Shattered

The Recipe

I lay her on my bed. She fell asleep as we drove to my place , I can't get the worried face of Ethan from my head.

"Let's go for your bubble bath." I instruct.

"Dad?" He calls.

"Yes?" I look at him expectantly.

"Is mommy going to be okay?" He asks.

"Of course. Nothing is going to happen to your mom." I say.

And I bathe him. Of course it's not boring. We play a little soldier war game. And sing a few songs.

"Dad is grandma coming over?" He asks as we head to his room to get him dressed.

"I hope she does." I say smiling. Then I hear footsteps.

"In here!" I yell.

Charlotte walks in. Her brows are furrowed.

"I didnt see Gemma in the room I prepared." She says.

"I laid her in my room. Shes sleeping there." I tell her. She nods.

"Hey Ethan. " she greets the boy. His eyes light up and he waves at my sister.

"I'm going over to Scott's, there's a bit of a reunion on his mother's side of the family in Rio. I'll see you when I come back." She says.

I sigh, she knows that I don't really trust this Scott guy of hers. But I love her and I hate disappointing her.

"Char... just be safe for me okay? You know what's happening to women these days." I say holding the bridge of my nose.

I've never had any siblings growing up , but having Charlotte here makes me long for having a sister when I was younger.

There is alot of stress that comes with it though. Like what these men out there would do to her. I fear for her.

"I'll be safe. I promise. Alright later, I love you. " she says.

"I love you more. And tell that Scott that I'm watching him." I tell her. She chuckles.

"Stop threatening my boyfriend." She laughs and leaves.

"Dad?" Ethan asks as I dry him.

"Yes buddy?" I answer letting him apply lotion.

"Is my mommy okay? Is she going to die?" He asks and my heart immediately breaks.

How do I answer him? I mean of course Gem is alright but what made him think that?

"Buddy, what makes you think that your mother is going to die?" I ask him.

"Jeremy. " the little boy says.

I tense hearing that name. What is Jeremy going to do. What does this little boy know?

"What do you mean Jeremy?" I ask. He looks a bit uncomfortable but then he frowns.

"He told me everyone dies. That one day mommy will also die." What?

"Why would he say that?" I almost yell.

"He says it's normal. That it happens to everyone." He says.

My heart is boiling with anger. Why would this boy's father talker to his about death like that ? Why just why?

"Champ, mommy is not going to leave us. Not now, not ever okay? Jeremy was just lying. Dont believe him." I tell him.

He smiles and nods. I grab a packet of crackers and I hand them to him.

"Eat your snack." I tell him.

He eats while telling me stories about dinosaurs. About a week ago, I enrolled him to a really good day care. He starts next week.