! Now I see why you didn’t want to open the door for me.” He sits down on the seat beside me.

“ So sorry babe but these are really good and I’m starving. Care to join me?” I looked at him.

“ No go ahead, I just had breakfast. What about your Mom?”

“ She has gone to work?” I tried to talk with my mouth full.

He chuckled. “ You must be starving Babe, do you see how you are stuffing your face with the muffin.”

“ Mmm. “ I nodded. While munching on my muffins.

After breakfast, I took him for a walk around the neighborhood. Firstly, we went to the orphanage. St. Patrick’s Orphanage has been a place of solace for me each time I feel down I'd come there and play with the children, watching how happy they are leading their lives without worries even when they don’t know their identity keeps me astonished. I always go there to celebrate my birthdays with the children on each of my birthdays and everyone there including the reverend sisters and Priests are like family to me.

“ Hailey Barnes!” I heard father Matthew call out to me as he came out off the chapel.

I turned and walks towards him, I was happy to have seen him after such a long time. “ Good morning Father.”

“ Bless you my child. He touched my head. How have you being?”

“ Very well sir and you?”

“ I am well. He turns to Andre. You must be the Fiancé am I right?”

“ Yes sir, Andre Rodriguez. “ He offered a shake while Bending his back a little in a way of showing his respects.

“ It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. As soon as Barbara broke the good news to me I was eager to know whom it is that my daughter has chosen to be her life partner. The bible says ‘a man who finds a wife finds a good thing.’ Hailey is a nice girl and a good human being so please treat her with so much affection and give her all the love in the world because she deserves it.”

Hearing him say my mom had told him about my engagement with Andre made me a little glum and disappointed in myself to have forgotten the people who had given me all the love in world while growing up. 

“ Please come with me, let’s sit and chat a little.” Father Matt. Gestured with his hand pointing towards the route to his office and we all started there.

While we were in his office, Andre took out his check book and wrote them a check of Five thousand dollars as a donation to the orphanage. 

Receiving the check from Andre, reverend father Matt. Prayed for us and also blessed our marriage. After leaving his office we spent some time playing with the children there till it was noon. The children had gone to have lunch when we left the orphanage to one of my favorite restaurant “ Carlos place.” 

We settled at the corner table and placed an order. Things seems to have changed in there, I barely knew the new recruited waitress and when I asked about Mr. Carlos I was told that he passed six months ago tragically he suffered lung cancer due to his addiction to smoking. I remember back in the day when I would come over here for Pizza, Tamales and Tacos . He makes the best tacos in town, I was so sad hearing about his death.

I ordered pizza and soft drinks for us while Andre is stuck on his phone. In just a jiffy the waitress returns with our order and placed it on the table before continuing out.

“Dre, baby let’s eat. Leave the phone for a second.” I tried to take his phone but he moves his hand.

“ Hailey! He raised his voice but noticed he drew attention and lowers his voice. I'm sorry babe but this is important so you go ahead I will join you once I'm done okay... Okay?” He touched my hand.

“ Yeah, okay.” I frowned but he never paid attention.

I went ahead and started without him, He then stood up in the middle of our lunch to take a call outside. While I had concluded my lunch and did the payment. I waited for him to finish with his calls outside , Alberto my childhood friend and Carlos only son came to say hi to me at my table.

“ Alberto! I stood up from my chair and hugs him.

“ Hailey! It’s so good to see you. He sat on my table. Look at you.”

“ Oh please Alberto, it’s still the old me nothing changed.” 

“ Really, I think everything changed. You left for the big city and I heard you are engaged big congrats by the way.”

“ Thank you. I placed my hand on his on the table. I heard what happened Alberto, my sincere condolences.” 

“ It’s fine, Though he has left I still feel his presence whenever I come here. Remember how we use to sneak out some of my dad’s Tamales after school ?” He smiled.