Apartment Buddies

Her eyes battered at the woman standing before her, she couldn’t believe it, this random woman  was speaking to her like they were old pals.

Rosa had black hair, she was graced with a cute look, and a scowl that sometimes made people think she was very innocent, but she was far from it.  Now here she was, trying to push some boxes into her new apartment, and this lady just comes along, starting to talk to her from behind as she’s shoving things in.  “Why you could always come to my apartment if you ever need anything, just give me a call.”

Rosa couldn’t help but give a satisfying sigh after getting those two boxes in, but when she turned around, there were tickets being shoved into her face, “my name is Marnie, just call me if you want to go.”

“M-Marnie?” Shyly she backed more into the boxes behind her.  Perhaps the woman was being too friendly? Either way, Rosa wasn’t going to just stay put there.  “Maybe some other time we could talk M-Marnie…because I’m a little busy right now..” She rambled, and of course she didn’t mean to be rude, or put it off as mean, but Marnie just grumbled before swiping the tickets back.  “I’m sorry, I must have come on too pushy, I do apologize.  Rosa, you are the newest person that has bought an apartment right next to me.  Just thought we could get to know each other?”

“I’d love to..” She squeaked before sinking into her messy disarranged apartment to get away from the woman who was like a salesperson asking people to buy things.  Once she had closed that door though, she let a suppressed groan out finally.  The woman was twenty five, wasn’t married, she was, but sadly lost her husband through a time of war, then left her four months pregnant.  The baby bump was very big, it wasn’t like she could hide it that well, but her neighbor seemed to be oblivious to it, considering that the gift basket Marnie handed off to her had wine in the basket, several bottles. 

Rosa couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if she wasn’t heavily pregnant.  After all, seven bottles of wine was enough to last her a while now, but if she wasn’t, she’d probably be really drunk now, while watching some soap opera or something weird on TV to put her on the edge of happiness instead of being in the dumps.  

Even though she wasn’t drunk, she went to her TV, plugged it in, tempted on sitting on the floor just until the opera music had died down, then she would start unpacking things, but right at the moment, she was listening to the soft music, then listening to how it climbed up until it broke back down to a soft gentle opera.

When she least expected it, someone had stepped in front of her, the TV was turned down, and this tall figure's shadow loomed over her.  “Um..excuse me?” Rosa snapped her eyes open to find Marnie glaring at her basket, “I am really sorry, I didn’t know you were pregnant until you turned around, I just came in to sneak the basket.”

Rosa was now thinking that maybe she should have locked the door next time, “it’s fine Marnie, I just will let them sit.”

“Are you listening to opera?”

As if it was an insult, Rosa winced when the older woman asked, “I am..it’s something me and my husband used to listen to.”

“You both don’t listen to it anymore? Did he just start listening to something else?” Marnie was very curious for some reason, but Rosa appealed to her questions.  “My husband passed away..four months ago, I am the only one who listens to opera now.”

Marnie watched as the young woman tried to stand up, she then decided to try helping after the fact that Rosa had already gotten herself most of the way.  “The bottles of wine, I truly am sorry Rosa, if I would have known you were pregnant I would have gotten you sparkling grape juice or something that is healthier, beneficial to the baby.”

“Trust me, I’m probably going to need this stuff, ten years from now, but it’s okay Marnie, I’ll keep the gift, put it away until I can drink it,” Rosa mumbled.  The woman wasn’t much of a speaker, actually she had been shy her entire life, it was rather cute of the woman to talk softly.  “Well in that case, I’m sorry I intruded.”

“Yeah..it just reminds me that I have no choice but to lock the door even when I’m here.”

“That’s probably a smart idea to begin with Rosa,” the woman sternly pointed out before gently placing her hand on the young woman’s shoulder, “thank you for understanding.”

“W-wait..what am I understanding?” Rosa watched the older woman just turn and leave her alone in the apartment filled with heavy boxes.

“Sheesh, if anything she could have helped me rather than worrying about some bottles of wine!” The woman grumbled while turning up her opera.  Although she would have sat back down on the floor, listened to the opera floor her thoughts again, but instead she started unpacking the things she currently yet had in boxes.  

Everything that Charlie left, had gone to a Goodwill, so really all she had was her closet clothes, then some things here and there.  The thought of her husband only made her want to cry, and she has held back the tears for quite some time, trying to look tough.  If anything, she was more prepared for the baby than her husband's death.

Rosa sheepishly went out of the hallway, trying not to attract attention from anyone, but it was hard to with a baby bump the size of a plumped up watermelon.  “Ohh, congratulations, is it a boy or girl?” A strange woman beamed in on her stomach as she was just trying to get out of the apartment building, but now she was frozen, completely to the wall.  “Dear are you alright?” The elderly lady started patting her shoulder and trying to get her into the old ladies apartment, but Marnie showed up and argued with the old lady, giving Rosa enough time to escape both of them.  

She went downstairs slowly, then she went to go out the door she needed to open, only to find Marnie waiting there on the other side.  Rosa still had to go to work, and yet it seemed like Marnie was a hound dog, hunting for rabbits.  She waited until the older woman left the apartment building, then she walked behind Marnie.  Just a small stroll was all she wanted, to get out of that suffocating space around her.  If it wasn’t older people asking her how long, or when she was due, it was the creepy people who thought they were friends at first sight, then along with the empty apartment she bought for herself, just until the baby arrives.  It had been very overwhelming for the young woman.

Her phone buzzed as she kept walking behind Marnie, she lifted her phone up to find three messages from work, “oh no!” She snapped her hand over her mouth seeing how Marnie was still walking ahead while texting on her own phone. 

The woman hid behind a tree, while gathering her thoughts up, she answered the phone and listened to a familiar voice echo from the park, into the phone! 

“You are late for your first day at work, Rosa Kindlewood.”

She hesitated before looking around the tree to see Marnie frozen in place, glaring at her from the tree.  Nonetheless was Rosa thinking straight.  Obviously, Marnie knew she was being followed, but Rosa made sure to stay quiet, then it occurred to her that her new boss was perhaps Marnie.

“O-oh, Marnie.  I didn’t see you there…” Rosa whispered while kicking away from the tree, but this man bumps her, her hands went forwards toward the tree so that she didn’t crush the baby while falling back towards the tree.  

Marnie took a few steps into the grass, “I know we got off kind of weird, but it wasn’t until now that I found out you were my new worker.  I don’t expect you to actually fulfill your job considering you're pregnant, but if perhaps you impress me, then I shall say a different Rosa.  Also, tell nobody that I gave you a gift basket filled with wine.  Then also don’t tell them I live in the same apartment as you.”

“Marnie..you have..” she stopped talking after seeing another bird swoop down and poop on her shoulder, “I was going to say..there was a bird.”

“Next time speak up Rosa.  How are you going to be my assistant if you can’t even speak up? Gain some confidence while you speak.”

She remembered how her husband used to say that.  “By the way, you were heading to work right? There is an important meeting you have to get on board with.”

“I was just going for a walk, I didn’t think I would start until next week.”

“Well, if you start now, you can shadow me even more than you had planned.  So, come along, Rosa Kindlewood.”

More than anything, she was desiring to go right back to her empty apartment, but it seemed the day had more plans for her than she thought.  

She worked hard, even for a pregnant woman, she rather impressed Marnie more than the woman thought.  Of course Marnie was misthinking things because the woman was pregnant, but she managed to do a lot.

When they started walking home together, Rosa walked over to this small store, after almost getting hit by a car.  Rosa really did know what she was doing in the office, but it was like she didn’t get out a lot, so Marnie of course had to follow just in case Rosa would end up flat again if she happened to get hit by a car.  

The store’s bell let this cling* out, the owner wasn’t really paying much attention, but the two came in then started looking at things.  Rosa Kindlewood snatched a small little baby outfit, “I found it!”

“Found it? You mean you came in here just for a baby outfit that you could have gotten at a nicer store?”

“Well, I’ve been looking at this for about a week.”

“So you lived in this neighborhood?”
“Of course I did, although it was a little more downtown.”

“Really? I thought that side of town was sketchy.”

“It is..” Rosa sighed, then she kept spotting more little baby clothes.  “How far along are you Rosa?”

“Four more months, the doctor said she’s getting quite big, which means I better be ready because she’s going to be a big baby.”

“Or it could be twins.”

“I hope not Marnie..I am well capable of taking care of a baby, but two? I almost got hit by a car.”

Marnie let that slide for her next comment, but then she smiled at Rosa, seeing how delighted the woman was to be having a baby.  “I heard your husband passed away.”

“How did you hear that Marnie? Nobody should know that..it hurts my work performance.”

“Certainly it does, but I just wanted to ask you one thing, are you sure you're going to be okay on your own raising your husband's baby?”

