Nightmarish.

Chapter Four.

"that was soooooo delicious babe" I said grinning, my belly full. In my left arm, Kieran Jnr is still sound asleep despite the clanging of forks and knives. I'm grateful the noise didn't wake him up, he didn't even stir once.

On the other side of the table, Kieran is just finishing up. I remember making a mental note to eat from his order but at this point, I just can't. It would take a while for me to move, I was literally spotting a 3 month pregnancy belly.

"I bet you can't stand up babe" Kieran says as if reading my mind. I pretend like I didn't hear him, fondling with the napkin on the table.

"how do you know " I blurt, finally replying him.

" it's not like you can see my stomach or how full it is"

"I know you babe, I saw what you just consumed". He replies, amusement clearly written on his face. "Even a glutton would pause after eating all these".

"Whatever, you know I'm....."

"yeah yeah breastfeeding, I know. I'm just kidding, I understand" He cuts me off completing what I was about to say.

After paying, Kieran stands to carry our baby as my hands were already going numb. Grabbing the bags, I follow behind Kieran, walking out of the restaurant. Spotting the waiter who attended to us, I give him a polite and grateful smile for his services.

"How did you find this restaurant?, I've never heard of it before now". I ask Kieran, trying to meet up with him.

"yeah, i saw them online and the reviews were promising so I decided to try them out, seems they just opened here in Seattle".

"oh, that's nice. we should go there next time. Their service was top notch".

"yeah, I think so too babe" Kieran agrees. "where are you off to, home?"

"No, not yet. I promised mom and aunt Rachel, I and the baby will come by the spa to hang out with them, do you want to come along? I'm sure they wouldn't mind" I assure him.

"nahhh, I'll just drop you guys there. I really would love to but I have some work to finish up. I can come by the house later tonight for dinner"

"alright then".

In no time, we arrive outside the spa, mom immediately spotting us and steps out. After a series of goodbyes, I love yous and kisses like we weren't still going to see that night, we finally highlight from Kieran's Lexus with mom helping me with the bags while I carry the baby.

Walking into the spa with mom ahead of me with Kieran Jnr in her arms, who everyone is trying to see. While the ohhhs and ahhs are flying in the air, I sight my favorite employee, Mikayla. Beaming at me, I notice she's busy with a client's consultation, I mouth later to her before responding to every other person's congratulations, returning smiles.

I'm yet to recover from the whole thing that just happened outside in the other section of the spa when I see aunt Rachel rushing towards me, screaming my name like she hasn't seen me years.

"hiyya favourite niece" she says, eyeing me from head to toe "I heard you went on a date with Kieran" she adds.

"first off, aunt Rachel, I'm your only niece. Secondly, I didn't know you and mom now gossip about everything going on with me" I jokingly reply, giving her the side eye.

"well, you can't blame us, nothing interesting happens around here anymore" mom interjects, answering for aunt Rachel, who's already reaching for my baby, making silly faces at him.

I stand there for a while smiling and watching the three of them, my mom and aunt Rachel busy swooning over Kieran Jnr and his cute little outfit for the date, in their words. Asking if he didn't disturb mommy and daddy's first date since he came.

"I can't deal with all this cuteness you guys are displaying" I blurt out suddenly, rolling my eyes. I almost forgot I still had the bags I brought in with me, dropping that off, I walk out of the office area of the spa, genuinely glad I had these women in my life.

So let me explain, after the tragic death of my grandparents who were rich, my mom and aunt Rachel both decided to invest their fortunes in real estate, getting both their houses in which they live in now and also the two-storey building they currently run the spa in, leasing out the top floor some former ballerina who now runs a ballet studio. They still had a few other properties around town which were all rented out.

The Mcwealth sisters were well known around here. And there's me, a recluse. Well, it's not like I totally like it that way. Ever since that day 12 years ago, I haven't really been myself, if at all a "myself " ever existed before then. I withdrew. Everyone noticed, mom did but she could never get me to voice out what had happened, what had changed.

I'm glad I'm gradually getting back to that place, my safe place but as far as Dylan lives, it can't totally go away, that feeling, that day. I'm reminded of it whenever I see him.

In some sort of way, the bustling and chatter around the working area calms my mind. I walk up to the reservation area, pretending to be a customer.

"hello I'll like to book a facial and nail session for this weekend" I say, fighting my laughter.

"hi, please give me a second" Mikayla replies, holding up a finger. Her attention on a call from mom's office, her eyes down, nodding a few more times at everything being said before looking up at me.

"if your mom hadn't hung up a little bit earlier, I'd have prolonged the call just to keep our little customer that wants a weekend reservation waiting" she rambles sassily.

"you really did play along" chuckling, I reply. "I almost thought i got you there".

"sorry, you did not, that aside, why haven't you introduced me to the new Mcwealth boy, uh?" she counters.

"uhmm, I've just been busy trying to get comfortable being a mom and sorting out other stuffs, but now I'm here, aren't I?" I point out, grinning. "you should be able to have a moment with him before we leave for home" I add, assuring her.

"Faye!"

"that sounds like there's an emergency, I'll be back with my baby" I say, grinning before turning swiftly to mom's office.

"I thought ya'll were having fun, what happened?" I asked as I walk into the office, greeted by my baby's cries.

"he probably noticed your absence" Aunt Rachel replies, amidst her struggle to keep him quiet, pacing around the room.

"I tried to feed him with this" Mom offered looking disoriented, holding up the bottle of warm breast milk I pumped earlier today in her right hand, "but he wouldn't accept it from me".

Chuckling, I carry him on my arms and collected the bottle from mom while they both stood to watch what was about to happen. Like he senses his mom was there, my baby's cries grows quiet.

"Can you imagine?" mom cries out, arms in the air while she glances sideways at aunt Rachel.

"it's the mummy effect, mom" I reply, laughing, proceeding to feed him from the bottle.

"oh I promised to bring him back with me when I went to say hello to Mikayla earlier, bye guys"

"yeah, have fun! We actually have some paperwork to do".

"awwww, he has your nose!" Mikayla exclaims as soon as she sets eyes on Kieran Jnr. "can I hold him?"

"of course, though he was just screaming off their ears at the office few minutes ago cos he wanted my attention" I warn, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention from the customers in the spa.

"okay, okay, I don't want any of that drama. I'll wait till he's done eating then but oh my, he's beautiful" she admits, giving those doe eyes.

"I know right" I answer, my heart swelling with pride that despite everything, I made a beautiful baby.

"Let's leave Kieran Jnr alone now, how's college and graduation preparation going?" I ask.

Mikayla was a design major in the Cornish college of the art in Seattle. She's like a role model to me, she's been a huge help in guiding me through the course and what to expect in general.

Despite the 3 year gap between us, she's like the only best friend I've had except my mom, that is. I was literally a loner in high school but Mikayla helped me through it, checking up on me occasionally like a big sister would until she graduated and I had to go through it on my own, well with Kieran of course.

Kieran was the stereotypical cute jock in high school although he only played sport to pass time. Everyone knew we were dating but no one ever disrespected me in a anyway. It wasn't like the typical high school with a Queen bee and all, everyone was literally on their lane, minding their academics. High school was drama free for me.