The Transient Wife

Chapter 20

Philip appeared in the living room in a flash, his eyes lighted in alarm. "What?"

"Look," she said and held out her arms at the space she was facing at the back of the sofa.

Philip almost ran to her side and his face widened in surprise and alarm when he saw what she was excited about.

"Oh my God," Cassandra uttered once again, this time beaming from ear to ear. "I didn't know he can walk," she whispered.

Philip was gaping as he stared down at his amused nephew who was standing with his hands at the back of the sofa for support. "I didn't know he can stand."

"Is he hurt?" she asked in concern. They didn't know what happened to Willie or where he had been since he woke up. She made a move toward the child but Philip stopped her.

"Wait, let him be," he said, watching in fascination.

"Maybe he can already stand like that. After all, he's one year and two months. Go ask Chanty," she said, bending down to smile at Willie who squealed in laughter at her face.

Philip ran for his phone and returned, already talking to his sister.

"What did she say?" Cassandra excitedly asked.

"Yes, he's standing right this moment at the back of the sofa," he said to the phone, ignoring her question. Cassandra flew toward him and pressed her ears to his phone to listen. Philip rolled his eyes and turned on the speaker and held his phone in front of them.

"Oh, well, he does that," Chanty's voice said. "He started scrawling and standing a few months ago."

Hearing his mother's voice ringing around the room, Willie squealed once again and the unexpected happened. He walked.

"Hey, you still there?" Chanty asked. Cassandra and Philip did not hear a word as they stood frozen on the spot, looking down at Willie's unsteady gait as he walked toward them, his tiny little hands held up for the phone. "Philip?" Chanty asked again and Willie squealed, his rosy cheeks shining with the rays of the sun.

"Uh...does he by any chance know how to walk?" Philip asked, finding his voice.

Cassandra was already jumping up and down, clutching his arm in excitement. She stifled her cry of joy as she watched Willie make another cautious step forward.

"No, he can't walk just yet. I've been waiting for that milestone. Why? Philip, why?" Chanty's voice had grown excited now.

"Because he's walking toward us right this moment, Chanty!" Cassandra couldn't hold her silence any longer.

"What? Oh my God, are you serious? Oh, my baby! I want to see right now!"

"Hold on, I'll make a video call," Philip excitedly went through the motion on his phone. When it was ready, he took Cassandra's hand and they stepped back from Willie. He held up his phone camera at the child for Chanty to see.

"Oh my God! My baby is walking! I'm so proud of you, Willie!" Chanty cried out.

"Oops!" Cassandra cried when Willie stumbled on his feet and dropped on the floor on his butt.

Philip made a move to get him but Chanty's voice stopped them. "Don't get him! Let him stand on his own!"

He looked at Cassandra and she nodded. "Yes, he should learn how to stand on his own. Don't worry, he's okay..."

He looked back at Willie who was just about to cry but was already struggling back on four and standing. Slowly, he nodded and watched in anticipation as his nephew staggered toward him, arms held out.