Trobule looms
1735 Words
The balloons were red and gold, floating gently in the afternoon sun. A banner stretched across the backyard, reading : “Happy Birthday, Timmy!”
Laughter echoed around me as I stood in the middle of it all, holding a small wrapping gift in my hands, watching the scene unfold like I was on the outside of glass.
Tristan was there, grinning as he held the cake. Eloise was beside him, a tiara on her head like she was queen of this happy little castle.
And Tim? He was glowing? Running between them, holding both their hands, calling out to them. “Daddy! Mommy!”
My heart clenched. “Tim,” I called softly, stepping forward.
He looked up, confused. Like he was seeing me for the first time.
“Who's that?” He asked innocently.
Eloise tilted her head and smiled sweetly. “Just someone lost. She doesn't belong here.”
“She's trying to take your mommy's place.” Tristan added, wrapping an arm around Eloise's waist.
“No,” I whispered. “No, Tim. It's me. It's mommy. Baby, it's me.”
I dropped the gift and reached for him, my hands shaking desperately.
But before I could touch him, two strangers grabbed my arms and began dragging me away.
“She doesn't belong here!” Someone shouted.
“She's not his mother!” Another voice sneered.
I screamed, twisted, cried out. “Tim!”
He just stood there, frozen, watching as I was dragged out the front gate.
“TIM!”
THWACK!
A blast of cold water jolted me from my nightmare and I gasped, heaving for air.
“Go and make us breakfast! Now!” Eloise's voice came in a loud yell.
I quickly rose to my feet, my body dripping with water. “I - I'm so - sorry.”
“You can't even make a proper speech without stuttering!” Ellise hurled the empty bucket at her. “Hurry up and make breakfast!”
When I looked down at my drenched clothes, she scoffed.
“Are you trying to complain, Hyacinth?” Eloise arched her brow. “You agreed to stay behind as my son's nanny. Why aren't you doing your job, peasant?”
I nearly chuckled at her words. Just yesterday, I was Luna of the Silver Crystal Pack — revered and admired. Now, I'd been reduced to the position of a lowly nanny to a woman whose child isn't hers.
When I didn't move, Eloise grabbed my wrist and pulled me along.
“W - wait… Eloise. I'll fall.” I pleaded as she dragged me down the hall.
“Isn’t it better if you fall? The ground is where you belong after all.” Eloise’s lips curled into a smile and I instantly knew what would happen next. She let go of my wrist and I slipped on the wet floor.
Eloise held her belly as she laughed. “Oh my gosh. You look so pitiful like a heap of trash. I told you the ground looks better on you.”
Tears stung my eyes but I dared not let them fall. I winced quietly as I helped myself up. Just then, Tristan arrived.
Tristan stared down at me with a scowl on his face. “What are you doing there?”
Eloise ran to his side with tears in her eyes. “Babe, I told her to make breakfast and she refused. She tried to splash water on me but I moved away just in time.”
“She did what?” Tristan's tone rose in fury.
“I knew this trash was up to no good,” Eloise turned to him. “I told you we need to get rid of her.”
“I won't get rid of Hyacinth. She might be useless to me but she is still my son's mother." Tristan inched forward and Eloise unlinked arms with him.
I didn't shrivel back or cower in fear as he approached me. He'd never raised his hand on me but I'd been used to it. My past came.with a lot of beatings and suffering the same fate for years, made me get used to the pain.
I shut my eyes, bracing for impact and the slap came, throwing me off my feet to the floor.
“The next time you lay your filthy hands on my mate, I will kill you.” Tristan warned.
“I’m scared, baby” Eloise ran to Tristan's side. “What if she comes after me?”
He put her arms around her. “She wouldn't dare.”
A whimper escaped my lips as I took to my feet.
I bit back a retort and hung her head in a low bow and whispered. “I'm sorry.”
“You better be,” Tristan shot back. “In fact, I have the perfect punishment for you, you wench.”
I lifted my head with a gasp, wondering what kind of punishment I'd be given but I was given none. They let me go instead. Paranoia sank in and I looked over my shoulder for the rest of the day in case of any incoming attack.
