Exes' Baggage And More

Special Chapter Seven

The door yielded noiselessly. Andrew stepped in through the gap into the empty room. A light morning breeze ruffled the curtains through the open windows. Soft golden sunlight streamed in through the same way, illuminating the room with a golden glow.

Pausing at the doorway, he admired the room. Macy's sensitive and delicate touch everywhere.

Mace... my love... my life...

Andrew made his way to the cupboard at the end of the room, his feet marveling at the soft caress of the carpet under his feet. Passing by their family portrait wall, he paused again. He raised a hand to the picture of his wife's belly, the vinyl surface like he used to the warm flesh. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he remembered Macy's beautiful smile that particular day.

The serenity in the room suddenly feels oppressive, stealing the air in his lungs and pinching his throat closed. Andrew knows that he is about to break into tears again. Every time he enters this room alone, memories are tempted to choke him.

"Daaaaaaaad! Daddy!" A loud shriek came through the open door piercing the thick bubble attempting to engulf him.

Andrew jumped and turned around in a hurry.

"Mason, go have a look at why your daddy is taking so long." Andrew heard the voice and was about to sprint towards the cupboard – his original destination.

A little boy of three dashed into the room, too fast for Andrew to regain his composure. "Daaaad! Daddy!"

Andrew sighed in defeat, turning around with a sheepish grin. The little boy turned and shouted back out of the door.

"Mommy! Daddy is looking at the wall again!" he reported.

"Mason..." Andrew was too slow to stop his son from ratting on him. So he just waits in resignation for what's to come next.

"Drew..." the impatient whining came almost immediately.

"Yes, love?" he replied with a grimace. Is that a smug grin on Mason's face? He thought.

Soft footsteps padded towards the room and Macy appeared at the doorway carrying a one-year-old baby girl. Andrew can't help but notice that both mother and daughter are wearing the same irritated frown on their faces.

And who can blame them, really...?

"Why are you taking so long to get a diaper? Max is getting all upset with her wet diaper." Macy chided gently.

Andrew walked up to the mother and child and gave them both a boyish grin. "I'm sorry, love. Sorry, sweetheart." While a smile is already forming on Macy's face reflecting her husband, as little Max is still frowning at her daddy.

"I think we better get her changed; she doesn't look too happy." Andrew mumbled awkwardly at his daughter's obvious displeasure with him.

Macy chuckles lightly as she lays her third child on the baby bed and Andrew proceeds to change her out of her wet diaper. Mason sidled up close to his mommy and wrapped his tiny arms around Macy's thigh as they watched Andrew work in a skillful and efficient manner.

Baby Max waved her chubby limbs about and gargled merrily at her daddy's dimple smile when she was finally dry and freshly diapered.

"There you go, princess." Andrew declares triumphantly holding his daughter to his chest.

"Mommy, daddy, can I go and follow Marcus to the swimming pool now?" Mason asks like a polite little gentleman his parents are bringing him up to be.

"Are you feeling well enough to go out today, love?" Andrew asked Macy instead.

"Why don't you bring the kids out today?" Macy declined as subtly as she could without alarming her husband and second son who sees himself as a protector of his mommy alongside with his brother Marcus, and their dad.

Andrew and Mason exchanged worried looks. "Maybe..." Andrew is about to suggest that they call off the outing Hani organized but Mason's face falls.

"Mason really wants to go to the pool, love. And Marcus is already there. So please bring them?" Macy urges gently. "I'll do some baking while you are gone. When you return, we will have a chocolate cake."

"Yehey!" Mason cheers while Max giggles at the commotion. Andrew smiled but his eyes were still filled with doubt.

"Mason, go grab your swimming stuff." Macy urged the little boy before Andrew changed his mind.

Both adults watched as the little boy ran up the stairs before turning to each other again. "Are you really sure that you'll be alright alone at home?" Andrew asks worriedly.

"This is the fourth baby I am carrying, Drew; the third after that incident. I have experienced enough to take care of myself for a couple of hours." Macy smiled.

"But..." Andrew is about to argue.

Macy knows that Andrew is still heavily traumatized when he nearly lost both Macy and Mason in the operating room. Even when Macy conceived again, Andrew was very torn between joy and extreme worry. There was even a point where he wanted to terminate the pregnancy to protect Macy.

Max's birth was thankfully uneventful but Andrew remained deeply scarred. He will always be expecting the worst, as with the fourth child they are expecting.

Macy moved closer and kissed her husband on the lips, effectively stopping the man from continuing his argument. Andrew is grateful for the kiss but at the same time, he is feeling lost and tormented.

"I promise you; I will never leave you." Macy smiled softly.

Andrew's eyes twinkled as the corners of his mouth twitched. "I love you so much, Macy Bianca Cruz-Coangco." He whispers, moving Max out of the way as he presses closer to his wife.

"And I love you so much too, Andrew Coangco. Let's continue writing and editing our story. And let's keep on carrying each other's baggage, be it a bad one or a good one." Macy mutters with a grin of her own as she moves closer too to seal their kiss.

*****

                                                                              T H E   E N D