Meeting Again - 65 A little different morning

Robbie was sleeping tangling around me like a vine. It took me ten whole minutes to just untangle myself. I looked at Robbie’s face. It was beautiful as usual. But now his hair was messy, there was a slight dark circle on his eyes and there was a pallor over his face. He must have been working very hard. Being the head of such huge hotel chain is not so easy esp since it is being planned to be extended out of the country. I wonder if I would be in the same condition when I open my own restaurant.

I quickly got out, refreshed myself and got ready. Twen came just half an hour later, when I was busy preparing breakfast, rubbing his eyes and looking sleepy.

“Morning sleephead” I called from the kitchen

He looked at me, yawning as he mumbled through it, “Good morning Mommy”

“Quickly take a bath and get ready! Mommy had to leave early today” I said, taking two eggs out of the fridge.

“Mommy, where were you yesterday?” Twen asked, pouting sourly.

I looked at his upset pouted face. He is so cute when he is mad! I smiled and said apologetically, “Sorry kiddo, I was really very busy yesterday”

“You always have so much work” Twen grumbled

I lowered the flames, strolled to him, and picked him up on my arms. It is becoming harder to lift him on arms. Well, he is a growing boy afterall. I pinched his nose and said with a kiss on his cheek,

“Mommy’s job is very time consuming! But I will try my best to come to your side as fast as possible. Okay”

“Mmmm” he grumbled still looking upset.

I wish I could reduce my hours of work. To compensate for yesterday and console him, I said with a wide smile,

“Kiddo, today is my friend’s birthday. We will go together and have a lot of fun”

“Really?” he asked, his eyes glowing

“Yep”

“Yipppeeee” he jumped in my arm and hugged me .

Once he left my neck, I placed him on the floor and said patting his head, “Now, get ready fast! Chop! Chop!”

I was almost done with my breakfast when a pair of hands wrapped round my waist and a kiss was planted on my temple.

“Good morning” Robbie drawled

“Good morning” I replied.

I feel like Robbie just loves hugging me from back. He would always embrace me from behind and place his chin on my shoulder like big kid!

“What are you making?” he asking sniffing like a mastiff

“Just some buttered toast, egg and bacon” I said placing toasts on three plates.

“I like scrambled egg” Robbie said eyeing the poached egg

“You have to wake up early for telling me your breakfast’s choice!” I said hitting him lightly over the head. To which he pouted but didn’t say anything, “Anyway you said you have some important work to do today right?”

“Mmmmm” Robbie mumbled

I rolled my eyes. What’s with this uncanny similarity between this father and son duo? Both of them even response similarly. It’s like living with two Robbie, one adult version and one miniature version. Just see yesterday, the adult version called me several times because he was worried, and got upset because I didn’t pick up the call. The miniature version got worried and upset because I was late. I sighed. What am I gonna do with this two?

“So, when will you be leaving?” I asked, putting the poached eggs on two plate.

“Around nine!” Robbie said, leaving me with a quick kiss on the neck, “Are you leaving now?”

“Yeah” I said, placing the breakfast on the table, “It’s my morning shift today! Twen will be ready in a few. I ll drop him to school. Your breakfast’s on table”

“You worked late yesterday. You should have taken the afternoon shift” Robbie frowned

“No! Jenny is in her seventh month of pregnancy. Samuel can’t care for both Jenny and Twen simultaneously. So, I have been thinking of making morning shift permanent as long as it is not very necessary to change” I replied

“What if I picked up Twen from Samuel’s place? Then, you can relax a bit, right?” Robbie said crossing his arm

I took off my apron and looked at Robbie in a slight surprise. “Picking him up? Your responsibilties are way higher than mine! Do you think you can make time?”

“Hmmm! It is mostly this month, as I have been working on a merger deal with the ‘Plaza’ hotel. In fact, I ll be leaving next week for the meeting. Once it is done, my work will go back to being it’s normal size. I can make time easily then!”

“Still, it will be too much for you! You’re already looking exhausted from all the running around. I don’t want to add to your already bulged up schedule” I said, shrugging.

“How about this then? Whenever, your work would stretch till late or you have an afternoon shift, I can pick Twen up!” Robbie suggested

This was actually not a bad idea. I pretended to think a bit and said in a wondering voice, “We can do that! It’s not a bad idea! Since, the winters have started and the traffic in hotel had increased, my work hours have continuously been fluctuating. This way can actually be feasible for both of us”

“See, you can always come up with a solution” Robbie chuckled

Twen came just as Robbie finished talking. Twen eyed Robbie like saying ‘He-is-here-again’ but didn’t say anything.

“Morning kid!” Robbie greeted

“Good morning” Twen mumbled moodily

“Twen breakfast’s on table. Hurry and finish it. It’s nearly 7:30”

Twen tottered to the table and started munching his toast. Robbie patted his head seeing him eat before ambling past the table to the washroom.

As I and Twen were about to leave, I saw Robbie settle in the dining table and munching his toast. I opened the door and push Twen forward gently out of door. I heard Robbie call,

“Have a nice day Twen!”

“Okay” he answered moodily.

I patted Twen’s head realizing that Twen is still not completely comfortable with Robbie but I was proud to see that he was at least trying instead of throwing tantrums. It would have been weird had he suddenly gotten all chummy with him. Robbie had also come to understand that so, he wouldn’t push him too hard either. He is also hoping for time to heal their relationship.

“Lock the door when you leave” I told him holding the door handle

Robbie rolled his eyes and said chuckling slightly, “Of course I would. I am not stupid! Call me once your done”

“Yeah” I said closing the door

I sat on my toyota smiling to myself before starting the car

This morning was the same and still so different.

I and Robbie stayed the night together, conversed about regular issues, and spent the morning like a married couple.

I dunno why I was feeling so strange yet so happy.

“Mommy, what are you looking at?” Twen called as I remained sitting staring at the space

“Nothing” I smiled, starting the ca