HER: Novel by Nicole Maria Navarro

Eggs 5

I was at work thinking about certain scenarios in my head, outcomes that could lead to different problems. All these types of dreams and thoughts that were not letting me sleep at night. I hated myself for being like this. I was never like this. I had a mom and dad, I was the only child. They worked a lot. Constantly, everyday away from home. I knew that I could never be like them. I have gone through too much, seen things that I hope Thalia would never have to.

My little girl. My person. I had never felt love like this before. It was amazing. Adoration was a feeling that I never thought I would get to give. I could remember those nights that I wanted to take my life. I wanted to just end all the pain that I had to go through. The tears that never stopped because I was beaten. Caged against the rest of the world. I was held by a monster.

"Hey Bella, you doing okay there sweetie?" I turn my head towards Conrad his eyes have a look of worry on them as he sets aside some papers he has in his hands.

"I'm good, yeah Im fine Im sorry." I turn my back towards him and inhale a deep breath. When I exhale I look up and find myself staring at the cars on the road passing by.

"Isabella, you can head home for the day. I promise I got it from here. Go stay at home with Thalia." I didn't know what to say to him. He was a kind man and although him and Laura never had kids of their own they treated me as if I was one of theirs.

I had arrived home, no later than fifteen minutes. I was thinking about too much when I approached the door and I couldn't help but stay there frozen in place. I was worried because I haven't been worried enough about the man that could find me. My hand shook as I reached out for the doorknob. I had been consumed by so much emotion in the past days that I made no time for myself. There would be no time for that. I had a pup to take care of and I had to keep her safe. I hauled my bag over my shoulder and finally came to my senses. As soon as I walked in the house wafted of baby lotion. There were toys set out on the floor and a bunch of clothes n the small couch that Laura had folded. Laura was in the kitchen washing baby bottles as I sat on a chair.

"You doing alright there Isabella? You stood at the door in a daze for a few minutes." She looked at me concerned. The emotion behind her eyes was of care and sympathy. She was a nice woman and more than anything loyal.

"You think you could stay a little longer? Take care of her for a few minutes, I need to rest my mind."

"Of course! She's in there napping anyways. Don't worry about it." A small smile was plastered on my face as I got up and said thank you. I would never know how to repay her, I just knew that one day I would give back everything that she offered me.

....

"Hi baby girl!" My hands reach for Thalia's little feet. My eyes were still swollen from my nap but I felt well rested. I played with her tiny toes as she giggles and looks at me. I could never get over her eyes. They were astonishing. A simple brown, but nonetheless beautiful. It was subtle but they always captured your eyes when you got close enough.

"I guess I'll head to the grocery store real quick with the baby so I can get a couple more stuff for tonight since we wanted to all have dinner together." Laura peeks her head at me and she nods as she checks in the fridge for any ingredients that we needed.

"You know what Bella, are sure you don't want to make dinner at my house? That way you don't have to clean after. Just heard on over after the groceries." She says sheepishly. I laugh at her knowing she just really enjoys cooking in the comfort of her own home.

"Okay, yeah that'll work." I say smiling down at Thalia.

Thalia was sucking on a bottle as I pushed her gently through the aisles of the market in a shopping cart. There were scents everywhere. My body was stiff and I knew that other wolves in this area were settled here within their pack. My hands were clammy just thinking about someone approaching me. I walked through the aisles as I searched for some eggs. I was about to grab a carton when a little hand came up and we both grabbed it at the same time. I looked down and saw a little girl of about four years old. She's only just a pup. The scent that trailed along with her was obvious that she was indeed a wolf.

"Sawy mawmma say I can gwab da eggs today becawuse I was good in scwool." she says biting her nail

"Oh that's fine sweetie I can just grab another one." I say kneeling down to her tiny size and smiling while reaching for another carton. I put the carton of eggs in the cart and hear Thalia gurgling in her seat. I turn to face her as milk is spilled on the side of her lip and grab a baby rag to clean her up.

"Is that yowr baby?" The little girl says trying to get a good look at Thalia.

"Yea she's my baby, her name is Thalia." I say smiling at the little girl trying to steal a glance at Thalia and noticing the little girls mom isn't around.

"I'm Adewine(Adeline) but mwy uncwle and gwandma and my daddy call me Addy, Mowmmy has a baby too buwt he growing inside hewr tummy." The little girl says with an excited squeal. I look at her jumping up and down with a big smile on her face. Her black long braid bouncing around with her, when a small young woman with beautiful black hair and a pregnant belly appears with similar green eyes. Her smell is similar and she's glowing like as if she knows no one can touch her immediately, I know she's a wolf.

"Adeline! I told you to stay close to me!" The scared short beautiful woman said.

"You said I cwould get the eggs Mommy." The little girls pouted and jutted her lip out as she stood there by me.

"When I was done getting the bread sweetie, don't go running off like that again okay." Her mom says while wrapping her around in a little embrace that's when the lady notices me with Thalia. Her eyes look towards the carseat where I pull Thalia out to burp her.

"I'm sorry I hope Adeline didn't cause you any trouble." She says looking at Addy.

"Oh no it's fine, she's a sweetheart." I say looking at the little girl with a huge smile.

"I'm Violet, I haven't seen you around." She says extending her hand out for me to shake. I let my hand leave Thalia's back for a second and took her hand to formally introduce myself.

"Isabella, and I moved here a few months back." I say smiling at her. She looks towards Thalia and softens at Thalia's small figure held in my hands.

"How much months is she?" Violet ask while Addy looks up at Thalia.

"She's about five and a half months." I say putting Thalia back in her seat while she's sound asleep.

"She's still so small." She says silently

"Yea she is, she's small but she can sleep like a bear." I say looking at Thalia with her cute little lips and chubby cheeks that sit right on top of her small chest.

Violet lets out a little laugh, "Well I'm sure this little one won't be he's always kicking he's seven months along but it feels like he's trying to kick his way straight out of my belly." she says rubbing her swollen stomach.

"Thalia hardly ever kicked but maybe it's different with a boy." I say remembering my pregnancy that I dreadfully went through. I'll always remember the little things about nurturing a baby for nine months but it was hard to save those memories when what came with it was something entirely different for me.

"Maybe it's because Adeline never kicked so much." She said looking down at Addy who was smiling up at her momma's tummy.

"It was Nice meeting you Isabella, but my fiancé is expecting me home and I told him I wouldn't take that long..he's a little..overprotective." She says with a wink

"Oh..okay that's fine it was nice meeting you too Violet!" I say giving her a wave goodbye. Theirs a tug at the end of my blouse and I look down and notice Addy's braid.

"Will ywou cwome bwack isabwella?" I hear Addy with her bottom lip jutting out and her eyes pleading, as if she was begging for me to stay.

"Maybe pretty girl, I'll see you around okay." I say while running my hand over her baby hairs that are coming out of her braid.

"Okway den see you Lwater Thalia!" She said while standing on her tippy toes and barley touching Thalia's covered feet who were hanging at the end of her little carseat.