By the time she pulled into her garage, her brain immediately snapped back to Cassie. She had kept her waiting for over an hour. Guilt clutched her chest as she hurriedly stepped out of the car and rushing inside.
As she opened the front door, she was hit with the unexpected aroma of freshly made lasagna.
Selene frowned her brows,her face stiff with confusion,Somebody was cooking?
Her heart skipping a beat as she immediately called out, "Cyrus?"
"He had to go do number one in the bathroom" Cassie's soft voice answered her from the kitchen.
Selene slowly followed the voice, her brows still knitted in confusion. When she entered the kitchen, she found Cassie standing by the counter,holding out plates,wearing an apron, her dirty blonde hair pulled into a rough bun.besides her was a Freshly baked lasagna bowl which sat on the kitchen island, steam still rising from it.
All the apology lines Selene had been rehearsing while on her way home vanished into thin air as her stomach growled loudly.
Cassie's laugh echoed through the kitchen walls "Oh goodness, you must be starving."
Selene could only nod in agreement, too embarrassed to say anything.
"Come eat," Cassie said, carefully dishing out a plate for her.
Selene didn't hesitate. She immediately dashed toward the food. "Thank you," she mumbled out, her mouth already full of lasagna.
Cassie sat opposite her digging into her own plate,as they ate in comfortable silence. After a few minutes, Selene suddenly remembered—
Selene immediately dashed towards the food,"thank you"she mumbled her mouth still full from lasagna.
Cassie sat opposite Selene with a plate as she ate silently,as though suddenly remembering.
"I'm so sorry I" selene said half way through the food.
"It's okay Miss…..er….Selene" she said as her lips curved into a wide smile "babysitting cyrus has been amazing and i must say you have an intelligent young man" she said
As if on cur cyrus came in,she hugged selene who immediately carried him on her lap.
"Oh my darling boy,how are you" she asked her heart warming with incredible love for her son.
"I'm fine mummy,Aunty Cassie is the best look she made lasagna" he said pointing towards the bowl.
"Yes i can see that"selene chuckle while spooning the last piece into cyrus mouth.
After eating,Cassie packed her stuff as selene sent her the payment,she even added a few extras dollars as guilt tugged at her mind,there was no way she wouldn't thank her for being an amazing nanny and a good cook.
"I'm so sorry i was—"
she started,half way through the food, but Cassie cut her off with a smile.
"It's okay, Miss… er, Selene," she stuttered correcting herself. "Babysitting Cyrus has been amazing, and I must say, you have a very intelligent young man."she added,her smile brightening.
As though on cue, Cyrus ran into the kitchen. His eyes lit up brightly as his gazed landed on his mother, and he immediately threw himself into her arms.
Selene hugged him lifting him up onto her lap. "Oh, my darling boy! How are you?" she asked, her heart swelling with love.
"I'm fine, Mummy. Aunty Cassie is the best! Look, she made lasagna!" he said, pointing excitedly towards the dish.
Selene chuckled, scooping up the last piece on the plate and feeding it to him. "Yes, I can see that."
After finishing dinner, Cassie packed her things while Selene sent her payment. She added extra a few extra dollars as guilt of being late still weighed heavily on her conscience.
There was no way she could let Cassie leave without properly thanking her for being an amazing nanny and for the wonderful meal.
As they walked to the door, Cassie's phone buzzed with the payment notification, and she gasped,her lips curled up into a bright smile.
"Oh, Selene, you didn't have to!" she cried.
Selene waved her off. "Oh, please take it. My conscience won't let me rest otherwise. You've been an amazing nanny and a great cook. This is the least I can do." She grinned. "I really do hope we get to see you again soon."
Cassie smiled warmly. "Sure thing, Selene. Just call me anytime. I really did enjoy my time with Cyrus."
She turned towards Cyrus, who was now engrossed in playing with a strange doll that looked oddly familiar,that she didn't remember buying.
"See you tomorrow, Cyrus," she said,playfully touching his cheek, making him giggle.
As Selene watched Cassie get safely into a cab before stepping back inside.
Her attention drifted back to the doll in Cyrus's hands. A frown creased her forehead. Where have I seen that before?
Bending down to meet his height, she asked him softly "Sweetie, where did you get this doll?"
Cyrus beamed,as though he had been waiting all day for her to ask him "Aunty Sandy gave it to me! She brought a whole bunch of them!"
His tiny fingers wrapped around hers tightly,pulling her along with him towards his room.
Selene's heart clenched when she eyes fell on the pile of different toys.Picking up a stuffed purple teddy bear,smiling as the nostalgia finally hit her like a tidal wave.
These were her old toys,she thought. her heart warming with joy.
She clutched the teddy bear tightly to her chest, memories flooding back. Has she remembered how she had gotten the bear as a gift from her father.
Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of him ;her father.
Guilt clawed at her chest,as her gaze grifted down to her son.She missed her father so much, And how much she would love for him to meet his grandson.
But then, just as quickly, her chest tightened with bitterness. Her mind spinning with conflicting thoughts,He made his decision when he chose to believe Frank over me.
Her jaw tightened as a film of tears burned her eyes.
"Mummy, are you okay?" Cyrus's small voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She forced a smile, her heart melting at the concern beaming in his hazel-green eyes.
"Oh, my darling, I'm okay, sweetie. I was just thinking about your grandpa." A sad smile tugging at her lips.
Cyrus's eyes widened in shock. "Where is Grandpa anyway? Is he dead?"
Selene chuckled softly. "Oh no, sweetheart, he's not dead."
"Then why doesn't he come to visit?" He asked his voice held an innocent sadness.
Selene's chest ached at his words.
She hesitated before lying, "No, my precious, he wants to see you. That was why he sent Aunty Sandy to bring these toys for you."
Her heart bleeding at the connection with her father that she was making her son miss out on.
Cyrus blinked. "But why didn't he bring them himself? When do I get to meet him?"
His questions hung heavy in the air, suffocating her,as she screened her brain for answers to them.
Scrambling her head for an escape, she quickly grabbed a yellow giraffe toy and pressed the button on its back,then placed it down. The toy came to life, moving and tagging its tail forward.
Cyrus's green eyes widened with excitement, as all thoughts and questions about his grandfather was forgotten as he turned his full attention to the moving toy.
Selene exhaled deeply, relief washing over her,as the tension of answering Cyrus' questions eased from her chest.
But as her eyes watched him play with her old toys, her heart bled silently.
She was the reason why Cyrus was missing out on knowing his grandfather.
Although her father had tried reaching out to her countless times. Sandy often talked about how much he missed her. And yet, Selene still couldn't bring herself to forgive him for believing Frank's lies over her.
But was holding onto that pain worth robbing her son of a proper family?
Tears stung her eyes as the weight of her own choices settled heavily on her heart.