Her Misfortune

VIII. The Length Of Things

I woke up with a loud bang on my head as my phone keeps on ringing. I groan as I still want to sleep some more but my phone keeps on ringing.

I sits up from my bed lazily and pick up my phone.

“Hello?” I said with still my hoarse voice.

“Where the hell have you been? I could not get you to answer your phone since last night!” I almost threw my phone on how the caller which appear to be Lisa yells on me.

“I am at home. Someone I knew took me home last night.” I said as I rub my head.

“I am going to need some aspirin right now.” I thought to myself after responding to her.

“The person you saying is the doctor whom took care of the twins the other day, right?” she said. I could not help but to be shock as my eyes went wide. I could not remember telling her last night.

“How did you know?” and so I asked her.

“Well, unfortunately, he is not the one who brought you home last night. Because last night he came to the bar where we went, went up to the stage and called your name desperately.” She said.

I do not know what happened. I did not bother to look who it was because he knew where I was and certainly did not speak the whole time while I was still awake that although did not last that long.

“Wait. Are you certain about that?” I asked her trying to confirm it. I just could not believe that I once again went with a stranger.

“Albert Tedesco, brown eyes, perfect build, husky voice.” She said.

Everything went blank as I try to remember what happened last night.

“I was still dancing with Lisa the moment I was carried out by the man that is.... is it more or less like Albert’s built? And the perf..... the perfume is different from Albert but feels like familiar.” I said to myself.

“Hello? Hello? HELLO!” is what woke me up from daze of thinking and realized that I have drop the phone.

“Hey, I am fine. I will call you later.” I said as I hung up the phone.

I went to the bathroom and took aspirin before jumping in the shower.

“If it was not him, how come he brought me back to my house? How did he know my address? Oh my God! Do I have a stalker?” I said and exclaimed to myself after getting under the shower.

“But still why he brought me home? And come to think of it, I was drag just a minute after I hung the phone from the conversation with Albert who is still in the hospital at that time and would have taken fifteen minutes to reach that bar from the hospital.” I added while I finish my bath and stepped out of the bathroom.

As soon as I stepped out, my phone rings once again. I sigh and quickly answered it.

“Mimi what time are you going to be here?” I hear Mark’s voice from the other end.

“Morning honey, I am on my way, just about to lock the door. Wait for me as I have a surprise ok?” I said before saying goodbye and hung up the phone.

When I was about to put it down, I notice the notifications and sees the endless name of Albert in missed calls.

I walk towards my room and choose something to wear while I read his messages that are full of worries.

I walk back to the bed to put down the chosen clothes and dials Albert number when I notice on the bedside table. A note under my house's key.

“I will see you soon again.

Ariel.” 

Is what written on it. My hand is shaking as I see the paper moving.

“Hello? Hello Jay?” the voice of Albert on the other side has shaken me up more making me jump into shock.

“Hello! I am sorry but do you have two hours free now?” I said in a fright tone with scramble thoughts in my mind but the first thing I knew is that I needed to secure myself from whatever may happen after I open that door of mine.

“Is something... I have. I will be coming now.” He said and hung up the phone.

I stared at the note for a moment before I finally gather myself and got dressed. I went down still shaking that I almost fell.

When I finally landed safely, the door suddenly rings.

“Who is it?” I yell as I walk slowly and quietly towards the door.

“It is me Jay.” The voice said that finally made me take a deep breath of relief for now.

I opened the door and as soon as he gets in, I closed it quickly.

“What is going on?” Albert said with his gaze full of worries. I look at him for a moment before I handed him the note.

“He came back.” I said with my hand shaking rubbing my temple.

“Who is?.. The father?” he said looking at me.

I nod as I take multiple deep breaths in just a span of a second.

“When?” he said as he guided me to sit on the couch.

“I do not know exactly; I am not sure if that was him.” I said as I started tearing up.

He sits beside me, rubbing my back before saying “Where are the twins?”

