Brown Eyes | Loubbie

Chapter Five

Sandra placed the toast to the plate. She then went to the refrigerator to get the juice. In her silence, she didn't notice that Cate was walking down the stairs in Sandra's nightgown as she placed utensils on the table. Cate took an awkward step towards Sandra's table in the dining room. Although the sun was not yet visible, the morning buzzes of the city were audible.

"Hi." Cate started as she stood just beside the table. "Good morning."

Sandra flashed her a smile before taking a seat. "Sit down. Let's eat."

And it was then followed by an immense silence. They sat down and ate silently. Sandra was already eating when she noticed that Cate was barely touching her food. She was just lowkey playing with her fork and spoon.

"Don't you like my cooking?"

"Oh, no. It's not that. It's just..." Cate put her fork down, "About last night."

Sandra shook her head as she let her right hand flew mid-air. "Oh, forget it. You were drunk."

"It was all true."

Cate's statement made Sandra look at her intently. Her lips partly opened. It was not the morning that she expected. She expected the opposite of it.

"What do you mean true?" Sandra asked, taking a sip of her coffee just to cover all the feels that was building inside her.

"I was drunk, but I was aware of my words." Cate flatly mumbled.

Cate's face looked as if she was seeking for hope in Sandra's eyes. The stare that was flashed on her face was enough for Sandra's heart to stop beating. The air went cold and so did Sandra's hands and feet. Cate still had that effect on her; as if Sandra was a teenage girl who was swept off-feet by her crush.

"Just continue eating." Sandra dismissed, standing up to get a jar of water.

Sandra went back to the table and poured a glass of water for Cate. Cate eyed the whole dining area where she spotted a framed photo of her with Sandra and her kids. It was placed on the right side of the wall. The photo was taken three years ago when Cate and Sandra went to Disneyland with Louis and Laila. Somehow, it made Cate smile. She knew that Sandra did not hate her completely.

"You said you were going to help Louis and Laila paint the playroom that's why you did not join us in Sarah's place. Where are the kids?" Cate asked, she knew it was just an alibi of Sandra so she could not join.

Sandra took her a seat. "None of your business." She replied, rolling her eyes at the same time.

Cate laughed. She found Sandra cute upon snobbing her. She then leaned on the table, placing her chin on her hands.

"You lied, Annette. The kids are out." She blurted, smiling halfly.

"I just did not have the energy to join you all."

Cate heaved a sigh. It was not because of them, it was just because of her. Sandra didn't want to join because she was there. She got it. She smiled at Sandra.

"I love you. I love you still..."

Sandra looked at her. Cate knew that in any moment, Sandra might cry. Sandra's eyes were clouded with tears and Cate could see that she was fighting the urge not to let it spill. Cate found her way on Sandra's hand that was placed on the table. She reached for it and held it tightly.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I did." She spoke once again.

Sandra had imagined for that moment to come - that moment when Cate would come crawling back at her and to say sorry. She had told herself to hurt Cate back, but in that very moment, she found herself wanting to do the opposite. The look on Cate's eyes, the sound of her voice and her gentle sighs softened Sandra's heart. She was about to reply when her front door opened, revealing Louis and Laila.

"Mommy!" The kids shouted in glee as they ran towards the kitchen.

Sandra was quick to blink her tears away and smiled at her kids. She stood up to welcome them in a hug, but her kids turned to Cate instead.

"Mama, you are here! We missed you so much, mama!" Laila spoke as she excitedly ran and clung on Cate, while Louis hugged the blonde from the back.

Cate looked at Sandra and smiled before looking back at the kids. "Oh, I miss you both so much." She answered, kissing their heads.

Sandra smiled at the scene before she trudged her way to the door to close it. She went back to the kitchen where she saw Louis and Laila standing in front of Cate with their hands on their hips.

"Why did you stop visiting us, mama?" It was Louis.

Cate looked at Sandra who was leaning on a wall, watching them a meter away. Sandra could not deny the fact that she felt guilty for cutting off Cate's connection with Louis and Laila. Her kids had grown an immense attachment to Cate to the extent that they were calling her mama.

Cate smiled and touched Louis' hands. "Mama has many works and I got so busy."

"But now you'll not be so busy for us, right mama?" Laila asked.

Sandra faked a cough. "Mommy's jealous now. You only gave mama a kiss, but not me." She stated, crossing her arms over her chest.

Cate laughed as she watched Laila and Louis ran over Sandra. After the quick kiss, they continued their breakfast and it was filled with the kids' stories about their day. They told Cate that they went to stay with their babysitter because Sandra had to work. After eating, Louis and Laila clung to Cate in the living room. Laila was on Cate's lap, while Louis was clinging on her side.

Sandra sat across the three of them. "You miss your mama so much?" She asked, smiling at the kids before she flashed Cate a smile.

"Yeah. We do."

Laila went off Cate and went to sit on Sandra's lap, "Mommy can we have a dip on the pool with mama?"

She didn't know what to answer. She looked at Cate, probably looking for an answer. "I don't know. You ask your mama, baby." She answered playing Laila's hair.

Cate grinned. "I'm not busy, anyway. We can have a dip if it's okay with your mommy."

"Aren't you going  home?"

"Are you asking me to go home already?"

"No."

After sometime, the kids were already enjoying the pool while Sandra sunbathed on the side. Cate was still in the room. She didn't have anything with her so she borrowed Sandra's swimming clothes. It took her a few minutes before she went out of the house and Sandra was completely blown away. She thought Cate would be picking her rashguard and some shorts, but she was mistaken. She was wearing her black two-piece bikini.

"Honey, your mouth has been opened. Want me to close it with my mouth?"

Sandra gasped when she realized that Cate was already in front of her and their faces were an inch away. She took her breath away once again when Cate dropped her robe on the side of the pool. But before Cate dropped herself on the water, she looked back at Sandra once again.

"Aren't you going to join us, honey?" She asked.

The way Cate mentioned the last part made Sandra's heart stutter. Was it fine for Cate to call her honey though she wasn't hers anymore?

***