He Was Her All 3: Enough is Enough✔️

Chapter 30: Pondering

Mariana was sat outside with Makayla, playing checkers on the tiled floor. They were beside the sparkling swimming pool, with its gentle tides rippling away the sunlight. Before this, she was just sitting at home bored out of her mind. Hence, she thought that spending some time in the sun will help ease her thoughts, so here she was.

"When are you gonna make your move Mari?" Makayla asked. Her head rested against her knuckles as she started smirking. She had forced Mariana into a tight position.

"I'm gonna make it...in a minute," Mariana said, but she was still uncertain of her actions. Her teeth clattered as any move she made will result in Makayla capturing either of her pieces.

"Well hurry up cuñadita." (dear sister-in-law).

"Um, okay," Mariana said and jumped over one of the pieces. She took it and placed it to her side. Makayla then made her move, but instead of her taking one piece like Mariana thought she would, she double jumped over two.

"Wait, how did that happen?" Mariana exclaimed and looked over the board. She examined the pieces and realized how hers was laid out. She hadn barely noticed until the deed was done.

"Oh..."

"Yeah." Makayla smirked and patted her cheek. "Don't worry Mariana, you still might end up winning."

Mariana pouted and made her next move, slowly making her way to the other side. Makayla just teased her with a chuckle and took her turn while sipping on a cocktail.

In the background, Mason and Aidan were out move some stuff out into the backyard along with Makayla's fiancé.

"Thanks for helping out guys," Makayla said as they overheard the men grunting under their breaths. They carried a white piano and placed it under a cherry blossom tree. It's leaves scattered the sunlight into golden columns across the shiny keys.

"You have a piano now?" Mariana glanced towards it. It sparkled in her eyes as if it was tempting her to touch the keys.

"Yeah, do you wanna play it? You can if you want," Makayla said.

"Mm, maybe later. I don't feel comfortable playing with all these people around," Mariana said, her eyes roaming around the gardeners that were working. They mowed the lawn, spraying the air with the smell of freshly cut grass, and the sprinklers trickled water like a mini fountain.

Mariana looked again at the grand piano with a reminiscing smile. She hadn't played the piano in a long time due to other things taking up her schedule. But she does remember one evening when she and baby Elisa were alone and she had nothing to do. So she decided to play a song for Elisa. It was one of the few times she had seen her baby smile up at her.

It was only a little grin, but it made her heart swell to know her baby enjoyed her playing and her voice. She was still a new mom at that time learning, but that gesture gave her a boost of confidence that she was doing something right with her new baby.

Mariana sighed and flattened her hands. She placed her head and closed her eyes. She also remembered when baby Elisa laid on her baby bump that was beginning to show. For the first time, it felt like her two babies were connected but in separate worlds.

Once she gets them back, she will hopefully play more songs for them. But for now, she had to hold on to that little flame of hope that they will be found.

When the men were done, they all sat round a table with a plate of mini pizza. Mason brought out a cooler with some cold drinks. Mariana took a cold can of coke cola. She flicked it open and quickly guzzled it down, and it fizzled in her to the jiggles.