Broken Strings
Chapter 36

MELISSA QUIZON

“Mommy, I want this, and this, and this, oh and this too. Mommy, what’s that? I want that.” Reid jumped up and down as he held my hand and pointed to the ones he wanted to buy me.

“Reid, baby, calm down.”

He laughs. “There are lots of toys, Mommy!”

I leaned down to make our faces level. “What about when Santa comes? What else will he give you, eh, you’ve already bought all the toys you want?”

He snorted and looked up as if thinking. I don’t even want to spoil Reid. He must now learn that not everything he wants, he gets.

“Oh, you’re right, Mommy.” He said while smiling. “Why didn’t Daddy come to the grocery store?”

I gulp. “Daddy has a job now so he didn’t come.”

This morning, Reid and I woke up to find him gone. He just left a note on the kitchen table saying he had an early meeting in the office. He also left a black credit card for us to use for groceries. When we left the house, a driver is waiting for us, He said that Wright ordered him to take us to the grocery store. I didn’t include Bobbie. After all, his Mama picked him up, because he said he had a check-up schedule.

I looked at Reid as he pulled on my dress. I stopped pushing the grocery basket that filled everything we bought.

“Toys, Mommy?”

“At Christmas, Baby. I promise.” I stroked his hair.

He nodded.

After we went to the grocery store we immediately went home. I was taking out my purchases when Reid pulled on my dress again.

“Mommy! Mommy, look! Mommy!” he repeatedly said.

He pulled me to the door of the house.

“What is it, Re– What the what?” My eyes widened at what I saw.

All the toys that Reid pointed out earlier at the mall are inside our house now. One by one they were lined up on the living room table.

“Like it?” We looked at Wright with a wide smile as he sat on the one-sitter sofa.

What the heck!

“Daddy! You bought it all?” Reid ran over to Wright. He climbed into his father’s lap.

Wright stood up while carrying Reid. “Uhm, no? Some guy wearing red attire brought it all for you.

“It’s Santa!” Reid said happily. “But it’s not Christmas yet. Don’t fool me. You bought that.”

Wright chuckled. “Guilty as charged.”

“How did you know?”

“We own the market, Sweetie,” Wright said and lightly pinched Reid’s nose.

Reid went downstairs and enjoyed the toys Wright had bought. Wright approached me and helped me carry my groceries.

I raised my eyebrow at him. “You’re spoiling him.”

He shrugged. “So what if I am?”

“Don’t,” I said coldly.

He sighed. “Your reason?”

“The day will come when he will ask me for things I can’t afford to give.”

“I won’t let that happen.” He says softly. “Trust me.”

Trust. Really?

He turned away from me and entered the kitchen. I followed him and laid the few I had brought on the table.

Reid poke Wright and lifted the toy he was holding. “Daddy, teach me how to fly this plane.”

Wright messed up Reid’s hair. “Let’s go outside.”

When the two came out I became more comfortable using the kitchen. I made them lunch and took it to the lanai. I found Reid sitting on Wright’s thighs as he taught him to hold the controller. I put the food down on the table.

“Hold the controller, Baby. Here look at this button, this one is the start.” Wright’s teaching.

After we ate lunch they went back to flying Reid’s toy plane. I can’t even bother them because they both seem to be happy with what they’re doing. I just lay in the hammock while reading a book and periodically I look at them.

“Aya!” I turned to Reid when he shouted.

They looked up at the mango tree. The plane they had been playing with was hanging in there.

“I got it.” Wright ruffled Reid’s hair then climbed the tree.

“Be careful, Daddy!” Reid’s remind.

Wright grabbed the plane and dropped it on Reid. Reid caught that immediately. I got up when Wright came down and he slipped on a branch and fell. His back was the first to land on the ground. I ran closer to them.

“Daddy! Are you okay?” Reid said panicking.

“Wright, stop moving, will you?” I said.

He stood up while holding my shoulder. “Ugh! I’m okay, Baby. I just paid less.”

He smiled sparingly at me and shifted his attention to Reid. I was shocked when they came back to play. While they were playing I noticed Wright once rubbing his shoulder. He still frowns at times but he doesn’t make Reid notice it.

So when he said he’s going inside the house, I followed him. I was holding the ice pack that I had just put on ice. He gets water in the kitchen and drinks it.

He was facing me when I poke him. He lowered the glass into the sink.

I lifted the ice pack. “Uhm, ice pack?”

“Don’t need it.”

“I know your shoulder hurts.”

“How did you know?”

“You fell off the tree, didn’t you?” I said rudely.

“I’m just feeling some kind of pain, Melissa. That’s accepting the fact that you’re not going to give me another chance. And that’s all we are!” I sighed at what he said. The resentment was obvious in his eyes.

My knees trembled because of the kind of look he gave me. I bit my lower l*p and just chose to turn away from him. But less than halfway through my walk, someone pulled my arm.

My eyes widened as our lips touched. He gripped my neck tightly so I couldn’t escape.

“Wright-” He took advantage of the opening of my mouth and he inserted his tongue. I pushed him hard. I gasped as I got away from him.

I covered my l*p with the back of my palm.

His eyes widen as he looks at me. He averted his gaze, He wet his lower l*p and then looked at me again.

“I’m just taking a chance that when I k**s you, your heart’s decision will be different.” He took a deep breath. “Guess I’m wrong. It’s still the same.”

After he said that he passed me and went out of the kitchen. The corner of my eye heats up and my tears slowly fall.