AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She finally approaches me and I open my arms for a hug, but she stops before I can wrap my arms around her.
“Mom, look!” she tells me, all important, removing her hand from her shoulder.
“What am I looking at, baby?” I ask her, noticing a red spot.
“She got bit by a - “
“I want to tell the story,” she interrupts Theron and we both silently chuckle. Maya is pretty stubborn for a girl, or maybe especially for a girl and we know better than to mess with her. Even the boys know that.
“Go ahead, baby,” I urge her softly. “What happened?”
“Phin and Ares were fishing with Daddy Dex and Daddy Zar and meanwhile Daddy Tee and I w
ent to pick flowers and we went a little too far away and there was a beehive on a tree, but we thought the bees weren’t home, so we went under the tree because I saw beautiful flowers, you know, those purple and yellow ones that you like, mommy, so we wanted to pick you some of those flowers, but then, an angry bee came and started buzzing around, like this, buzz, buzz, buzz and I tried to tell it to go away, I said shoo, shoo, bee, go away, but it wouldn’t go away and then it just flew on my shoulder and it bit me!” She tells me in her little 5-year-old language, showing her wounded shoulder right before my eyes, so I can take a better look.
“Oh, I see,” I nod importantly. “This is serious business.”
“See?” she turns to Theron. “I told you.”
“Yes, she told me that I can’t take a look at it, because I’m not qualified. Can you imagine? She actually used that word. And, only mommy can take a look because mommy is a doctor,” Theron explains, shaking his head with a smile.
“Well, of course,” I emphasize my words dramatically, for good measure. “Mommy is a doctor. Mommy knows what to do. Come here, baby.”
I pick her up, regretting my decision, as she’s gotten pretty heavy, but luckily, I just need to take her a few steps back to the house. We go in and I put her on a little chair. As she sits, she sways her little legs, which can’t reach the floor. She looks like a happy child should. Her cheeks are flushed with the sun and fresh clean air. Her knees are a little scraped from all the running. There is dirt underneath her little fingernails and yellow residue from the flowers she was picking. Carefree and happy. That’s how I always want her to be.
Her shoulder doesn’t look bad. Looks like the stinger is out, luckily, so it’s all about just cleaning the spot and putting some cream on it. Theron could have done this, of course, but Maya is a bit stubborn about certain things, so it’s easier just to let her have her way when it’s something not that important. I take a cotton swab and dab the spot gently. She doesn’t even wink.
“You know, mommy, I didn’t cry,” she tells me importantly. I can see the look of pride on that little face and it almost makes me cry. The guys tell me she is all me. Outside and inside. But I can’t imagine ever being this brave, this vocal about what I want and need. I was simply fortunate enough to extract the best out of the worst situation. That is how I ended up here in the first place and I have these three loving men to thank for giving me everything I ever wanted, but never believed that I actually deserved it.
“I didn’t even think you did. You’re way too brave for that,” I nod, putting the cotton swab away. I turn to the side, as I wipe a little stray tear. Maya doesn’t see it, but Theron does. Then, I put a little bit of cream on it. “There. This should make it feel better. If it stings or hurts, just tell me, OK?”
“OK, mommy,” she jumps down from the chair and wraps her arms around me. “You’re the best mommy, ever.”
At that moment, I realize that being a doctor is great. The guys kept their promise and I enrolled in university, taking most of my classes online. The ones I couldn’t take online, I went to the city and stayed there at Vanessa’s place, returning here for the weekends. It was a little tough, but we survived and we’re closer for it. They helped make my dream come true, while pregnant, while having and raising kids and I couldn’t have asked for better partners. So, yes, being a doctor is a great thing. It has fulfilled me in a way that I knew it would. But, being a mom to three marvelous kids - that is something no profession can stand up to. Being a mom is what makes me wake up with a smile and it also makes me close my eyes with a soft breath of love and tenderness. I’m truly blessed and only now do I know exactly what my mom was talking about that afternoon when I vowed myself to my partners and my child. There’s nothing like it. There’s nothing that can be compared to it.
“I love you, baby,” I whisper into Maya’s soft hair, pressing her close to me.
“Alright, let’s go pick another bouquet for mommy, Daddy Tee,” she turns to Theron, who has been standing by the door all this time, opting not to interfere.
“You go on ahead, angel, I’m coming,” he tells her, ruffling her hair a little.
Maya runs out, as Theron pulls me closer to him, his hands on my waist. He’s smiling mischievously and I know what he’s thinking.
“You know that Dean and the guys are babysitting tonight,” he grins. “Romantic dinner for four?”
“As long as I don’t have to cook, I’m all for it,” I giggle and he presses a sweet kiss on my lips. He tastes like summer and honey.
“You just have to show up with your beautiful self and leave the rest to us,” he winks at me, then turns to go. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’ve got a date with a sweet girl who wants to pick flowers.”
“Enjoy,” I smile, waving at him.
I have no idea how I got this lucky. Maybe, luck had nothing to do with it. Maybe, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but someone was watching out for me. And, they still are. My men. My bear shifters. My partners. My protectors.
*****
THE END