“I don’t see a problem, after all, she is all I have left of him,” Rosa dreadfully said it wish her head no down, she just couldn’t stand the way people kept looking at her, yes, she was a single Mother, but she was going to do the best she could alone.  Marnie smiled warmly, she could tell that this woman had no doubts of not keeping the baby, there was only one thing on the young woman’s mind, that precious baby.

“How about I help you out with the baby Rosa?”

“Really? You are the age of-”

“Don’t you dare say grandma, I am forty four.”

She bit her tongue, she had no idea her boss was that old, it was rather shocking to hear that.  “How old are you, Miss.  Kindlewoods?”

“Twenty five.”

“Really?”

“Well..yeah.  Don’t you have kids Miss.  Ruth?”

“I do, but I adopted them, after I lost my first baby girl, I then just adopted a boy and girl.”

“That’s cool.  Well I should probably pay for this baby outfit then leave.  I still need to sort through my things at home.”

The owner of the store stepped up right next to Rosa, “take it, I’ve been seeing you eye it for quite a while, you can count it as my gift towards you.”

The thing is, the store owner was actually a friend of Rosa’s, the woman was actually Charlie’s sister, but when Charlie passed away, her and Rosa stopped being so close.  “By the way hun, it’s good to see you out.”

“It’s good to be out Willow, I should have ended my therapy sooner,” Rosa began to smile, but with a hesitant pause while walking to the door, “Willow, I will pay you back for this.”

“No need Rosa, you are a Kindlewood, just accept my gift.”

“Really?”

“Yes, of course.  I can’t wait to see her in it when she’s born, you have to stop by a lot Rosa.”

As if her spirit had been lifted, her smile grew, showing her white teeth, “I certainly will,” that’s when she certainly thought of herself as a glowing Mother.  Marnie linked arms with her as they crossed the road, she figured it would be safer because Rosa looked dazed.  “Who was that woman? Did she know you personally Rosa?”

“Oh yes, she’s my sister in law.  We used to go to school with each other, her and my husband were close siblings, until..” that friendly smile disappeared, and she started walking slower.  “Oh come on, chip it off the wood Rosa.  How about you come to my apartment for dinner? My treat?”

“I couldn’t possibly Miss.  Ruth.  I am your shadow at work, now you want people to get the wrong idea?”

“What possible wrong idea could I receive? As long as you don’t tell anyone we live on the same floor of my building-”

“Your building!?”

“Oh that wasn’t supposed to come out either.”

Rosa glared at the older woman.  Marnie’s hair was well toned with a light brown and dark, which meant she usually gets her hair dyed to keep her grays away.  Not much wrinkles, but her laughing lines were visible.  The woman was like a walking movie star, then here Rosa is, being dragged back to the apartment with her.  Actually, some people would probably think they were sisters or it was her Mother.

When the feelings had gone of her husband once again, she finally joined Marnie for dinner, bringing back to Marnie a bottle of whiskey that happened to be sitting for quite some time before the pregnancy.  “I thought this would be a nice gift, it’s aged.”

“Yes…I can tell Miss.  Kindlewood.”

Rosa tried not to take that comment the wrong way, but by the look on the woman’s face, obviously something was troubling her.  “Is there something I can help you with while I’m here Marnie?”

“Yes! Actually I have files yet to go through, so dinner will be late,” regretfully Marnie hung her head low, not making eye contact with the young woman, “I’m sorry in advance for making you walk all the way over here.”

“We live on the same floor, it really wasn’t far.  How about I help you instead Marnie? I’m sure I could be of good use.  We could just order chinese, then maybe sit back and relax, then go through files?” Rosa wasn’t blunt, her mind was set on a goal, if she could help Miss.  Ruth, then maybe she’d be seen more as a worker, instead of just a pregnant woman who was going to go on leave in five more months from now.  Rosa grabbed some files, stuffed her purse into the side of the couch and got comfy while looking over the work, “first of all, your ideas are exquisite, but I think you are missing an example of how you want this to all fold out.  Maybe try giving an example of the priced sales?” Rosa bargained with Marnie before reaching into her purse and grabbing some reading glasses out. 

Marnie just stared at Rosa Kindlewood, the young woman was truly a sight, she was comfy, she was pregnant and glowing radiantly, not to mention, she was determined to make the night work out.  “I am quite enthused with you Miss.  Kindlewood, you have impressed me all day.”

“Seriously?” Rosa peeped while slightly looking over at Marnie, “so perhaps, you're going to let me stay and help right?”

“Oh darling, if you can help me in any way, lay your wisdom on me.  I just hope from your point of view, things can proceed well during my big meeting coming up on Saturday.”

Marnie’s lips thinned, and her eyes bugged as she loomed over the young woman’s shoulder, waiting for Rosa to say something malicious about her work, because Marnie was well aware of how critical Rosa can be, after all, going through her files from her other workplace really made her look differently at someone for the first time.  Rosa didn’t have to try and impress her in any way, she just got things done in a simple manner.  “Well, how about while you read all that, I go, quickly get our orders in for Chinese? Maybe I can make some tea in the process of that?”

“That would be lovely Miss.  Ruth, just please no sugar, or I’ll be up all night long.”

Marnie gathered the tea bags up onto the counter, then she called in lots of food.  When she returned to the living room, the girl was already onto the next file, and the file she had begun reading had sticky notes plastered all over the pages.

“You really are taking this seriously aren’t you?” Marnie blinked at the woman as if confused.  She tipped her glasses down, before setting the file on the coffee table, “what did you expect from me Miss.  Ruth? You wanted a smart woman who went to Yale, I’m here.  I may be pregnant, but do not ever misdiagnose me.  Yes, I know, this may come to a surprise to you that I am pregnant, your neighbor also, and shadow, but I’m well worth your time Miss.  Ruth, so sit back and relax, because I didn’t spend my money for nothing on college.”

“Alright, you have proved your point Rosa.  These files, though, will wait for another day,” Marnie laughed, seeing that the girl looked ridiculous with the glasses tipped on her nose.  “You are correct, you are my assistant Miss.  Kindlewoods, without any say, I invited you over here to get to know you a lot more personally, like tell me about your past.”

“Why? It seems you got most of it down through the file you had on me Miss.  Ruth,” snobbily Rosa stuck her nose up.  “I did read your file, but I like to know my employees.  Obviously you are a wonderful addition to my company, now I need you to explain to me, why you even chose such a simple job, as such, being my shadow?”

“My late parents told me that I’d be someone one day, now I’m here..look how far I’ve gotten.  Pregnant with no husband.  For years I didn’t know what my passion was, until finally I desired to go with being a writer.  That was a silly dream though.  As of right now, I do not have a dream Miss.  Ruth, I don’t need one as long as I get paid, and have a promising time in your company.”

“Ah, you are very strong minded for a single Mother to be, your little girl is going to need that.”

Marnie was about to ask her how her parents passed away, but she let it slide from thought, but what came to mind afterwards, “what profession was your husband in?”

The older woman sat and watched as what she had said really affected the mood of the room, then the young woman’s looks.  “Never mind, forget I even brought it up Rosa.  I would really love to know how you went from acting so shy around me, then to this bossy woman?”

That certainly changed the vibe in the room, it made the young woman smile again, “well I just may have thought you were a bit creepy, because of how obliviously happy you were.”

“Me? Oblivious?”

She gasped, then took her tea cup, sipped the hot tea before crossing her legs to give the younger woman a sense of a real thin on ice conversation.  “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings Marnie.  When people see me, all they think about is how many weeks I’m due, or if it’s a boy or girl.  It’s great and all, but it’s creepy at the same time.”

“You're an odd woman Rosa, most people are so enlightened to tell people about their pregnancy.”

“That is some people, I am not that some people,” Rosa began, but her smile soon dwindled again, she just couldn’t seem to get her husband out of her head, so she thought that maybe it was time to talk about him.  “My husband was stationed somewhere in Iraq, he and his team were going in for a mission, and well my husband managed to save everyone else but himself.”

It was like a million pounds lifted off her shoulders, as if all that weight was carrying on her that entire time.  Marnie just patted her lightly, “I’m sorry Rosa.”

She began smiling again, “I gave everything he owns to a Goodwill, and left him behind.  I was trying to move on so badly, but when I found out I was pregnant, what’s the chances right? After I attended his funeral though, all of his letters he wrote to me, beginning till end, were all inside a shoe box.”

“You mean you gave everything that was his away before the funeral? Why in the world would you do that?”

“I loved him so much that I didn’t want to think about him.  When he told me where he was being brought, I just prepared myself, it was as if something told me to.”

Rosa got off the couch, “it seems that it’s gotten a little late Miss.  Ruth.  I’m sure we could plan this some other time..”

“I ordered Chinese Rosa.”

The older woman had her sit down after that, “alright, I guess I’ll stay for the food..but it’s not me who’s hungry, I would have preferred something lighter,” Rosa sighed.  “That’s really all you came over here for? Food?”

