Lost and Found

Chapter 4

"Mama, let's gooo! We're going to be late!" Nuh yells to me. 

"With a mom like me, we'll be on time!" I smile at him. 

"Nu uhh, you always say that, mommy but we always late!" He huffs and Amara giggles while nodding. 

"Yeah!" She screams while giggling some more, making Nuh and me laugh along with her. 

I get them both out of their high chairs, which let me tell you, is difficult considering they are dressed as a lamb and a tree. I still don't even know what story they're preforming because Mrs.Hunter wouldn't tell me no matter how much I pleaded with her. I just want to know! 

Soon, a knock forms on my front door and I groan inwardly. Why couldn't he just meet me at the recital? I open the door to a stern faced Yacoub who stares at me blankly. I plaster on a smile and greet him kindly while the twins jump up for him.

"Daddy!" They scream in unison as he gathers them in his arms with a huge smile as if he didn't just give me a death glare a second ago. 

"Hi babies! I missed you soooo much." He laughs while kissing them all over their faces, making them giggle and groan. 

I look at the scene right before my eyes and shake my head bitterly. Yacoub used to be such a great guy, and he still is, but ever since our divorce, he won't even acknowledge me. That's fine if he wants to do that , I'm not mad that he won't talk to me. But it just upsets me because he doesn't respect how I'm still the twins' mom and he has to understand that we need to work together for our children to not notice any differences in the family. We've been divorced for over three years now. and Yacoub got remarried and has three step children. The twins are getting accustomed to seeing their dad more, since they were very hesitant right after our divorce. They still haven't spent a night at his house though, and of course, he blames me. 

"Come on kids, we need to go. You guys don't want to be late." I say while holding out my hands for Amara who wants me to hold her. 

"Mama I want to go with daddy!" Nuh says while his father makes funny faces at him. 

"Are you sure, baby?" I say looking at Nuh and I can feel Yacoub's glare on my face. 

"Yes, he's sure." He says but I walk to the car when I see Nuh nod. If Yacoub wants to treat me like dirt, I don't have to take it and I won't. 

I put Amara in her booster seat and soon, we drive off toward the school.

~~~

Currently, I am sitting next to Yacoub and I see Ethan jump onto the stage, indicating that he just got here. I look towards the door, seeing Andrew and quickly wave at him, but all he does is look at me with a blank face and walk away. I seriously don't know what his problem is. My thoughts drift away as the recital begins and I focus on the scenes taking place. 

It's so adorable how the children are dancing and laughing, even the trees! I quickly stand up and take pictures of my little tree and lamb. I have never heard of the play's title but I can see how it is so cute. When the children bow, everyone stands up and claps loudly and I cheer for my two little babies. I run toward the stage before I slip and almost fall, making the people around me laugh and me, blush. 

"Wow Alia, why are you so immature? You're a mom, act like it." I hear Yacoub say, rudely.

I choose to ignore him and continue searching for Nuh and Amara, when I see them running toward me. I quickly kneel down and pick them both up.

"You two did wonderful! I am so proud of you!"

"Mama, daddy, did you see me!" Amara asked, happily

I laughed slightly. Amara was always so persistent to be the center of attention and most of the time, it was adorable.

"I did see you baby. And I saw you too, Nuh. You kids want to go get ice cream? You deserve it." Yacoub said.

"Yay! Mama can Ethan come too?" Nuh asked.

"Sure, but only if his dad lets him. Go on and ask." Soon, he was rushing around the room with Yacoub on his heels, searching for his best friend.

His best friend whose father can't stand me.

"You go on ahead with Amara, we'll meet you there."

"Okay."

~~~

Before we made it to the ice cream parlor, I had to stop by the post office to drop a package I've been having to give for weeks. By the time I was done, I would assume everyone would already be at the parlor.

And sure enough, I was right. The sight was actually shocking. Here was Ethan, Nuh and Yacoub and Mr. Hall sitting together. Andrew was laughing. Like busting out laughing, too. Weird.

"Helloooo." I said awkwardly.

"Hi Alia. You're late as usual." Yacoub smirked. He really could be annoying. And plus, Andrew actually nodded, as if agreeing with him.

"You should see her at work. Always late." He added. That was such a lie. I chose not to comment and only gave a polite smile. Great, my ex and my boss, two men that hate me, are all buddy buddy with each other.

"Well I'll be getting Amara her ice cream. Come on sweetie." I said and I could sense Andrew's gaze on me. I chose to ignore it.