Secret Blessing

Chapter 8: Eira

Cassandra left work, declining her workmate’s invitation to have dinner with them. As she took a cab, she received a call from her roommate.

“Hey, are you going home?”

Cassandra shook her head. “I’m going somewhere.”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to see her?”

Cassandra didn’t answer.

“Come on, Cass. You can’t even reach her over the weekend.”

“I’ll still try.”

“She may be single but she’s still into her ex-wife, remember?”

“I’ll make her like me,” Cassandra said as she hung up.

She arrives at the building, going to the elevator up to Winter’s designated floor. Her secretary stood up and greeted her.

“Ms. Haybel, the meeting’s on Wednesday, right?”

Cassandra nodded. “I’m not here for the meeting.”

“Oh. What can I do for you, then?”

“Is Winter here?”

“Ms. Winchester? The CEO?”

“Yes,” Cassandra answered. “We’re friends.” I hope we can be more than friends.

“Oh. You two know each other?”

Cassandra nodded again. “But she doesn’t know that I’ll be a possible ambassador.”

The secretary nodded. “I apologize, Ms. Haybel. Ms. Winchester’s not here. She had an emergency flight over the weekend. I don’t think she’ll be back anytime soon.”

Cassandra’s shoulders slumped. “Will she be back by Wednesday?”

“We’re not sure but she told me to be in charge until she gets back.”

Cassandra pursed her lips. “Do you know where she is headed?”

“I’m afraid I can’t share that information. I apologize,” the secretary said.

Cassandra nodded as she thanked the secretary before going back to the elevator. As she went to the lobby, she decided to call Sarah.

“Hello?”

“Sorry, I hang up,” Cassandra said.

“It’s fine,” Sarah said. “She’s not there, I’m guessing?”

“Yeah,” Cassandra said. “Are you free? Let’s have dinner.”

“Sure, as long as it’s your treat,” Sarah said.

Cassandra groaned. “Fine.”

Sarah squealed. “Yes!”

*

Demetria’s looking at her daughter as she thought about how to tell her about her other mother.

Eira, who was currently playing with her toys, felt her staring. “Mom? Are you okay?”

“Hmm?” Demetria hummed as she didn’t catch what her daughter asked.

Eira sighed as she left her toys to sit next to her mother. “You look sad, Mom.”

Demetria shook her head. “No, I’m happy, honey,” she assured her as she hugged her.

Eira didn’t budge as she stared at her. “What are you thinking, then?”

Demetria pursed her lips. “Nothing…”

“That’s what you said the other day,” Eira said. “You’re not telling me who visited,” she pouted.

Demetria gritted her teeth.

Eira went back to her toys, playing with them.

Moments later, there were knocks on the door so Demetria went to open it, revealing her parents, who hugged her.

“Sorry, it took us a while to visit,” Burt, her father said.

“It’s okay, Dad,” Demetria as she led them inside, closing the door behind her.

“So, what’s with your text? We were worried,” Carol, her mother asked.

“Wait,” Demetria said as she got closer to Eira. “Honey, can you play in your room?”

Eira nodded as she hugged her grandparents before going to her room with her toys.

They sat on the couch. “So, what’s going on?” Burt asked.

“Winter’s here,” Demetria straightforwardly said. “She found us and she visited the other day.”

“Does Eira know?” Carol asked.

“Not yet,” Demetria answered.

“Don’t tell her,” Burt said.

Demetria’s confused. “Why not?”

“The Winchesters put you through this, that’s why we’re here.”

Demetria shook her head. “Winter doesn’t know. She deserves to know Eira and Eira deserves to know her other mother as well.”

“Then, why are we here right now?”

“I need your advice. I don’t know how to tell Eira that her Daddy’s here,” Demetria said. She remembered Winter telling her that she wanted to be called that and she told Eira when they talked about her. Thankfully, Eira understands when Demetria explained why.

“You know, getting involved with Winter will involve you with her parents, right?” Burt reminded her.

“I don’t care,” Demetria said. “Eira’s the most important to me.”

“What if Winter wants you two to get back together?”

Demetria shrugged. “That’s a pretty big maybe, but I don’t know. Besides, Andrew’s courting me.”

“Well, do you like him?” Carol asked.

Demetria hesitated. “He’s a good man so far. He’s close to Eira. He accepted the fact that I have a daughter.”

“But do you like him?” Carol pushed.

Demetria didn’t answer.

“You don’t have to like him if that’s not what you’re feeling.”

“Yeah,” Burt agreed. “We want you to be with someone you like, possibly, love.”

“As you did with Winter,” Carol said.

Demetria remembered what happened the other day. Winter looked at her as if she could see through her soul just like the old days when they were together. She also remembered how she blushed, how her heart raced when she saw her, who was once the love of her life. She hadn’t felt that in a long time, but it wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling. Has she really moved on? Or is that just in her mind?

“Demetria,” her parents called.

She was pulled out of her thoughts. “What?”

