A Love Trap

The rumors going around didn't matter to Belinda. After all, there was usually very little truth in them. As long as her daughter said that Andrew was a good man, she would continue to believe it.

There was seldom a dearth of 'topics' when it came to conversations amongst women. They could talk about anything under the sun, unlike men who often found themselves lost for words.

Ashley and Belinda strolled from one end of the garden to the other, immersed in their conversation.

Ashley glanced at her watch, breaking herself away from their discussion for a moment. It was a force of habit for Ashley. She always knew instinctively when it was time for her children to get back from school. She slowly led Belinda and herself into the living room to welcome her children who would be arriving shortly.

Her three children were at the door in a matter of seconds just as she had expected. Dany was leading the trio with Fabio and Richard trailing tiredly behind him.

The first thing Fabio always did when he got back home was to look for his mother.

Earlier it had been only Fabio and Richard in the house. But now, they could spend more time with their mom.

The moment Fabio and Dany saw Ashley sitting on the sofa, they dashed towards her cheerfully, with their arms outstretched for a hug. "Mommy!" they squealed excitedly.

"I am so happy that you two are back home! I've missed you, my darlings!"

She held the two kids in a tight bear hug and placed a gentle kiss on their foreheads.

Looking at the three children running excitedly into the living room, Belinda and Martin were stunned.

Were they all Ashley's children?

All three of them were adorable and Ashley's parents got the feeling that they'd all grow up to be beautiful someday.

Jeremy had met Fabio before, so he knew that Fabio was a carbon copy of Andrew. The similarity in their features was almost uncanny.

"Hi, Uncle Jeremy!"

said Fabio in a sweet voice when he saw Jeremy.

"Jeremy is my brother. So that makes him your uncle, do you understand?"

Ashley rubbed Fabio's head and then turned to her other children with kind eyes.

"Ok! We got it, mom!"

Fabio, Richard and Dany spoke in unison.

"Good kids!"

Jeremy felt a mixture of pride and joy brimming in his heart as he looked at his nephews and niece.

hadn't brought any gifts for

the next time I visit, ' he thought to

Belinda and Martin, who were seated on the couch. Then she said to her

they turned to Ashley. They arched

the couch were

seemed to be impossible to their

years they spent in N country, they had not known another truth. So it

before he could voice his confusion out loud. She shushed them with a simple look- one that she'd learnt as a

grandparents,"

"Hello, grandpa and grandma."

their doubts, Fabio and Richard did as their mother had told them. They slowly stepped up to the couch and

moment she laid

This is my brother Richard and that is

the authority of a leader introducing the rest of his

a darling young boy!

I hug you?" asked Belinda anxiously. She wanted to hold her

He always did that

Ashley nodded reassuringly.

You

out his little arms and bounced on to Belinda's lap. She quickly wrapped him in her arms.

milk coming from his body. It was the scent of childhood. His body felt tiny and warm in her arms. She

from afar but

about Ashley's past.

was Andrew's wife. So it

with her family members. Chant felt

begun to grow rather sullen, was brimming with a newfound

beamed as she looked at the scene that

was all she'd ever

Belinda and Martin spent the whole day with Ashley and her children.

was surprised at

in each other's company. It seemed to him like the

step in, but he stopped when noticing Jeremy's presence.

at Jeremy coldly.

is he still here?' he wondered, barely managing to keep this thought

off. He could feel a cold stare upon him and turned around to see Andrew at

hold

Andrew's stare with a

"You're here!"