The Runaway Groom

As Irene had Baby hand Erin a bouquet, Erin smiled at the child as she took the flowers. "Thanks, Baby." Baby smiled, baring a row of stark white teeth. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Since Baby really looked like Irene, she said, "You'll definitely become a pretty boy when you grow up." Irene rolled her eyes. "Why does that sound like an insult instead-a pretty boy with a girly face and all?"

"That's twisting words," Erin replied with a giggle. "He would definitely be a macho man."

"Aunt Erin," Baby blurted just then, able to speak basic words and phrases now.

Erin patted his head. "Where's your brother?"

"School," Baby said adorably.

"You're so cute." Erin grinned before looking up at Irene. "How'd you know I was here?"

"James was calling Isaac in the morning, but I answered," Irene replied.

"Oh," Erin replied, chagrined. "Well, that was embarrassing."

"So, what happened here? How did you tumble? You should really be careful in your final trimester," Irene said, her tone stern again.

Erin fiddled her fingers. "I thought I should make breakfast for James when I woke up, and the floor was wet, so I slipped."

She was too embarrassed to tell the truth. Though making breakfast was no lie, she fell because she tried to dodge James' impending kiss flirtatiously.

Naturally, that was too embarrassing to say, just as she knew she would regret it if anything bad happened to her baby.

"Just be careful from now on-you're pregnant," Irene said as she straightened Erin's blanket. "Anything you'd like to eat? I can get it for you."

Erin quickly shook her head, too embarrassed to impose. "No, I'm fine."

"What did your doctor say anyway?" Irene asked.

"Nothing-I was just told to rest. I could do that at home, but James insisted," Erin smiled blissfully as she remembered James.

Irene smiled in turn. "He's worried, and he's doing it for your child. Just stay here for a while, and go back when you're better."

Erin nodded, and suddenly asked, "Don't you think it's too much to be a housewife? Why do women have to sacrifice their career while men don't?"

Irene glanced at Baby who sat on her lap just then, playing with a toy dog that somehow looked so real. It looked adorable and would move and bark if the switch on the belly was turned on.

Tousling his hair tenderly, Irene

looked at Erin as she said, "I don't

consider it a sacrifice-it's just a tit-for-tat. He has to work so that I don't have to worry about money, while I take care of the family in

return Seeing our children grow.net

up

is happiness in itself, and even now, feel like I owe Tommy because I didn't take care of him much growing up. I wasn't there when he started to learn to walk, grew his first tooth, or said his first words.

It's as if he sprouted while I didn't do anything for him.

"That's why I want to take good care of both my sons until they grow up from now on. Sure, a good career is a measure of success, but to faise my children so that they grow strong and healthy is a form of success too." ś

Erin nodded thoughtfully-that made sense from a point of view. "Many mothers in ordinary households have to take the cake of their children and do housework. We're much luckier in comparison."

"Yes, we are," Irene replied-they might have their fair share of troubles, but not when it came to money.

"I'd like to watch my child grow up too," Erin said, rubbing her bulging belly. "I really love him, and I don't get why someone would abandon their own flesh and blood. How vile could they be?"

Irene could see that Erin was emotional as she remembered she was an orphan and patted her hand. "They probably had no choice."

Naturally, there were failures of parents who did not love their children, but Irene was convinced there were those who were compelled by circumstances.

"Don't stress over nothing now," she added. "You're pregnant."

Erin nodded. "I know. I'm not."

It just suddenly came to mind and she got a little emotional—she was adopted, but she was given all the love in the world by her adopted parents and then some.

She had nothing to complain about, let alone grieve over. In fact, she would not be enjoying everything she had now if she had not been abandoned.