Wanting Her Back

Episode 4

"Mummy Andrea doesn't want to give me the toy." a three-year-old shouted in my ears as I packed the clothes into the laundry box.

"Andrew, give Andrea back her toy please." I shouted tiredly.

"Mummy, it's not hers. She broke her toy."

Kid! my kids.

I looked at Jamil as he came to give his twin sister the blue-colored toy. It was actually his.

The twins "my bundles of joy", as I fondly called them. They've been everything to me. That day, as I pushed them out, I swore with my life to protect them.

Since my move to New York three years ago, it felt like life had once more smiled at me. All this wouldn't have been possible without Rosie and the event at the Secret restaurant years ago.

~•~

Flashback

~•~

"Lucy, are you okay?" I heard Rosie saying as I opened my eyes.

I was in a hospital bed with IV drips on my arm. How did I get here?

"Lucy? Look at me. Are you feeling better?" She asked, touching my head. "Doctor, she's awake! Nurse, she's awake." I heard her shouting into the hallway as I tried to check the name of the hospital.

Soon doctors in white came in, along with two nurses on blue. The nurse with a pen and book looked at my Drip, touched my head and scribbled on the paper.

"How are you doing, Miss Wallace?" The doctor asked, smiling down at me. "Do you feel any pain?" He asked again.

"I'm okay, just feeling a bit light-headed." I said, rubbing my forehead with my palm.

"That's normal, totally expected from the injection. Since you're okay and the nurse has confirmed you to be, you'll have to rest for a while before we discharge you. Your babies are fine too," he said.

"Thank you, Doctor." Rosie and I said at the same time.

They all left after the nurse removed the drip from my arm, closing the door behind them.

"You scared me, Lucy. Are you sure you're fine now?" She asked with concern written all over her face.

"I'm totally fine. What happened? Why are you here and not at the restaurant?"

"You suddenly collapsed. I'm sorry about those silly girls. I made sure to teach them a lesson. Thank God for that kind gentleman, he brought you here and insisted on settling your bills even after we told him it was part of your benefit for working at the restaurant."

"Thank you very much Rosie, what about the man?" I asked, still surprised that someone would go that length to help a total stranger.

"He left, he said he had work to do. But I'll drop a message for him through the nurses at the reception when we're leaving."

"Okay, thank you." I said, holding her hand. I knew the look she had on her face "You want to ask me about it?"

"You don't have to if it's an uncomfortable conversation."

"I'm fine. I'm indeed pregnant, everything they said was true, and I'm already tired of telling myself otherwise."

"I'm really sorry about your situation, Lucy, and I'm also sorry about what those girls did. No one deserves that, especially when it wasn't their story to share. People can be mean."

"It's nothing dear, I can't run from it forever. I really wished I had somewhere to go, somewhere I know people won't throw this in my face. I want to start all over." I said, rubbing my tummy.

She sat quiet for a while like she had a lot to say.

"Why don't you go to New York? You can start all over there."

"It's not that easy, Rosie. Its connection and mon–"

"It's free. Well, my dad opened a branch of the Restaurant there, and he was thinking of taking some workers there, people he could trust, all-expense paid. Maybe I can talk to him about you."

"Your Dad?"

"Yeah, he owns the place.

~•~

Present Day

~•~

I still wonder how a single incident, a single conversation changed my life. I had Rosie to thank. She was a friend who came when I needed one. My friend of Blessed memory.

"Lucy, put that down already. You've been working tirelessly." Harry said, helping me bring down the box I was carrying on my head.

"Hey Harry, Welcome."

"Where are the twins?" He asked, looking around for them.

"They're playing in their room. How was work?" I asked as I planted a kiss on his forehead.

"Fine, I was able to finish the work I had planned out for today." He said, sitting on the cushion close to the laundry room.

This man was slowly creeping into her heart. What they had was just friendship, but every day gave it a new meaning.

He felt familiar, but he was still a stranger at their first meeting. The name "Harry" had reminded her of the day that changed her life, but there could be a thousand 'Harry' out there.

"I'll be going to Australia by this time next week." He said, unbuttoning his suit.

"Why? Business trip?" I asked, sitting close to him.

"Far from it, I'm going to see my family."

"You're from Australia and have family there?" I asked, surprised.

"I thought I told you, or maybe I just assumed you would know. Do you want to come?"

"You want me to come?"

"Stop answering my questions with another, Lucy." He said, laughing.

"Okay fine, I want to, with the kids."

"It's a deal then, I'll book our flight and get us ready for D-Day. I need a nap." He said, leaving for his room.

He had become a constant visitor that I had ended up giving him his own room. His presence was very beneficial to my kids and I loved how he looked out for us.

The trip to Australia sneaked back into my mind. Was I really ready? It's been 3 years already; how long will I have to hide in another man's land to hide my shame?

I couldn't shake the sense that I was being pulled backward, into the very past I'd spent years trying to escape.

My hand tightened against the box I was holding as I thought to myself, “Am I strong enough to face my past”?