HEART MADE OF STEEL

Visitor

Outside the house, a girl in a short black skirt and strap top stepped out of a cab.

She looked at the house then walked up to the gate. She punched in the code then the gate opened.

She walked in then closed it behind her. She was impressed, the house was not bad. However if things were going to be serious between them they had to work on finding a better place. One that could meet her standards.

She walked into the house then paused at the door. In the living room was that lady from Lalita's. She was playing with Ian’s kids.

What the heck?

That little girl can walk?

Why did she pretend not to walk these past weeks she had known them?

She took time to look at the woman. She was gorgeous no doubt. Small waist wide hips and a heavy bottom.

Her bust was better than okay and that made her look even better, she resembled an hour glass that was slightly smaller at the top.

She was beautiful and she was their mother!

What was Ian’s game. How dare he take her for a ride. Saying that he didn’t have a wife, his wife was dead. If she was dead then what was this woman doing here?

Or...

Did he mean she was dead to him. Not dead as in dead and buried six feet under. Maybe their relationship was so bad that he considered her dead to him.

Plus he had somewhat mentioned that his wife had not treated him well. The only thing he was happy about was that they shared his kids.

Ha.

Which means she had a chance. This woman had no place in Ian’s life. What was she even doing here. If she wanted to see her kids she could do it somewhere else.

When the door opened the three who were rolling on the carpeted floor stood up to see who it was.

They had expected to see Ian, although he would have been a bit early.

Danika saw the lady from Lalita's and sighed.

She was here? Didn’t she mug the guy?

When the woman was done looking her up and down she walked into the house then crossed her arms.

“I don’t think this will work. I know you are the kids' mother, but your relationship with Ian ended a long time ago. Why should you visit the kids at his house. Take them to your place. This is his place and you being here will only invade his privacy”

“Hi. I didn’t get your name the last time. I’m Danika. Do you want to sit?”

Noli gave Danika a condescending look. She was acting like the host, what a leech, struggling to let Ian go.

“No thank you. I’m fine here. I should be the one offering you something. Would you like some orange juice?”

Danika sensed that the kids were not fond if the woman. Ayana was stuck to her leg and I.J sat on the sofa facing the TV. This made her protective instincts take over.

She picked the cutie up and placed her on her hip.

“We don’t have orange juice in the house. The kids and I hate it"

This was true. She discovered they shared a lot of likes and dislikes.

She understood Ian had to move on at some point in his life. He had mourned his wife for some time now and it was time to move forward.

However she thought that he was supposed to keep his kids away from his love life for a while. Until they were more accepting, more understanding.

The door opened then Ian walked in. He paused seeing the situation in his house.

He closed the door, placed his keys and bag on the counter near the door.

“Oh hi Noli"

It was awkward

“I see you came to drop off my wallet”

He went to Danika so that he could take the bunny from her. That's when the bunny decided to turn into a koala.

The moment Danika moved her to hand her over, she wrapped her small arms around her neck.

Ian chuckled. His kids loved a stranger more than him. Perfect

“Daddy. Mommy, Aya and I made dinner"

I.J skipped to his father. Ian was startled for moment. His son did not run to him after work. Most of the times he ignored him. If he spoke it was to pass around sarcasm.

So when he saw I.J looking like a happy healthy boy his heart ached in a beautiful way.

“Oh thank you very much. How did you guys know I didn’t have lunch?”

“You skipped lunch? Come sit down, I will dish us some food" Danika shifted the cutie to her hip then went into the kitchen.

Noli stood awkwardly watching the little family prepare to have their meal.

“Um Noli-" “Come join us Noli" Danika called.

“Ian. Can we talk?”

“Now?”

“Yes?”

“Can we first eat?”

“What, no! I need to talk to you. Right now”

“Daddy? Are you coming?”

Noli glared at the boy. She knew that the boy was challenging his father. He was being asked if he was going to choose a woman over his family.

Ian looked at his son. He knew very well what game he was playing but the hope in his eyes was too painful to squash.

He didn’t want to disappoint him. When this was all over his kids would be sad. Danika would go back to her life and their lives of misery would resume.

So for today, he was going to give in. He wanted them to be happy.

“Noli let’s do this" he took out his phone and typed on it. “I have called Uber for you. It will take you home. I will call you tomorrow then we can talk”

He pulled her to the door, opened it then gently pushed her out before closing it.

Noli stood at the door looking like a lost puppy stuck in the rain.

It was true that men are trash she thought while walking to the gate.

...

After their meal Danika bathed the kids then put them down to sleep. The two adults sat in the living like the previous night. The lights were off in the house with the muted TV as the only source of light.

“You don’t know how grateful I am to you for today. Thank you so much Danika”

“Oh come on" she waved him off. “I didn’t do this as a favour to you. I did it to make the munchkins happy. So don’t thank me”

“Alright. I still wanted to make sure you knew how thankful I am"

They looked at the TV. Some show was playing but neither was concentrating.

“So this is it?” Ian decided to get it out of the way. Their time was up.

“Yeah. I’m going to miss the munchkins”

‘Why say goodbye then’ he thought.

But she had her own life to live, he didn’t want to impose on her.

“Is it safe for you to drive this late. I could drive you to your place"

‘Why am I not willing to let her go alone’

“Don’t worry, its safe. I stay at the Platinum Palace apartments. Its safe”

“Plus its not too far from here"Ian

“What are you going to do tomorrow?”

“I’ve found a nanny for them. She will be here in the morning”

“Thats great then. Okay I will be going now"

She wanted to say something about the kids. Something like ‘please ask them to forgive me’ or ‘tell them I have fallen in love with them’

She decided against it. It was best to just walk away.