First and Finally, You

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Char created three soft knocks from the Andrews’ door. There Erika opened it.

“Hope, I did not wake you up, is Andy awake now?” Char asked Erika.

“Actually the kids just slept for 8 hours now, so they are early riser. I have received your text message but wasn’t able to reply on it, was preparing breakfast. Henry and I would be more than happy to have you over for breakfast.”

“I can smell something sweet from your kitchen, what’s cooking?” Chartreuse asked tilting her towards the door slit.

“Oh! Pardon me for not letting you in, come inside, Mom prepared her famous Baklava, a Grecian sweet.” Erika invited.

“Kidding, I would just like to pick up Andy so he can accompany me to the grocery, but expecting that you’ll bring Bakl-leva—“

“Baklava” Erika responded correcting her.

“yeah, about to say that, was it Baklava again? Bring some in the University. I can smell Cinnamon—“

“Mommy!” Andy shouted while jumping the last step of the stairs.

“careful little boy, no shouting it’s 7 in the morning, neighbors might be still asleep.”

“sorry mommy”

“t’is okay honey, let’s go to the grocery, what you want? Say a goodbye and thank you to your aunt Erika” she instructed her son.

“Bye aunt Erika and uncle Henry, it is nice to stay here! Thank you for the videogames captain!” Andy told Erik with a salute.

“such a sweety! Bye! You sure you don’t want to stay for breakfast?” Erika asked.

Char answered while almost at the door with his son jumping while crossing their lawn. Char leaned closely to Erika’s ear, “He hate the smell of Cinnamon contrary to how it makes me drool if I smell one!”

“oh! My bad! I didn’t know.’ Erika answered.

“carry on, nothing’s harm. Thank you, I’ll see you at the University later.” Char waved goodbye.

Andy hopped inside the car while situating his bag at the back seat. He did a quick peck on his mommy’s cheek.

Chartreuse was shocked with her son’s gesture. She stare blankly on Andy who is currently fixing the tie of his shoe. Everything seems to be the same, the Cerulean eyes, the red thin lips, the sun-kissed complexion and the brown locks. He is indeed the small version of Jared. That is why she is afraid that one of this days, jared will see Andy and realize what happened five years ago.

“what was that for?” she managed to say, pulling herself out of the trance.

“thanks for saving me from the smell of Cinnamon!” Andy whispered as if that is the biggest secret. She also noted that the child is allergic to Chicken and hates the smell of Cinnamon which is very much like his father.

On what account that she can say that the Andy is his son aside from the marks of Jared? Yes, she can be assured with the child’s fascination with chocolate. And that is only a plus because she never leave the baby she gave birth with.

“Are we going to the grocery mom?” Andy inquired.

“No honey, I just said that to save you from Cinnamon1” Andy laughed. I am hungry mommy! Can we have chocolate pancakes?”

“sure. Buckle up”

It takes 5 minutes to drive Andy to Starbucks.

“What do you want?” She asked her son.

“White Chocolate drink and Choco glaze doughnut! Mommy, I’ll just take the bathroom”

“that’s too much for the chocolate, anyway, lift the lid if there’s n—“

“no men’s urinal… yes I know mom!” Andy mimicked her tone.

After several minutes, Andy arrived. “long line for the bathroom mom, I will just take that later.”

“I will have a meeting at 9 in the hospital, would you like to join?”

“can’t I stay with aunt Erin or Uncle Zac?”

“this meeting requires every doctors in the station.”

“oh-kay mom! Erik told me how nice you are in your office, he said that your hands are very gentle when you are taking his heartbeat.”

“yes, he is also nice and rigid at times” she noted his son’s friend, Erik, his reaction when she is taking her annual heart check up. True enough that Erika’s son, Erik has heart enlargement case. So she must look closely for months of exam before sending over the case to a cardiologist who she heard will arrive later this morning.

Is that the same doctor who will be the new president? She thought of.

“Line’s over mom, I just go pee and wash my hands so that we can go to the hospital mom!” Andy ran to the washroom immediately after he saw the door swung close.

Char received a text from Clara, Dr. Rogers, Erik Andrews’ Cardiologist set an appointment with you after the board meeting to discuss the case. She busily arranged the words in her head for a reply while staring blankly at her phone.

***

Jared opened the door of the washroom and noticed the little boy reaching for the faucet and the sink. He reached for the little boy and lifted him up so he can reach the faucet.

“Sir, thank you but no need to do that.” The boy smiled at him.

“It is okay, I love to help little kids like you.” Jared told the boy. As he stare at the reflection of the little boy on his arm he felt something. Something he can’t even explain. The boy has Cerulean eyes, thin lips, sun- kissed complexion, and brown locks. He is confuse as the little boy says, “thank you, Sir—“

“call me Jared, and you young man is?” he asked.

“Andy, Andy Rogers” the little kid answered with a smile and ran inside the washroom.