MISTER EX

12. WHO IS ANDREI'S FATHER?

Leah forced herself not to glance back at Frank. Her shoulders hunched over.

"Five years ago when he pushed me out from his home. I didn't hear anything from him. At that time, I lost any hope to carry over myself from  hatred. Why does he care now?" Leah talked to herself.

As she made her way up the stairs to her sister-in-law's apartment, a look of sadness crossed her face, weighed down by memories of the past, as if she were wrapping herself in a familiar, yet heavy, blanket of nostalgia.

"Leah, are you alright?" Anne felt surprised to see her home so early. Just as Leah was about to respond, Andrei flipped onto her stomach and hopped off the couch. He ran straight into his mother's arms.

"Mama, look at those happy rain. I want to go outside to play."

She ruffled his head of black curls. "No, but tomorrow we will play together, okay?"

"Yes! Promised you gonna stay for me mama?"

"Yes, sweety. I love you so much!" Lea told him.

"Okay." Andrei climbed onto the couch to watch his favorite cartoon on the small TV.

Anne, cradling a steaming pot of rich cocoa coffee in her hands, approached Leah with a warm smile. She carefully poured a generous cup for her, the fragrant aroma wafting through the air and filling the cozy kitchen with a sense of comfort. Leah, seated on a sturdy wooden chair at the rustic kitchen table, watching intently into the depths of her mug, her thoughts seemingly adrift in the swirling dark hot coffee.

Concern showed on Anne's face.

"What's wrong? Last night, I hear a man's voice in the house. In all the years, I know you, Leah, you have never dated or brought a man since you stayed here."

Leah looked up at Anne "I got fired today. I have no idea how I'm going to take care of Andrei, or help you pay the rent."

Anne's eyes rounded. "I know you work hard, but don't worry about it." She patted Leah's hand.

"Don't think hard about it today. Tomorrow, you will begin looking for another job. We will make everything work out, as usual."
Anne got up from her chair and put her arms around Leah.

"Eat your dinner, and have a good rest, we can start tomorrow for another day" Anne added to say.

Leah put a peanut butter inside two slices of bread. For Andrei, she broiled a chicken leg, together with potato, it is her son's favorite food.

After dinner, she washed their clothes and hung her heaviest pair of pants and shirts in the window. She'd placed her dull shoes below on it to dry. While Andrei was already dressed in his night wear. And the two sleep together.

Leah never wanted her son to know that his father was a brute. Andrei had started to ask questions, like where his dad lived. He saw other children at the park with a mama and a daddy. Leah thought she'd have more time before she had to explain that he only had her and no daddy. Her heart wrenched. Her poor little boy would never know the love of a father. Maybe she should start dating and find a stepdad for Andrei. Each time she thought of that, Frank's handsome face came to mind, haunting her. She couldn't even think of another man touching her. Making love to her.

In the morning,  Leah decided to spend more time with her son, she wanted to bring Andrei to the nearest shopping mall to play and buy his favorite toy. But upon reaching the exit, the rain fell and stuck to the ground, that makes some spots, full of water. A cold permeated to the air, sooner Leah realized they'd been standing there for almost an hour. No wonder she couldn't feel her toes.