Edna Johnson is a young mother who's had to learn survival the hard way. Abandoned by her parents and betrayed by the man she once loved, she's determined to give her child the love and stability she never had-even if it means standing alone.
Alex L...
I pulled the covers off and walked into the bathroom. After the night I'd had, I needed a cold shower — not just to wake up, but to clear my head.
Typical Alex. He came back into my life like a hurricane, making a mess of everything. Again.
I hated him. I hated him for not listening to me four years ago. I hated him for not trusting me — for throwing away everything we had with a single accusation. But most of all, I hated him for making me love him.
He came into my life with all that charm, all that beauty — and I fell. Hard. Fast. I always knew our relationship was one-sided, that sooner or later he'd get tired and walk away. I still hated him for proving me right.
Now, he's storming back in like I owe him something. I don't. But he doesn't know that. The police didn't know either. All the evidence pointed at me. It would take a miracle to clear my name now. And I know better than to expect miracles.
I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my hair. I needed to make breakfast and get Peter ready before Alex sent someone to drag us away like royal summons. I also had calls to make.
The grocery store wouldn't keep my job warm, and I didn't think Alex would be thrilled about his "fiancée" working retail. I sighed as I dialed the manager's number. Then Mrs. Trent — sweet, gentle Mrs. Trent. She'd be heartbroken when she found out Peter wouldn't be coming over anymore.
I'd try to explain, though I wasn't sure how. Maybe I'd just say it was complicated. Promise to visit when I could. God, I hoped she wouldn't be too sad.
After the calls and breakfast prep, I woke Peter for his bath. I needed to talk to him before we left. He deserved that much.
And no — I didn't care if it made me a terrible person, but Alex would not find out about his son. Yes, Peter is his. Yes, Peter looks like him — too much sometimes. But Alex had destroyed me once. I wouldn't give him the chance to take the one thing in this world I lived for.
If I could just keep Peter and Alex apart... well, Peter was shy. With any luck, Alex wouldn't notice. I could handle this. I had to handle this.
After Peter's bath, I sat him at the table with his cereal. I watched him eat, still amazed at how lucky I was. He walked early, talked early, started feeding himself without much fuss. No tantrums, no loud crying fits.
Sometimes, I worried he was too calm. But Mrs. Trent always told me some kids were just like that — old souls in small bodies.
"Peter?" "Yes, Mummy?"
"We have to leave the house today and move in with... a friend," I said, swallowing the bile that rose with that lie. "Is that okay?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
That was easier than expected.
"You're sure? You know you can tell me anything, right?"
"Yes, Mummy. It's okay if we have to leave." He shrugged, and a bit of milk dripped down his chin.
I leaned in and wiped it away, and just like that, the weight pressing on my chest loosened a little. It wasn't gone — not by a long shot — but it was lighter.
"Okay, then finish your breakfast and we'll go upstairs and pack, alright?" "Okay!"
I smiled, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. Peter made everything easier. But I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get much, much harder.
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Yours truly, Phiya
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