Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Karen's POV

We arrived at his house late at night and his children ran to hug him. "Who's this?" Tricia asked her dad, pointing to me.

He smiled at me and replied. "She's Karen Miller, my junior at school."

Tricia looked at me, her face lightened up with a smile as she turned to look at Alvin. "I like that lady." She told him and I blushed.

"We bought you pizza." I muttered, surprised at how casual and carefree my voice sounded and Brody handed them the pizza, giggling.

I watched the happy family and wondered why he said his children were sad. They certainly didn't look sad. "Please seat." Brody offered and I sat down.

I nodded and sat down as Alvin walked towards me. "We like you, anty." He muttered.

"Thanks," I said and kissed his cheeks. "Come here." I added and raised him up, placing him on my lap.

Tricia came to meet me, putting on an excited face. "Thank you for the pizza." She murmured.

"You're welcome."

"I wish you were my mother."

I was taken aback and looked at her as tears welled up in her eyes. Bill was definitely right, the children were going through a lot. "Your mother will certainly come back, I'm sure she knows Bill loves her." I assured and stole a glance at Bill, he looked worried too.

"She's not coming back." Alvin said and I touched his cheeks and hugged him tightly.

I also felt the urge to cry but I couldn't meddle in their affairs, I wouldn't.

"Your father will take care of you."

I suddenly felt weak, the children needed help, they were not receiving that motherly love that they needed. "Mom hates us," Tricia said. "She doesn't care about us."

I looked at Bill again, he just kept quiet. "I'm sure she really loves you. All parents care for their children and I'm sure she also cares for you. She's probably going through a lot right now and she needs time."

"Yeah, Karen is right. I'm sure she'll come back to us because she loves us." Bill chipped in and I smiled.

"Are you married?" Alvin asked and touched my hair.

Looking at Bill, I suddenly felt confused. "You should not ask her questions, Alvin. It's not polite to...."

I cut in. "It's really alright for them to ask. Kids are naturally inquisitive."

"They're still kids, Alvin is barely five and Tricia is just seven years of age."

I chuckled and looked at Alvin. "I'm not married, I'm single."

His face brightened and he hugged me. Although, I didn't know what was going through his mind. "I'll always visit when I have the chance and we can go shopping anytime, anyday." I promised softly.

"Thanks Karen." Bill appreciated my nice offer.

"Daddy, can we play outside and leave the both of you to discuss right." Tricia asked.

I looked up at Bill, he looked at me. "What do you think?" He asked.

I shrugged, wondering why he asked for my opinion. "The house is fenced so it's safe and the windows are open, we can monitor them."

"Thanks Mom." Alvin muttered and I turned to look at him with shock. Did he just call me Mom? I suddenly couldn't say a word.

"Huh, he's just a kid. He doesn't know anything," Brody said and turned to the kids. "You can play outside but don't play too much, it's night already." He cautioned.

"Hurray!" Tricia shouted and took her brother outside.

A smile plastered on my face. "It's actually my first time coming to your house. You have a beautiful home."

"Not an entirely beautiful home." He reminded me with a frown and I walked towards him.

I could definitely understand what he was passing through and I wanted to help him but it just seemed almost impossible. "Are you sure you would be visiting? With the contract and everything, you would be really busy." He added.

I looked at him and squeezed his hands gently. "I'll make sure to spare some time for your family. Tricia and Alvin need motherly love and care and I'll always help that. I'm sure their mother would come back to you and....."

He interrupted. "I don't want her back."

My eyes widened as I looked at him, I didn't understand what he meant by that. "Why?" I was forced to ask. I edged closer, trying not to notice how deliciously masculine he smelled.

"I don't know, maybe I'm no longer in love with her."

"That's what you think but if you open your heart, you'll see that you're still in love with your wife. Remember when you took that oath at the church wedding."

"For better,"

"For worse." I completed his statement and smiled at me.

He scratched his cheeks. "My kids are suffering from an emotional trauma."

My lush lip quivered slightly. "It won't last for long." I replied.

"We should head to my bedroom."

I looked at him surprised. There was absolutely no way I would follow him to his bedroom. "I can't follow you. I think I should leave right now, it's not right for me to stay here."

"I can't possibly let you go now, it's dangerous." He said and held my hands.

"Why do you want me to follow you to your bedroom?"

"I have something important to discuss with you."

"What's that?"

"It's private."

"Just tell me." I persuaded but he didn't seem to tell me anything.

"The kids can enter the house anytime and eavesdrop on our conversation." He said.

"Five minutes." I told him and climbed the stairs. Waiting for him to come, he sluggishly climbed the stairs and pointed to his room door, I opened the door and walked in. "A pink room." I muttered in shock and he laughed, slamming the door after him.

"My wife loved pink, she even designed the room and used pink paint."

I chuckled and looked at me. "What do you want to say?" I asked.

The door opened and Tricia smiled at us, Alvin appeared behind her with a grin and I looked at Bill. He was definitely right, his kids were troublesome.

"Wait for your surprise!" Tricia said.

The door slammed after them. And then clicked.

I turned to look at Bill, frightened. His kids had locked the door.