Mates 9


    FREDA WHITLOCK


    “Mommy, can I just get my dessert?” Francisco asked in a manner that was so polite, my heart


    ached at the fact that I was about to refuse.


    “Oh no baby, that’s not healthy. You have to finish your food and veggies first,” I said in the most


    gentle manner I could so that he would not be too disappointed. “Oh…” He muttered in response


    and I bit my lip.


    “Look on the bright side. You’re almost done with it,” I smiled at him. He nodded in response and


    excitement filled his eyes as he spooned the mashed potatoes and peas into his mouth. “Don’t go


    too fast baby, you don’t want to choke,” I told him and he paused before nodding and then slowing


    his pace.


    Soon enough, he was digging into his apple cake and I smiled as I watched him as he savored the


    soft, spongy delicacy.


    “Mommy, you don’t have to read me a book tonight,” Francisco muttered as I tucked him into bed


    after his dinner.


    “Why?” I asked with a small yawn and he gave me a tired smile as he reached up and piked my


    cheek. “You look tired. You’ve been yawning,” he responded, fighting against his fluttering eyelids.


    “Go to bed baby, I’ll lead you a story tomorrow. I promise,” I whispered and kissed his forehead. He


    gave me a small nod


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    and I watched him fall asleep. His gorgeous, long eyelids rested on his cheeks and I fell in love with


    him all over again.


    I kissed his cheek again and turned down the bedsidemp before heading towards the bathroom


    that was built into the motel room. I essed the bathroom. I had not had the time to thoroughly


    ess the facilities and guage whether it was worth the amount I was paying. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    The shower was decent, but it had been difficult to give Francisco afortable bath there. I guess


    it was alright because the motel did not have five year old children in mind as part of their


    consumers.


    I sighed and took a long shower. The water was almost ice cold but it was just right for relieving my


    muscles that were tense from sitting in the car for almost eighteen hours.


    The cold water was helping to distract me from the chaotic thoughts in my head but I could not


    stand there for long. I needed to get some rest or even sleep so I would be able to drive for as long


    as I possibly needed to.


    I cut off the water flowing through the shower head and stepped out of the shower cubicle. I pulled


    on the robe that was hanging on the towel rack and then used the second avable towel to dry my


    hair.


    I was drained. I was so tired. I was not sure if it was just physically or even m**ally.


    I dried my hair and then walked to the faucet to look in the mirror. I brushed my hair out with my


    hairbrush and stared into my eyes.


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    The emerald color in them were dim. I was stressed. I was not willing to admit it, and I was only


    saying it to myself, but I was scared. I was a little scared about going home and it was draining me.


    I bit my lip and stepped away from the mirror. I walked into the room and climbed into the bed that


    was beside Cisco’s bed. Iid on my side and watched my child.


    I reached to the bedsidemp that was on the bedside table which was in between our beds and


    increased the light a bit, so I would be able to keep my eyes on Franciscofortably.


    I was relieved when my eyelids started to flutter and I started to feel drowsy.


    Soon after, I fell asleep.


    *** *** ***


    “Mommy, how far is it?” Francisco asked from the back seat and I bit my lip, looking in the rearview


    mirror for a second before my eyes went back to the road in front of us.


    “We’ll be there soon,” I said softly “You said that two hours ago,” he murmured under his breath and


    i stifled augh so he would not grow more annoyed


    “Yes baby, we are closer than we were two hours ago,”Iforted him.


    “Really?” He perked up. “Yeah baby,” I nced back at him. I reached into the glove box and tossed


    a bar of choctes unto hisp.


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    “Yay, chocte!” He grinned at me. “Can I have the iPad too?” He asked in a quiet, pleading tone


    and I shook my head.


    “No baby,” I said in the most patronizing tone I could muster. I did not want him to get too attached


    to it, and I did not want it to affect him in any way because he overused it.


    “You’ll get it tomorrow, okay?” I told him as I turned into another road.


    “Okay,” he agreed with a small smile. “Let’s y a game then.”


    “What game?” I asked, hoping would be able to concentrate on driving and ying the game with


    him at the same time.


    “We’ll say the letters of the alphabets and a word that starts with the alphabet,” he exined and I


    nodded. I could do that.


    “I hope I’ll be able to keep up with you,” I teased and he responded with a little giggle. “You go first,”


    I said, relieved that he would be upied for a while before he asked when we would reach again.


    *** *** ***


    “I can’t wait to see you again,” I smiled softly as I set the phone down and folded up the clothes that


    I had prepared for Francisco to wear the following day.


    We had been moving faster than I had anticipated. By noon of the following day, we would be


    reaching the town where our pack was located.


    “Me neither,” Lyra spoke with a softness that almost melted my chest. Seeing her through the phone


    was different from seeing


    her physically and I had just realized that.