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?”
1/5
+15 BONUS
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
mommy” he shouts
close. Then his footsteps as he runs down the
He comes
visitors.
NCH TH
my love. I want you to meet someone” he hesitantly takes a step until he’s standing next
me.
W
shy at first glance. That is before you
even believe that he’s the same boy. He’ll
next door and Gunner, this is my son
telling you about”
being honest, I thought things will be awkward
Gunner smiles “Hi”
my room?” Noah asks
“Sure”
hands them to Gunner. Then he goes
get a couple
got a new game to show you” Noah says as
surprised by his actions. I thought it would take a bit of
Gunner. I guess I didn’t
made the first move. He’s usually
2/5
I had completely forgotten that he was even
+15 BONUS
He has
I say that Gunner is reserved I mean, he likes his own company. He doesn’t like making friends or meeting new people. Even in school,
himself”
“Seriously?” I ask shocked.
I think Rex and
that. I wasn’t a child psychologist but I was a teacher. Even I knew that that wasn’t typical behaviour for a
a child to be that withdraw, then there is probably
to take one look at them to know they adore each
If Gunner is as withdrawn as
that way.
can get him out of his
barstools, I exhale in relief that I was off my feet. I
cupcake. My
to apologize” Calvin
“For what?”
as rude the other
him. “In your defence, I was being too extra, so
about it”
pain I saw in his eyes. Right now he
trying to
can tell he is not. I recognize the struggle in his soul because
go through the
to see the pain others are
315
+15 BONUS
a living?” He
teacher, but I’m on leave
back, but I decided against it.
needed this time to myself. Not only because of the pregnancy,
my mental state. O
with Rowan? Noah is his doppelgänger. It’s
damn city knows what happened with Rowan. I
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