THE OUT OF MY LEAGUE

26

“So like that?”

Darren gulped down the water on the table, which he took Victoria seriously. Victoria was still down, her eyes were sad. Now, whatever Darren will say, he will accept.

“I'm sorry ..”

Victoria spontaneously looked up. “Eh?” Tonya.

“I'm sorry for being so misunderstood and so stubborn. I didn't think getting there when I knew you were orphaned, taking care of Mary without preparation wasn't easy, I admit.” Darren tried to smile. “I also apologize for blaming everything on you.”

Victoria rubbed her tears that fell unconsciously, her eyes were heating up unstoppable, but she was trying hard. There's nothing more comforting than this. The burden of many years seemed to lift that day.

Darren sipped his coffee, then looked out the window of this cafe.

“Lily told ... that you intend to improve your relationship with Mary,” Darren looked back at Victoria. “Are you sure about that?”

Victoria nodded. “I have never been a mother to her since she was born. I want our relationship to improve, I never meant to take it from you. I would like, for once, to have the opportunity to carry out my duties as the one who gave birth to her. He is my duty, though late, but I am really serious about mending this relationship.”

Darren sighed. He was silent for quite a while. Even though he still had selfish feelings in his little heart, but looking at Victoria who was really serious plus the clarity behind the reasons she left Mary that day-Darren could not refuse and was indifferent anymore. He recalled the words Lily ‘Mary would be happy if later had two mothers’.

So, with a sincere smile, Darren nodded. “I think it's time Mary met her mother.”

...----------------...

The two girls' eyes blinked. I looked at the two adults in front of him. His gaze then turned to a woman on his right, who looked back at him with a sweet smile.

“Mommy, Mary doesn't understand.” After a while, Mary looked up next to where Lily was sitting.

“Hm?” Lily raised both eyebrows. “Which one?”

“Dad said she was Mary's mother, ” Mary's left index finger pointed at Victoria who was sitting next to Darren across the couch from the McGold family home.

Lily nodded. “Iya, it was indeed Mary's mother. Who gave birth to Mary first,” he said give understanding.

Mary's forehead rose furrowed. “But Lily is Mommy Mary. Not Aunty it.”

Lily smiled amusedly. Then he clasped Mary's hands. “Mary darling ... Mary was a baby, right?”

Mary nodded.

“Naaah, used to be Mary born from Aunty's stomach.”

Both of Mary's eyeballs suddenly glared and blinked innocently. “Mary so baby in belly Aunty?”

“Iyaaa, so Mary should call Aunty with Mommy as well from now on. Mary had already slept in Aunty's stomach, so Mary should thank you.”

Suddenly Mary got off the couch and ran towards Victoria across the street. Victoria blinked in surprise as Mary approached her.

“Eh?” Victoria parroted.

“Aunty stomach,” call him while rubbing the surface of the woman's stomach. “Thanks for letting Mary be a baby in there.”

Victoria couldn't hold back her harbour. He half laughed and half held back the tears. His eyes were warming up, but he was flickering while looking up so that the clear drops should not come down.

“Iyaaa, equally sweet Mary,” Victoria followed that childish play by poking her daughter's tiny nose.

“Now, let's call Aunty Mommy,” Lily voiced back after trying to catch her laugh with Darren.

However, Mary blinked at Lily, then looked up at Victoria.

The boy then shook his head. “But Mary didn't want to,” she said again looking at Lily with a little sadness.

“Why?” Lily is sad.

“Mommy calls are for Lily only.”

“Then Aunty should get what call?”

“Mmm ..” Mary tapped her chin. Trying to think with his little brain. “Aha!” The girl then seems to have an idea. “Mary call Momma only, how?” He tilted his head as he looked up at Victoria.

Victoria wants to faint, why is Mary so cute!

Victoria immediately pinched Mary's cheek fondly. “Child pintaaar!” Exclaims gaunty.

...----------------...

