Nightmarish.

Chapter two.

Waking up, I feel refreshed. For a while there I forgot I'm now a mom.

Chuckling to myself. I reach out to my bedside table checking for my wrist watch, 03:15pm.

"I can't believe I slept all through the afternoon, I was so tired" I say to myself, yawning and stretching my sore body.

Faintly hearing voices, i guess mom and Aunt Rachel are back and they might come in here to check on me if I don't move my butt out soon.

I walk out of my bedroom, feeling much better than when I got back from the hospital, I spot mum and aunt Rachel in the kitchen area from where I stood in the hallway and decided to check on my baby first.

Muttering to myself, I prayed Kieran didn't leave the house knowing I was asleep and there was no one else to look after the baby. I'm cut short in my steps when I hear voices from the baby's room, one of the voices belonging to the last person I wanted to see. I breathe a breath of relief hearing Kieran's voice. Thankful that they didn't hear my footsteps, I peer in seeing Kieran making funny faces at the baby who is wide awake already and Dylan pacing around the room,

"I can't believe no one told me Faye was going into labor" Dylan says, pausing.

"you told me you had business to handle, everyone knows how busy you are with your company and they believed me when I told them you were busy" Kieran counters.

" you could have at least texted me, was that too much? " says Dylan.

"look Dylan, we were all in a rush when she found out her water broke, my phone went off and it didn't occur to me to text you, okay?

chill out man".

"But Faye is going to think I'm an asshole, I'm supposed to be her big brother and I wasn't even there to hold her hands, she probably hates me, she does, there's no doubt " Dylan rambles dragging his fingers through his hair, messing it up.

"she doesn't, Dylan trust me, that's the least of Faye's worries right now. She has a child to look after, we both do". Kieran assures Dylan hoping this time he believes him.

Deciding whether I was ready to face Dylan or not, I barely have the chance to backtrack to my bedroom when Kieran calls out my name, having spotted me,

"Momma's awake now, it's time to eat" Kieran says to the baby, nuzzling his head to his little stomach.

I walk in, trying hard not to catch Dylan's eyes.

"congratulations cous, I'm sorry I wasn't there at the hospital, he began to explain, "i had to att....

" Dylan, it's fine. Really. I had mom, Kieran and Aunt Rachel there". I blurt out, cutting him short in his apology, I'm tempted to add that we didn't miss him but I didn't want to start anything.

"What's his name?" Dylan asks, a resigned look on his face.

"Kieran Junior, after me of course" Kieran says, grinning in that boyish way of his.

"oh.... of course" Dylan mutters spitefully in a way only I can tell.

Our eyes meet then, his face unreadable. I turned, signaling to Kieran I would like to carry the baby. He stands up and places the baby in my awaiting arms gently, giving me a kiss on my lips before sitting back down.

He and Dylan start a conversation, something about interning at the firm during the coming summer break. I tune them out focusing on my baby although I could still feel Dylan's eyes on me.

I feel uncomfortable breastfeeding my baby in Dylan's presence but I know not to stand up and leave knowing how Kieran can be, he might become suspicious. I decide to stay put, staring at the baby as he latches on my left n****e, wondering how he knows it is food.

Not realizing I had been lost in my thoughts, I feel a tap on my arm. Looking up, I see Kieran and Dylan staring back at me, a worried look on both their faces.

"Faye, babe I think the baby is done, he has been for awhile now" Kieran adds, "are you okay? You looked so lost"

"I'm fine". I reply, brushing him off.

He helps me with the baby, taking him to sleep in his cot while I adjust my tank.

While all these is going on, Dylan is staring at me, hard. After awhile he speaks up,

"Faye you don't seem fine. You were literally staring at the baby and you didn't know he was already asleep?"

Looking back at Kieran, who's petting the baby, he says, " don't you think she should get checked?, it might be that condition women get after childbirth"

"come on Dylan, it's not postpartum depression. Faye might just be tired, give her a break".

"alright then, my bad". Dylan shrugs.

"Dinner is ready guys!" Aunt Rachel calls out from down the hallway.

"arghhh God knows I'm famished. I almost forgot, I've had nothing to eat since we got back from the hospital, well apart from two slices of bread and peanut butter". Kieran says, "you coming"? He asks, already stepping out of the baby's room.

"we'll meet you there" Dylan replies.

I look back at him confused on who were the we he was referring to.

" yes, I'll like to discuss something important with you Faye" He says looking at me, his eyes daring me to disagree.

"you can go on Kieran" I say, too tired to start a scene. " tell mum I'll be there soon".

Folding my arms across my chest, heart racing, I wait for Dylan to speak.

"what's with the face" he chides.

I remain silent, hoping he gets the message and goes straight to the point. He starts to walk towards me, making my heart beat ten times faster than before.

Touching my hands, he says "you intentionally didn't inform me about your due date, do you mind explaining?"

"I don't owe you any explanation Dylan"

Taking a step back hoping to escape from his grip, I feel my back hit the wall.

"don't tell me that" he says, glaring at me. "anyway the pregnancy is out of the way now, no more excuses". He adds, smirking.

"I should get going Dylan, mum might come upstairs any moment". I state, ignoring his last statement.

"alright then. come over to my office tomorrow"

I turn to leave, breathing in relief.

"without the baby". he adds.

I'm about to make a witty comeback at what he just said but decided he wasn't worth it anyway.

"we were about to start without you both" says Aunt Rachel as she sees me coming down the stairs, Dylan behind me.

I smile at this having no strength to speak after that encounter with Dylan. I help out in setting the table, sitting beside Kieran once I was done.

"Kieran!" He just couldn't wait.

Looking at me sheepishly, "I couldn't help it, I'm hungry " he says, his mouth full with mashed potatoes.

Chuckling, I say "I know. Continue, dig in".

Meanwhile, mum and aunt Rachel are chatting like we're not all in the same room, blocking us out of their conversation. Dylan very much invested in his phone.

"So what were you and Dylan discussing?" He asks quiet enough for just me to hear, his whole attention on the plate before him.

"uh just stuff about my wellbeing and the baby. I'll be going over to the firm tomorrow to discuss some things with him".

"okay, that's good. what are you doing after you leave the firm?. I don't have any classes from 12pm tomorrow at uni so i was thinking we could hang out with the baby". Kieran blurts, not bothering to ask further questions about the some things I and Dylan needed to discuss and I'm grateful he doesn't.

"I miss spending alone time with you and now we have our little one..." He trails off, looking at me longingly.

"Me too babe. We should, hang out I mean, I'll be done by that time too. Do you have anywhere in mind?"

"Just wear something beautiful and simple, I'll come pick you guys up by 2:45pm. Is that fine with you?" He asks, his attention back to his food.

"I have to rush back home then" I state hoping Dylan doesn't delay me longer than necessary at his office.

"What are you two discussing like some old couple "? Mom asks, interrupting whatever Kieran was about to say.

"We were planni.." Kieran starts to say but I caught him off just in time, jabbing him at his side "just random stuff ". I smile, facing mom.

She looks between both of us, shrugging,

"there's still more food left Kieran dear, you can help yourself "

Kieran looks over at her and back down shyly, shocked to have been caught eating from my plate.

Chuckling, I stand to clear the dishes on the table, Kieran doing the same, still embarrassed from being caught.

From the kitchen, I hear aunt Rachel scolding Dylan about not touching his food the whole time. Knowing how much he fears his mom despite being a 24 year old, I bet he's wolfing down his food.