I turn my hidden face to him and said “I sent them yesterday to Nick’s mother’s house with mom. And I am about to go, that is why I called you, maybe you could accompany me even until to the bus stop only.” I said finally telling him the reason why I called him and wanted him to come.

“I will accompany you until that place just let me call someone.” He said before he stood up and walk away with me.

“Hello, yeah I just wanted to tell you that I have emergency situation, so I want you to take over my duties for a day and I will pay you double.” He said but could vaguely hear it from where he is.

I feel sorry that he needed to do that. But I have no choice, I need to do this for the twins and for myself even though it means I am taking advantage of his kindness.

“Is there anything you should bring? Where is it? Let’s go.” He said as he walks back to me. I nodded and pointed to the luggage beside the door which he took it and waited for me.

“I am so sorry Albert; I will make it up to you. Maybe a discount for a trip?” I said grabbing my bag and exiting the house with him.

“That is a perfect idea. Specially if you and the twins together with your mom will come.” He said with a big smile on his face as he holds my hand as I limb up his car.

I look at him as soon as I landed my butt on the seat safely before I look at him giving him an opportunity to send me a wink and finally closes the door and runs around to climb up.

“I will think about that. It might be fine if it will be on land travel than on air, I am afraid for the twins yet, they are too young to understand what turbulence means.” I said as he finally sits and we both buckle ourselves at the same time.

He started the engine as soon as he got the hold on the wheels before saying “I like that. Something like camping.” And started driving.

“Camping! Yeah the twins would love that for sure.” I exclaimed and we both look at each other with smiles on our face.

It was like we understand each other, but it puzzles me to the thought that we are both thinking about the twins when it should only be me being their mom and not Albert who is just a stranger to us. I stop to my track and just let out a small smile as I turn and look outside.

Half of the ride went silent until Albert finally decided to talk once again.

“So, what do you plan about their father?” he said as he started a conversation.

“I told you the very first time we met; I will not let him in with our lives.” I said with a little trace of resent in my voice.

He looks at me for a moment before turning his head towards ahead and said “I remember, but what if he wants to be? He wants to be a father of the twins? That is his right, and you could never take that away from him.”

I look at him. I look at him and I felt guilt, I knew what he said is true, but you could never blame.

“I know, that is why I want to ask him why now. Why now that the hardest days have passed, and I could just enjoy being with them?” I said with sadness that I, myself is aware of.

“I could not say anything about that because I did not know how he left you or what really happened to you two.” He said with calm voice as he drives.

“We were fine, I remember sleeping on his arm snuggling to him, I remembered that he receives a call, he bid me goodbye and said that he would see me again before my departure. Twelve hours have passed but not even a single dot have I receive from him.” I said.

I said like there is nothing wrong with what happened. Like I already told him why I hate him this much.

“He receives a call, maybe something has happened that made him busy all those times and it slipped his mind.” he said.

I stare at him once again and thinks.

‘Why are you talking like you want him to be with us? Like nothing was wrong when the fact that my existence and what happened a few minutes before he left my hotel room has slipped through his mind?’ a thought that I just sigh as I decided not to say it.

“Maybe, but why he did not bother even after weeks and months when the fact that I left my number in use?” I said.

I still used the number I have given him a few months after I found out that I was pregnant hoping that one day he would call and tell me that he missed me, that he has been searching for me, that he wanted to continue what we started. But nothing, even just a dot from him, there is nothing like that until I have decided to take the responsibilities of the twins on my own.

“Maybe there is a reason. Or maybe there is something that avoided him from searching for you.” He said.

I look away feeling guilty for not telling him my whole name, but once again I blame him for not being curious enough and ask me. He never bothers asking me himself. I took a deep sigh as I lean my head on the window.

“Because I never told him my real name, my country and such because he never bothers to ask anyway.” I said.

I could not look at Albert’s reaction, but I was a frightened when I almost flew out of the car as he put the car on sudden halt that we receive honks from cars behind us.

“What did you just say? If you did not give him your real information, then what did you just gave him?” he exclaimed in surprise making me surprise as well.