Since her relationship improved, Victoria often exchanged news with Lily, asking a lot of things about Mary's likes and what activities the girl did when she was free.

And as her duty before her marriage to Ethan, Victoria chose not to keep her condition a secret, telling her future husband the day after her visit to Darren's house. And how glad Victoria is to find Ethan so open to her past. Victoria could not be more grateful, Ethan loved her so much that he accepted what was in her without judging her flaws.

So that Sunday night, Victoria and Ethan came to visit the Suppasit family home. Victoria wants to introduce Ethan to her daughter.

“Night!” Victoria greeted the spirit as soon as the door opened, her hands swaying to show off the grocery bag with a variety of contents.

Lily greeted with a smile. Then welcomed Victoria in his arms. After that, he told them to go inside.

“Darren!” Call Lily.

Not long after, Darren emerges from the top floor with Mary in his arms. Victoria hastily hands her groceries into Ethan's hands. Seeing Darren step down, Victoria clapped her hands happily under the stairs, waiting to take her turn holding her daughter.

“Momma!” Mary was no less pleased and jumped straight into her mother's arms. Ethan's heart warmed to that, never before had he seen his future wife so happy lately.

Hose then Lily voiced, “Then I went to the kitchen first, want to prepare dinner.”

Darren and Ethan nodded, while Victoria was too late and had already gone to play with Mary in the castle-shaped houses of a princess.

“How are you?” Darren greeted his business friend.

Ethan smiles. “I'll be married soon, no one is happier than that,” he replied as he placed a grocery bag on the table of the family room of Darren's house.

Darren nodded. “Then please sit down,” bargain while sitting. “Do you want to drink something?”

Ethan shakes. “No need.”

Then, his gaze began to scan around, taking a look at the grandeur of Darren's house, before finally being reunited with the man's gaze.

He took a breath before speaking, “I didn't expect that you guys used to have a relationship.”

Darren understood where this conversation was going, his eyes then glanced at Victoria and Mary who were still busy playing together, his lips again smiling warmly.

“It's been a while,” Darren sighed and looked back at Ethan. “But he finally found his love .. and I found my love. Looks like we both overcame our hearts each in these last 6 years.”

Ethan smiles. He's a pretty open-minded guy and views everything positively. Seeing the person he loved was already completely happy like this was a blessing to him.

“Everything, dinner is ready.”

The conversation that lasted for decades was finally interrupted by Lily.

The four of them finally decided to go straight to the dining room. When Lily was about to pick up Mary because she was usually the one who fed her, suddenly the child was reluctant.

Lily was surprised and half laughed. “So Mary won't be bribed by Mommy, hm?”

Mary shakes a laugh. “Mary want same Momma only.”

Lily poked Mary's nose. “Baiklaaah, fine.” He nodded in understanding before finally taking a seat like the others.

For a case like this Lily quite understand, Victoria has 6 years not met her daughter, so when her own daughter who wants to always be near her, she is not, so Lily can not ruin the little happiness and that's what makes Lily more special in Darren's eyes.

Today's dinner was more complete with lots of loose laughs and endless warm talks. Even until dinner was over, Lily did not stop serving her guests by giving dessert, this time Victoria helped in the kitchen to wash the dishes. He said let Ethan and Darren enjoy the fresh fruits.

However, when Victoria's dishwasher stayed a little, Darren suddenly came from the direction of the living room.

“Vic, I want to talk to you briefly.”

Victoria and Lily looked at each other.

Lily nodded. “Leave the plate, I'll finish.”

Victoria washes her hands, dries them, and leaves the kitchen, following Darren who asks her to speak in the backyard. The night wind instantly greeted her, making the woman rub her arms in coldness.

“What's up?” Victoria asked as soon as Darren stopped by the pool. His feelings were suddenly not good.

Darren's back turned to Victoria. Face seriously. For a moment, Victoria saw the man staring at the door, as if checking that no one had heard their conversation.

Darren looked back at Victoria. Seriously. Unblinking. “I want to ask for your help ..”