“Well also because you are my boss, it’s not like I was going to decline the dinner offer, so I came over because I was hungry.  Not to mention all of my pots and pans are stuffed in a box somewhere.”

“Oh..I am-”

“Do not say you're sorry Miss.  Ruth, it’s not like I expected help from my neighbor.”

Saying that only made Marnie feel bad, “maybe I could hire some movers for you.”

There was no question, which clearly stated that the woman was going to help her move things, after all, Marnie just wanted to be friends with her assistant, if they aren’t friends, then things could probably get messy.  Rosa was working to be a Mother, she needed the job, she needed it just like she needed that apartment. 

After the dinner was over, Rosa took to her apartment the files that were left to Miss.  Ruth to do.  Rosa started to think about getting a cat, after all, she was going to be alone for the most part, until that baby is, born.

….

 

 

 

 

 

Intrusion

 

Rosa sat on the floor of her living room once more, letting the music of instruments filter in the room. She had been off work that day. It was supposed to be just a calm settling day. There was music, then Marnie bursting into the apartment with lots of files.  “W-what are you doing in here Miss.  Ruth?”

“Well I need you to go through these files,” she gave a stern look to Rosa, who was sitting on her loveseat listening to BlueLake.  “This is seriously what you’ve been doing all day?”

Rosa didn’t take it as an insult, but she knew it was directed as one, she didn’t see any problems listening to the instruments on her spotify.  “It’s my day off Miss.  Ruth, now if you don’t mind, leave the files, and we can discuss your rude intrusions later,” The woman snarled back.  Lately it had been a thing of her just walking into the apartment.  

As much as Rosa would have loved to sit and listen to some more BlueLake, it was a clear indication that Marnie wasn’t going to leave the apartment until they discussed some things.  So Rosa, who was still in her pajamas, heavily pregnant now, reached down and clicked the TV to silence.  “What is it, Miss.  Ruth? Could it not wait until tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow is Saturday, Miss.  Kindlewoods, the date these files need to be turned in.  If you cannot keep up with the work then you need to quit,” Marnie was saying it more of concern for the woman’s health, but here she sat sipping tea while listening to her complaints about the files that still need to be turned in.

“As far as I’m concerned Miss.  Ruth, they can wait, because those aren’t my files,” Rosa tipped her head almost in disappointment towards her actual files that she was working on currently in hands reach.  “T-these-” Marnie began, but she stopped herself seeing Rosa still had more to say.  

“Look darling, I would never be late on anything, you shall have the files now if you so please, if not, the door is still open..exactly the way you left it,” The young woman would have been gentle on her boss, but the intrusion was impeccably and alarmingly rude.

Without any say, Marnie dropped her boss act, the lines of stress fading from her forehead, age certainly looked well on Miss.  Ruth, but this Friday wasn’t her day.  “There is coffee in the kitchen, a fresh pot.  Otherwise I have tea.  Maybe you should relax some Marnie,” now Rosa was just trying to be a friend.  There are two names for this older woman because she is addressed by Miss.  Ruth to be formal.  Then Marnie is her other name, which is the woman Rosa met the day she moved into the apartment.  “I’m really sorry Rosa,” Marnie let a long frustrated groan out before collapsing on her floor next to the love seat.  “My, you look parched, why don’t I fetch you something to drink while you sit on the floor…or you could so happen to move to the couch.  Maybe some rest will do you good Marnie,” the soothing calm attitude had taken over after seeing her friend was entirely exaggerated with exhaustion.  “You really wouldn’t mind if I just fell asleep on your couch?” Marnie waited for Rosa to answer, but the woman surprisingly moved fast.  Her head peaked around the corner, acknowledging that she had said something.  

Rosa grabbed some edible rose petals from her cabinet, it was her secret touch to her tea, of course if Marnie didn’t show up, the last of the petals would be used up another day, but she was happy to do this for a friend.  When she entered back into the living room, Marnie had fallen asleep on the floor.

At first the young woman wanted to giggle at how this older woman refused to listen to her offer from earlier, but it impressed the young girl to see Marnie at least have some respect for intruding.  

So lightly, Rosa tapped on the older woman’s shoulder, waiting for her to wake up from a lovely nap, except, Marnie woke up, looked around, then stared into the eyes of Rosa with some bitterly hate glaring up at her.  “Good evening Marnie,” Rosa smirked while pushing a cup of petals into her hands.  “Drink up, it will make you feel better, my husband used to make this tea for me when I came home from working,” She didn’t speak loud enough for Marnie again, but Marnie was getting the hang of it after seeing that Rosa was no longer smirking at her, she accepted the tea without even listening. 

Rosa watched her reaction, mixed feelings clearly of the tea, “what in the world is this Rosa? It’s like I’m eating a plant, if you wanted me to leave all you had to do was say so.”

“My dear friend, this is something I used to drink with my husband a lot in England.  We went there for our honeymoon, then ended up living there for some time before moving back to the United States.  If you visited England it is completely upside down over there, did you know they drive on the wrong side of the road? It took my husband a few driving lessons before getting into a car,” she giggled some more, making her own humorous jokes that weren’t quite as funny as she thought.  “I must ask Rosa, how did your husband die? I know you said he was in the service, that he saved a lot of people with his team but himself, but what were you referring to?” Marnie slightly raised her eyebrow, waiting for that answer that hasn’t been answered yet.  

Rosa just kept staring at Marnie as if what she had asked was a secret about how he died, but her eyes sagged down to the TV, she stared at the pause button to her musical, “Marnie, my husband blew up into a million pieces, there was no, body that came home, all I received was a message, from his captain telling me my husband was dead.  That he had saved everyone but himself.  That is all Marnie,” there was a slight irritation in her voice, but it was probably because they had talked about this one time already.  

“Rosa, don’t you have a family?” She warmly gave a smile to let Rosa know she was meaning well by asking, but Rosa just grunted.  “They are dead, they died in a fire when I was five.  I was left at daycare by my Father, and well, nobody picked me up, at the end of the day,” Rosa sipped her tea trying to gather her thoughts again.  It was a stressful topic.  “So I tried to walk home by myself, ran into people, then more people, then finally I ended up in a hospital.”

She shrugged at Marnie, “then my Mother ran off with another man, there isn’t anything quite to discuss about them.  I haven’t seen her in ages, quite frankly I hope she is happy.”

“Well that’s a nice way to think of her, I’m sure she meant well.  Except, how did you end up in the hospital?” 

Rosa’s lips thinned, then she licked her dry lips before taking another sip of her rose tea, “I was abducted for ten years,” Rosa quietly replied hoping she wouldn’t hear it.  “Oh my..” Marnie breathed out before taking the young woman’s hand, “dear me, I should have never pushed you to tell me all of that, I’m sorry that I asked,” The older woman sympathized, but Rosa just shook her head at Marnie while trying not to show any sad emotions towards her past.  

“You never got in contact, ever, with your Mother? I’m sure she could have an explanation..I mean you're just going to do this all on your own?” Marnie’s voice went from being loud to a whisper.

“I’m going to do what I find best, she didn’t want me then, and she doesn’t want me now.  I am twenty five, I don’t need anyone telling me what shoe to put on.”

“Right, but sometimes it’s nice to have the help.  What if I found her, I’m sure she doesn’t know that you're heavily pregnant, I’m sure she would want to help.”

“No, forgive me, but I wish not for her to know, or let alone help me.  I lost my husband.  It doesn't mean I’m incapable of taking care of this baby by myself,” Rosa sternly glanced at Marnie, “I want you to do no such thing of contacting that woman, all she does is ruin things anyways or ask for money.”

“Well..I’m sure she’s a changed woman.”

“I’m sure,” The woman grumbled back at Marnie.  Marnie gathered the files, “I’ll stop by later tonight? Maybe we could have some more of this..rose tea..”

“I’d love that Marnie, and maybe you should get some rest?”

“I will, thank you for the tea, then scolding me for just coming in without knocking Rosa.”

The young woman let a small snort out before getting up, and leading Marnie to the door, “I look forward to it then Miss.  Ruth.”

When Marnie finally left the apartment, the young woman went back to sitting on her loveseat, something was missing though.  She smirked then turned her Spotify back on, letting the waves of the musical drift her to sleep.

A few knocks on the door is what woke her up from her small nap.  She patted her dress down before going to the door.  The woman standing on the other side though, was not Miss.  Ruth like she expected, in fact, Miss.  Ruth happened to be standing on the other side of her Mother.  “You didn’t tell me her name, so I did some looking, and..well..me and your Mother actually were friends, Miss.  Kindlewoods.”

Rosa’s eyes twitched, she just kept staring at the woman standing before her, “I beg of pardon, but I am very tired Miss.  Ruth, maybe we could..do this some other time?”

