Hannah hummed a little off tune as she mixed the batter of her famous red velvet cake. The kitchen was alive with activity as she prepared her orders for the day. Her son was in the living room probably up to no good. She always worried when there was too much quiet.
"Mama!" She heard as if she had alerted him with her thoughts.
"Yes Munchkin."
"Come sit next to me so we can watch a movie." Hannah smiled. It was something she had told her son a hundred times and he had recently started using it on her. The only thing Hannah loved more than cooking was her five year old son Isaac. He was her whole world.
"Mama is busy right now. Why don't you join me in the kitchen?"
She heard a lot of mumbling and grunting as her little man made his way to the kitchen.
"Can I have some cookies? Since I am in the kitchen? I should eat."
Hannah hid a smile as she reached for the cookie jar. "You can have one cookie and a glass of milk."
Isaac made a face. She knew he hated milk. "Three cookies and half a glass of milk." He said, holding up three fingers.
"Two cookies and a glass of milk."
"Four cookies and half a glass of milk."
Hannah laughed. "You are moving the wrong way." She opened the fridge and got a carton of milk. "Should I warm it for you little man?"
"Yes please." He said as he hoisted himself on the kitchen stool. "With honey and cinnamon." Then he added, "with just a splash of vanilla."
Hannah smiled at him. "Whose son are you after all?"
"Yours!" He said with the happiest expression on his face. Hannah's heart melted and she had to check herself not to give him all the cookies in the world.
She made his spiced milk and he talked about school. He had made a new friend. Her name was Hayley.
"The other kids made fun of her. She was crying. I felt bad." He mumbled the last sentence.
"Making fun of others is not nice."
"I know. I know."
"What were they saying to her?"
Isaac shifted in his seat as if he was uncomfortable to even repeat the words. "She has bad hair." He said finally after a long pause.
"Hmm." Hannah switched off the stove and poured the milk into a mug.
"It wasn't combed." Isaac said as a way to elaborate. "And the other kids made fun of her. They called her nappy head."
"I see." She said. She took a small plate and placed two chocolate chipped cookies on it. "Here you go Champ."
"Thanks mom."
She reached over the counter and mussed his curls. "You are welcome."
He was too busy with his milk and cookies for her to ask about the new friend so she went back to her cake. Soon she was humming again. When she finished mixing everything, she put the batter in the baking tins and into the oven.
"Thanks for the cookies and milk mama." Isaac said as he finished his milk.
"You are welcome." He passed her his plate and mug and she put them in the dish washer.
"Can we go watch something now?"
"Sure. But first I want you to finish telling me about Hayley." He jumped off the stool and started running to the living room. "Young man! There will be no running in my house please."
"Yes mama."
She followed him into the living room. "What do you want to watch?"
"Hmmm… The Lion King."
She laughed. "Okay." He watched that movie at least once a week. She sat down next to him as he chose the movie.
"First, tell me about Hayley."
"Maaa!" He sighed. She mussed his hair and he sighed again. Such a long suffering sound. It was such an adult sound she almost laughed.
"Tell me."
"She is new. Her father moved here from… from Pens… Pensvin."
"Pennsylvania?"
"Yes. She lives with her father. Her mother is gone." He said. "Where do mothers go?" he asked.
"I don't know honey." She hugged him. "But wherever I go, you go." He was quiet and he let her hold him longer than he usually would so she knew there was something on his mind.
"My father left." He said quietly.
She stiffened. It was an involuntary reaction. She couldn't control it. His father was in jail. He hadn't left. Leaving would have been a kindness. What he did to her was – "Mama?"
"Yes Munchkin."
"My father left. Hayley's mother left. Maybe you will leave too."
"I will never leave you. Ever." She said fiercely. "You are all the joy and laughter I have in this world. That's why I named you Isaac, you know? Where can I go without you and be happy?"
His hazel eyes met hers and he smiled. He was such a beautiful child. He didn't favor his father one bit and for that Hannah was grateful to all the gods, the universe and everything in between.
"I love you mom." He said.
"I love you more." She kissed his forehead.
"I love you most."
"Impossible."