Shadow

Chapter 11 - Story Time

When the door opened, Valerie was not at all what Abbie was expecting. She had this image in her head of her cousin standing there at the door wearing a tight mini-skirt and a see-through halter top; her hand holding a bottle of vodka, and the other, a marijuana cigarette. This is how she had remembered her from before.

She looked all grown up now, and compared to her, Abbie felt like a child that was left years behind. Valerie stood there with a smile on her face, wearing red silk pajamas. Wisps of her wavy brown hair almost covered her black-rimmed glasses. She looked like a bookworm or a worn-down secretary who was constantly doing overtime. Where the bottle may have been in her hand once was now replaced with a baby. A smiling, beautiful little boy with a pacifier in his mouth and dressed in cotton blue pajamas.

'Valerie?' Abbie quizzed.

Yes, it was her, but for a split second, she had wondered if she had gotten the wrong apartment when she saw a woman, not a girl, answer the door like this.

'Abbie? Oh, my God, hon!' Valerie exclaimed.

With her one free arm, Valerie embraced Abbie wholeheartedly. Then she put her free hand back to support the baby on her right arm.

'I'm so happy to see you! Come in, come in!'

Abbie, completely surprised by the turn of events, stepped in and shut the door behind her. The apartment was small as expected but cozy. As the steps creaked, she noticed the wooden flooring was covered by grey carpeting. On the right, there was a small-screen TV and at the far end of the room, a beige-colored corner curved sofa. In the middle of the room was a small coffee table with a vase full of flowers. The aroma of the room gave off a fresh scent; the sweet smell of jasmine filled the entire apartment.

'It's a nice place you got here,' Abbie said.

Valerie placed the baby on the sofa and gave Abbie a kiss on the cheek and a wholehearted hug. Abbie hugged her back. She was happy to see her cousin and knew the feeling was mutual. It had been quite some time since anyone had hugged her that way, not even her mother was that affectionate when it came to kisses and warm hugs. And Tony? Forget it. The only hug he would give her is by pulling her hair from behind and clasping his hand around her mouth while he did his manly business.

'You've changed a lot,' Valerie said and held her hand. She guided her to the sofa and they both sat down.

'I could say the same for you. Wow. You're... you're definitely not what I expected.'

Valerie chuckled. 'Ditto. I suppose that's what happens when I don't use social media.'

Abbie looked at the infant playing with the remote control. He held it in his tiny hands, studying it as he kept flipping it around in his hands, trying to work out exactly what this thing was. Was it something to play around with or throw away? Or perhaps something sweet to suck on?

'And who is this?' she asked, referring to the baby.

Valerie looked at the small boy and shot a loving smile at him. She stroked his short hair gently. 'His name is Jack. My little boy,' she replied. Her smile was that of someone who gleamed with pride and love. She then put him on her lap and kissed the top of his head. 'Jack, sweetie, you know who this is? This is your Auntie Abbie.'

The boy's big, innocent brown eyes shot up at her and his small mouth opened to smile, dropping the pacifier, and revealing his tiny, newly-grown teeth. He had more teeth on the lower part of his gums than he did at the top.