The following morning was unusually quiet in the village. The usual buzz of vendors setting up their stalls seemed more subdued, the hum of everyday life blending with the soft rustle of the sea breeze. Nia, however, felt anything but calm.
She stood in her small kitchen, staring blankly at the pot of porridge bubbling on the stove. Zion sat at the table, swinging his legs while doodling on a scrap of paper.
"Mummy, mi can get two dumplin' fi lunch today?" he asked, not looking up.
"Two dumplin'? Yuh belly big so?" she teased, managing a small smile.
"Miss Ivy dumplin' nice, Mummy," he replied seriously, drawing a stick figure of what looked like himself holding hands with a taller figure.
"Who dat?" she asked, nodding at the drawing as she stirred the pot.
"Me an' Daddy," Zion said casually, shading in the stick figure's hair. "Him seh him gwine come watch mi football practice later."
Her hand froze mid-stir. "Marcus seh dat?"
"Yes, Mummy. Him promise."
Nia's jaw tightened. Promises from Marcus often evaporated as quickly as they were made. She wanted to warn Zion, to prepare him for the possibility of disappointment, but the hope in his eyes stopped her.
"Alright," she said quietly, turning back to the stove.
---
By mid-morning, Nia had dropped Zion off at school and headed to Miss Ivy's café. The familiar clang of pots and the murmur of customers filled the air as she tied her apron around her waist. But her mind was miles away.
Miss Ivy, as sharp-eyed as ever, noticed immediately.
"Nia, yuh alright?" she asked, handing her a tray of plates.
"Mi alright, Miss Ivy," Nia replied, though her voice lacked conviction.
Miss Ivy raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Nia carried the tray to a table near the window, her thoughts swirling. Liam's offer lingered at the edge of her mind like an unanswered question. Could she really leave this job and step into something entirely new?
As she cleared the table, the door jingled, and in walked Liam. His presence filled the room effortlessly, drawing glances from the other customers.
"Nia," he said, smiling as he approached the counter. "Mi did seh mi woulda pass by."
"Liam," she replied, forcing a smile.
Miss Ivy glanced between them, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Liam, yuh need something fi eat?"
"Just a coffee," he said, sitting down at a nearby table.
Nia brought him his coffee, her hands trembling slightly as she set the cup down. "Here yuh go."
"Thanks," he said, studying her face. "Yuh think 'bout what mi seh yesterday?"
She sighed, sitting down across from him briefly. "Mi think 'bout it, Liam. Mi like di idea, but mi fraid. Suppose it nuh work out? Mi have Zion fi think 'bout."
Liam leaned forward, his gaze steady. "Nia, everything in life have risk. But mi believe in yuh. An' mi know yuh believe in yuhself, deep down. Yuh jus' need fi take di first step."
His words stirred something in her, but the weight of her responsibilities held her back.
"Mi cyaan mek rash decisions, Liam," she said softly. "Zion depend pon mi."
"Mi understand," he replied. "But think 'bout dis: if yuh keep playin' safe, yuh might miss di chance fi give Zion di life yuh always dream 'bout fi him."
The truth of his words struck her like a blow. She nodded slowly, unable to find the right response.
---
That afternoon, Nia stood by the football field, watching Zion run up and down with his teammates. The sun was blazing, but he didn't seem to notice, his laughter ringing out as he chased the ball.
Marcus arrived just as the game ended, his tall frame casting a shadow over the field. Zion's face lit up when he saw him.
"Daddy!" he called, running over.
Marcus crouched down, lifting Zion into a hug. "How yuh do, likkle man? Yuh score any goal?"
"Mi nearly score one!" Zion exclaimed, his excitement contagious.
Nia watched from a distance, her arms crossed. She wanted to be happy for Zion, but she couldn't shake her doubts about Marcus.
After a while, Marcus approached her, Zion's small hand in his.
"Nia," he said, his tone surprisingly soft. "Thanks fi lettin' me come."
She met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "Yuh here now. Mek sure yuh stay consistent."
"Mi will," he promised.
"Good," she said, her tone clipped. "Zion cyaan tek another heartbreak, Marcus. Remember dat."
He nodded, his face serious. "Mi mean it dis time, Nia."
She said nothing, turning back toward the field. Zion ran ahead, chasing after a butterfly, leaving Nia and Marcus standing in awkward silence.
"Nia," Marcus said hesitantly, "if yuh ever need help... yuh can call mi, yuh know."
"Help?" she repeated, narrowing her eyes.
"Him mi son too," Marcus said. "An' mi waan fi step up. Even if yuh nuh trust mi fully yet."
Her chest tightened. It was hard to trust him, but his words carried a sincerity she hadn't seen in years.
"Alright," she said quietly. "We'll see."
---
That evening, after Zion was fast asleep, Nia sat on the porch with her sketchpad. The moon cast a silvery glow over the yard as she drew aimlessly, her mind racing. Liam's words echoed in her ears, competing with the memories of Marcus's betrayal and the hope in Zion's eyes when he talked about his father.
For years, she'd survived by building walls around her heart, shielding herself and Zion from disappointment. But now, those walls were being tested-from different directions.
Could she risk trusting Marcus again? Could she risk stepping out of her comfort zone to build a new future with Liam's offer?
She stared down at her sketchpad, the lines on the page blurring together.
"Wah mi supposed fi do?" she whispered to the night, her voice barely audible.
But the night, as always, gave no answers.
---
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