“It wasn’t Miss.  Ruth who contacted me Rosa.  My husband just wishes to meet you.”

Strangely she kept eyeing Miss.  Ruth,  then back at Rosa.  The young woman clearly didn’t have any words, she just moved out of the doorway letting them both in, she couldn’t believe how ironic it was that she was talking about her Mother with Miss.  Ruth earlier, then the woman shows up at her door without notice.  Rosa walked over to her TV again, turning the instrumental music off.  “Now, would you both like to sit or stand?”

Jenna didn’t want to intrude, the woman just stared for some time at the furniture.  “I don’t mind, either or, I will make rose tea, considering it was asked for earlier by Miss.  Ruth, I hope you don’t mind?” She tipped her head to her Mother who was looking oblivious to what she said.  In fact her eyes were on her stomach, “so..who’s your man? Or is there a man?” Jenna was hopefully trying to start some conversation.  “Sadly my husband passed away eight months ago,” Rosa breathed out under her breath.  It felt like she had to repeat herself several times, but she no longer wished to anymore.  “How did you meet Miss.  Ruth?” Jenna began again.  “She’s my boss, I happened to be heading to work one day, and the crazy woman happened to be walking in front of me, nothing more to tell.  Now, may I go make the tea or are you going to keep asking questions wasting my preparation time to make the tea?” She barked, making both of them sit.  “W-well we wouldn’t mind some tea,” Marnie gravely replied.  “Good,” she bellowed before going to the kitchen.  

The two waited for a good hour before she swiftly came out with a small tray that had three coffee cups filled with hot steamy pink rose tea.  Really Marnie forced herself to drink it, but Jenna just sniffed it before actually tempting, to try it.  “I’m pregnant, not sick! If I was sick I would have given you soup in a cup! Now drink it down, or feel welcome to drink water from the toilet! I made the tea out of love! At least my husband didn’t make those kinds of faces!”

“No he probably just spit it out when you weren’t looking,” Marnie jokes while trying to force it down her gurgling throat.  As for Jenna, she spit it back into the cup and burst with laughter, the woman was always like that though, she just laughed sometimes for no odd apparent reason.  

Marnie rolled her eyes before snatching both of their cups, “it’s good for the baby, and I perhaps spent too long in England with my late husband drinking this.”

They blinked at each other before thinking about the baby and what it thinks about the tea.  “Maybe water from the toilet wouldn’t be so bad Rosa,” Jenna started using sarcasm, which wasn’t the way to go because of Rosa’s mood.

The young woman took a seat on the floor after struggling to get down.  Rosa looked tired of course, but she hasn’t made dinner, nor has she expected more than one guest to arrive.  “Where are you staying Jenna?” Rosa seemed more concerned about the woman’s well being, she didn’t care about why, or how she ended up there, but she did just want answers.  “The hotel, down the road.”

“There are some creeps that work there Jenna, I don’t suggest it,” Marnie whispered.  Rosa wouldn’t know, she’s only been to her sister in law’s store, then the pharmacy, and local market.  They watched her tie her hair into a bun while looking up at them, content to make a deal, “I’ll let you stay, as long as you go away and never come back Jenna.  Obviously you didn’t plan this out too well.  So I do have a spare room, then you will leave in the morning.”

“No deal.  I’m sure I’ll be just fine.  There is something all of us need to discuss anyway.”

Rosa glanced at Marnie, then back at Jenna, trying to figure out what Marnie would have to do with Jenna being there to begin with.  “I hired a private investigator to find you Rosa, Marnie didn’t have anything to do with me, I just showed up.”

She began counting backwards, trying not to get so pent up of anger at the woman.  “Why were you looking for me?” Rosa calmly answered, she didn’t want to hear it, hear those words coming out of her mouth, saying she just wanted her to come home.  Instead, her Mother sat back, she let the longest groan out, then explained how she had two kids, they wanted to know about their older sister.  While the woman was explaining this, she kept glancing between Rosa and Marnie, they looked a lot alike.

“So, you want me to believe that your kids just want to meet me? I’m pregnant Jenna, I’m due in about three weeks, yet I have more planning to do with getting the baby room put together and everything baby proof, yet you wish for me to come home with you, just so I can meet the siblings you had with your significant other?” She politely declined Jenna.  “I’m sorry but I can’t go, even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t stay long.  I have a baby to think about now.”

The young woman got up, took those cups of tea to the kitchen, dumping all that tea down the sink while smiling.  She knew it was disgusting, it’s just something she likes to drink, because it soothes her.  As she washed the little cups, she listened to them both chatting up a storm about how big she was, she was now trying not to snap at them to shut up, but instead she just listened to them.

“I heard that you were married, Jenna, but I didn’t think you had any kids with that man, I am confused.”

“O-oh, I’m sorry that I didn’t include you, really,” she glanced away shamefully from her dear old friend, then Marnie softly padded Jenna on the shoulder, “it’s fine Jenna, I just am surprised is all, back then when you were with that man, I heard you adopted a girl.”

Rosa frowned when she heard it, then sadly Jenna admitted it.  Rosa was now leaning against the doorway to the kitchen, “if I’m adopted, why did you bother coming all this way? I mean, it would make no difference, that you left my Father for someone else, would it not? You not only left him, but you left me.  So why do you think that you could just come here and want me to come with you to meet your husband if we aren’t even a real family?”

Rosa kept shaking her head while pinching her eyebrows together, she couldn’t really talk at the moment, disbelief had shaded over her head, “I’m going to go lay down for a while, try not to disturb me.”

For some time she just stayed in her room, until she couldn’t stand it anymore . She went to the bathroom, got undressed, then went into the shower, washing off the steamy rage.  When she got out, she felt a lot better, seeing how the warm water calmed her angering thoughts.  

They had been waiting for her to come out, Jenna had her purse settled over her arm, “I’m leaving Rosa, I think..if you want to look for your parents, they aren’t far, in fact she could be closer than you think.”

The woman apologized one last time before going out the door, “well, don’t you want to find her now Rosa?” Marnie was more interested than Rosa in this hunt.  “I said I didn’t need a parent, why don’t you understand that?” She crossed her arms stubbornly.  “She said the woman was close, Rosa, why not try? What if she just wants you just as much?” Marnie started begging, she just wanted someone to be with Rosa through this.  “I don’t want to talk anymore about this Marnie.  I need to get that stupid crib together yet,” Rosa sighed.  

“Really? You seriously want nothing to do with whoever it is?” Marnie slightly tipped her head.  “No, I’m not looking,” she strangled out.  The woman looked very pale for a moment, “I think..” Rosa began, but she gripped the door some more to keep herself from spinning.  Marnie snapped herself in place of that door, helping Rosa to the loveseat, “are you..okay?”

“Stop looking at me like I’m an eggshell that’s about to break Marnie! I just need to sleep.”

“Rest you mean?” She could tell she hit a nerve by the looks of Rosa’s face, but the pregnant woman then started feeling that baby all right.  “You can go Marnie, it’s fine.”

“Really? You are telling me that after I just watched you almost pass out near the kitchen door?” Her voice was filled with worry, but Rosa didn’t want her to worry so much about her.  

The young woman just nodded, keeping her pain from showing on her face, so it did convince Marnie that she was fine.

….

Accidental Fall

The morning breeze swifted in from a window that Marnie had left open, it was of course Saturday, she took her pleasant time getting her outfit together for the day, then a healthy course of breakfast that her cooks made up.   Finally her daily routine to go wake Rosa up from the next door apartment.  The girl sometimes did sleep in.  Marnie knocked before going in, but that woman was nowhere, but the door was unlocked, she kept thinking of the other night then she quickly went downstairs.  

Some older ladies were chastising about something, they were usually the drama attendants, so of course they would know if anything happened.  They greeted Miss.  Ruth with a hello, but then Marnie asked the question, “have any of you seen a heavily pregnant woman go by here?”

“Ahh, she is in the hospital, poor dear, she tried getting down the steps by herself, didn’t you hear the ambulance? Francis, my husband found her passed out on the steps, she was rushed fast.”

“W-what..I didn’t..hear anything..” Marnie started to break, she couldn’t believe that Rosa didn’t just ask for help, then it came to mind that Rosa turned her away from her own apartment room.  Marnie growled before asking what hospital, still nothing was prepared for that baby to yet come, the older woman worried about the things upstairs like the crib that wasn’t set up yet.  It didn’t matter, the young woman needed support anyways whether or not she liked it.

When the woman showed up at the hospital, she just waited for some good news, but people were rushing in and out of emergency, then finally Marnie had the courage to ask, “is there something wrong with her?”

The doctor sighed, “are you family?” He was very stern with those words.  “Yes, I am her aunt.”

