The Widower's New Bride

Five

The sound of her phone ringing woke her up from her sleep. She tried to wipe the drowsiness residing in her sight, it made it a bit difficult for her to see.

She shook the grogginess her body felt, wiping out the slit of her lids with her index finger and peering harder at the screen.

An unknown number was on display?

Why is an unknown number calling her? She wondered, resting her back on the board of the bed she slid the answer button.

"Who is this?" She asked, waiting for a response except silence met her from the other side.

Is this a prank call? She thought feeling slightly angered at the person who tried to mess with her sleep with a prank call.

"Are you pranking me? Do you think it is fun disturbing one's sleep in the middle of the night?" She queried ensuring her annoyance was well hinted on.

A background sound caught her attention for a second. It was the sound of a child crying.

And it sounds so familiar.

It sounded like Ivan, she wasn't mistaken.

"Mrs Vivian?" She questioned, hoping the caller speaks up but the call suddenly went off catching her by surprise.

She tried calling back, feeling a bit anxious but her call was rejected.

She can't help but wonder the caller seemed discreet and suspicious.

Her heart travelling to areas she would rather not.

Is Ivan okay? Why was he crying so much? Her heart squelching at the thought of Ivan being in pain.

What if he is in danger? And if the person's over the line was Mrs Vivian why would she refuse to accept the call and even end the one she started.

Different questions stormed her head, she felt agitated, she needed answers to calm her down.

And she knows where to get them.

It wasn't hard for Elliot to put two and two together and came with a theory that his mother played him.

The red-haired lady sounded unaware of his mother's antics, but he knew better than to put his trust in someone who hardly earned it.

Those two are working together he was sure of it and his mother would get an earful when she is back.

Listening to her voice, it felt like something he could easily get used to, and how stern it grew when she thought it was a prank.

Surely that was an act.

Another lie proving the red-haired lady is more than desperate.

Though she tried to hide her intentions, he suspected it was a planned act with his mother.

Finding it hard to believe his mother would be involved in such a charade.

The red hair had a little more finesse and dignity than the ladies that literally fly around him seeking his attention that he would admit he can't help but feel wary of women and how desperate most are to get into his life.

His attention was turned to Ivan, who still cried but in a reduced tone. He picked him up from the cot, his eyes soft on him as his arms cradled gently around his son.

"Ivan, don't cry anymore, please, " he begged, wishing Ivan can at least understand what he said.

The fact he had no idea of what to do placed him in distress.

Clueless could define him now.

He tried pacing around the room rocking him slowly before his cries reduced to little hiccoughs. His eyes are all wet from the countless tears that streamed down his cheeks.

Elliot felt Abit relieved he is calm now, he placed him on his cot, gently smoothing over his hair watching him drowse off to sleep.

His lids drooped gently.

He waited patiently to confirm he was rested completely before he attempted to stand softly to avoid causing noise or any sound that might wake Ivan up.

Excepting his wish of calm was the door creaking open as it burst ajar, revealing a red-haired woman in pyjamas, a flappy cotton trouser and a matching long-sleeved top.

The pictures of cartoon characters, maybe Disney princess imprinted on it.

Luckily Ivan was deep in sleep and the abrupt noise did nothing to disrupt his sleep.

Her breathing was loud and erratic like she ran a marathon before arriving at the door, but her look was filled with fear plus she looked extremely anxious.

Her wild hair bounced as she rushed into the room, his gasping housekeeper catching up behind her.

He watched the scene he found too bizarre to even understand.

His housekeeper had an apologetic look strewn over her face, her hands fidgeting as she tried to explain to him what this scene is all about.

She cleared her throat, her try to keep her fear from spilling from her voice was impossible.

"I am so sorry, Mr Elliot. I don't know how she got into the house and when I saw her running up the stair I tried to stop her but I failed. She said something about Ivan."

He dismissed her finding her little explanation useless, she was only a fragment of the problem, the main piece was the red-haired woman standing in front of him watching over Ivan, dressed in Disney characters imprinted cotton Pyjamas.

