WEIGHTED 47

TYRONE ROBERT

‘ETHAN TYRONE ROBERT!’ Even I flinched when she used that tone.

She didn’t even let me finish the story for her before she stormed out of our bed to the living room downstairs.

Ethan was watching one of his favourite movies, ‘Quantum of Solace,’ He was a Daniel Craig fan. "JAMES BOND enthusiast, Casino Royale (2005/2006), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), No Time To Die (2021)."

‘Better get here right now, young man!’ She was angry, sad, and hurt that the apple of our eyes could even think about doing something like that.

Not even a minute later, Ethan came running from the door that leads to the private garden that I designed specially for our kids fun - time.

‘Yyyes, mom?’ He stuttered, out of breath. I knew the moment I looked into his eyes that he knew he was in trouble. That his mom knew of his not - so - secret secret.

When Elize came home almost a month ago, the kids were thrilled to see their mother awake and well. They immediately jumped on her showering her with hugs and kisses all over her face.

The Second House’s kids were there too to welcome her home. They did a huge welcoming party with the help of Brandon and Jason, since then they never left their newborn brothers side. You could even see how thrilled our little charmer was that they had brothers instead of sisters, he kept on saying that our two little princesses along with Martha’s daughters kept on ganging up on them and that they need new members on their team.

He never left their side, and he would come to his mother every two seconds asking her why they were taking so long to talk and walk. My cute little boy thought that the twins would just be up and start walking and playing with them.

You can see how my little princesses’ antics were really starting to get to him. Even though my daughters are only two and one years old, they were forces to be reckon with. Ever since Acacia started walking she would always follow her big sister around, imitating her every single move she does, she even got her cute bossy personality. They have the whole household around their little fingers. I can tell just how happy my two years old princess is about having someone who would help her in her mission of torturing the boys. The four girls are inseparable, especially since Martha almost spent her whole time HERE in our home helping me with the kids while Elize was in a coma, her two girls spent their whole time with the girls.

There was a lot of things I had to tell her, but I gave the priority to our precious son’s little stunt because I wanted to be the one to tell her about it, and I wanted her to make sure she makes him understand that what may seem the best option in crucial time is not always one. Not to mention I was sure I would be hung if she got to know about this from another person.

“Don’t you ‘yes, MOM me, young man. You’re in serious trouble than you already are if you don’t start explaining what went on in your head when you decided to harm yourself!’ My wife’s warning tone brought me out on my thoughts, I looked down at my son to see him hanging his head low, not being able to meet his mother’s gaze.

Elize’s stern glare was almost immediately wiped out when she saw his bowed head, she crouched to his height before stroking his cheeks softly with both her hands, gently coaxing him to look at her. ‘You are my smart son, how come you didn’t think how I would be devastated if anything were to happen to you?’ Her eyes were full of unshed tears, matching his.

‘I’m sorry, mom, but I didn’t know what to do other than that. I thought I’m certainly going to lose you, and the pain I felt was so intense that I was ready to do anything to lessen it.’ He explained with tears in his eyes.

‘Emotional pain is the only thing we can never protect you from, it’s something you have to battle with and win. You’re my brave strong little man, aren’t you?’ She encouraged softly.

One of the many reasons I love this woman crouching in front of me is the endless love and tenderness she possesses when it comes to any of our children, especially Ethan since he was the first child she ever raised. He was her everything along with his siblings, she gave him all the attention and love he would ever need in a thousand lifetimes.

He was always the sensitive little boy that was too shy to leave his mother’s skirt to mingle with others, he was easily affected that’s why Elize made sure to teach him how to read people, deal with them the proper way from a very tender age. She wanted to make sure he was never to face the same fate she had to.

She struggled a lot raising him especially since everything was new to her, she didn’t have the chance to heal her broken heart or mourn her supposed - to - be - dead best friend because of the responsibility that was suddenly thrown at her, and it only intensified when Ethan refused to be apart from her for even a second. He had to see her all the time, if she were to leave his sight for even a tiny second he would start thrashing and crying hysterically.

With time Elize grew accustomed to him, and knew exactly what he needed before he even needed it. She was the perfect mother anyone could wish for. My admiration for her grew the more I saw her interactions with my little boy, and how she could change his mood from crying to grinning widely.

Ethan refused to let anybody hold him except for me or his mother, if anyone else tried to do so he would start crying. When he first started school she could barely convince him to stay there and befriend few kids, promising him that she would be back before he noticed.

When she came back at the end of the day she found him standing with his teacher, frantically looking all around for her.

Even his first word was ‘Momma.’

He was such a momma’s boy, and he had every right to be attached to her like that. She loved him like no other.

That’s why I understand where he’s coming from, I kind of understand whey he decided to take that drastic move that fateful day. He was hopeless, the mother he loved more than anything in this world was fighting her. Desperation caught up to him, and we all know what that thing is capable to do with a full grown up person’s head, let alone a little boy.

‘I am, mom! But I didn’t know how to fight it. That was the only thing my mind could come up with to ease the terrible pain I was feeling.’ He explained.

‘You have to think of your family when cases like that. Think of me what I would feel if I lost you, think of what you father would go through if something happens to you, and of who would be there to protect and guide your siblings if their big brother wasn’t.’ She said. ‘Never do anything in rush or because of something you thought you can’t overcome. Bad feelings can be controlled, reversed, and transformed into whatever we want them to be. Everything can be fought, every battle can be won. All you have to do is believe, have faith in yourself. Do you understand my lovely baby?’ She asked lovingly, moving some of his raven locks away from his face and caressing his right cheek with the other .

‘Yes, mom.’ He nodded eagerly, kissing her cheeks. ‘I’ll never do anything that would cause you or Pappa to feel sad or disappointed.’ He added looking between us.

‘That’s my boy!’ She kissed his forehead before standing up. ‘Now, onto the real things. You’ll be grounded for a week, you won’t have any access to the library nor the internet, am I understood?’ She declared.

‘Momma!’ Ethan exclaimed, eyes wide in horror at his mom’s decision. He even used the nickname he only uses in crises. I almost chuckled at how cute my son was, he was such a bookworm. He would spend half of his time in the library, buried in books or online surfing new interesting topics or domains to do researches on. So for him to be banned from all of that equals the same thing of punishing a young teenage girl or not going to the club or communicate with her friends. ‘BBbut…’

‘No buts, young man! You should be glad I didn’t make it a month or more.’ Elize cut his complaint off.

He immediately shut his mouth up, cutting his own next complaint because he knew his mother wasn’t bluffing. ‘I understand, mom.’ He complied instead.

‘Great, now go play with your siblings.’ She said shuffling his hair.

When he went back to the private garden, Elize turned to me. ‘I have something

else to tell you.’ I informed her.

She nodded her head, signalling for me to continue. ‘The thing is…’

The door bell rung, cutting me off mid sentence. ‘I’ll get it.’ She said, heading towards the door.

When the door opened Elize stood frozen in place and stared at the middle aged woman who was standing at our doorsteps. She must have been 50 Plus years, ’MMMacy!’ My wife exclaimed, stunned.

‘Hello, my dear.’ The woman greeted.

‘What are you doing here?’ Elize questioned coldly after getting her composure back.

‘I have some information to share with you!’

‘We need nothing from you, thank you very much!’ She was about to close the door in her face when the woman spoke once again.

‘It’s about Mason. I may know where he is!’ The woman declared.

Elize turned back to me, shooting sharp daggers my way.

So much for telling her myself.

‘Do you still remember who this Macy is?’