More like a boss, but she got the information she needed.  Rosa did fall down the steps, and her pregnancy came early, but now the problem was, they needed consent from her, but she wasn’t conscious enough to give them consent to get the baby out.  So Marnie just nodded, giving them permission, he then did a 360 turn around, going back into emergency.  

She waited for what seemed like hours, until a nurse came out, asking the blood type of the woman, Rosa was losing blood, way too much, “She needs type O.”

“I’m..type O.”

So, they hooked her up, and then transferred blood to Rosa while she was knocked out.  Marnie waited once more, waited for someone to just stop running and tell her what was going on, but instead, for the time being, they let Marnie accompany the baby.  Marnie thought it was going to be twins, luckily for Rosa, she had a lot on her hands now.  The baby looked very much like it’s Mother, but it only made Marnie think of her own baby she used to have.  “Ohh..my how they both look so much alike.”

The doctor finally came out, he looked more focused, his eyes glued to Marnie though, “she is just fine, but she needs to stay for probably a week at least, although she hasn’t awakened from the medication we had to give her, but when she does, it’s best to lightly talk to her, because she might not quite understand anything right away.  The fall gave her a concussion but the woman will do just fine.”

“Oh.  May I see her now?” Marnie looked around him, but he just chuckled while nodding to her.  When Marnie went into the room, she kept staring at the bandage on the woman’s head, at the moment the baby was being carefully monitored just in case because the baby did come early.  Which just left Rosa to wake up.  Marnie took a quick peek at the papers sitting on a clip that the doctor left, the woman’s name wasn’t Rosa, it was Sun, she just uses her middle name.  Marnie kept reading more, then looking back at, Sun.

Instead of sticking around, Marnie went to work, but she came back later that night to look over her friend.  She was awake, sitting up with the baby tucked in the arms of its Mother.  “So, what did you name the baby?”

“Ah, so you must be my aunt?” Rosa giggled a tad before looking up at the woman, then the nurse came in from behind, “is this your Mother? You two are awfully alike.”

Rosa snorted but then she frowned, “n-no, we aren’t even related, she’s just..an aunt.”

Marnie glanced at the nurse, then she looked back at the woman holding the tiny baby, and Marnie of course kept thinking about the comment Jenna made on Friday night. 

When Rosa finally got to go home with the baby, Marnie couldn’t help but try and at least help, she went, and put the crib together for Marnie while the woman fell asleep on the loveseat with the tiny Melony wrapped in her arms.  

But when Marnie finished, she came out, lightly tapped on the shoulder of the sleepy Mother, “it’s time, she can finally go to sleep in her own crib.”

Rosa had some help getting up from her loveseat, “then I think maybe we should get something checked, like maybe a DNA test..you do kind of have my chin,” Marnie teased her.  “Also, why do you proceed to let me call you Rosa? You didn’t tell me your real name was Sun.”

“Because it’s not important.”

“I had a daughter named Sun, it sounds pretty important to me.”

“U-um, maybe the doctor made a mistake by letting the crazy woman see me in the hospital.”

“Oh, am I sensing some attitude? I understand now why they assumed we were family, and why Jenna kept looking at the two of us funny.  Or why she said that your Mother is a lot closer than you think.”

“I think you're getting ahead of yourself.  I’m sorry you lost your little girl when she was a baby.”

“How did you know about that?”

“The office isn’t really quiet about secrets, Marnie.  Plus, just because Jenna said that, doesn’t make it true, she could have said it to get under my skin, that lady knows how to bug people in the worst ways possible,” She grumbled.  Her bad temper wasn’t removed, so Marnie concluded that she was just a strong spirited girl growing up.  “Well, fine, I agree with you.  It would be strange if she was still alive after all, and how my friend got ahold of you would also be strange.”

“See, I’m sure kidnapping a baby isn’t in the category of wrongs my Mother has done.”

Rosa tipped Melony up, the tiny thing was going to cry any moment if she didn’t get her to the crib.  When Rosa got done putting that baby to sleep, she came out, her hands placed on her hips, “it’s such a mess in here,” Rosa beamed at all the toys for the baby that Marnie spoiled that baby with.  “I can pick it all up Rosa, why don’t you just sit? Maybe rest?”

“I said I was fine doing things alone Marnie, I don’t need help, plus, you have work to be doing.  My maternity leave has really come earlier than I hoped for, I’m sorry for putting so much work on you.”

“Oh don’t fret over little things like that, my business is doing just fine, right now my daughter is managing just fine with her brother,” Marnie waved it off like is was nothing, but really she was having that bug in her ear telling her to panic from leaving the company in the hands of her kids for now.  “I’d like to ask,” Marnie once more began as she picked up some toys, “what exactly happened to you when you were a kid? You told me that you ended up in the hospital after ending up here and there.”

She kept eyeing Rosa to see if it bothered her to talk about such a thing, but Rosa nodded, disappointed in a kind of way, “I’m sure you are curious, everyone needs to be at some point of time in their life.  Long story short, I was kidnapped by some creeps who prayed on children,” Rosa flattened her hands on her stomach, while taking a short breath.  Marnie had no words after Rosa had just told her this.  “They would involve drugs when I wasn’t going to let them get their way, then a woman killed herself just to get their attention, giving me an escape.  I went through the woods, traveled for days until I found some hikers.  Now, is there anything else I need to enlighten you on about my past? I certainly find no trouble in telling such things, for it is better for people to know a truth and tale, what is in the past stays in the past, for what I hold dear now is my child.  My husband died a hero, and I never grieved, I didn’t see any point in it, I was blinded by the feelings of numbness.  Only now do I realize how much I need him,” she admitted, she needed help, and she was almost begging Marnie as she talked.  

“He would have come home, if he would have never saved those men, but when he came home, he came home in a coffin, leaving me a widow, a pregnant widow, to think I had such silly ideas for the future to come for the three of us.”

Marnie started feeling an ounce bad for the woman, she has had a lot of tests pushed onto her, yet she is here, built together and not broken, not for a second.  “I got into Yale because my Father got money from the divorce, he told me he wanted me to be someone, somebody who would make a difference, so I did,” she started to smile while unclasping her hands, and her face had settled down from looking so hurt.  

“He should be proud I’m sure Rosa, you have done a lot,” The older woman then proceeded back to picking things up.  “He wouldn’t be proud Miss.  Ruth, I know that’s for certain, because he objected to my marriage, he always knew what was best for me.  Without my husband though, I wouldn’t have Melony.  For my husband will always be my first and last.”

Marnice watched as Rosa finally took her seat on that loveseat, “which is why, I have managed to do lots on my own, and still would love to, because it will show my daughter that I am strong, strong enough to keep the family together, strong enough to work and be a Mother.”

Marnie smiled, “strong, independent woman, I couldn’t ask for a better worker myself, I appreciate you Miss.  Kindlewoods.”

Hearing that she was at least a good worker, made her feel like she wanted to get back to work, but she still had Melony to take care of, so for now things would need to be taken slow, because time was needed.  Even though Rosa didn’t want to get a DNA test, Marnie waited for Rosa to sleep, before taking a bandaid off and replacing the bandaid after getting a swab of blood on a cotton ball.  The woman was crazy, but she had her reasons, suspicions.  

The test results came back two weeks later, about that time where Marnie had forgotten what she did, but when she went downstairs to receive her mail, a big envelope was sticking out of the box.  At first she looked around, seeing how it was awfully strange that it was just stuffed inside, but she began taking it out, glancing quickly at the title before joyfully running upstairs to her apartment.

Rosa on the other hand, was dealing with several things at once, a phone call, then baby, then another phone call from her late husband's parents.  She hadn’t told anyone that she gave birth, so she just happened to stop by and see Willow, and Willow spread the word like a wildfire.  Now the grandparents of the baby wouldn’t stop calling, they wished to visit after all.

There was a slight knock on the door before it opened, which could only be Marnie who comes in without asking permission, so Rosa didn’t mind, the last few weeks she has been helping, so has Willow.  They take their time to adjust, especially when Rosa tells them to leave all the time, but they don’t even listen to her anymore, they just help.  

Rosa hung up the phone, even though her Mother in law was still chatting up a storm about visiting, she then focused down on the baby.  “I’m sorry honey, but you will wear this diaper even if you don’t want to wear it!” She wasn’t being mean, she just was tired of fighting with the diaper, little Melony hated getting it changed then put into little baby clothes.  Marnie didn’t look happy, but she did just glance at the mess around, seeing that it was quite the stressful day for Rosa.  “Is there something you need Miss.  Ruth? I am quite busy at the moment,” no, really at the moment Rosa didn’t care why she was there, she was thinking about investing in ear muffs to keep her from getting a migraine.   

“You know I like to help, I’m here, so I’ll get started on cleaning some things.”

“I still need to breastfeed her, probably why she's too cranky this morning.  Not sure if you’d like to stay for that.”