Her back faced him, as he stared long at her his mind puzzled at why she was here.

And how she got into the house, surpassing all the security personnel and system he installed.

Her Red hair laid loose and wild on her waist just above her slightly wide backside. He removed his stare from such areas feeling awkwardness rush through him.

She was about to touch Ivan when he held her arm, his grip well enclasped around her slender arm.

Abigail turns in surprise at the feel of someone holding her. Her skin burned at his touch maybe because his grip was tight on her, she raised her eyes to meet his and his gaze on her was just as tight. Burning at her presence.

"What are you doing here?" His deep voice reverberated through the room, she felt disturbed by how mad he sounded. He might throw her into jail for trespassing this early in the morning. It was an hour after midnight and her appearance in his house at this odd hour might seem very suspicious.

Her entry into the house, if known would put her into more trouble, but she doesn't care and

What she worried about was Ivan.

His cries echoed in her ears as she rode on her bike to the house, she was thrown into confusion and fear hoping all was well with him.

"I am here for Ivan, " she announced too loudly to his ear. A confident look etched on her face, she tried wriggling her hand out of his hold but he stabled her with an, even more, tighter grip. A wince expressed on her face.

He turned her properly to face him and listen properly to what he was about to say, "I gave lots of warning the last time you were here."

Her blue eyes stared straight into his, the next words flowing out of her lips stunned him.

"I am not afraid of you, Mr Elliot."

A little raise to his brows formed, "Many are."

She raised her chin up trying to at least match up with his chest, not the head that looked down at her in mock. She would show him.

"Well, I am an exception, especially in this case, I am only here for Ivan."

She turned her focus away from him walking towards Ivan's cot, where he lay asleep. His chest rises and falls as he breathes, "Why was Ivan crying so much? And were you the one that called?" Her worried expression was replaced fast by the screw of her forehead expressing her investigative curiosity.

He ignored her question and observed her, "Your silence is disturbing for you won't answer, "she demanded pausing for a while before she added more words.

"I thought he was hurt or some kidn*pped, you know by some of your enem..." She stopped realizing how stupid she probably sounds, especially with the bored expression he wore, questioning her statement with his raised brows.

"kidn*pped?" He questioned baffled by her choice of words, and how fast her imagination runs.

"Don't judge me, Mr Elliot. Your lack of response and the suspicious call created those images in my head."

Kneeling by the cot, she dropped her right arm in it, a smile gracing her face. Using her hand to gently smooth over Ivan's hair, "So why was he crying?" She asked for the third time, not relenting.

"I don't know, " a tired sigh escaped his lips, a dull ache at the sides of his temple reminding him he hasn't rested properly for the past three days, Ivan with his office work, that kept pilling.

"Was he hungry? Did you change his diaper? His milk, was it stale?"She threw questions at him rising from her squat. Hardly sparing a little time to recall if he actually did all those things.

For the first time in his life, her questions made him feel so inadequate, incapable of taking care of his son.

He moved further away from her ignoring her for the second time, a frown etched on her face at his act.

"Mr Elliot you have refused to answer my questions, " she complained, he could feel her stares boring holes in his back.

"I owe you no explanation, but you do owe an explanation to the police I would call now to report you of unlawful entry into my house at this particular odd hour."

"You can't do that, I was worried for Ivan that's why I came."

He craned his head to her for a second before facing the walls, "You are not needed here, I will show mercy this time but never again."

He expected her to leave immediately but she walked back to Ivan's cot sitting by it. Her eyes were cast low on where his child slept, watching him intently.

"Mr Elliot, do Ivan struggle when he is breathing?" She asked, putting her hand into the cot to caress him.

He walked closer to her, slightly worried by her question.

"What do you mean?"

She removed her hand from the cot, meeting his gaze except her's carried a lot of worries, her forehead forming creasing lines.

"Ivan needs to be in the hospital, I think he has Pneumonia."