It could be that accepting his challenge was the start of my downfall.
But who could have known? Or warn me about it?
Because by the time I had put the two dots together, it was too late. I had to raise my hands surrendering not having anything left to fight with.
Turning the car to the other side, I reached Cole's condominium and pulled Aiden out of his baby chair, ready to go upstairs and take my daughter home.
For some reason, my son was smiling so I could not contain mine. I booped his little nose and that made him let out toothless laughter.
Punching the third floor in the elevator, I got in and continued the same charade making both of us laugh out the entire ride.
When the elevator hurl opened in Cole's place, I did not realize and the sudden noise of the argument made me stop laughing.
It was useless because they had dropped off their argument seeing me like an odd third pair as always.
There was my husband and the woman he loved together in the living room, arguing about something like a couple and I just had to interrupt it.
Aiden resumed his baby laughter though. There was no way I could instil manners in a baby and out of nowhere Emily came running with headphones on her ears and hugged my legs.
Well, that was my cue to leave right away. So I hit the elevator to go down shutting the doors together.
I signalled to Emily that we were going down and back home. She eyed me with her hands up in the air saying she did not get what I was saying.
Lord only knew how long she had those things on her ears so I took it off from her making her call me out.
"Mom!!"
"No more of these for a month."
I declared. She huffed like a little dramatic princess. And before she could protest more, I pushed her out of the elevator and held her arm directing her towards the car in the parking lot.
"I lost today..."
"Janet?"
And all of a sudden my feet applied the brakes. I turned around to see Cole. Seemed like he had rushed after us the moment we hit the elevator to go down.
"Dada!!"
Aiden clapped his baby hands together when his father walked up to us.
"There is a fundraising gala tonight..."
He began and I already understood why he came here. Without wasting any time, I asked him the time when I needed to be ready.
"By 8ish..."
"Ok. I will try to see if the nanny could make it before 7:30?"
It was out of nowhere. He should have given me one heads-up. But then why would he be back in the city if it was not for something like this...I was dumb.
"No need of that. Drive to here. Bianca will take care of them. "
I narrowed my eyes at him. Was he being serious about this?
When he did not budge, I got it and nodded my head turning around to leave. He dropped a kiss on Em's head saying he would see her in the evening. Aiden was too baby to know anything.
Biting my lips together, worrying about what I was going to wear. At the same time wondering if the gala and watching over the kids was the cause for Cole and Biance to be fighting.
Reaching home, Emily ran without waiting for me. She was angry that I took off her headphones.
Turning on Aiden's favourite cartoon on the television, I started preparing for dinner right away. Even if they were not going to eat here, I would pack it for them there.
After being done, it was already seven and I checked up on the kids again. Aiden fell asleep with the cartoon still on and Emily was busy drawing on the floor. She was not going to talk to me.
I took a quick shower and rummaged through my wardrobe trying to find one good dress. I had not had the time to go shopping for so long.
All of a sudden, my eyes landed on the green satin slim gown. It felt like I stumbled back on my past...ages ago.
Taking it out, I put it over my body and walked in front of the mirror.
"You look beautiful."
I froze. Those words made time still. I was scared that if I turned around, he was going to be right behind me.
"You think I could even bear to be with someone like you?"
Then those words made me put it back.
"But mummy you look good."
It was only then I saw Emily standing behind me. Her reflection visible in the mirror made me wonder if it was her voice all along and I froze thinking about him.
"When did you get this?"
She asked coming to the front and touching the dress with her tiny hands.
"It has been a long time..."
"Wear it. Daddy will love it."
She spoke right away stopping me in the middle. I had second thoughts but her enthusiasm made me finally put it on.
It fit my body like a second skin. I had doubts that it would not but sighed in relief that it did.
When I was about to sit down in front of the vanity to tie my hair and put something on my face regardless of the insecurity dancing all around me.
But then Aiden woke up throwing a fit. I could not contain him to stop. Watching him cry his eyes out made my cheeks wet too, not being able to keep track of time.
The doorbell rang and Emily opened it. Cole entered. He looked at me with an annoyed expression that I was not even ready.
I was on the floor rocking Aiden in my arms. He was still making noise. The tears in my eyes made me look at my husband.
"I do not think I can make it."
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The story will begin with a soft and static note before all the drama unfolds. It will transition between the past and the present.
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