Robbie was sleeping, tangled around me like a stubborn vine refusing to let go. It took me a full ten minutes to gently pry myself from his octopus-like grip without waking him. Once free, I stood beside the bed and glanced down at him.
His face, usually annoyingly perfect, was drawn and pale under the early light. There were pronounced dark circles beneath his eyes, and strands of his tousled hair clung to his forehead. He looked... worn. These past few days had clearly taken a toll. Ever since his fallout with his father, he'd been walking on a tightrope with no safety net beneath. He wouldn't tell me where he was staying, only that it was "better I didn't know." Which, knowing Robbie, meant it was too secret to be public.
I wanted to tell him to talk to his father, to reconcile, but I couldn't. Not with the kind of ultimatums that man had given him. So I just stood there like a coward, watching him sleep, hand instinctively reaching to brush his hair back. My fingers froze midair when he stirred. I stepped back, sighed, and slipped out to get ready.
Twen woke up around half an hour later, just as I was cracking eggs into the pan. He came shuffling out of his room, rubbing his eyes and dragging his little feet across the floor like he hadn't slept in weeks.
"Morning, sleepyhead," I called from the kitchen.
He blinked at me, then mumbled around a yawn, "Good morning, mommy."
"Come on, mister. Go get a bath and get dressed, I've got an early shift today," I said, fishing out two more eggs from the fridge.
"Mommy, where were you yesterday?" Twen asked, bottom lip jutting out in a pout.
Ugh, that face. He always knew how to weaponize that pout. I smiled despite myself.
"Sorry, kid. I had a hell of a day. Emergency event, chaos at the hotel, one of those classic headaches."
"You always have so much work," he muttered like a tiny old man who'd had enough of the world.
I turned the flame down and walked over to scoop him up into my arms. Damn, he was getting heavier. Carrying him was getting harder each week, but I still did it.
I pressed a kiss to his cheek and gave his nose a gentle pinch. "Mommy's job is a bit crazy, huh? But I'll always come back to you. That's a promise."
"Mmmm," he grumbled again, clearly still annoyed.
"Hey, how about this?" I said with a grin. "Today is Aunty Tanya's birthday. Want to go to her party with me?"
His eyes lit up like I'd offered him a pony. "Really?"
"Yep."
"Okay! Let's go!" he shouted, flinging his arms around me in a tight hug.
I laughed and kissed his forehead. "Alright, now go! Chop chop! Get ready, soldier."
I was almost done with the eggs when I felt two arms snake around my waist, followed by a warm kiss on my temple.
"Good morning," Robbie murmured, his voice deep and still heavy with sleep.
"Morning," I replied, not even startled.
Robbie has this thing, he always hugs me from behind. Like a big golden retriever with possessive tendencies. He'd probably drape himself over me like a cape if I let him.
"What's cookin'?" he asked, sniffing the air dramatically.
"Buttered toast and sunny-side up," I replied, plating the eggs.
"I like scrambled eggs," he said, giving me those puppy eyes.
"Then maybe you should wake up before noon and tell me," I said, flicking his forehead.
He pouted but didn't argue. "Anyway, you've got an early shift, right?"
"Yep," I said, stacking plates. "Twen's almost ready. I'll drop him off before work. Your breakfast is on the table."
"You worked late last night. You should've taken the afternoon shift," Robbie frowned, arms crossed.
"I'm sticking to mornings. Jenny's in her eighth month, and Sam's struggling. He's got his hands full. I want to make it easier on him, at least for now."
Robbie nodded slowly, then looked thoughtful. "What if I picked Twen up sometimes? Would that help?"
I turned, surprised. "Pick him up? Can your work even allow you that flexibility?"
"It's hectic right now," he admitted. "I'm in the middle of a merger deal with the Plaza Hotel, and I'll be out of town next week for a meeting. But once that's wrapped and Mum returns, I plan to take some time off and hopefully sort things out with the family."
I folded my arms and stared at him. "I don't want to overload you."
"And I don't want you burning out, either. How about this: anytime you're stuck on a late shift or swamped, I'll grab Twen. Deal?"
I pretended to think about it for a moment. "Alright. That might actually work. Hotel traffic's insane since winter started. My schedule's been all over the place."
"Look at us, solving problems like adults," Robbie chuckled.
Just then, Twen stepped into the room. His eyes darted to Robbie and immediately narrowed in a classic why-is-he-here-again expression. Still, he didn't say anything.
"Morning, kid!" Robbie said cheerfully.
"Morning," Twen muttered, expression flat.
"Breakfast, Twen. Let's go!" I said, placing his plate at the table. "We're running late!"
Twen dragged himself to the table and began munching on toast. Robbie ruffled his hair, earning a quiet glare in response, then disappeared into the bathroom.
As Twen and I were leaving, I spotted Robbie taking his seat at the table with his breakfast. I opened the door and nudged Twen gently outside when Robbie called,
"Have a nice day, Twen!"
"Hmmm," Twen answered without looking back.
I patted his head as we walked. He's still not comfortable with Robbie. But at least he's not rejecting him outright anymore. That's progress. Forced friendliness would've felt fake. Twen's cautiousness is honest. And I know Robbie understands that. He isn't pushing. He's just... hoping. Slowly letting time do the heavy lifting.
"Lock the door when you leave!" I called over my shoulder.
Robbie rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Yes, I will. I'm not completely useless. Call me later, okay?"
"Yeah," I said, closing the door behind me.
As I slid into the driver's seat of my Toyota, I caught myself smiling.
This morning wasn't anything extraordinary: eggs, toast, bickering, drop-offs. But something had changed.
We had spent the night together, discussed work schedules, and normal life. It felt weirdly domestic.
I turned the keys in the ignition, still smiling.
"Mommy, what are you looking at?" Twen asked from the passenger seat.
"Nothing," I said quietly, starting the car. "Just... thinking."