****
The kitchen was quiet as I made breakfast — toast, scrambled eggs, and tiny fruit slices cut into stars. Tim loved stars. I poured his cereal, warmed his uniform and set everything neatly before heading upstairs.
He was still curled up in bed, hair tousled like a baby bird.
“Time to get up, sunshine,” I whispered, brushing the curls from his forehead. “Let's get ready for school.”
He stretched, yawned, and smiled up at me, and for a moment, my heart softened. But when I reached to help him out of his pajamas, I noticed a bracelet around his wrist — a beaded one with colourful letters and a tiny heart charm dangling off it.
“Tim, where did you get this?” I asked, gently holding up his wrist.
“Eloise gave it to me,” he said simply, like it was the most normal thing in the world. “She's my best friend.”
Something in me cracked, just slightly.
I forced a smile and nodded. “It's… pretty.”
But the ache in my chest didn't fade. I helped him into his school uniform, brushing lint off his shoulders, tying his little shoelaces and brushing his hair.
A light knock echoed on the bedroom door and I went to get it.
At the door stood Eloise. Blonde hair down in waves, wearing fitted jeans and a pastel blouse.
“I'm here to pick up Tim for school,” she said brightly, as if it was normal, as if it was her routine.
I stood frozen, my mouth slightly open, unable to find the words.
Before I could respond, Tristan appeared behind me. He kissed Eloise's cheek.
“Come in,” he said, stepping aside.
Eloise walked right past me like she belonged here.
“Hey, champ!” She called out as Tim ran to meet her, his eyes lighting up like Christmas morning.
He threw his arms around her, and she scooped him up easily.
“Look at you, handsome!” She said, grinning. “Are you wearing our bracelet?”
“Yes!” He said proudly, lifting his wrist.
She kissed his forehead. “Good boy.”
My hands curled into fists at my sides.
Tristan was at the table, chewing on a piece of toast, half-dressed. Eloise moved to him like this was normal, like this was theirs. She reached up and tightened his tie, fingers brushing over his collar with too much familiarity.
I stood in the doorway, invisible.
Then Tim tugged at her skirt. “Let's go!”
She laughed softly. “Someone's excited.”
Tristan grabbed his keys and coat. Eloisest adjusted Tim's backpack while he slipped his small hand into hers. Then, without hesitation, he reached for Tristan's hand, too.
And just like that, they walked out like a family.
My own family didn't include me anymore.
“I love you,” I called out but my voice was barely more than a whisper. None of them heard me.
I watched as Tristan opened the passenger seat door for Eloise and closed it gently. Then, he turned his head slightly, looking at me through the c***k of the front door.
Our eyes met and I swallowed. His eyes were empty and distant and not as bright when they looked at me years ago.
Then he got in the car, started the engine and drove away.
I closed the door behind me and collapsed against it, the tears coming fast and hot. I didn't even try to stop them. This house felt colder than ever.
*****
Hours passed.
I cleaned, re-cleaned, and rearranged things that didn't need fixing. I needed something, anything, to make me feel alive. So I had an idea : I would make Tristan's and Tim's favourite dinner. I made a beeline for the bathroom, got dressed quickly and rushed to the supermarket.
When I returned with the plastic bag in hand, I heard the car door slam and Tim's laughter echoing up the driveway.
My mouth opened to call out to him but the words died on my tongue when he giggled.
“I had cheese pizza! The one with the melted top!” He shouted, racing ahead of them towards the house.
He'd had dinner already?
“Careful there, fella.” Tristan called out.
He and Eloise strolled behind Tim, their hands entwined like lovers returning from a date. Like this was their life now.
I paused, watching them.
Their lips met, right there, in front of me, in front of the pack mansion him and I had built together. Their kiss wasn't quick. It didn't look like their first. It was deliberate. Like they had done this a thousand times.
I stood frozen just like this morning. Watching. Watching them make a mockery of everything I thought I still had.
I wasn't sure how long I stood there, my heart thudding and my hands trembling. The world spun a little slower. My breath caught, and I realized something terrifying : I was already gone in their minds.
And for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like a wife or a mother.
I felt like a hired help.
- Writer
