PRECIOUS
1052 Words
I finished packing and went outside to look for Grandma. I watched with a smile as Precious toddled along, following Grandma's pet chickens. Her rosy cheeks bounced with every step, making me laugh. She is now fifteen months old—a healthy and incredibly beautiful baby girl.
"Precious!" I called. She stopped and looked back. I waved, and she waved back, calling out "Moooommm!" to me.
She started walking toward me, her pace increasing. "Careful, baby," I reminded her. I moved quickly to catch her before she could trip, picking her up and spinning her around. Her laughter was loud and pure music to my ears. I playfully tossed her in the air, a game she never grows tired of.
"Mommy's getting tired." I tried to put her down, but she whimpered, wanting to be held again, so I obliged. I spun her and tossed her several more times until I was out of breath and my body began to ache.
Grandma laughed. "What time are you leaving, dear?"
"Three o'clock, Grandma." Since it was only one, I decided to make the most of every remaining minute with my child. I knew I would miss her terribly, but I had to go.
"I'll miss you, my baby..." I whispered. I would only be gone for four days, but it felt like forever.
"I'll take care of her. I won't neglect her," Grandma promised. "And hopefully, you’ll run into your ex there."
I grimaced. I only have one ex: the one who cheated on me. I haven't heard a word about Roger, my aunt, or Therese since I left. When I moved back to the province, I deactivated all my social media accounts. I was already pregnant when I left the city. Even though my aunt hadn't technically kicked me out yet, I had already planned to leave. I wanted a stress-free pregnancy, and the fresh air and vegetables here were exactly what I needed.
When Precious got tired, she looked for her bottle. She stopped breastfeeding two months ago and is fully on formula now. I wiped her down and changed her clothes so she would feel fresh for her nap. Once she fell asleep, I finished preparing for my departure.
"Please take care of Precious, Grandma, okay?"
"Yes, dear. Enjoy yourself."
I kissed my daughter as she slept soundly. Leaving was heavy on my heart, but work gave me no choice. Our boss had scheduled a mandatory team-building retreat and had other business to attend to on the island.
I took a taxi to the meeting point, where a rented van was waiting to take our team to the airport. We eventually arrived at an island resort. Everyone was buzzing with excitement, but I kept checking my phone, my mind stuck on Grandma and Precious. I knew they had plenty of milk, diapers, and food, but the worry of a mother never truly goes away.
"They're probably asleep. It's two in the morning," said Effa, my closest colleague. She had a point. I decided to check in tomorrow and try to get some sleep.
The next morning, we woke up early for the breakfast buffet. After eating, we began our team activities. By noon, our boss took us to a famous seafood house for lunch. The view was stunning, but as I was looking around, I froze.
I recognized a face. I nearly cursed out loud as that night came rushing back to me. It was him. I couldn't be mistaken. Even from several meters away, I knew it was the man from the hotel.
"Are you okay?" Effa asked. "You look pale."
"Ah, yes. I'm fine." I looked away quickly before he could notice me. I told myself he wouldn't recognize me anyway. It was a one-night stand years ago. He probably didn't even remember my face.
But I couldn't help stealing another glance. He had been handsome that night, even through my drunken haze, but now he seemed even more striking. I pouted. It had been a one-night stand, sure, but a one-night stand that had changed my life forever.
We had a meeting after lunch, followed by more activities. By four-thirty, I was exhausted, hot, and feeling sticky. I went back to the room to shower and changed into a tube top and shorts with a crocheted cardigan.
As I walked toward the restaurant to meet my colleagues, I was busy texting Grandma. I didn't see the person in front of me until I bumped right into them.
"s**t!" we both cursed simultaneously.
I looked up and my heart stopped. It was him again. I tried to keep my face neutral, masking my surprise. I muttered a quick apology and hurried away. He didn't recognize me, I told myself. He doesn't remember. My nerves were shot. How long was he staying here? I took a deep breath. Chill out, Beryl. Everything is under control.
"What do you want to drink, Beryl?" Effa asked when I joined them. I shook my head quickly. I had sworn off alcohol the moment I found out I was pregnant.
By dinner time, the boss and I were the only sober ones. As we walked to the dining area, we passed him again. He was talking to a group, two men and three women, listening with a very serious expression.
I bit my lip. He really does look like Precious. While she has my lips, she is the spitting image of her father.
"Do you know him?" a colleague whispered. I shook my head. "He’s handsome, huh..."
"There are a lot of handsome, rich guys here," another added, laughing. "Let's hit the bar later and find some foreigners!"
I just shook my head. I didn't need a man; my daughter was enough.
We were already eating when he entered the restaurant. My companions watched him with blatant admiration. He was the type of man who was easy on the eyes but dangerous for the heart—the kind who would never take a woman like me seriously.
I got up to get some fruit from the buffet. As I was picking out slices, someone stepped up beside me. I tried to ignore the presence, but I couldn't help but glance over.
Shit. It was him. And he was looking directly at me.
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