Chapter 9
1225 Words
Avril woke to a burst of noise. She blinked at an unfamiliar ceiling with a fancy design. She felt the bed moving under her. She heard giggles and the thumping of little feet.
“Mom! Mom!”
She shot upright and saw her twins happily jumping on the mattress. They squealed and rushed over to hug her.
“Mom, you’re finally awake,” Ria said, hugging Avril’s neck.
Leo grinned, “Dad said we’d be living here now, Mom. He bought me so many new toys!”
Avril’s heart raced.
“What…?”
She pulled them both into her arms, tears forming. She thought she had lost them.
“Mom, are you crying?” Ria asked, touching her face.
Avril quickly wiped her tears and held them close.
“I’m okay, sweeties. I just…”
While she was hugging them, she noticed someone leaning against the doorway, watching.
She looked up and saw Fred.
Fear crept back in, and she instinctively tightened her hold on her kids.
Fred walked in with his hands raised slightly as if in surrender.
“Avril ,” he said, “I’m not taking them away from you.”
She looked around, confused.
“Then where are we? Why did I lose consciousness? What did you do?”
“Mom, don’t fight with Dad!” Ria piped up. “He’s nice!” she insisted.
Leo added, “We finally have a dad, Mom!”
Avril glanced at Fred in disbelief.
He said softly, “I told you I didn’t do anything that would hurt you. Didn’t you want to be a family? And anyway… take a look at your left hand.”
Avril looked down and noticed a sparkling ring on her finger.
“Why do I have a ring?”
Fred smiled.
“I bought that a long time ago, during my trip to Singapore. Remember when I left the country before? That’s when I picked it out. You never gave me a chance to give it to you.”
She shook her head, voice quivering.
“You think I want to be your mistress now that you know about the kids?”
“Mom, what’s a mistress?” Ria asked innocently, making Avril gasp at her slip of the tongue.
Aunt Matilda walked in, quickly reading the awkward tension.
“Uh, kids, let’s go check out the backyard. I heard there’s a big swimming pool!”
She ushered the twins out so Avril and Fred could talk alone.
Fred moved closer and took Avril’s hand. She swallowed, feeling that old familiar panic and longing all at once.
“Avril,” he began, “we have children. Don’t tell me you’re still planning to run away. You know I’m not married. I never married Alexandra. She’s gone — living abroad.”
She stared at the ring on her finger.
“I don’t understand. You never came after me for seven years. I knew where you worked — at that spa, and later that resort — but I had no idea you had kids. I kept my distance, afraid you’d just leave if I confronted you. Now that I know… I’m not backing down.”
She didn’t answer.
Fred squeezed her hand, voice firm.
“I’m taking my kids. And I’m taking you with me.”
He saw the flash of fear in her eyes.
“Not by force. We’ll do this right. Mary, listen…”
He tilted her chin up.
“Will you marry me? Not for the sake of the kids — but because you love me?”
Her eyes welled with tears. She couldn’t escape the truth anymore — she’d never stopped loving him.
He placed her hand over his chest.
“Do you feel that, Avril ? My heart pounding? I’ve loved you for a long time. Yes, our beginning was messy… but we can end it in a good way.”
Avril felt her own heart thundering. She finally admitted,
“Fred… I love you too. I always have. Even when we didn’t have a real relationship, I fell in love with you. And it never went away… until now.”
Fred’s eyes gleamed with relief. He leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss that spoke of pent-up longing.
She kissed him back, letting him lower her onto the bed without breaking contact.
When he moved his lips down her neck, he whispered,
“I missed you so much.”
He was about to kiss her again when the door suddenly burst open.
They froze.
Aunt Matilda gawked at their position, the twins peeking in around her.
“Mom, why is Dad on top of you?” Ria asked loudly, confusion on her small face.
Aunt Matilda shooed them back.
“Let’s go see the pool, kids. They might be busy making a new baby. No disturbing them!”
She closed the door.
Avril cheeks flamed red. She tried to push Fred away, but he continued kissing her.
“Let’s have a comeback moment, Avril ,” he murmured. “I miss your touch.”
Despite herself, Avril’s own heart gave in. Their life had changed in a single moment. Now they were all together — and the twins accepted him immediately.
Fred introduced Avril and the kids to his entire family, who welcomed them with excitement — especially his mother, overjoyed to finally have grandchildren.
Aunt Matilda and Fred’s mother got along well.
Avril never imagined her life would turn out this way — but somehow, fate was giving them a second chance to love and be loved.
A year later, they all lived under one roof, and Fred married Avril in a small church ceremony. He had the twins’ last names changed, because originally they’d carried Avril’s .
“Mom! Dad! The wedding cake tasted so good!” Ria exclaimed one afternoon while they were at a park enjoying a family picnic.
“I want a cake like that for my birthday! And I want it to be huge!”
She clung to Fred’s neck while he laughed. They decided to postpone a honeymoon to spend time doing simple family activities instead, so they were at the park together a week after their wedding.
Leo ran across the grass with a toy car trailing it behind him on a string he’d attached. Ria chased him, giggling as they swerved around.
Avril and Fred sat on a picnic mat, holding hands and watching their children play. Fred turned and gazed at Avril . She noticed his smile fading into a thoughtful look.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I’m happy,” he said softly. “Really happy.”
Avril’s eyes glowed.
“I know. I’m happy too. You’ve given me this wonderful life — complete and filled with joy.”
Fred grinned.
“Give me a massage when we get home,” he teased, leaning to k**s the back of her hand. “I miss your magic touch.”
Fred teased back,
“What kind of massage are you asking for?”
He slid an arm around her.
“The real thing. A back massage,” he chuckled.
Fred laughed.
“I’ll do it as soon as we get home.”
He kissed her cheek, and together they watched the sunset, the park lights twinkling on to brighten the evening.
- Writer
