Thirty One

•DEMI•

(POV)

"Thanks you for the pots dear. They are marvelous." Madam Giselle said.

Madam Giselle is our loyal customer for years. I call her madam because of her aristocratic ways talking and the way she handle herself. So classy!

She own a flower shops all over town and a coffeeshop near by. She also knew my grandma for decades. She's a nice old chatty lady.

"You're welcome Madam. I'll have it delivered this weekend. If you need anything else just call us" i said as we are walking towards her park car located.

My grandma's shop is the 2nd oldest looking shop here and next to a famous resto nearby. It may be the a oldest small shop here in the area but it's been known for the best quality pots and plates.

"Of course. By the way It's nice to see you here again dear. Will you stay here for good?"

"Just for a couple of months madam."

"Oh. Because of P' Nan's accident?" She asked surprisingly.

I nodded.

Here it goes

"Oh that poor woman. She didn't would have gone hiking with Beam. You know how dangerous that is for a old lady and how awful the trails are. Dangerous!"

I smiled a her a little and said

"P' Nan is just adventurous in nature"

"It sure she is. How is she dear?"

"she's still at the hospital now with P' Beam accompany her. She's doing fine. The doctor said the fracture is not that severe but she needs a rest for healing."

She pat my shoulder and said

" That's good to hear dear. I'm sure she'll hike again in a few weeks."

"She will. definitely."

"I'm not staying long dear. I have to go back to my farm. Visit me one of this days. Bring your boyfriend with you."

"Boyfriend?" I asked her confused.

What? Even her?

Why does everyone invested about my love life?

Madam Giselle laugh elegantly and answered. "I can see it in your eyes dear. I had that sparkling eyes back then."

She looked at me with a knowing smile.

"And the way you check you phone earlier today too. You're smile can't seem to hide it. You're in love"

In love? Ridiculous!

Crush? Maybe.

–

"Maam Demi. The items are been placed and I finished checking the storage." Owen our part timer informed as he gave me the logbook.

"Thanks Wen. You can go home now" I said half smiling at him as I wiped my hand with a towel and checking the time from my watch.

I was checking pots that didn't finished yesterday and trimming the imperfections.

He smile and nodded at me then went away.

I stare back at the pot in front of me.

I can help think about what madam Giselle said to me earlier.

Am I capable of loving someone?

When i think about love. I think about it as a profound and rare feeling that only a few lucky ones can experience it. I sometimes feel I don't deserve it. Which is weird mentality for a woman like me who watch cliche romantic drama series.

Forget it Demi. You know yourself well.

Don't overthink everything again.

I breath out and I checked my phone again. The last message Bright send me a video was 2 hrs ago with Mace playing in the living room covered with a few books and toys Charlie bought with them. Charlie was surprised to see Bright with me and even agreed to babysit Mace for today. She was teasing me nonstop.

I was surprised too how Mace like Bright so much. He call him Uncle Bite which is funny. They were playing like kids. They are too cute too. I can't help picturing Bright as a father. I sure he'll be great someday.

Now. I didn't received message from him about anything.

This is weird?

Why I haven't received anything from Bright?

It's been 2 hrs and I'm worried about Mace.

I send a message to him. As my anxiety starts to get me. i walk towards the desk with my belongings. It was located inside a private room once own my grandma inside the shop. It was a little room of grandma's memorabilia.

To: Brightwat☀️

Babe?

Are you guys, okay?

I'm heading home in 30 mins.

I wait for 10 mins and I didn't receive anything. I grab my keys from my pocket and walk towards my car.

Ping!

I received a message from Bright.

I took a deep breath and rushly open my phone.

Brightwat ☀️

We're heading home babe.

And there's a photo of him and Mace with some kind of animal in the background.

Wait.. what?

I looked at it again to make sure. If this is a photoshop or from a studio.

They went to the Zoo?

•BRIGHT•

(POV)

What did i get myself into.

I furrowed my eyebrows and bite my lower lip as i observed everything around me. The heat from the hot sun, The awful smell of animal poop. Moms chatting in a bench while their kid fighting in the corner and a group of families enjoy their time.

Well Kids.

Kids shouting and running everywhere.

Is my choice bringing Mace to the Zoo right?

But reading about animals without actually seeing them is not right.

I breath out loudly.

"Look uncle Bite. A giant lollipop!"

Mace eyeing the cotton candy cart as he grasp my short dragging it with his tiny hand.

I kneel to his level and said firmly.

"It's a cotton candy. Not a lollipop."

He pout at me and said with his cute voice

" i wnat it please uncle bite"

"No kid. You've been eating a lot sweets from ride earlier"

"But... but... it strawberry."

Mace eyes are getting moist as it looks like his about to cry.

What? Strawberry?

Ohhhh. Cause it pink.

But strawberries are red.

Ugh! I'm going crazy!

"Don't give me that look kid. Don't you dare cry–."

"–Moommyyy!!–"

Mace voice echoes around us. I looked at the people passing by has that disapproving looks on their faces.

"Shhh shhh..

Mace stop it"

I immediately grab him on my side and rush to calm him down as i cover his mouth with my hand then remove it repeatedly as i distract him walking further away from the cotton candy cart.

I heard someone said

"What is he doing with his child?"

What the heck

Do i looked like this kid's father?

Mace stop crying as he notice his voice is changes as i cover his mouth hole with my hand like a flute. Covering and uncovering like i was playing it.

"Are you calm now?" I asked him as I looked at him calmly.

He looked at me with a confused face as I wiped his tears with my hand. I trying not to should him how stress i'm now. As my sweat starting to show.

I think I succeeded calming him.

This really is the hard part of babysit kids. Their crying and their addiction to sweets. But it you place you're cards right. You can turn this around.

"I'll give you a surprise a later if you're be a good kid today."

Mace face slowly turned to a happy face.

"You want to see the hippos we saw in your favorite book?"

He nodded at me excitedly.

I put him down. Holding his small hand as we start our walking journey finding the hippos.

"Okay kid. Let's tear this place down"

–