Trusting Him...

Chapter 4

3:00am:

I wake with a start as I feel the bed dip, alarmed I shoot up into a sitting position. My blurry vision is greeted with Hayden climbing in next to me, a sheepish look on his tired face.

"Mommy, I'm not a grown boy right now. Can I sleep with you?" He whisper-yells, already going under the covers.

Flopping back onto the bed, I murmur my agreement, "Of course, baby." I close my eyes, cocooning my arms around him as he snuggles into my side. Planting a lazy kiss on top of his hair, we both drift back to sleep.

***

8:00am:

"Mommy!! I just made a big poop!!!!!" Hayden sings out from behind me as he rapidly pokes my butt. I almost spit my coffee out, not because i'm addicted to scalding hot coffee but, because it's not the 'good morning, mom' I was expecting from my son.

As a precaution I place down my mug and turn to face Hayden's grinning face. "Wow, that's-that's dazzling, Sweetie!" I coo to him, trying not to laugh.

"In the toilet, right?" I ask him, just to make sure.

His face instantly drop, making my eyes narrow. Oh, hell.

I scowl, ready to give him an ear full but the little germ laughs and coils his slim arms around my thighs, "Just kidding, bun-butt. Poop marinated inside the toilet water."

This time I can't help but dissolve into laughter, "Ew, Hayden. Next time a simple 'yes' or 'no,' will do." His cheek slides up and down the front of my stomach as he nods.

"Mmmm, morning," Skylar mumbles out as she drags her sleepy self to a wooden bar stool that sits under the ledge of the kitchen island. She slouches, placing her elbows on the island and resting her head on her hands.

"Titi Sky, guess what?!" He asks excitedly the only way any young child can.

Skylar's exhausted features turn sappy as she responds to Hayden, "Whats up, buddy?" Although Hayden might not have his father in the picture, he can definitely say he has two parents: me and Sky. It strikes me funny how before I became pregnant, Skylar detested kids; her tolerance towards them wasn't existent. But the day Hayden was born, it's like she became a mother herself, adding on another reason why I'll forever be in her debt.

"I made a big poop today!"

Exclaiming, I look down at him, "Hayden! You don't go around telling people that you've pooped."

He returns with a serious pointed look, "But mom, everybody poops."

My disapproving gaze flicks to Skylar when I hear her cough over her chuckle. She gives me a what-did-I-do look, "The kids, right, Auri."

Jesus, what am I going to do with these two?

With a sigh, I change the subject to a much more...enjoyable one.

"Who want's french toast?!"

I watch amusedly as both of them light up, giving out an enthusiastic "I do!"

With that I begin busying myself with breakfast, getting out the bread, flour, cinnamon, etc.

Not much of a breakfast person, I make only for the both of them, only pouring myself another dose of coffee.

"So when are you going to go look for jobs? Do you even know where to look?" Sky asks while she sets up two plates.

I bite the inside of my cheek, concentrating on flipping the battered toast. "Uhh, I wanted to go after you guys eat but I have to register Hayden into kindergarten first." I'm a procrastinator, it's my biggest vice. It's gotten better as I've had to be more responsible as a mother but, thats not to say it's not a sneaky habit. I find that I do Hayden's things early and first, but when it comes to me I always leave it last minute or late.