“If you’d like I can step out, but I see nothing wrong with giving a baby its needs to live.  I don’t mean that in any necessarily bad way Miss.  Kindlewood.”

“You sound upset, what brings you?” Rosa spat out while trying to get little Melony to stop fussing, but still no cigar.  So Rosa made a funny face, distracting her from the diaper change, it seemed to work, but she mumbled out a lot of little cries, then finally the exhausted mother got that diaper on.  Next part was breastfeeding.  

As Rosa got her breast feeding stuff together, Marnie sat and waited in the living room, giving Rosa privacy.  When the woman came out, she was still breastfeeding, just covered up.  She was watching Marnie gather the toys around, like always, she just doesn’t want Rosa to trip on something at night, or day.  “You really don’t need Marnie, I was going to get to that.”

“I see no reason why I can’t help you.  Now, what else would you like me to help with? You seem to have your hands full today?”

“I’m a bit running behind schedule, my feeding and everything else just got bumped to different times because my in-laws won’t leave me alone about Melony.  It’s fine, they should be arriving at the airport some time tomorrow, I didn’t give her enough time to chat my ear off about the time they are arriving.  I do know that I won’t be the one picking them up, so I hope they find a ride, or maybe they will get ahold of Willow.”

“Maybe I could have someone pick them up, so you don’t need to worry too much about it, alright?” Marnie wanted to help her friend out, it wasn’t a chore for her.  “Marnie, I don’t understand why you see me as a friend? After all, we barely know each other and you seem to click with my heels..it kind of gets annoying, but I enjoy the company when I don’t need any.  You seem to never leave when I so badly want you too, oddly, you are a unique woman,” Rosa stated as if none of it was an insult, but Marnie just let a small laugh out at Rosa. 

The young woman was pleased that she didn’t take it the wrong way, it seemed as though Marnie was just an optimistic woman, while Rosa was more serious, diverted.  “You didn’t really just come here to clean Miss.  Ruth, so spit it out, why are you upset?” 

“You’re right, I am upset, but it’s nothing to concern yourself with.”

“So is Hailey and Ben doing fine with the company?”

“Of course, it’s as if they..are naturals.”

Rosa laughed, Marnie’s eyes were twitching, “you know, you're a very bad liar Miss.  Ruth, I’m sure you’d be an easy read at a poker game.”

“Why thank you.”

She watched as the young mother went back to the kitchen, but when she came back, the baby was not in her arms, but in nap mode in her crib.  Marnie got up off the floor, seeing how no more baby things were out, or hiding under the couch.  “Rosa, you remember when we talked about your Mother being somewhere close and you didn’t want to find her?” Marnie could tell that this wasn’t a discussion Rosa was up to hear about.  

The young woman took a seat, then let out a groan, “do we really need to discuss this again?” Her attitude towards the subject had changed, she was more than tired of hearing it come up.  

“Rosa, I’m sure you didn’t want to find her, but it seems like fate is more cruel than you think.  Maybe if you’d let her, you could perhaps give her a chance?”

She was trying to read Rosa’s face, the woman just kept chewing on her bottom lip, then she relaxed herself more into the loveseat, “what is this about Marnie? Is there something important you wish to tell me?”

“Oh no darling, I have nothing, I was just upset at one of my kids.”

“Really? The company is doing just terrible now? Maybe it’s best you just go off then.  I really don’t need much help.  Now why did you bring the Mom thing up again Marnie?”

Even though Rosa didn’t want to talk about it, she bit her tongue just to hear Marnie out on what she had found.  “Oh it was nothing.  Rosa, how about I make dinner for you tonight while you take a nap? I can even babysit your little baby while you rest.”

To be kind, the young woman smiled, then just nodded, “I look forward to you arriving then.”

“Or maybe I can stay until then and help?” Marnie kept looking at the dirty carpet and dust everywhere, it was no place really to live in, but Rosa had plans before this pregnancy to get things together.  “I wouldn’t be intruding? I mean…a baby and me-”

“Are family,” Marnie squealed with excitement that she was going to actually accept the offer, then linked arms with Rosa leading her back upstairs.  

The Law’s  agreed to stay two more nights before heading back, regretfully Rosa was starting to change her mind apart from inviting them, actually they weren’t invited, they just showed up out of nowhere.  They took little Melony off her hands though, giving her space to just relax a while.

As soon as Marnie got Rosa settled in the apartment, she started to notice the baby panic mode swiveling into that girl’s head.  “She was just born a few nights ago, I really don’t think leaving her with them is a good idea,” Rosa began while looking nervously at her watch, “honey, she will be just fine, you gave them everything that they need to know, Melony is always a door away, on the meantime, maybe you should just sit back, take a breather.”

“It’s not simple, who knows!? Whoever stole your baby will probably want mine too! This was a terrible idea Marnie! I would feel so much safer if you didn’t know what I knew!”

“Then you wouldn’t see me as the woman I need to be! Melony will be okay!”

Rosa was calmed down after some distractions, like opera, it was the only thing that Marnie knew to calm the woman down with, so for quite some time they sat listening to opera.  Rosa finally did see reasoning though so she turned off the big speaker that was screaming at them.  “Mother, you have a strange way of doing things.”

Rosa looked a little pale for a second, she relaxed her head more onto the couch, “I feel a tad dizzy.”

Marnie quickly got over near her, “Rosa, look at me,” she did, but she seemed really sick, “have you been eating anything?”

“I have..I just don’t remember when.”

“Honey, you need to keep your strength up for that baby, now come, we will sit you at the table, my cooks will make something.”

“You have cooks? Why do you have cooks in an apartment building?”

“Alright, if I’m being honest, this isn’t really where I live, but I do live here, for the time being..my kids decided to play a prank on me, and they won, so I’m staying here while they get the house, but I do have to return soon.”

“That’s great, you will return, then I can leave this miserable place and go back to my home.”

“You..have a home?”

“Of course, I just don’t stay in it because my husband died,” Rosa lightly cringed, “what is that ghastly smell Marnie??”

“It’s food.  It smells good-”

“I think it smells really nasty-” Rosa didn’t get the chance to continue on with what she was going to say, so she went to the bathroom and started throwing up.  “Oh..darling you need to eat something.”

Still the stubborn woman wouldn’t eat anything, Marnie sent her to bed because of her being stubborn.  After some time Melony got dropped off because they wanted to sleep, Marnie was splendidly excited to hang out with her grandbaby, it wasn’t like all those other times, it was special because this was Rosa’s baby, and this baby was part of the new generation to the family.  Not a single time did the small baby cry while being held by Marnie, probably from being an experienced Mother of two other kids.  For some time she rocked the baby to sleep, only because they fed her before bringing her over which meant the baby was ready for some rest.  

Except when Rosa heard the baby, that’s when she got up, she peeked into the master bedroom, seeing Marnie all ready for bed in her silky pajamas while holding Melony.  Rosa smiled a hint, before turning right around to go back to her bed.

The morning sun burst into the room, waking the little baby up, her tiny cry screamed until it woke Rosa up.  Marnie was already tending to the diaper change, but Rosa stepped up close to the crib, “when did you get a baby crib?”

“Well, I decided that maybe I should.  Rosa, I want you to live here.”

“Huh? Are you nutz?”

“According to you I am.  So yes, I just want you to stay here when I get back home.   You will have this place to yourself, my staff can help you, they need the money Rosa.  So what do you think?”

“Did you move my things while I was sleeping?” Rosa kept glancing around seeing a lot of her things in the apartment.  “Kind of, but your in-laws also think it will be a good idea, because they want to be closer, so they are willing to stay in the other apartment.”

“B-but I worked hard for my apartment Marnie, this isn’t just a simple move, I got this apartment to get away from my husband's death, and the memories.  If I move back home, my child will have a house to live in.  I don’t exactly come from a rich family, but I know when something isn’t right,” Rosa let a frustrated groan out, “you really want me to just stay here for free?”

“I want what’s best for you.”

“I know Mom, but I have a life I need to get back to before I can just move on without him.”

She kept reading her daughter’s face now, there was no expression, “you didn’t love him?”

“No, sadly not, just the fact he left me pregnant is what pissed me off.  We married young, because I was foolish, we eloped one night then found out we were for real married, we weren’t the brightest couple.  Let’s just say we went on the honeymoon, then we split up, because his parents were moving, not to mention that we got back together when we found out we were both married but by then he was already moved on.  So, I kind of became his mistress, on the other hand we had a house together that he spent with me on weekends whenever he could.”

Marnie’s mouth dropped, she couldn’t believe that they were that foolish to think marriage was a simple thing to play with.  “Maybe he did love me, either way we made more than one mistake, then long story short, he ended up being mine and dying right afterwards.”

She kept bouncing the little Melony making the tiny thing laugh, “he never got to know his daughter and never will, which was why I left my beach house, I left it because I couldn’t afford to look at everything he left me with,” she somewhat frowned at Marnie.  “You just called me Mom.”

