Chapter 2
1235 Words
Amaka's POV:
"Maureen, you know I can't put Jason in school right now. He's only a baby, and I don't want to force books into his head," I said, looking back at my friend and my son in her arms.
"Don't mind your mom—I'll get you into school, okay? There's a preschool right here. So I'll take you there now," Maureen said to Jason, and he flashed her a sweet smile.
"Thanks, Aunt," he said.
"You're welcome, sweetie," she replied, telling him to wait while she got his bath ready for his first day.
"Maureen, you can't be serious. Jason's my son, and I get to decide for him," I told her. Her mom had her own room, while Maureen and I shared hers. I could've moved out and gotten my own apartment by now, but I didn't want to turn into some selfish person.
I managed to take part-time business classes thanks to Maureen's mom's help. She watched Jason for me until I could get back on my feet. My family wanted nothing to do with me anymore. Well, maybe now that they've seen I'm doing okay on my own, things are changing a bit. My mom called me last week, acting like she just wanted to check in—how I was doing, if I still had the baby.
Unbelievable. I gritted my teeth and hung up on her. My mom didn't deserve to know about her grandkid. I'm 22 now, and I don't need parents like that around Jason as grandparents. They'd never welcome him or love him the way Maureen's mom does. Though, she did warn Maureen not to get pregnant like I did—we're the same age and both fair-skinned.
Good heavens, Maureen's in a relationship with this great guy from around here. He owns a small business that's gone globally recognized, and now he's set to marry her and whisk her off to the city.
Her wedding was still pending—her groom had just arrived with his family—and I watched with teary eyes as my best friend got engaged to the love of her life. But it all reminded me of Joseph Ericson and those silly promises he made. After that night he slept with me, he never reached out again. I hunted down his home address after my parents threw me out, but the harsh reality hit me like a truck.
Joseph and his family had really packed up and left, and none of their neighbors knew where the rich folks had gone.
"You shouldn't worry, Amaka. Jason's my son too—I was there the day he was born, and I've watched him grow up. So I'm his big aunt... and kinda his mommy too. While my mom's his godmother," Maureen said with a smile.
"Fine. I have to hurry for that business interview I told you about. You know I want another job to help support us, especially now that you're getting married. I plan to move out too and get a new apartment, so you can head to your new place with your mom," I told Maureen. She'd just finished folding Jason's clothes, getting ready to take him to that new school.
I knew my son wanted to go to school. He saw other kids around here heading off every day, but I just wanted him to grow up a bit smarter first before starting.
"My mom wouldn't kick you out, even if I'm leaving with my husband tomorrow, Amaka. Why do you worry about these irrelevant things? Ugh. Anyway, you're running late, and Jason will be late for school too. So I have to rush and take him. As a new kid, he'll need all that registration stuff. What name should I use for him?" Maureen asked me, just as I finished putting on a little pink gloss.
I slipped into a red top and black skirt, knowing the company didn't approve of pants. Though I didn't want to talk about Jason's dad with him around, I figured Joseph would meet him one day—as long as he was still alive and kicking in the city. It wasn't far from where Maureen's mom lived.
After my parents sent me packing from home, I'd called Maureen on the phone. She was my last friend standing, especially before her mom moved to the city. But that place had billionaires on one side and folks like us—industrial types—on the busy other end. That's why I wanted my son to grow up a little before putting him in school. It was so hectic around here.
"Just his name—Jason," I said, not wanting to bring up my dad's last name. My father had flat-out said my baby wasn't his, so I should take him to his real father. But Joseph had blocked me online. Even though I still had his younger brother's profile, we hadn't chatted since the last time I introduced myself as Joseph's girlfriend.
I didn't want to ask that brother about Joseph. I was too heartbroken—he'd blocked me and told me to get rid of his "spérm." So traumatic.
"You must be joking, Amaka. You're Amaka Richard, so I bet your son has a full birth name. That reminds me—Jason Ericson. Deal with it: you got pregnant by someone, and your kid's has to bear his dad's name in case something comes up later," Maureen said as she stripped off Jason's clothes to give him his bath.
"Fine... just make Jason whatever you want for his last name, but know I want nothing to do with his dad anymore," I said. Maureen shot back, "I know. You should get going—I heard that new company, J.E. Global, is super strict. Don't be late and blow your shot at the job. It'll help with your studies and your online gig too."
"Fine," I said, slipping on my black shoes by the bed and waving goodbye to my son as I grabbed my bag.
Once I stepped out of the room, I ran into Mrs. Ann Austin. She was a good woman—Maureen's mom too.
"Good morning, Ma," I greeted her, and she smiled at me. "Morning, my dear. You heading out?"
"Yes, ma," I replied, and she asked, "Won't you have breakfast first? There's still time. Or is it school you're going to?"
"No, ma. I'm off for a job interview. But it's pretty far from here, so I have to catch a bus to the area," I said.
"Will you be on the Island?" she asked.
"No, not going there. Still on the mainland—it's their new branch office," I said.
"Okay. But grab some breakfast anyway, so you look sharp at the interview," she said.
"Okay, ma," I agreed and headed to the kitchen to make my tea.
"What about Maureen? Has she left the house too?" she asked, walking into the kitchen to join me.
"No, ma. Maureen is in her room, getting Jason ready for school."
"Oh!" Mrs. Ann smiled, nodding her head like she got it. "Maureen loves Jason so much, and now she's heading to her husband's place soon. I wonder how she'll cope... maybe she'll take Jason with her."
I smiled and sipped my tea. "Maybe," I said. I didn't know—Maureen might want to take my son along.
- Writer