“You spaced out,” Burt said. “What’s bothering you?”

“Nothing,” Demetria immediately answered. Of course, she didn’t want her parents to know that she was thinking about Winter. “You were saying?”

“We can tell Eira for you. We think she’ll understand.”

“Don’t you think it’s better if I tell her myself?”

“It is. It’ll be your decision,” Carol said.

“What do you think will be her reaction?” Demetria asked.

“Does she know about her?” Burt asked.

Demetria nodded. “But she doesn’t know what she looks like. I always tell her to just look in the mirror, which she always does.”

“Then, I think she’ll be happy to see her,” Carol said.

Demetria sighed as Burt rubbed her shoulders.

“What are you afraid of, anyway?” he asked.

“I just don’t want her to be uncomfortable when she has to see Winter,” Demetria said.

“Are you sure that’s the only reason?” Carol asked.

“Or you’re just not ready to have Winter around?” Burt asked, too.

Demetria didn’t answer. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready…

Her parents decided to stay for dinner and have a bond with their granddaughter, who was delighted to play with them. They leave later that night, leaving Demetria a look that she has to tell Eira tonight and that she has nothing to worry about.

Demetria smiled at them as she closed the door and locked it. She saw Eira watching a cartoon on TV. She sat next to her on the couch.

“What did I say about watching at night?”

Eira pouted as she turned off the TV. “Are we going to sleep now?”

“Later, honey. Mommy has something to tell you,” Demetria started.

“What is it?”

Demetria thought about something. “Wait here,” she said as she went to her room, opened her closet, picked up a photo album, and then, she went back to Eira.

“What’s that, Mom?” Eira asked.

Demetria set the album on Eira’s lap. “My wedding photos.”

Eira looked at her mother. “Do I get to see Daddy now?” she eagerly asked.

Demetria smiled and nodded.

Eira excitedly opened the album and looked at the photos. Starting with Winter’s and Demetria’s solo photos, wearing a white tux and white dress.

“You look pretty, Mom,” Eira said, eyes fixed on the photos.

Demetria blushed. “Yeah?”

Eira nodded. “Yeah. No wonder Daddy had a huge crush on you.”

Thankfully, Eira’s not looking at Demetria as she turned red as a tomato.

“Is this Daddy?” Eira asked as she pointed at a photo.

“Yes, that’s her,” Demetria answered.

“How do I describe her?” Eira asked.

Demetria shrugged. “Handsome?”

Eira looked at her. “Oh, you think Daddy’s handsome?” she teased.

Demetria rolled her eyes as her daughter caught her. “You got me.”

Eira laughed. “I think you still have a crush on her,” she said as she flipped the page.

Demetria didn’t answer, as she just looked at her daughter before looking at Winter’s photos. She compared them to when she saw her the other day. She realized she had lost some weight. But still handsome… she thought.

She sat up straight as she continuously tapped her cheeks. “What are you thinking?” she mumbled to herself.

“Mom, does she know about me?” Eira asked.

Demetria turned to her and said, “Yes, she does.”

“Do you think I’ll be able to see her?”

“Of course, honey,” Demetria said. “The question is, do you want to see her?”

Eira looked at her mother.

*

Winter paced back and forth in the park near Demetria’s house. She feels nervous. More nervous than proposing to Demetria to be her wife.

“Dude, can you calm down?” Victoria said. “She’s going to like you.”

Winter turned to her. “What if she won’t?”

“She will,” Summer said. “Who doesn’t like you anyway?”

Winter shrugged. “This is the first time in a long time that I don’t feel confident.”

“She will like you,” Victoria said. “Do you hear us?”

Winter nodded. “Okay.”

Her phone received a text. She took it from her pocket and unlocked it. She saw that it was from Demetria.

“She texted,” Winter said. “What if Eira changed her mind about meeting me?”

Victoria rolled her eyes. “Can’t you read the text first?”

Winter shook her head. “I can’t.”

Victoria snatched the phone and read the text with Summer. “‘I’m sorry, we’re gonna be late. Eira can’t choose what she wants to wear.’”

Winter sighed.

Victoria gave her back the phone. “You can relax now, dude.”

“Can you sit down?” Summer asked.

Winter sat beside them on a bench.

She received a text the night before from Demetria that Eira wanted to meet her. She almost can’t sleep because of excitement. Now, it’s not only the excitement she feels. There are so many what if’s in her head.

Victoria tapped her shoulder and pointed ahead.

Winter looked in the direction she was pointing at and saw Demetria walking hand-in-hand with someone she guessed was Eira. She stood up and just stared at their bundle of joy. When they got closer to them, she knelt so she would be at the same height as Eira.

Eira looked up at her mother, who nodded at her. She let go of her hand and moved closer to Winter.

Winter lends her hand but Eira doesn’t take it. Eira went for a hug, which caught her off guard. It took seconds for her to hug her back.

“Where have you been, Daddy?” Eira asked.

Winter hugged her tighter. “I’m here now, honey.”