“Don’t even..rub it in, I’m tired, that’s the only reason I called you that.”

“I kind of like the sounds of it though Sunny-”

“Nobody calls me Sunny, don’t call me Sunny.”

“But I do now, Sunny,” she clicked after saying Rosa’s name that way again.  “Now Sunny, why don’t we have a proper dinner tonight? You still won’t eat anything.”

“I will eat something, just not made by a cook! You want me to stay here, then I will do my own cooking, I’m not helpless.”

“But you could use time with Melony sweets, it’s not that I don’t think you're helpless, I just want to help.”

“You're only wanting me to stay inside this apartment so that I don’t leave back to my house on the islands.”

“True, but darling there are hurricanes and-”

“Family, I have family there, my friends are waiting for me to come back, I came here to get away from it all, don’t you understand that? Nobody even knew I was pregnant, so I came here to get away from everything.  Anyways, the passing of my husband is coming up, I will have to go back.”

“Back?”

“Yes, back, it’s better for me to just go back home.  Where I had a life going, I needed to face things on my own.  Clearly it was a mistake coming here and taking your dumb job offer.  I’m an artist, you were curious how I got into college, well I certainly didn’t have rich parents, or a scholarship, I’m a pianist.  It’s the only thing that I actually can do without screwing up the job.”

“You weren’t screwing up this job honey-”

“I don’t even know what I’m doing, I went to Yale and studied, I passed, but I did it all for myself.  Not to work under someone, no offense, you could be a great boss, but I am an artist.”

She listened to the small baby cry in her ear as she rocked the little one, it was time for breastfeeding.

“How about you stay only a year?” Marnie pleaded, honestly she just wanted to be closer to Rosa, get to know her more, something was off about her past, she just wouldn’t talk straight with it all.  Now she is a pianist? 

While Rosa was playing with Melony after the breastfeeding and burping, Marnie decided to look into her real name, then her last name being Jesswoods instead of Kindlewoods.  It all came up, the woman simply disappeared after her husband died.  It was quite a mystery, still remained as a mystery, but there were quite some rumors on the pages as Marnie kept looking.  Rosa looked over it, every single thing she could read up about her daughter. 

The young woman struggled through a lot of hardships, she didn’t have any parents, not since she was abducted, she lied, maybe it was perhaps that Rosa just didn’t want to tell Marnie some of these things.  Sunny was the name she used back on the islands, she was married, her husband died, those things were true, but not a single person knew she was pregnant, they had all assumed she just went off leaving her mansion on the beach.

“You know, you could have asked me instead of looking into it?” Sun snapped at Marnie.  

“I’m sorry darling, I was just curious that’s all, I meant very much well, but why did you lie to me?”

“Because you didn’t need to know I was a professional pianist, for your information you weren’t anything but a crazy woman that I worked for…sadly still work for,” she murmured that last part before handing her little Melony, “I need to pee, hold her.”

“Oh, okay.”

Marnie was already getting used to it, holding that baby came naturally because it never cried while being in her arms.  Then Marnie turned in her squeaky desk chair making her hair loose up from the bun and fall onto her shoulders, which she dreadfully regretted now moving fast.  That little baby had her tiny hands grabbing ahold of Marnie’s hair.  Sun came back seeing this disaster happening, but she could only laugh as Marnie dreadfully bellowed for help.  “Keep your hair up, otherwise she likes to pull, for some reason it’s her favorite thing to do.”

“She’s so strong for a tiny baby!” Marnie grumbled then finally ripped the baby to its Mother.  One look back at Marnie and then she started balling her eyes out.  Sun then waited until Marnie got her hair back tied then took the baby on.

Sun took a seat on the floor watching such a natural thing happen, “she cries when I hold her,” the young woman’s voice sounded so mournful, she was starting to miss her husband at that moment, she may have lied when she told her Mom that she had no love for him, after all, she did continue to have sex with her husband after they moved in together and everything was situated out with his side chick.  “You know, she loves you Sunny, she seems really tired now though.”

Marnie was now looking at the woman’s eyes, how she looked completely sad.  It occurred to her that Sunny once told her that she never mourned her husband, she just put the baby first, except now the baby is here, and yet she is realizing she really can’t raise the baby alone.  Marnnie watched her sit up though, getting on her knees then holding her arms out for little Melony. 

….

Fly Away

Even though Sun said she had to leave, she stayed just because Marnie asked, Marnie left though, going home, but on occasions they met up.  It wasn’t until Sunny learned her place though that she realized that the life she was going into was the life she didn’t want for little Melony.

Everything was going just fine, the lies of Sunny’s past were cleaned up a tad bit.  It was an afternoon, Sunday.  Just a day before the passing of Sun’s late husband, but she kept pushing it away from her mind.  She got dressed into a yellow dress with daisies printed on it, she tied her black hair back, then finished it off by turning it into a very long braid that went to her back.  It was in those quick five moments that she managed to get herself together.  The in-laws were waiting though, they were going to go for a stroller walk with Melony while Sun went out for a little while.  

It would have been a very delightful day to walk out into the sunlight, but when she went to step out with the stroller right behind her with tiny Melony in it, the in-laws weren’t waiting, it so happened to be a man and woman standing before her.  “Ahh..so you're the woman? Seriously?” The woman spoke up first.  “May I ask who you both are?” Sun mumbled.  “Richard, and Jen.  We are Marnie’s kids, and you are..well..I guess you’re a so-called child that’s been missing since birth,” Jen snorted.  

Sun minded her own when she was insulted once more by the looks of the two of them.  “So, what makes you think you can just come here and live for scott free?” Richard snarled while leaning against the doorway, “look you can’t squat on our mother just because you think you're her real daughter.”

At first she thought of barking at them to shut up, but then she thought that maybe it was best not to say anything at all, let them rant.  “You're just after the money,” Sunny laughed.  Nonetheless did Sun think of hitting, but she kept her fist at her sides.  “Anyways, we came by to tell you, you're fired, also don’t come back to this apartment,” Richard briefly rolled his eyes looking at Sun’s expression of surprise towards what he said, “did you not hear him? You're done, as in, done with the company, go back to whatever dumpster you came from Sun, because Mom doesn’t want a low life tagging in on her apartment anymore, in fact, that came straight from her.”

“You two seem to have some nerve,” Sun began, while grabbing the stroller some more, they just blinked at the baby.  “Ohh, a homewrecker too, what a surprise,” Jen gasped.  Sun turned her back to them to deal with her crying baby now, the two idiots had woken the baby up.  She just started to doze off in the stroller.  “Get out of my way,” Sun growled at the two, they weren’t moving though.  

Sun shoved right on through, making them step back away from the door so that she could grab the stroller and get away from those insane people.  “Who do you think you are!?” Jen grumbled along with her dumb brother.  

“I’m Sunny Kindlewood, that’s who I am, if I want to shove you..darling, I so pleasingly will.  Now tell me where the closest airport is, you two freaks, otherwise I’m going to personally show you what a very angry mother looks like! If one of you happens to peep another word out of your mouth, you’ll regret it.  I haven’t slept in the past few weeks, and now you have really pissed me off, act your age!” She scolded them as if they were kids, although it seemed to work because Jen looked scared.  They were after all older than she was, she knew this already.  “It’s pleasing to hear that you're willing to leave,” Richard chuckled.

She knew it was a dumb idea anyways to live there, since Marnie did leave, she has only seen her three times out of the month.  It no longer mattered to Sun, she didn’t wish to stay any longer.  “Oh, don’t forget to take your things with you,” Jen just waited to say that as Sun was walking away from the conversation with Melony.  

The two obviously weren’t going to help her get to the airport, so she called Willow.

“Where are you planning on going?”

“Home, I’m going home..”

“You brought no luggage, or anything for the baby? Why don’t you just come home with me? Are you seriously going to take the baby away from us? It’s bad enough that Charlie died on that dumb island!”

“Don’t talk about Charlie like that, he didn’t die on that island, he was buried there.”

“You still love him don’t you? I mean I know things were complicated at the time, but-”

“I will always love your brother Willow, not a single time do I not think of him, my heart is yearning to be with him,” she cried quietly, “please just don’t tell anyone where we went.”

“O-okay..but-”

“I’m going back, I have run too far from my comfort anyways, this city life is killing me.”

“Don’t you have any awards yet to be received? That’s why you came here, right? It wasn’t totally for that job?” 

She never told her sister-in-law that she was there for the job, she wanted to spread her wings out a little, she wanted to blend into society and forget about Charlie, but everything about this place, New York, just screamed Charlie.  “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine, just..don’t tell anyone, I beg of you.”

“Why do you want to be alone so much?”

“Because, I know what’s best for me, and for the baby.”

Willow sighed, then gave her a reassuring look to Sun, she was going to keep the promise of telling nobody.

