One last Chance

buzzing thoughts

*Evelyn*

I hadn't slept a wink all night. My thoughts had been spinning way too much.

I was glad that Aly was back. However, that had been the only positive thing about yesterday. My daughter was back with me and for a moment I had felt infinite happiness.

Then I had seen Mella and the happiness was gone again.

I was not thrilled that she was here and I would not hide the fact that I was not happy about it. Seb and Lorenzo had been even angrier. My brother had been so mad that he had left. He had spent the night in a hotel, but wanted to meet me later. He was so angry that he didn't want to talk to Charles.

Lorenzo had stayed for dinner yesterday, but I knew he had only done that because of me. He hadn't wanted to leave me alone and had also promised to be back for breakfast.

I was really grateful to him for that.

Charles seemed completely torn up by the whole thing. He hadn't talked to me all day, though that was probably because he hadn't really understood me. I had just not wanted to talk to him about Mella in front of Aly. But he had been completely silent after that. Until he had asked me in the evening if I would stay.

And I had wondered if he wanted me here at all.

Why did he ask me such a thing? Of course I would stay!

But the fact that he hadn't even slept next to me only made that question worse. Was he doubting our relationship right now?

Did he actually want to get back together with Mella and only didn't kick me out because I was pregnant?

I didn't want to leave. Just because of Aly, I couldn't leave this little girl alone again. She hadn't even left my side and had only fallen asleep while I had been sitting next to her. She didn't want me to leave.

But I didn't know if Charles wanted me here either.

I had tormented myself with these questions all night. And had come to no conclusion. Except the conclusion that I would stay. This house was as much mine as it was his. Whereby it was almost more mine than his, because it was thanks to me that this house was a home for all of us.

Still, I didn't know what to do.

Charles was still asleep on the sofa when I slipped into the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. I wanted Aly to feel right at home and wanted to make her her favorite breakfast. I was mixing the pancake batter when I could hear footsteps behind me.

"Evi?", I turned to Charles. He looked terrible. Almost as if he hadn't slept a wink either. His eyes red, as if he had just cried.

"Charly! What's wrong?", I asked worriedly, taking a step towards him as Mella entered the kitchen as well.

"Good morning, Charles.", she took his hand, clearly to demonstrate to me who belonged to Charles here, then she looked in my direction "Are you almost done with breakfast?".

But before I could give her an angry reply, I heard a "Mom!?" from upstairs, and unlike Mella, I reacted immediately.

I left the two of them standing in the kitchen, swallowed the tears and then went upstairs "Mama!", Aly said relieved and immediately wrapped her arms around my body.

"Good morning, sweetheart.", I ran my hand through her long hair.

I would never leave her alone. No matter what was going on with Charles and Mella. I would stay with Aly.

"Come let's get you ready. I was just about to make breakfast, do you want to help me?"

"Yes! I'll help!" she said excitedly.