“I did not like to what I gave him, it was just out of habit of giving my nickname to strangers. But we did talk about some personal things that he, himself have kept too much about him. And realizing that all this time, I finally understand that it was just a mistake that took path of misfortune.” I exclaimed back at him rubbing the temple of my head as I still feel hang over.

I have not eaten anything since I woke up this morning even a drop of coffee. I took bath, called him and hopped into his car bringing me where I am right now, and I only have myself to blame.

I look at him you became silent and sees him looking ahead. I sigh as I said “Can we start moving? We will arrive late if we stay here.” Straightening myself in the seat as I moved with the impact of sudden stop he just made.

I thought I would hear something as he suddenly moves, but there is nothing. He just simply started the engine and continued driving for a few meters ahead and suddenly made a turn to which I see it is a stopover. I look at him as nothing came out from my mouth as I open it.

“It is near lunch and the next one we will be passing will take another two and half hours.” He said parking the car in one of the vacant slots.

I did not say anything in return until it is time for us to climb down of the car which we did. I climb down and walk fast ahead of him which received a tight grab on my arm as he caught up to me. Before saying “Will it kill you to wait for someone? How many times it has been since the first time we met?” and finally letting go of my arm and holding my back instead as he opens the door to which we entered together.

“Wait, here will you?” he said, but it is not in mad tone or any along the line, instead he sounds asking, pleading to me to at least for once, I should listen to him.

I look at him for a minute, I sigh and give him a nod before settling myself by sitting on his chosen seat. He smiled before he walks away to where I guess he would order our food.

I wait for him as I sits here alone and finally watch my phone that have so many calls from my mom. I sigh before dialling her number.

“Hello dear, I guessed I worried you by appearing my number on you. I did not do that; it is the twins. They knew that you are not on board so maybe that is why they insist while they wait for you. But you are on bus right now, right?” my mom said in worried tone.

“I could imagine that.” I said chuckling.

“Tell them that I will be there soon although I am not on bus.” I added.

“Then how? Are you being accompanied by someone?” my mom said. I smiled quietly.

“Albert is with me. He will be accompanying me until there.” I said in response. I look around to know if Albert is around.

I see him a few feet away with a big smile, walking carefully with a tray on his hands.

“I need to go now; Albert is here with our lunch.” I said as we both bid goodbye at the same time.

A few minutes later, Albert came and put down the tray on the table before saying “I hope you will like it.” As he points to once again sandwiches in my sight.

“I am sorry, about earlier and to make it up to you I will like this no matter what it is.” I said giggling to myself.

He smiled and nods as we both enjoys our sandwiches. He opens his mouth and said “What is your plan about their father? What if he came to get the twins?” that almost choke me from my first bite.

“I do not have any other plans aside from go away as far as I could from him with the twins. I will not let him have the twins as long as I am alive.” I said sternly as I look into his eyes with determination.

“Then what if he also wants to take you and make it up to you?” another question came from him as I take my second bite. I try to chew it properly as much as I could before I replied.

“I will decide after seeing the length of the things he could do just to make it up to me.” I said nothing more nothing less and continue eating.

Albert did not say anything as well after that. We ate in silence as we look both look outside seeing the sun shining so brightly giving warmth on the first day of autumn.

‘Autumn huh? Their birthday is coming, what should I do for this year?’ I thought to myself as I continue looking outside.

It is soon the birthday of the twins and like always, I am free as I made that condition to my company, telling them I am willing to take all duties even the abrupt calls as long as they leave me free for three days with the twin’s birthday in between.

We finished eating with an awkward atmosphere between us, because of that talk before. We climb up the car after he waited for me as I went to comfort room.

“Sorry Albert, will you mind if I take a nap? I still feel my hangover from last night.” I said after buckling ourselves.

“Sure, I will just wake you up when we arrive there. I am sure the twins are waiting for their mom.” He said and started the engine and drive out of the stopover.

I closed my eyes thinking that I could somehow calm my mind, but it just does not work. As my brain keeps on thinking things, things about everything me and Albert have talked about.