Making a promise
“Noah, are you done with your homework?” I call, but I don’t get an answer.
It was Friday afternoon and I was dead tired on my feet. I had forgotten when you’re pregnant how
easily you get tired. Every single thing tired me out.
The only thing I’m grateful for is that I never experienced morning sickness unlike when I was
pregnant with Noah. 1
“Noah?” I call him again.
I wonder what the hell he is doing. I usually get an answer immediately. Unless something has
caught his attention and distracted him.
Before I can carry my tired body to go upstairs to check on him, my doorbell rings.
I release a heavy sigh. It’s not that I didn’t want to see anybody, I just wanted to take a break.
Maybe have a long bath.
I spent the whole day at the Hope Foundation going through tons of documents that needed my
attention. My eyes were dry, My mind was burnt out and my body was aching all over.
Dragging myself, I open my door and I am surprised to find Calvin and Gunner at my doorstep. It’s
been two days since that day in my backyard.
When Gunner didn’t show up when Noah got back from school, I assumed that maybe Calvin
didn’t want anything to do with us. After all, he was really grumpy during our whole encounter.
“Hi” shock was clearly in my voice and I couldn’t hide it.
“Hi Miss Ava” Gunner tells me sweetly with a smile. “These are for you”
It’s then that I notice he has a bouquet of flowers. Pink roses to be exact. He hands them to me and
I take them gratefully.
“Thank you Gunner. These are beautiful” Without thinking, I bend down and kiss his cheeks.
When I straighten, he gives me a shy smile. Just like with Noah, I could already tell that Gunner
was a sweet boy.
I shift my eyes to his father, “Would you like to come in?”
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He looks hesitant at first, but when Gunner pulls his hand, he agrees.
I lead them straight to the kitchen where I had been baking cookies and cupcakes. Noah had
requested for them and though I was tired, I couldn’t refuse him.
“You’re just in time to eat some goodness” I tell them as the oven timer pings.
I look for a vase and place the beautiful flowers Gunner brought me.
I call again as I place some cookies in front of
mommy” he shouts
his footsteps as he runs down the hallway and then the
through the kitchen door. He comes to a stop when he sees
visitors.
NCH TH
someone” he hesitantly takes a step until he’s standing
me.
W
at first glance. That is before you get to know
even believe that he’s the same boy. He’ll talk your ear
here is Gunner. He lives next door and Gunner, this is
telling you about”
I thought things will be awkward between them at first,
Gunner smiles “Hi”
my room?” Noah asks at the same
“Sure”
cookies and hands them to Gunner. Then he
get a couple
a new game to show you” Noah says as
was super surprised by his actions. I thought it would
Gunner. I guess
that went well. I’m surprised Gunner made the first move. He’s usually
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face him. I had completely forgotten that he was even
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at first. He has to get comfortable with someone
better off. When I say that Gunner is reserved I mean, he likes his own company. He doesn’t like making friends or meeting new
himself”
“Seriously?” I ask shocked.
this point I think Rex and
that. I wasn’t a child psychologist but I was a teacher. Even I knew that that wasn’t
there is probably a
take one look at them
Gunner is as withdrawn as Cal says, then something’s
that way.
him out of his shell” I mumble, handing him a
I exhale in
of the cupcake. My mind completely
wanted to apologize” Calvin says after
“For what?”
as rude the other
him. “In your defence, I was
about it”
I saw
to hide
I can tell he is not. I recognize the struggle in his
go through the same
the pain others
315
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a living?”
a teacher, but I’m on leave for
but I decided against it. Even
I needed this time to myself. Not only because of the pregnancy,
my mental state. O
you got together with Rowan? Noah
I snort. “Everyone in this damn city knows what
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