The young woman then took the stroller, and went to her private jet that she came in, now was leaving once more.  She didn’t leave any notes for anyone, she just took the baby, and went back to her hometown.

….

Big Girl Pants

Some friends of hers were waiting, actually, they were sitting on her porch, as if expecting her to show up, but there was a man of interest who had been wanting to get to know Sun a little more.  When she got out with the tiny baby in her arms sleeping, they all tensed up.  Surely enough the young woman did lose a lot of weight since she had the baby, but she was screaming Mother now.  

Sun paid no attention to their mouths hanging open, she just unlocked the door, then went inside to her empty dust ball of a mansion.  Her heels kept clicking on the stone flooring as she went down the big hallway.  Everything was covered in white sheets to protect furniture.  “We figured you’d come back around this time.”

The ride had lasted a complete two nights, so she was tired not only from the baby, but from crying.  “Why did you just disappear on us, Sunny?” Kathy poked her arm while looking over her shoulder to see the tiny baby.  “Because, I needed some time to think, now I’m home, this is her home also now.”

“Is she..is she Charlie’s baby?” Benson quietly added.  Sunny looked back at her four friends, Benson, Kathy, Faith, and Tomb.  “This is Melony, and yes, she is Charlie’s baby.  Now if you so please, leave me be.”

They hesitated before actually turning away from her, leaving just as she asked.  When the door shut, she couldn’t help but finally take in a deep breath of dust.  “Ohh, I’m sorry sweets, this was the least place that I would have brought us, but it’s all I can afford right now.”

She had practically given up being a pianist after her husband died, she had moved on.  What was supposed to be a start over, ended up being a repeat.  Now she needed to make money somehow.  She cleaned every room in the house but one room.  The piano sat filled with dust, and the shades from the big windows were so thick with dust that she couldn’t bring herself to commit to doing anymore housework.

After some time of supposed spring cleaning, she took her time to play with little Melony, then she took a nap with the baby in the living room.  Melony of course had her own room, Sun had prepared everything to surprise her late husband of the pregnancy, except he never came home to see it.

After a quiet nap with the baby, she went on to the next step of changing her diaper, then breastfeeding.  The young woman was beyond exhausted, she was about ready to pass out.  Luckily she noticed a few yawns from Melony too though, so when the chance came around, Sun put her to bed upstairs, then fell asleep next to the crib on the soft carpeted floor.  

Coming back seemed like a nightmare to Sun, she tried so hard forgetting this place, but her friends were not far from thoughts.  It was a very small community after all, it wasn’t like she could just up and leave things.

Sun slept longer than she thought, but thanks to Melony sleeping like an angel, she surprisingly got enough sleep to get her thinking together.  

The first thing that she thought of, was selling the house, except she loved the beach, and how the sun rose above the waves, it was all the things that Charlie loved about the calm setting place.  

It wasn’t like Sun didn’t have money, but it wasn’t enough to get by on groceries, plus the house payment.  Then there was Melony, she couldn’t just think about groceries, Melony needed diapers, baby wipes.  The only way to get back on her feet was to play that old piano in that dusted room.  Furthermore, she ended up cleaning the rest of the house, when she finally got it all finished, she started playing again, of course she was rusty, but it was like riding a bike.  

As Melony watched from the baby swing, she started to drift asleep from the soft sounds of the piano.  

She had begun to miss it without even realizing it.  The night strolled along, until finally she got tired, but now little Melony wanted to stay up all night long.  So Sun was up and down with Melony and the outbursts of crying.  

It wasn’t until finally the doorbell rang and she was caught off guard of sleep, wake up, then sleep again, and of course at the moment Melony was asleep, but now, she was awake.  

When she opened the door, she noticed who it was, then slammed the door again before slumping in defeat.  Now Marnie had her reasons to come, and one of them being, they were supposed to meet that night, but when Marnie went to the apartment she was gone, no notes, lights out, the place was nice and neat.  So she took the late night plane right after Willow explained where she was going.  

Sun started to fall back to sleep near the door until the doorbell buzzed once again, she started to feel like she was in a dream, a very bad one, where she couldn’t escape it.  So she replayed what she just did, opened the door, there stood Marnie still, then she shut it.  The bags under her eyes were starting to make Marnie understand why she kept opening, closing, then opening the door.  It wasn’t until Marnie stopped it the fifth time the door went to swing.  Sun just amazingly stared, “wow, this is not like any other dream I was just having, where you stood there, I closed the door, then opened it, and you were still standing there.  Now you are moving, interesting.  What a nightmare,” she said this while looking Marnie up and down, seeing that she was wearing some fancy looking clothes while Sun was just wearing a teacher-like outfit.  “Um, so, I thought we were going to have dinner the other night.”

“Ohh, so this is real,” Sun slammed the door in her face, feeling the anger from earlier starting to upgrade again.  There wasn’t a reason for the two idiot twins to come and tell Sun she was fired, but it happened, now she was seeing for the first time what her so-called family is really like.  

It had been the perfect moment though, Melony started crying, which left Sun to go upstairs and tend to her while the doorbell kept going off.  After she changed Melony’s diaper, it was once more, breastfeeding time, because turns out, it was officially day time.  Now was the perfect moment that she needed Charlie.  

She sat down in a chair that had a hand stitched blanket draped along the back of it.  Her hands had the little Melony, there she just held the baby girl close until she stopped crying.  Sun felt herself drifting asleep as her baby was breastfeeding, but she tried opening her eyes more.  Luckily, just as she got done tidying her dress up and burping the little one, Marnie had just walked right on into the room.

“Now, that was uncalled for Miss.  Kindlewoods!” Marnie was scolding her, but it was as if Sun couldn’t understand a single word she was saying.  Sun just got up, about fell right on over while handing her the baby, it wasn’t that she was tired all the time, she was just very weak still from the hospital and giving birth.

After handing the baby over she collapsed onto her knees, and wept until she was out like a light bulb.  Marnie couldn’t move her by herself, so she took the stitched blanket, then a pillow from one of the bedrooms in the big house, and made Sun comfortable for the time being.  Marnie didn’t know why Sun just up and left without saying anything, but she thought maybe it had something to do with her late husband? 

Even though the young woman slept for a very long while, Marnie looked after little Melony in the meantime.  The older woman waited for the baby to fall asleep before even tempting to check on Sun.  Sun found that baby to be the most important thing in the entire world, Marnie knew this.  The three times that she visited Sun with the baby, she had her hands full, didn’t look as tired as she was now, but she just kept sleeping until the baby started making loud little cry.

Marnie watched it all unravel before her, Sun was so exhausted that she almost tumbled making her way to the crib, but she gripped the bars of it, pulled herself together.  “Sun, let me take care of her, it will be just fine.”

“No, I want you to leave,” she had gone from a strong woman to a quiet woman who was barely whispering.  For quite some time Marnie had only seen the strong side of the young woman because of the pregnancy, but inside this house it was like she was meeting Sun all over again.  Quiet, shy, Sun.  The other thing that Marnie couldn’t help but notice was how skinny her daughter was.  It had only been a couple months after all, it wasn’t until now that she could tell a difference.  

Certainly the young woman was skinny, but she still had the boobs from having Melony and the hips.  Sun had extremely changed, “have you been eating?”

“Of course I have, now please just leave, take whatever plane you came on and go away.”

“Why so mean now?”

“If you think meeting me three times was really going to make me consider you as family, you got me wrong, also I wasn’t after any money,” Sun rolled her eyes drastically at Marnie, before picking Melony up.  “Your dumb kids decided to give me a visit and inform me that I no longer have a job.  Quite frankly I should have left when I thought I should have.  Now I’m doing what’s best for Melony, that’s keeping her far away from you, because having you a part of her life to just be there one minute to help, then the next your not, it just won’t work that way.”

“T-they fired you? Personally, came to you?”

“Look, you probably didn’t know that they even went, but I don’t want to feel comfortable around you, or around that dumb apartment building, it was your idea for me to move in that stupid apartment so that I’d be closer to the in-laws with them being right across from me.  Then I was still working from home, I was doing my job.  Now I need to find some other job..” She stared off for some time.  “If you so please, stay one night, I don’t care, but one night is all you have to stay here Marnie.”

“Why?” Marnie suddenly felt crushed.  “Because, this is just who I am.  That’s why,” Sun simply replied back.  So Marnie left.

….

 

A new Beginning

Even though Marnie tried several times, nothing seemed to work.  When Sun turned twenty nine, her baby was not a crazy wild girl who loved to run around the mansion like it was a play house.

….

Imprint

Text: All Rights Reserved
Images: All Rights Reserved
Cover: All Rights Reserved
Editing: Whisper
Proofreading: Whisper
Translation: Whisper
Layout: 12,600
Publication Date: 12-19-2022

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Just Enjoy!