Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen: mundane love
Caleb heard the door slam, signalling that Aurelia had left. He had no idea where she was going to stay, probably the apartment he got for her or maybe with a friend.
He didn’t care at the moment.
His mind was racing faster than he could stop it. So much had happened in a space of two days that he didn’t even know how to keep them all straight.
His life was going well, at least as well as it could. And then his father falls in. And in a twist of events, Evelyn is now his father’s doctor.
Caleb sighed heavily. Evelyn. He wasn’t prepared for Evelyn showing up. She looked more radiant than he had ever seen before. And she had changed, drastically.
And then there was Aurelia, the one he picked over Evelyn. He convinced himself that he loved Aurelia, and that was why he chose her. He convinced himself that Evelyn was like a baby sister to him.
He didn’t know what to believe again.
Caleb wasn’t one to bother about emotions. He didn’t deal with mushy feelings and all of that.
He went up to his room and took a cold shower, hoping it would calm him down.
The shower didn’t help at all.
He tried to get some rest, hoping that things will get better in the morning. He laid in bed, tossing and turning throughout the night.
7
Evelyn sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. Her children stared at her with big eyes, pleading with her to play with them. She has just returned from work, exhausted and wanting to get some rest.
“Darlings I can’t do that right now.” She said calmly, managing a smile for her babies.
“But that was what you said last time!” Milena said, a pout on her face. “You’re always busy mommy, and you don’t have time anymore.”
Evelyn felt her heart break. “Doesn’t Ava play with you?” Ava was the help she had hired for her kids. That was the second help in a space of two days.
“We don’t want her anymore.” Lance said and folded his arms. “We want you mommy.”
1/4
12:08 PM
Chapter 18
Evelyn sighed and bit on her lip. She wondered what she was going to do. Her kids were used to spending time with her parents and they seemed to reject anyone else.
“Okay my darlings,” She said after a while. “I’ll see what I can do, okay?”
They nodded, big smiles on their faces. “Thank you mommy!”
Evelyn felt her anxiety spike. She put her children to bed and tucked them in. The house became very quiet after they fell asleep. She went down to the living room, her phone in her hand as she contemplated what next to do.
She called Ashley. Ashley picked on the second ring.
“It’s really late you know,” Ashley said with a tired yawn. “Is anything the problem?”
“It’s the kids.” Evelyn said with a sigh. “They want me at home and they keep rejecting the helps I get for them.”
Ashley sighed softly. “Considering I brought the last help, I feel very victimized right now.”
Evelyn rolled her eyes. “Really?”
Ashley laughed softly. “Not exactly. Okay, I’ll come over tomorrow okay, we can work on this together.”
Evelyn heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much Ash.”
“Whatever. Go to bed now.”
Evelyn felt her spirits gradually quieten. Everything will be alright, Soon enough.
The next day which was a Sunday, Ashley arrived with some prospective helps.
“The kids have to choose for themselves.” She explained and gestured to the four helps. “Maybe this time it’ll help you out.”
“Alright.” Evelyn agreed.
The interviews started. Lance and Milena conducted themselves like adults, asking questions that Evelyn never expected. It dawned on her that they wanted someone older, like her mother.
By the time the interview was over, they had both decided on an elderly woman named Nina.
2/4
12:08 PM
Chapter 18
“Goodday Nina,” Evelyn said after the interview was over. “My kids seems to have a liking for you.”
Nina smiled, her wrinkled face brightening up. “They’re very respectful and we’ll mannered children. You did a wonderful job.”
Evelyn smiled shyly. “Oh it’s a collective effort. Anyway, I need you to get familia with them. They may be twins but I assure you that they are very different from each other.
Nina nodded. “Of course. Shall we begin?”
Evelyn took time to explain to Nina how Lance and Milena liked their food, the beds and every idiosyncratic requests they had. The kids were bright and would need help with their schoolwork, thankfully Nina was up to the task.
By the time the orientation was done, it was late.
Ashely helped Evelyn prepare dinner. The kids ate and soon went to bed, leaving Evelyn and Ashley alone.
“How is it going up there?” Ashley asked as they relaxed over a glass of wine.
Evelyn told her the story of how Aurelia showed up at the hospital and caused a scene.
“I can’t believe how shameless they are.” Ashley said distastefully. “Did you put them in their places.”
“Of course.” Evelyn said with a laugh. “Who did you think I was? I’m gonna let them walk all over me again, never.”
“You could have refused the offer though.”
“No. Malcolm is very dear to me, and I cannot just ignore him.”
Ashely rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”
They talked late into the night, catching up with each other’s lived and making small talk. They left the living room and went to Evelyn’s bedroom.
“Stay the night, okay?” Evelyn said to Ashely.
“Of course. It’s late. Do you want me to get killed out there?” Ashley said, already taking off her clothes and heading for the shower, “Are you coming?”
“No.” Evelyn laughed. “We’re not kids anymore.”
“Whatever!”
They went to bed together, Evelyn smiling to herself. Perhaps things weren’t so bad afterall. She had her life, her children, and her best friend.
As she drifted to sleep she couldn’t help but think about Caleb and his beautiful eyes. memories of their time together flooded her mind and with them came a crippling sense of sadness.
